Kaladi Coffee Roasters
Kaladi Coffee Roasters is a Denver-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 1986 that air-roasts single-origin and blended coffees using Sivetz fluid bed technology, selling via two retail cafes, nationwide e-commerce, subscriptions, and wholesale to independently-owned cafes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kaladi Coffee Roasters does
Kaladi Coffee Roasters is a privately held specialty coffee roaster founded in 1986 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company roasts coffee using Sivetz Single Pass Fluid Bed Air Roaster technology, a convection method that suspends beans on a column of hot air and achieves one-degree temperature accuracy, producing shorter roast cycles (6-8 minutes versus 15-20+ for drum roasters) and avoiding the tars and scorching associated with conventional drum roasting. Coffee is cooled and frozen at -10°F immediately after roasting to preserve volatile aroma compounds.
The product portfolio spans single-origin coffees from 11+ countries (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, India, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Sumatra, Bolivia), signature espresso blends (Trieste Caffe), decaf offerings, and the Brew Shot Coffee Concentrate, all carrying multiple certifications (Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance, SMBC Bird Friendly). Founder Mark Overly personally maintains three-decade relationships with key cooperatives, including a 30-year partnership with Peru's CECANOR and continuous sourcing from Costa Rica's Hacienda La Minita since the early 1990s.
Kaladi makes money through three channels: direct-to-consumer retail (two Denver metro cafes plus e-commerce shipping to the Continental US), wholesale distribution to locally-owned cafes and coffee bars, and recurring coffee subscriptions. The company is deliberately anti-chain in its wholesale positioning, does not seek institutional funding, and operates a related sub-brand, Redshift Coffee.
Kaladi Coffee Roasters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kaladi Coffee Roasters
- Legal name
- Kaladi Coffee Roasters
- Website
- https://kaladicoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kaladi Coffee Roasters is a Denver-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 1986 that air-roasts single-origin and blended coffees using Sivetz fluid bed technology, selling via two retail cafes, nationwide e-commerce, subscriptions, and wholesale to independently-owned cafes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kaladi Coffee Roasters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB), Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where Kaladi Coffee Roasters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kaladi Coffee Roasters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Coffee Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of roasted coffee beans and concentrates through company-owned retail locations and e-commerce storefront. Products include single origin coffees, blends, espresso, decaf, and Brew Shot concentrate.
- Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply of roasted coffee to locally-owned cafes and coffee bars. Company focuses on independent establishments rather than chains.
- Coffee Subscription: Recurring subscription deliveries available for all coffee products with flexible frequency options (every 2 weeks, monthly, every 6 weeks, every 2 months, every 3 months).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Origin and Blend Coffees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brew Shot Coffee Concentrate |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription Service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kaladi Coffee Roasters roasts specialty coffee using a Sivetz Fluid Bed Air Roaster and sells single-origin and blended coffees (whole bean or ground) through retail cafes in the Denver Metro area, an e-commerce store shipping across the U.S., and wholesale programs serving independently owned coffee houses in the Colorado region.
Product overview
Kaladi Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company offering air-roasted whole bean and ground coffees through online sales and two physical locations in Denver, Colorado. The product portfolio centers on single origin coffees (Ethiopia, Rwanda, Costa Rica, India, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua), signature espresso blends (Trieste Caffe), decaf options, and the innovative Brew Shot Coffee Concentrate. Products are sold through direct-to-consumer online ordering with subscription options, in-store pickup, and wholesale to local cafes. Core offerings include the rotating Roaster's Choice subscription and the premium Brew Shot concentrate for outdoor use. Coffee categories include Blends, Decaf, Espresso, Fairtrade, Single Origin, SMBC Bird Friendly, and Women Producers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Redshift Coffee: Related coffee brand operated by the company, referenced in the site map
Products and services
- Kaladi Roasted Coffee Beans
- Kaladi Retail Cafe Service
- Kaladi Wholesale Coffee Supply
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced roasting time from 15-20+ minutes (drum) to 6-8 minutes (fluid bed)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kaladi Coffee Roasters
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Oromia Coffee Farmers' Co-operative UnioncoreFounded in 1999 by 35 small certified organic cooperatives in Ethiopia. Kaladi has been continuously sourcing Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Oromia since 2001. Produces organic, forest-grown, bird-friendly coffee from farms at altitudes of 1,500-2,000 meters.
- CECANOR Cooperative (Peru)core30-year partnership with Peruvian cooperative CECANOR, established through Mark Overly meeting managers Isabel Uriarte and Victor Rojas. Celebrated 30 years in 2025. CECANOR produces Kaladi's flagship Peru Andes Gold blend and supplies Café Femenino coffee grown by women producers. Partnership includes Fairtrade certification support and direct trading relationship.
- Hacienda La Minita (Costa Rica)coreKaladi is one of a handful of roasters selected to roast this special estate coffee since the early 1990s, making it Kaladi's longest continuously purchased coffee (30+ years). Estate spans 1,200 acres in Tarrazu river valley.
- Abakundakawa/Hingakawa Women's Association (Rwanda)coreSourcing Rwanda Rushashi Hingakawa from 100% women-owned farms. The Hingakawa Women's Association receives premiums for lot separation and community investments including communal farms, livestock distribution, and planned training center.
- Sierra Azul Cooperative (Mexico)core100% women-owned farms in Chiapas as part of Café Femenino program. Located within buffer zone of El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. 150 producers across 12 communities.
- Smithsonian Migratory Bird CenterminorKaladi partners with SMBC to offer Bird Friendly certified coffees. Bird Friendly is described as the 'gold standard' for shade-grown biodiversity certification, ensuring mix of foliage cover, tree height, and biodiversity for quality bird habitat.
- Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA)minorThird-party organic certification body for coffee products. Oromia Coffee Farmers' Union is certified through OCIA for organic production.
- Redshift CoffeeminorLinked as a related company/resource on Kaladi website, suggesting a related or sibling business entity.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Counter Culture Coffee: Durham, NC specialty roaster focused on sustainability, direct trade, and education; highly comparable mission-driven positioning and wholesale-to-independents model to Kaladi.
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-based specialty roaster with cafes and direct-trade programs for premium single-origin coffees; competes in the same craft, ethically-sourced specialty segment as Kaladi.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Portland-born specialty coffee roaster operating cafes and D2C wholesale to independent accounts with strong direct-trade sourcing — directly comparable in model, positioning, and customer base to Kaladi.
- Verve Coffee Roasters: California-based specialty roaster with multiple cafes, direct-trade sourcing, and a strong DTC/subscription business — comparable mid-scale craft coffee operator.
- Heart Coffee Roasters: Portland small-batch specialty roaster with cafes and direct-trade sourcing; closely matches Kaladi in size, craft positioning, and independent-account wholesale focus.
Broad incumbents
- Peet's Coffee: Established specialty coffee roaster and retailer with national cafe and grocery distribution; operates in the same category but at significantly larger scale and broader reach.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Oakland-origin specialty coffee company with national cafe footprint and subscription commerce; broader incumbent in the same third-wave specialty segment as Kaladi.
- Starbucks: Global coffee incumbent roasting and retailing coffee at massive scale; serves as the dominant category benchmark against which specialty players like Kaladi position.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Larger specialty coffee roaster with cafes, DTC, and broader wholesale distribution including chain-adjacent accounts; a more scaled player in the same premium specialty category.
Emerging players
- Onyx Coffee Lab: Arkansas-based award-winning specialty roaster with cafes and competition-grade sourcing; comparable craft positioning with stronger recent competition credentials than Kaladi.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kaladi Coffee Roasters social profiles
Digital presenceKaladi Coffee Roasters compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kaladi Coffee Roasters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kaladi Coffee Roasters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kaladi Coffee Roasters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kaladi Coffee Roasters
What does Kaladi Coffee Roasters do?
Kaladi Coffee Roasters roasts specialty coffee using a Sivetz Fluid Bed Air Roaster and sells single-origin and blended coffees (whole bean or ground) through retail cafes in the Denver Metro area, an e-commerce store shipping across the U.S., and wholesale programs serving independently owned coffee houses in the Colorado region.
Is Kaladi Coffee Roasters a public or private company?
Kaladi Coffee Roasters is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kaladi Coffee Roasters founded?
Kaladi Coffee Roasters was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kaladi Coffee Roasters based?
Kaladi Coffee Roasters is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kaladi Coffee Roasters make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Coffee Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution and coffee Subscription.
Who are Kaladi Coffee Roasters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia Coffee, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Verve Coffee Roasters and Heart Coffee Roasters. Broad incumbents are Peet's Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Starbucks and La Colombe Coffee Roasters. Onyx Coffee Lab is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kaladi Coffee Roasters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kaladi Coffee Roasters.
What industry is Kaladi Coffee Roasters in?
Kaladi Coffee Roasters's product category is Specialty Coffee Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAE, Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes), with a secondary code of AFAFADAB, Coffee Roasting & Grinding. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.