River Roasters Coffee
River Roasters Coffee is a privately held, women-owned specialty coffee cafe and small-batch roastery in Pomeroy, Ohio, founded in 2018 by Larry and Candice Hess. It serves local residents, river-town tourists, and regional wholesale SMBs through in-cafe retail, online shipping, farmers markets, and B2B wholesale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPomeroy, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What River Roasters Coffee does
River Roasters Coffee Company is a privately held, women-owned specialty coffee cafe and roastery headquartered at 102 W Main Street, Pomeroy, Ohio, founded in December 2018 by Larry and Candice Hess. The company operates a single full-service cafe serving a breakfast and lunch menu, handcrafted baked goods, and espresso beverages, while roasting its own specialty-grade coffee in small batches in-house — the first time such a combined cafe-and-roastery has existed in Pomeroy. Its core product line comprises five proprietary blends: Motor Boatin' Medium Blend, Dark Waters Dark Blend, Smooth Sailing Light Roast (single-origin Mexican Oaxaca), Agua Electrica Light Blend, and Cold as Ice Cold Brew Blend; extended packaged SKUs include House Granola.
The business generates revenue through four streams: in-cafe retail (Mon–Fri 7am–4pm, Sat 8am–4pm), direct-to-consumer packaged coffee shipped at $19.99 per bag via a Bento online storefront, weekly Saturday presence at Athens Farmers Market, and a B2B wholesale program (priced at $11.65/lb for single-package pounds and $10/lb for 5-pound bags with an MSRP of $16.99/lb) supplying cafes, grocery stores, and restaurants. Sourcing is positioned around Direct Trade relationships (notably RoyalNY) and blends using Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Mexico origins.
The company has approximately 20 employees and serves a hybrid customer base of local Meigs County residents, river-town tourists, and regional wholesale SMBs including Kindred Market, The Bakery and Coffeehouse, Bagel Street Deli, Ohio is Home, and Hope Homestead Farms and General Store. Founders hold active board roles with the Meigs County Foundation and ACEnet, embedding the business in regional civic infrastructure. There is no disclosed external funding, parent company, or M&A activity; the operation has been organically bootstrapped from the founders' personal savings and home equity.
River Roasters Coffee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- River Roasters Coffee
- Legal name
- River Roasters Coffee Company
- Website
- https://riverroasters.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- River Roasters Coffee is a privately held, women-owned specialty coffee cafe and small-batch roastery in Pomeroy, Ohio, founded in 2018 by Larry and Candice Hess. It serves local residents, river-town tourists, and regional wholesale SMBs through in-cafe retail, online shipping, farmers markets, and B2B wholesale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
River Roasters Coffee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roastery and Cafe
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB), Cafe-Bakeries (Coffee + Pastry Focus) (THAFADAG)
Keywords
Where River Roasters Coffee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pomeroy
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
River Roasters Coffee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Cafe Retail Sales: Direct sales of coffee beverages, food items (breakfast and lunch menu), and baked goods at their Pomeroy, Ohio cafe location. Also includes online ordering for pickup and delivery.
- Wholesale Coffee: B2B wholesale distribution of roasted coffee beans to other cafes, grocery stores, restaurants, and businesses. They supply their expertly roasted beans as a value-add partnership offering.
- Direct-to-Consumer Coffee Sales: Online sales of packaged coffee beans shipped directly to consumers. Individual bags priced at $19.99 retail.
- Packaged Food Products: Sale of packaged food items such as House Granola at $13.99 per 16 oz bag.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale Individual Pounds |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale 5-Pound Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail Coffee - Motor Boatin' Medium Blend |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | House Granola (16 oz.) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
River Roasters Coffee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
River Roasters Coffee is a small-batch artisan coffee roaster and cafe that operates from a restored historic building in downtown Pomeroy, Ohio. It roasts five proprietary specialty-grade coffee blends in-house and sells them retail through its cafe and online shop, alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu, handcrafted baked goods, and packaged items such as House Granola. The company also runs a wholesale program supplying its roasted beans to other cafes, grocery stores, and restaurants in Ohio and West Virginia.
Product overview
River Roasters Coffee Co. is a small-batch artisan coffee roaster and cafe offering a portfolio of five distinct coffee blends (Motor Boatin' Medium Blend, Dark Waters Dark Blend, Smooth Sailing Light Roast, Agua Electrica Light Blend, and Cold as Ice Medium Blend) alongside food items (breakfast, lunch, baked goods) at their Pomeroy, Ohio location. The company also operates a wholesale program supplying their specialty roasted beans to other businesses, and sells packaged goods like House Granola through their online shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Motor Boatin' Medium Blend House medium roast coffee blend with milk chocolate, orange zest, and baked pastry notes; recommended for drip, espresso, and pour over; sold in retail packaged bags and via wholesale.
- Dark Waters Dark Blend House dark roast blend featuring pipe tobacco, dry spice, and bakers' chocolate flavors with a smoky edge; best for drip, French press, and cafe au lait; available retail and wholesale.
- Smooth Sailing Light Roast (Single Origin Mexican Oaxaca) 100% single origin light roast coffee from Mexico with chocolate, nutty, malted, and sweet citrus notes; versatile for espresso, drip, pour over, and French press; available retail and wholesale.
- Agua Electrica Light Blend Lighter version of the dark roast blend with roasty, citrus, smooth, and aromatic flavors; 50% Colombia / 50% Mexico; recommended for espresso, drip, and pour over.
- Cold as Ice Medium Cold Brew Blend House cold brew blend combining Brazil and Ethiopia (60% Brazil / 40% Natural Ethiopia) with rich syrupy body, fudge sweetness, and berry notes as it cools.
- House Granola (16 oz) Freshly baked granola made with rolled oats, honey, coconut oil, dried cherries, almond extract, cinnamon, and vanilla extract; sold in 16 oz bags for $13.99.
- Cafe Breakfast and Lunch Menu Full menu of breakfast and lunch items made with fresh, locally inspired ingredients, including breakfast sandwiches, salads, paninis, and seasonal specials; served in-cafe at 102 W Main St, Pomeroy, OH and via online ordering for pickup and delivery.
- Handcrafted Baked Goods Assortment of handcrafted baked goods, including cookies, cheesecakes, and pastries, prepared in-house and sold at the cafe counter.
- Wholesale Coffee Program B2B wholesale supply of River Roasters' specialty-grade roasted beans to cafes, grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses; offered in individual packaged pounds at $11.65/lb or 5-pound bags at $10/lb (MSRP $16.99/lb), with whole-bean and ground options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Expanded from 4 to 16 employees within one week of opening in 2018
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use River Roasters Coffee
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
River Roasters Coffee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
River Roasters Coffee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pomeroy Merchants AssociationcoreActive membership and participation in the Pomeroy Merchants Association, which organizes community events and supports local businesses in Pomeroy. The association promotes local commerce and coordinates events like the Big Bend Blues Bash.
- Meigs County FoundationcoreCandice Hess serves as a board member of the Meigs County Foundation, established in 2011 to increase and advance philanthropic resources through gifts, grants, or bequests to benefit the Meigs County community.
- ACEnet (Appalachian Center for Economic Networks)coreLarry Hess serves as a board member of ACEnet, with a mission to grow the regional economy supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening economic sectors. Larry's restaurant and entrepreneurial skills help support Meigs County businesses through the organization.
- RoyalNYminorRoyalNY is a coffee supplier that uses Direct Trade practices, skipping the Fair Trade movement to guarantee farmers not just Fair Trade prices but usually more. This ensures better returns for farmers and promotes sustainability.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
River Roasters Coffee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Specialty roaster operating cafes and a deep wholesale program for restaurants, grocers, and offices. Comparable to River Roasters in the B2B wholesale channel, in proprietary blend development, and in direct-trade sourcing practices.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty small-batch coffee roaster operating its own cafes and a robust wholesale program. Directly comparable to River Roasters in vertical integration (roasting + retail cafe + wholesale) and in serving quality-driven coffee consumers.
- Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with a strong wholesale and training program and a smaller cafe footprint. Comparable to River Roasters in its emphasis on ethically/direct-trade sourcing, education, and B2B distribution of roasted beans.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with a national cafe footprint, DTC e-commerce, and wholesale distribution. Comparable to River Roasters across all four of its revenue streams (cafe retail, wholesale, DTC online, packaged retail).
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with in-house roasting, signature blends, and a national DTC channel. Matches River Roasters on the roastery-cafe model and on the combination of wholesale, retail cafe, and direct-to-consumer online sales.
- Verve Coffee Roasters: Craft roaster with multiple cafes, a wholesale program, and a packaged retail/DTC business. Directly comparable in business model mix (roasting + cafes + wholesale + DTC) and in emphasizing origin-driven, traceable coffee sourcing.
Regional players
- Collectivo Coffee: Midwest regional coffee roaster and cafe chain with its own roasting facility and wholesale program. Comparable to River Roasters in the roastery-plus-cafe-plus-wholesale model, but operating at a much larger regional scale rather than a single rural town.
Emerging players
- Heart Coffee Roasters: Small specialty roaster and cafe operator in the Pacific Northwest with a wholesale program. Comparable in size and model to River Roasters — in-house roasting, a small cafe footprint, and a B2B channel for roasted beans.
- Onyx Coffee Lab: Specialty roaster with a small number of cafes and a growing wholesale and DTC business. Comparable to River Roasters as a smaller-scale craft operator with proprietary blends and a focus on quality/sourcing storytelling.
- PT's Coffee Roasting: Topeka, Kansas-based specialty roaster with cafes and a wholesale program. Comparable to River Roasters in operating a small number of cafes combined with a wholesale distribution model for roasted specialty coffee.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
River Roasters Coffee social profiles
Digital presenceRiver Roasters Coffee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
River Roasters Coffee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
River Roasters Coffee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
River Roasters Coffee 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 River Roasters Coffee
What does River Roasters Coffee do?
River Roasters Coffee is a small-batch artisan coffee roaster and cafe that operates from a restored historic building in downtown Pomeroy, Ohio. It roasts five proprietary specialty-grade coffee blends in-house and sells them retail through its cafe and online shop, alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu, handcrafted baked goods, and packaged items such as House Granola. The company also runs a wholesale program supplying its roasted beans to other cafes, grocery stores, and restaurants in Ohio and West Virginia.
Is River Roasters Coffee a public or private company?
River Roasters Coffee is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was River Roasters Coffee founded?
River Roasters Coffee was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is River Roasters Coffee based?
River Roasters Coffee is headquartered in Pomeroy, United States, in the North America region.
How does River Roasters Coffee make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Cafe Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Coffee, direct-to-Consumer Coffee Sales and packaged Food Products.
Who are River Roasters Coffee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intelligentsia Coffee, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Blue Bottle Coffee and Verve Coffee Roasters. Collectivo Coffee is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Heart Coffee Roasters, Onyx Coffee Lab and PT's Coffee Roasting.
Does River Roasters Coffee have an API?
No public API is recorded for River Roasters Coffee.
What industry is River Roasters Coffee in?
River Roasters Coffee's product category is Specialty Coffee Roastery and Cafe. 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.