Montana Coffee Traders

What Montana Coffee Traders does

Montana Coffee Traders is a privately held specialty coffee roaster founded in 1981 and headquartered at a vintage farmhouse roastery just south of Whitefish, Montana. The company roasts high-grade arabica beans on Loring smart roasters and maintains a 35-year direct-trade partnership with farmers in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Its product portfolio spans more than 50 SKUs organized into signature blends (Montana Blend, Grizzly Blend, '81 Espresso), single origins (Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua, Sumatra), organic and Fair Trade certified options, decaf, flavored coffees, and single-serve formats, supported by merchandise, brew equipment (Chemex, Kalita, AeroPress), tea, and provisions such as house-made granola.

The company operates a multi-channel distribution model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce across all 50 U.S. states with a subscription program (5% discount and free shipping over $50, managed via Appstle), three owned café locations in the Flathead Valley (Roastery & Café, Downtown Whitefish, Columbia Falls), a B2B wholesale program serving cafés, restaurants, offices, and lodging in Montana and surrounding states, retail-grocery distribution through Albertsons, Safeway, Whole Foods, Super 1 Foods, and Rosauers with reach into Utah, Idaho, Missouri, and Florida, and a Corporate Gifts & Events bulk program. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Montana Coffee Techs, provides commercial espresso equipment installation, repair, and maintenance across Montana, reinforcing wholesale customer stickiness. Revenue mechanics combine one-time purchases, recurring subscriptions, B2B supply contracts with service wrap, and bulk gifting, with prices ranging from $15.25 to $26.60 per bag at retail. The company differentiates on direct-trade sourcing, 1% for the Planet membership, and partnerships with Glacier National Park Conservancy, Vital Ground Foundation, and Grounds For Health.

Name

Montana Coffee Traders

Legal name

Montana Coffee Traders

Website

https://coffeetraders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Montana Coffee Traders is a privately held specialty coffee roaster founded in 1981 in Whitefish, Montana, selling direct-trade organic and fair-trade coffees through e-commerce, subscriptions, three café locations, regional wholesale to grocers and businesses, and corporate gifting programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Coffee subscription service
• Organic fair trade coffee
• Commercial coffee equipment service

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitefish

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Coffee Sales: Retail sales of freshly roasted coffee beans and related products through e-commerce website and physical café locations. Coffee is sold in multiple sizes (12oz, 2lb, 5lb) with various roast levels and origins.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription service delivering coffee on a customer-selected schedule. Subscribers receive 5% discount on every order and free shipping on subscriptions over $50.
3. Wholesale Coffee: B2B wholesale program providing coffee to cafés, restaurants, offices, and lodging businesses. Includes equipment consultation, espresso training, and ongoing customer support.
4. Corporate Gifts & Events: Bulk corporate gifting program for events, weddings, and celebrations with discounted pricing on 12oz, 2lb, and 5lb bags.
5. Merchandise & Gear: Sales of branded merchandise including mugs, tumblers, hats, stickers, and coffee brewing equipment accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Montana Coffee Traders is a specialty coffee roaster and retailer that roasts high-grade arabica coffee at its Whitefish, Montana facility. It sells freshly roasted coffee and related merchandise through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, three company-owned cafés, a wholesale program serving foodservice and office accounts, and a subscription service.

Product overview

Montana Coffee Traders is a specialty coffee roaster and retailer founded in 1981, offering a diverse portfolio of coffee products and cafe services. The core product line consists of over 50 coffee SKUs organized into collections: signature blends (Montana Blend, Grizzly Blend, '81 Espresso), single origins (Ethiopia, Colombia, Monteverde, Peru, Nicaragua), organic certified options, decaf, dark roast, and flavored varieties. The company operates on a multi-channel model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (with subscription service), three physical cafe locations (Roastery & Cafe in Whitefish, Downtown Whitefish, and Columbia Falls), and a wholesale program for B2B customers. Supporting product categories include brew equipment (Chemex, Kalita, AeroPress), merchandise (mugs, tumblers, hats), provisions (granola, cookies), and tea. Services encompass equipment maintenance via Coffee Techs, corporate gifting, community donations, and environmental commitments through 1% for the Planet. The company emphasizes direct-trade sourcing, particularly with Monteverde Costa Rica farmers since 1989.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Café Monteverde: A direct-trade coffee sourced from Monteverde, Costa Rica farmers since 1989, available in multiple roast profiles (Dark, Medium, Natural, Miel) and sold as both single-origin and in sets.

Products and services

• Montana Blend Flagship medium roast blend sourced from Central and South America, available in 12oz, 2lb, and 5lb sizes for retail and wholesale customers.
• Grizzly Blend Heavy-bodied dark roast blend inspired by the North American Grizzly Bear, with origins from Indonesia, Central America, and South America; a portion of proceeds supports wildlife conservation through Vital Ground Foundation.
• Organic Montana Morning Certified organic and Fair Trade medium roast blend from Central and South America, suitable for hot or cold brew preparation.
• Organic Trailblazer Certified organic and Fair Trade medium roast from Central America; a portion of proceeds supports Glacier National Park Conservancy trail preservation.
• '81 Espresso Blend Flagship espresso blend dating to the company's 1981 founding; bold, complex, and sweet, sourced from Central America, South America, and Africa, featured at all company café espresso bars.
• Café Monteverde Dark Dark roast single origin from the Monteverde Costa Rica cloud forest, sold under a direct-trade partnership with farmers established in 1989.
• Montana Blend Decaf Decaffeinated version of the flagship Montana Blend, decaffeinated using chemical-free Swiss Water Process or Descamex Mountain Water Process.
• Ethiopia Tigist Natural Single origin Ethiopian coffee from Gedeb district grown by Tigist on a 5-acre family farm, supporting a women-led supply chain through partner Ephtah Specialty Coffee.
• Café Monteverde Medium Roast Medium roast single origin coffee from the Monteverde Costa Rica cloud forest, sold under the company's direct-trade partnership with farmers since 1989.
• Alpine Sol Seasonal Blend Limited release summer seasonal blend combining beans from The Americas, Africa, and Indonesia, available in a 10oz bag format.
• Montana Blend Compostable Coffee Pods 24-count box of compostable single-serve coffee pods made from plant-based materials, compatible with Keurig-style brewers.
• Coffee Subscription Service Flexible coffee subscription program delivering fresh roasted coffee on a customer-selected schedule, with 5% subscriber discount, free shipping on orders over $50, and the ability to change, pause, or cancel anytime.
• Wholesale Coffee Program B2B coffee supply program for cafés, restaurants, offices, and lodging businesses across Montana and surrounding regions, including coffee consulting, espresso training, tastings, equipment setup, and customized marketing materials.
• Corporate Gifts & Events Program Bulk coffee gifting program for corporate events, weddings, and celebrations, offering 12oz, 2lb, and 5lb bags at discounted bulk pricing.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Café Monteverde FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Since 1989, Montana Coffee Traders has partnered directly with farmers in Monteverde Costa Rica, paying premium prices independent of market trends. Each purchase directly supports community programs, environmental projects, and the long-term sustainability of the Monteverde community. Always Fair and Direct.
• 1% for the PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontana Coffee Traders is a proud member of 1% for the Planet, committing 1% of annual sales to support environmental partners. Supports environmental partners Glacier National Park Conservancy and Vital Grounds, and social partner Grounds For Health.
• Vital Ground FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrizzly Blend partnership where a portion of proceeds from each bag is donated to help conserve and enhance acreage of homelands for grizzly bears and other wildlife in the Mountain West.
• Glacier National Park ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic Trailblazer partnership supporting the Glacier National Park Conservancy to preserve and maintain the trail systems in Glacier National Park. A portion of proceeds from each bag goes to trail preservation.
• Grounds For HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial partner supported through 1% for the Planet membership, providing essential women's health programs in coffee-growing communities.
• Ephtah Specialty CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEthiopia Tigist Natural coffee partnership with Ephtah Specialty Coffee, a women-led exporter empowering women across the coffee supply chain, founded by Wubit Bekele.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Counter Culture Coffee: Sustainability-focused specialty coffee roaster with cafés, wholesale, and training programs — closely aligned with MCT's direct-trade, organic, and education-driven approach.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster combining cafés, e-commerce subscriptions, and wholesale into cafés and offices — operates the same roastery + café + B2B + DTC combination.
• Caffè Ladro: Pacific Northwest specialty coffee roaster with a café chain plus wholesale — similar regional roastery/café hybrid operating model to MCT.
• Kicking Horse Coffee: Canadian specialty coffee roaster focused on organic, Fair Trade beans sold via retail grocery and DTC — comparable product positioning and grocery distribution strategy.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Third-wave specialty coffee roaster with direct-trade farmer relationships, cafés, and a strong wholesale program — comparable across product, sourcing philosophy, and multi-channel model.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Portland-based specialty coffee roaster operating cafés, wholesale, and DTC e-commerce with strong direct-trade sourcing — directly comparable to Montana Coffee Traders' roastery-plus-café-plus-wholesale model.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster operating cafés, wholesale, and DTC with strong retail presence — directly comparable product offering and go-to-market channels.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with DTC subscriptions, cafés, and wholesale; competes in the same premium, ethically-sourced segment targeting specialty coffee enthusiasts.

Broad incumbents

• Peet's Coffee: Established specialty coffee chain with nationwide grocery, cafés, and DTC — operates at much larger scale across overlapping channels and target customer.

Regional players

• Café Britt: Costa Rica-based specialty coffee producer/retailer with strong direct-trade and DTC focus — comparable sourcing heritage and single-origin storytelling, though primarily regional/Latin American.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mtcoffeetraders
• Instagraminstagram.com/mtcoffeetraders
• Xx.com/MTCoffeeTraders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montana-coffee-traders

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montana Coffee Traders