Little Amps Coffee

What Little Amps Coffee does

Little Amps Coffee is a privately held, founder-owned specialty coffee roaster and retailer headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2010 as the passion project of an indie rocker and operational since its first café opened in October 2011, the company operates two retail cafés (1836 Green Street in Midtown and 133 State Street downtown) plus a wholesale roasting facility at 1931 Susquehanna Street. The core product is freshly roasted specialty coffee built around direct importer relationships with Coffee Quest and Osito Coffee, sourced from producers in Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Burundi, and India, and presented through a proprietary tasting-profile visualization system rating sweetness, acidity, and complexity on a 1–10 scale.

The product portfolio spans single-origin whole-bean coffees, signature blends (Friend Blend, Into The Void), rotating limited releases, freeze-dried instant SKUs produced in partnership with Swift Coffee, and two subscription tiers (The Hits at $19/10oz and Roaster's Picks at $22/10oz) via Appstle. Complementary lines include third-party brewing equipment (Fellow, Acaia, Hario, Aeropress) and branded lifestyle merchandise (CHILLER AMPS apparel, accessories, and co-branded Fellow Carter Move Mug). Distribution runs through both company-owned cafés and a national e-commerce store with a $70 free-shipping threshold.

The business operates across three revenue streams: one-time retail coffee and merchandise sales (~$19–$26 per coffee bag, $45–$400 for equipment), recurring subscription delivery, and B2B wholesale to 35+ stockists in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin — including enterprise accounts such as Wegmans, Giant, and Tröegs alongside small cafés. Wholesale partners receive training, equipment discounts, and ongoing support. The company relies on a 'small but mighty' bootstrap team with no institutional funding and underwent a head-roaster transition in 2025 (Whitney succeeding Andy).

Name

Little Amps Coffee

Legal name

Little Amps Coffee

Website

https://littleampscoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Little Amps Coffee is a privately held, founder-owned specialty coffee roaster founded in 2010 in Harrisburg, PA. It operates two retail cafés, a wholesale network of 35+ stockists across five states, and a national e-commerce platform selling coffee, subscriptions, brewing equipment, and branded merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Coffee, Espresso & Tea Appliances Retail (CRACADAC)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Single origin coffee
• Coffee subscriptions
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Specialty brewing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales: Direct sales of whole bean and instant coffee through two Harrisburg cafe locations and e-commerce website. Products include single origins, blends, and seasonal offerings at $19-$26 per bag.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription service delivering freshly roasted coffee on customer-defined schedules. 'The Hits' at $19/bag and 'Roaster's Picks' rotating single origins at $22/bag, with bi-weekly default delivery.
3. Wholesale Coffee: B2B coffee sales to cafes, restaurants, and retailers across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Includes training, equipment discounts, and ongoing support services.
4. Brewing Equipment Sales: Retail sales of brewing equipment including precision coffee makers ($400), grinders ($200), kettles, scales, and accessories from partner brands like Fellow, Acaia, and Hario.
5. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts $25-$30, hoodies, crewnecks), accessories (mugs $15, totes, rolling papers $3), and collaborative items like Fellow travel mugs ($35).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Little Amps Coffee roasts and sells specialty single-origin and blended coffees sourced through importer partnerships, operates two retail cafés in Harrisburg, PA, distributes wholesale coffee to partner businesses across five states, and runs recurring coffee subscriptions. The portfolio includes whole-bean bags, freeze-dried instant coffee produced with Swift Coffee, branded apparel and accessories, and third-party specialty brewing equipment.

Product overview

Little Amps Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in Harrisburg, PA, founded in 2010. The company offers a portfolio of coffee products including single-origin coffees, signature blends, instant coffee, and subscription services (The Hits for year-round bestsellers and Roaster's Picks for rotating single origins). Their product lineup features coffees from Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Burundi, and India, with detailed tasting profiles including sweetness, acidity, and complexity ratings. Beyond coffee, they sell branded merchandise (apparel, accessories) and third-party brewing equipment from brands like Fellow, Hario, Acaia, and Aeropress. The company operates two retail café locations and a wholesale program for businesses, with a strong emphasis on producer relationships and specialty coffee sourcing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Friend Blend Year-round signature coffee blend combining washed-process coffees from Colombia and Ethiopia with notes of Caramel, Citrus, and Milk Chocolate; available in 10oz, 2lb, and 5lb sizes from $20.
• Into The Void Dark-roast single-origin coffee from Guajiquiro, Honduras, processed using the natural method, with notes of Cooked Berries, Mulled Wine, and Cocoa.
• Finca el Jardín Single-origin Pink Bourbon variety coffee from Tolima, Colombia, produced by fourth-generation farmer Jorge Elías Rojas, with notes of Lemon, Strawberry, and Jasmine.
• Debbie Decaf EA-processed decaffeinated coffee from Colombian producers in Group Martír, featuring Castillo, Caturra, Colombia, and Typica varieties with notes of Citrus and Milk Chocolate.
• Mensur Abahika Single-origin Ethiopian coffee from the Tokuma Farmer Group with notes of Floral, Lemon Zest, and Stone Fruit.
• Shoondhisa Natural Natural-process Ethiopian single-origin coffee from Ture Waji of Sookoo Coffee, sourced from approximately 35 smallholder farms.
• Super Tasty Instant Shoondhisa Natural Freeze-dried instant coffee produced in partnership with Swift Coffee in Lancaster from Little Amps' Shoondhisa Natural coffee, with notes of Maple, Chocolate, and Blueberry Pancake.
• Super Tasty Instant Dark Star Freeze-dried instant dark roast coffee with notes of Dark Chocolate, Berries, and Jammy.
• Super Tasty Instant Debbie Decaf Freeze-dried instant decaffeinated coffee produced from EA-processed Colombian beans.
• The Hits Coffee Subscription Year-round recurring coffee subscription featuring Little Amps' best-selling blends, delivered on a customer-selected schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly) at $19 per 10oz bag.
• Roaster's Picks Coffee Subscription Recurring single-origin coffee subscription featuring limited and seasonal rotating releases, delivered on a customer-selected schedule at $22 per 10oz bag.
• Wholesale Coffee Program B2B wholesale partnership program supplying bulk specialty coffee to cafes, restaurants, breweries, grocery retailers, and specialty shops across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, with barista training, equipment discounts, and ongoing program support.
• Little Amps Coffee Cafés Two retail café locations in Harrisburg, PA serving specialty coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, and a small food menu: 1836 Green Street (Midtown, opened October 2011, with a small kitchen open Thursday–Sunday) and 133 State Street (Downtown, near the Capitol Building and riverfront).
• CHILLER AMPS Pocket T-Shirt 2026 Branded Little Amps t-shirt from the CHILLER AMPS series with a Miller Genuine Draft theme, featuring a three-color front and back print.
• CHILLER AMPS Surf Rope Cap Branded Little Amps cap from the CHILLER AMPS series, an S&S Nylon Surf Rope Cap embroidered with the Miller Genuine Draft-themed design.
• Little Amps Coffee x Fellow 12oz Carter Move Mug Co-branded 12oz travel mug produced in collaboration with Fellow Products, featuring a snap-in splash guard and slim-width design.
• Little Amps 420 BIC Lighter Custom-branded BIC lighter from Little Amps' 420 collection, inspired by Phillies Blunt and designed with assistance from Brandt Imhoff.
• Aiden Precision Coffee Maker Fellow Products electric precision coffee brewer featuring precise temperature control, a dual shower head, and a timed bloom cycle, priced at $400.
• Opus Conical Burr Grinder Fellow Products all-purpose conical burr grinder with 41+ precision settings, anti-static technology, 6-blade 40mm conical burrs, and 110g capacity, priced at $200.
• Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Kettle Fellow Products variable-temperature electric pour-over kettle with an LCD screen, quick heating, and temperature hold functionality.
• Acaia Pearl Coffee Scale Acaia award-winning precision coffee scale featuring a real-time flow-rate indicator plus weight and time monitoring modes for pour-over brewing.
• Hario Drip Scale Hario precision drip scale designed for pour-over brewing, offering an affordable, responsive, and clean aesthetic.
• Hario V60 Ceramic 02 Dripper Hario ceramic pour-over dripper designed for use with a two-pour technique and a 3:30 brew time.
• Aeropress Coffee Maker Portable Aeropress coffee brewer combining immersion brewing with paper filtration, used in world championships and includes a travel tote bag, priced at $45.
• Little Amps Gift Cards Gift cards available in $15, $20, $25, $30, $35, $40, $45, $50, $75, and $100 denominations, redeemable at Little Amps retail café locations only.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coffee QuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary importer partner providing access to specialty coffee producers globally. Works with producers like Jorge Elías Rojas of Finca el Jardín in Colombia. Enables Little Amps to evaluate and source exceptional coffees through cupping and quality control processes.
• Osito CoffeecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary importer partner based in Lancaster. Sources coffees from producers including Long Miles Coffee (Burundi), Sookoo Coffee/Ethiopia, and Kerehaklu Estate (India). Essential for accessing international specialty coffee supply chain.
• Fellow ProductsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on branded Carter Move Mug (12oz). Fellow designs precision coffee equipment; Little Amps provides co-branding opportunity. Partnership enhances product offerings and brand cross-promotion.
• Swift CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partnership to create super tasty instant coffee products. Swift Coffee produces freeze-dried instant coffee using Little Amps coffee selections, making specialty coffee more accessible.
• Brandt ImhoffminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraphic designer for merchandise and brand collateral including apparel designs (CHILLER AMPS, 420 collection), mug designs, and marketing materials. Ongoing creative partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Onyx Coffee Lab:
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with company-owned cafes, a wholesale program, and direct-to-consumer subscriptions. Very similar go-to-market structure to Little Amps, with comparable product positioning around single-origin storytelling and lifestyle branding.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Durham, NC-based specialty roaster with strong wholesale and training programs serving cafes across the US. Closely analogous in the cafe-training-and-equipment-discounts wholesale model that Little Amps highlights, with overlapping single-origin sourcing philosophy.
• Joe Coffee Company: New York City specialty roaster-retailer operating multiple cafes plus a wholesale and subscription business. Closely aligned with Little Amps in cafe-led growth, subscription model, and specialty single-origin product positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Heritage specialty coffee roaster operating cafes, wholesale, and D2C at national scale. Directly comparable product (roasted specialty coffee), customer base (cafes, retail partners, consumers), and subscription/retail model, but at substantially greater scale and capital.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-originated specialty roaster with cafes, wholesale, and subscriptions, now part of Peet's. Comparable in the multi-channel specialty roaster archetype Little Amps operates in, but at much larger scale and with deeper wholesale penetration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/littleampscoffee
• Xx.com/littleamps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Little Amps Coffee