Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co

What Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co does

Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co. is an independent, single-location coffee shop operating from 3990 NC-105 South Suite #10 in Banner Elk, North Carolina, at the base of Grandfather Mountain. Founded in 2010 and currently owned by Victoria and Hayden Breckenridge (former investment banking and material science/engineering professionals who previously operated a Cut and Cured food truck), the business serves locally-sourced freshly brewed coffee, specialty teas, breakfast items (bagels, burritos, croissants, egg bites), pastries, and a differentiated gluten-free and dairy-free selection supplied through a certified celiac-safe partner (Dolci Di Maria).

The company generates revenue through three primary streams: in-store walk-in retail (the dominant channel), online pickup orders and gift card sales processed via Square, and direct-inquiry catering for corporate events, family reunions, and community gatherings. Pricing is unit-based pay-as-you-go with no published online menu pricing. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via the physical storefront, Square-based online ordering, and a catering inquiry form; there is no wholesale, third-party delivery, or franchise footprint.

Marketing is community-led and organic, relying on Google reviews, an email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram presence, community events including monthly Percent Days donating 10% of one day's proceeds to a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and a 2024 High Country Magazine feature. The technology stack is minimal — Square for commerce — with no proprietary systems, AI/ML capability, or external capital raised. The customer base spans local residents, tourists visiting Grandfather Mountain, Lees McRae College students and families, and area corporate/event catering clients.

Name

Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co

Legal name

Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co.

Website

https://mountaingroundsnc.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co. is an independent single-location coffee shop in Banner Elk, NC, serving locally-sourced coffee, specialty teas, breakfast items, catering, and gift cards to local residents, tourists, Lees McRae College students, and area businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Shop

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Neighborhood Cafes (THAFADAC)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee retail
• Locally sourced pastries
• Event catering services
• Gluten free bakery
• Community coffee shop

Headquarters

HQ city

Banner Elk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food & Beverage Retail Sales: In-store sales of freshly brewed coffee, specialty teas, pastries, breakfast items (bagels, burritos, croissants), and charcuterie/catering boards. Revenue is generated through walk-in customers, online pickup orders, and catering contracts.
2. Catering Services: Catering for corporate meetings, family reunions, and community gatherings, offering charcuterie boards, coffee/tea stations, pastries, and bagels. Customers inquire via an online form.
3. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in-store and online via Square, providing one-time预付费 revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mountain Grounds is a single-location independent coffee shop in Banner Elk, NC, selling freshly brewed coffees, specialty teas, and locally-sourced breakfast and pastry items including bagels, burritos, croissants, and gluten-free/dairy-free baked goods from Dolci Di Maria. The shop also offers catering services for corporate and community events, gift cards, and online ordering via Square, and runs a monthly Percent Days program donating 10% of proceeds to a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Product overview

Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Company operates as a single-location coffee shop offering freshly brewed coffees, specialty teas, and locally-sourced food items. The core product portfolio centers on coffee and tea beverages with diverse syrup flavor options, complemented by a food menu featuring breakfast items (bagels, croissants, burritos), pastries, and gluten-free/dairy-free options. Additional offerings include catering services for events, gift cards, and online ordering through Square. The company also operates a community program (Percent Days) supporting local non-profits. The company transitioned from a food truck business (Cut and Cured) to acquiring Mountain Grounds in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coffee and Tea Beverages

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dolci Di MariacoreOthersDolci Di Maria (Black Mountain, NC) supplies gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan pastry options to Mountain Grounds. All items are certified gluten-free and dairy-free from a certified celiac-safe facility, directly addressing the needs of customers with dietary restrictions. This is a key supply chain partnership supporting the shop's differentiation.
• GoGo'sminorOthersGoGo's (Old Fort, NC) supplies cinnamon rolls and assorted varieties to Mountain Grounds, providing locally-sourced pastry options for the menu.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Black Rock Coffee Bar: Multi-unit US specialty coffee chain operating neighborhood-style cafes with a similar locally-rooted brand voice, custom drinks, and food menu. Comparable in operating format (counter-service cafe), product mix, and target customer to Mountain Grounds, with a meaningful expansion playbook.
• Biggby Coffee: US franchise coffee chain with a community-focused, neighborhood cafe model. Comparable in positioning as a friendly local coffee shop with a broad beverage menu and light food, and represents the kind of scaled independent-style competitor that could enter Mountain Grounds' region.

Broad incumbents

• Peet's Coffee: Established US specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with company-owned stores emphasizing craft beverages. Comparable as a coffee-led cafe serving similar everyday occasions, but competing from a much larger national platform.
• Starbucks: Global coffee chain with company-operated and licensed stores in nearly every US market, including mountain/tourist towns. Highly comparable as a coffee beverage retailer serving local residents, commuters, and travelers, though it competes on scale and brand rather than local-sourcing or community engagement.
• Caribou Coffee: US coffee chain with cafes in regional and secondary markets, including mountain and Midwest tourist areas. Comparable as a multi-unit cafe serving similar everyday coffee occasions in non-urban geographies.
• Dutch Bros Coffee: Fast-growing US drive-thru coffee chain expanding aggressively into secondary and tertiary markets. Comparable as a specialty coffee retailer targeting similar everyday occasions (morning beverage + light food), and a likely long-term competitive threat in Mountain Grounds' trade area.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee company operating cafes with a focus on craft beverages and curated food. Comparable in product category and craft coffee positioning, though it competes at the premium end and operates in larger metros.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafe locations emphasizing high-quality, locally-relevant coffee experiences. Comparable as a craft coffee retailer with a similar independent-coffee ethos and broad beverage-plus-food menu.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mountain-grounds-coffee-tea-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea Co