Congregation Coffee Roasters

What Congregation Coffee Roasters does

Congregation Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company founded in 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating three owned locations: the Algiers Point flagship cafe on Pelican Avenue, an Uptown cafe at Magazine & Jefferson, and a roastery/headquarters on Tchoupitoulas Street. The company roasts specialty coffee — single origins (including experimental anaerobic/lactic fermentations such as Guava Lactic and Caturra The Journey), signature blends (High Walk, Gallop, Spots, Low Walk, Tail Walk, Cold Brew), and a New Orleans-style chicory blend — and packages it using nitrogen-flush technology with a reverse vacuum seal that extends unopened shelf life to approximately four months. Each bag carries a proprietary five-level Congregation Coffee Flavor Wheel for consumer education.

The business operates three coordinated revenue streams: (1) direct-to-consumer retail through the two cafes and a Shopify e-commerce store selling coffee, merchandise, gift cards, and gift bundles; (2) a recurring Bean Subscription service with configurable size (12oz–5lb), grind type (six options), frequency (1–4 weeks), and gift tiers (3/6/12 months); and (3) a regional wholesale program serving restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes throughout Louisiana with training, equipment support, and consumables. Wholesale customers include Four Seasons New Orleans, Brennan's (since 2015, with an exclusive single origin), Jewel of the South, Patois, Light House Coffee, Capulet, Dovetail Bar, Tonti's Hand, and Plume Algiers. Pricing for retail coffee ranges from $18–$28 per 12oz–2lb bag, with merchandise ($14–$32) and gift cards ($35/$50/$100) at modest price points.

Congregation is independently owned (owner Eliot Guthrie, founder, a former chef), appears bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional capital, and uses a community-driven marketing approach: an active blog (Notes), Instagram and Facebook, email, community events (latte art competitions, Pine Wood Derbies), and recurring cause-marketing partnerships with New Orleans non-profits such as Grow Dat Youth Farm, Southern Solidarity, New Orleans Musicians' Clinic, Eternal Seeds, and Kryla. The company has no app, no public API, and no AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

Name

Congregation Coffee Roasters

Legal name

Congregation Coffee

Website

https://congregationcoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Congregation Coffee Roasters is a New Orleans-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 2015, operating two cafes and a roastery. It sells single-origin and blended coffees, branded merchandise, and subscriptions directly to consumers and through a wholesale program serving Louisiana hospitality accounts including Four Seasons New Orleans and Brennan's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee program
• Cafe retail operations
• Coffee merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail - Coffee: Direct sales of whole bean and ground specialty coffee through company website and physical cafe locations. Offers multiple roast profiles and single origin options.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription service delivering coffee at customizable intervals (1-4 weeks). Includes standard and gift subscription options with various size and grind preferences.
3. Wholesale Coffee Program: B2B sales of coffee to restaurants, cafes, hotels, and bars. Provides training, equipment guidance, and ongoing support to wholesale partners.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including mugs, t-shirts, hats, totes, and tumblers through retail locations and online store.
5. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available in $35, $50, and $100 denominations for online and in-store redemption.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Congregation Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster that sells single-origin and blended whole-bean and ground coffees, a customizable Bean Subscription service, and branded merchandise through its own New Orleans cafes, an e-commerce store, and a wholesale program serving restaurants, hotels, and bars. The company roasts at a dedicated facility on Tchoupitoulas Street and distributes nitrogen-flush packaged coffee regionally and online across the United States.

Product overview

Congregation Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company based in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 2015. The company offers a portfolio of products organized into three main categories: (1) Coffee Products including single origin coffees (Guava Lactic, Caturra The Journey, Peru RUTAS DEL INCA) and signature blends (High Walk, Gallop, Spots, Low Walk, Tail Walk, Cold Brew), plus a Roaster's Choice Box for discovery; (2) Bean Subscriptions providing flexible recurring delivery with options for size (12oz to 5lb), grind type (whole bean, drip, French press, cold brew, pour over, espresso), and frequency (1-4 week intervals); and (3) Merchandise including branded apparel (Gator Pocket Tee, Classic Gator Shirt, The Parade, Cubs the Poet collaboration), drinkware (Stacked Gator Mug, Gator Tumbler), accessories (Crest Tote, Gator Hat, *Hat* Hat), and gift products (Gift Bundle, Gift Card). The company also operates a Wholesale Program for business partners. All products are available through the company's Shopify-powered e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Golden Hour (Summer Blend) Seasonal summer blend described as bright, sweet, rich, and syrupy with notes of peach iced tea and light red wine; sold as whole bean or ground coffee bags for home brewing and cafe service.
• Guava Lactic Experimental-process single origin from Fresno, Colombia, featuring 4-hour pre-fermentation on tarps followed by 7 hours of anaerobic fermentation with Lactobacillus Plantarum; tasting notes of pear, cherry syrup, and natural wine with lactic acidity.
• Caturra The Journey - Colombia Honey-process Colombian coffee with 60 hours of anaerobic fermentation and lactic-acid bacteria finish; tasting notes of amaretto, custard, and green apple.
• Peru - RUTAS DEL INCA Washed-process coffee from the Rutas del Inca cooperative in Northern Peru featuring Gesha and Caturra varietals; notes of key lime pie, effervescence, and vanilla.
• High Walk Versatile everyday blend of Guatemala-origin coffee, round and sweet with nutty chocolate on the nose and medium body; notes of walnut, pear, and baker's chocolate.
• Gallop Blend of Colombia and Guatemala designed for faster-paced days; nutty front transitioning to cool milky chocolate sweetness with notes of caramelized white sugar, red apple, s'mores, and black cherry. Recommended for espresso.
• Spots Darker, robust yet complex blend 50% sourced from Bolivia, washed process, medium roast; notes of brown butter, burnt caramel, and pecan.
• Low Walk Well-balanced decaffeinated coffee that is rich, sweet, and smooth; brewable by any method at any time of day, with notes of caramel, cinnamon, and green candy apple.
• Tail Walk New Orleans classic coffee and chicory blend reimagined with specialty coffee standards; bold, smooth, caramel-y cup with notes of dark chocolate, toasted almond, and molasses; sold pre-ground for drip.
• Cold Brew Classic cold brew blend of Colombia and Guatemala for at-home brewing; crisp and bright with balanced body, notes of orange peel and chocolate.
• Roaster Choice Box Curated two-bag (12oz each) box containing one current favorite blend and one single origin, selected by the roaster; designed for customers exploring the product range.
• Bean Subscriptions Recurring coffee subscription with Standard and Gift options, single origin or rotating blends, bag sizes of 12oz, 2lb, or 5lb, delivery frequency of 1-4 weeks, and grind choices including whole bean, drip, French press, cold brew, pour over, and espresso.
• Wholesale Program B2B partnership program for restaurants, hotels, bars, and cafes offering the full coffee catalog, quarterly barista training refreshers, equipment advice, filters, and cleaning products; supports shipping and delivery to regional accounts.
• Congregation Gift Bundle Pre-assembled gift set combining a Crest Tote, Stacked Gator Mug, and a 12oz roaster-selected seasonal coffee bag (whole bean or ground); items cannot be swapped or substituted.
• Congregation Gift Card Digital gift card in $35, $50, or $100 denominations redeemable in the online store (online-only variant).
• Stacked Gator Mug 11oz ceramic mug with a loop handle featuring the classic gator logo; hand wash only.
• Crest Tote Branded canvas tote bag measuring 18.5" x 15" with a 22" shoulder strap.
• Gator Hat Adams brand two-toned green and khaki baseball cap with the classic Stacked Gator logo and adjustable leather strap.
• Gator Tumbler Created Co. 12oz stainless steel tumbler featuring the three gator logo; designed for hot and cold beverages.
• Gator Pocket Tee 100% cotton Comfort Colors pocket tee featuring the classic gator seal logo.
• *Hat* Hat Branded headwear featuring the bowler-hatted gator mascot from the classic logo.
• Classic Gator Shirt T-shirt featuring the classic gator design as part of the core apparel collection.
• The Parade Mardi Gras-themed artist collaboration t-shirt designed by Kallie Tiffau, printed on 100% cotton Comfort Colors fabric by INFERNO Screen Printing; celebrates King Cakes and New Orleans parade culture.
• Cubs the Poet x Congregation T-Shirt Artist collaboration t-shirt with local Algiers Point artist Cubs the Poet, featuring the classic gator design reimagined by the artist; made from 100% cotton Comfort Colors fabric.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nitrogen-flush packaging extends coffee freshness to 4 months unopened

Named customers9 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

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brennan'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015One of the first wholesale partners since 2015. Congregation roasts a special medium-bodied, low-acidity single origin coffee exclusively for Brennan's. Served as French Press and used for espresso beverages with Gallop Blend.
• Four Seasons New OrleanscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCongregation Coffee is used throughout the Four Seasons hotel including Miss River restaurant, Chemin a la Mer restaurant, Chandelier Bar, and In Room Dining. They serve espresso classics, espresso martinis, and specialty cocktails like the West Bank Irish Vietnamese-style coffee with Jameson.
• Jewel of the SouthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAward-winning cocktail bar (Best US Restaurant Bar by Tales of the Cocktail, 50 Best Bars in North America) uses Congregation Coffee creatively in cocktails including The Druid Priest, Earl of Harlem, Coffee Cobbler, and Espresso Martini.
• CapuletminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBywater cafe and event space uses Congregation cold brew in cocktails like 'I Know Who Brewed Me!' featuring aged rum, southern amaro, St Germain, and orange.
• PatoisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUptown French restaurant serves Congregation's Ethiopian single origin coffee (Ardi) as drip coffee, complementing their French cuisine with Louisiana patois.
• Light House CoffeeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBaton Rouge cafe featuring Congregation Coffee as guest roaster on espresso and pour over. Has a mission-focused approach to hiring refugees.
• Plume AlgiersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional Indian cuisine restaurant blocks from Congregation's cafe serves drip coffee using Congregation products. Supports local neighborhood including nearby school teachers.
• Dovetail BarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeautiful bar near Saenger Theatre serves Congregation cold brew, drip, and espresso martinis. Offers housemade vanilla bourbon syrup in cold brew. Coffee served mornings, cocktails evenings.
• Tonti's HandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench restaurant neighbor serves Two Spot blend as French Press table-side in delicate porcelain cups. Located steps from Congregation's Algiers Point cafe.
• Give Me NolaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHyper-local gift box business includes Congregation Coffee products in custom gift boxes celebrating New Orleans culture and authenticity.
• Grow Dat Youth FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit youth leadership farm. Congregation features Brown Sugar Pistachio Latte with proceeds benefiting the organization. Farm has produced 275,000+ lbs of food since 2010.
• Southern SolidarityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal non-profit founded during pandemic to help unhoused community. Congregation featured Red Beans and Rice Latte with $2 from each sale benefiting the organization.
• New Orleans Musicians' ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst musicians' clinic in the US (founded 1998). Congregation features Dulce de Coconut Latte with proceeds benefiting the organization that provides health resources to musicians.
• Eternal SeedsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity non-profit founded by Studio Be supporting New Orleans artists and Black history/culture preservation. Congregation featured Ruby Latte with 100% of sales donated.
• Kryla (КРИЛА)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNGO founded by Ukrainian-Americans providing humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Congregation featured Candied Yam Latte supporting Ukrainian refugees.
• Ralph Brennan BakeryminorOthersLocal bakery provides pastries daily for Congregation's cafe locations.
• Cubs the PoetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artist and Algiers Point neighbor creates artistic collaborations including t-shirt designs and the Tirra Process Set poster. Art printed locally by Constance using Riso technique.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster focused on sustainability, training, and wholesale partnerships with cafés and restaurants. Closely comparable to Congregation's wholesale-led, training-supported model with strong regional identity and educational content.
• Ritual Coffee Roasters: San Francisco specialty coffee roaster with cafes, wholesale partnerships, and a strong D2C business. Directly comparable to Congregation on cafe + wholesale + DTC mix with a focus on quality and community.
• Heart Coffee Roasters: Portland-based specialty coffee roaster with a small cafe footprint, D2C e-commerce, and selective wholesale accounts. Highly comparable to Congregation on regional identity, small-batch craft positioning, and cafe-as-flagship model.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, a strong D2C subscription business, and a focus on experimental processing and single-origin storytelling. Very close peer to Congregation in scale, brand-led positioning, and product innovation.
• Onyx Coffee Lab: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, competition-grade roasting, and a direct-to-consumer subscription/retail business. Closely comparable to Congregation on experimental processing, competition culture, and small-batch storytelling.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Acquired by Nestlé, Blue Bottle operates a network of cafes and a national D2C subscription/retail coffee business. Comparable to Congregation in combining cafe operations with specialty roasting and wholesale, but at vastly greater scale and capital base.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, wholesale program, and direct-to-consumer subscriptions. Owned by Peet's/EMG, Stumptown parallels Congregation's three-pillar model (retail cafes + wholesale + DTC) and focuses on experimental processing and barista culture.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with a national cafe footprint, wholesale partnerships, and D2C canned/bottled RTD coffee products. Comparable to Congregation's cafe + wholesale + DTC mix, though La Colombe is much larger and has a major RTD distribution business.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes in select metros and a robust wholesale program serving fine-dining restaurants and hotels. Direct overlap with Congregation's premium hospitality wholesale positioning and barista training culture.

Regional players

• PJ's Coffee of New Orleans: New Orleans-born specialty coffee chain with cafe locations across the Gulf South. Direct geographic overlap with Congregation in New Orleans, but operates a much larger franchise model with broader category positioning (including flavored drinks).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/congregationcoffee
• Instagraminstagram.com/congregation_coffee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Congregation Coffee Roasters