FAT MIILK COFFEE

What FAT MIILK COFFEE does

Fat Miilk Coffee is a Vietnamese coffee brand founded in 2020 by Lan Ho and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company specializes in single-origin 100% Robusta beans sourced through direct trade relationships with smallholder farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands (Buôn Ma Thuột, Đắk Lắk Province). Its core product lines are signature roasts — Courage (dark roast) and Charisma (medium roast) — available as whole bean or ground coffee in 12 oz and 5 lb sizes, alongside a Sampler Pack, a proprietary matte black stainless steel Phin Drip filter, glass mugs, and pre-packaged Vietnamese Coffee Kits. Robusta is positioned as the brand's differentiator, with messaging emphasizing approximately 2x the caffeine of Arabica, honey-process methods, and flavor profiles featuring dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and smoked caramel notes.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer sales run through a Shopify-hosted e-commerce site (fatmiilk.com) shipping to all 50 U.S. states with free shipping on orders $50+. A flagship company-owned retail cafe at 5018 N Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood serves Vietnamese coffee drinks daily from 8AM to 4PM, with a second store planned for 2026. A wholesale program distributes to retailers and cafes, supplemented by brand collaborations with cultural partners (The Other Art Fair, Malbon, Girl Scouts, Milky Milky Ice Cream). Roasting is outsourced to partner Brewpoint Coffee in Elmhurst, Illinois, on a toll-roasting basis. Revenue streams span coffee product sales, merchandise and apparel (Robusta Revolution® and Double Series collections), gift cards ($25-$500), and in-store events such as monthly Phin Brewing 101 workshops.

The customer base consists of specialty coffee enthusiasts seeking authentic Vietnamese coffee, gift buyers, and wholesale/retail partners. Pricing is structured at unit pricing: coffee at $25 per 12 oz bag, apparel between $25-$60, and coffee kits at $95. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding. It is led by Lan Ho (Founder) and Kim Nguyen (Head of Coffee Quality and Sourcing), with a team of 1-10 employees. Marketing is community-driven, leveraging Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, an email newsletter (23+ issues), and experiential events. The company is positioned to advance a "Robusta Revolution" narrative to shift perceptions of Vietnamese coffee and Robusta beans in the U.S. specialty coffee market.

Name

FAT MIILK COFFEE

Legal name

FAT MIILK COFFEE

Website

https://fatmiilk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fat Miilk Coffee is a Chicago-based Vietnamese coffee brand founded in 2020 that sells direct-trade 100% Robusta beans, brewing equipment, and apparel through e-commerce, a flagship Uptown cafe, and a wholesale program to specialty coffee enthusiasts and retailers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee
• Vietnamese coffee
• Robusta beans
• Coffee roasting
• Coffee retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: Direct sale of roasted coffee beans (whole bean and ground) in various sizes (12 oz, 5 lb). Signature roasts include Courage (dark roast), Charisma (medium roast), and Celebration. Small-batch roasted to order for maximum freshness.
2. Merchandise and Apparel: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, hats), accessories (socks, scarves, tumblers), and coffee gear (phin filters, glass mugs). Premium pricing with quality materials.
3. Gift Cards: Digital e-gift cards for online purchases and physical gift cards for in-store use. Available in denominations from $25 to $500.
4. Vietnamese Coffee Kits and Bundles: Pre-packaged gift sets combining coffee, phin filter, and mug for complete Vietnamese coffee experience. Sampler packs offering multiple roast varieties.
5. Wholesale: B2B wholesale distribution to retailers and cafes interested in carrying Fat Miilk products. Wholesale inquiry page for partnership onboarding.
6. In-Store Cafe and Events: Revenue from physical cafe locations serving Vietnamese coffee drinks, plus ticketed events like Phin Brewing 101 workshops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fat Miilk Coffee produces and sells single-origin 100% Vietnamese Robusta coffee (Courage dark roast, Charisma medium roast, Sampler Pack) via direct trade with smallholder farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands, small-batch roasted to order in Illinois. Beyond coffee, it sells Vietnamese phin drip brewing equipment and glass mugs, bundled gift sets (Vietnamese Coffee Kit), branded Robusta Revolution and Double Series apparel/accessories, e-gift cards, and ready-to-drink Vietnamese coffee beverages at its Chicago Uptown cafe.

Product overview

Fat Miilk is a Vietnamese coffee brand specializing in single-origin 100% Robusta beans sourced directly from smallholder farmers in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The company operates a direct trade model, roasting to order in Chicago (via partner roaster Brewpoint Coffee). Product portfolio spans coffee beans (Courage Roast, Charisma Roast, Sampler Pack), brewing equipment (Phin Drip, Glass Mug), gift sets (Vietnamese Coffee Kit, e-Gift Cards), and branded merchandise (ROBUSTA REVOLUTION® and Double Series apparel/ accessories). The company also operates a physical cafe in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood serving ready-to-drink Vietnamese coffee beverages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Robusta Revolution®: A collection celebrating Vietnamese coffee and Robusta, featuring apparel and accessories including hoodies, socks, hats, tumblers, and scarves.
• Double Series

Products and services

• Courage Roast Single origin, 100% Vietnamese Robusta dark roast coffee with dark chocolate and roasted cashew tasting notes; robust and smooth profile; available as whole or ground bean in 12 oz or 5 lb sizes. Sold direct-to-consumer and wholesale.
• Charisma Roast Medium roast single-origin 100% Vietnamese Robusta coffee with toasted almond and smoked caramel tasting notes; light and balanced profile; available as whole or ground bean in 12 oz or 5 lb sizes.
• Sampler Pack Variety pack containing 6 oz each of Courage, Charisma, and Celebration Robusta roasts; serves as an introductory set to Fat Miilk's signature Vietnamese coffee flavors.
• Phin Drip Filter Custom-designed matte black stainless steel Vietnamese phin drip filter with 9.5 oz capacity for slow, concentrated extraction of Vietnamese coffee; reusable brewing equipment.
• FAT MIILK Glass Mug Tempered glass mug designed to keep coffee hot while remaining cool to the touch, allowing visibility of the coffee; branded drinkware paired with phin-brewed Vietnamese coffee.
• Vietnamese Coffee Kit Complete gift set bundling a sampler box of two 6 oz Robusta roasts, the Phin Drip filter, and a tempered glass mug, packaged for home brewing enthusiasts and gifting.
• Robusta Revolution® Hat Mid-profile six-panel cap in 100% cotton with curved peak, plastic snapback, and embroidered Robusta Revolution logo; limited edition branded apparel.
• Robusta Revolution® Hoodie Oversized heavyweight hoodie in 80% cotton / 20% polyester fleece featuring the Vietnam Red brand icon on a leather detail, with a drawcord-free design.
• Robusta Revolution® Crew Socks Set of two pairs of crew socks in black and Vietnam Red; full terry construction with 65% cotton and embroidered brand icon.
• Robusta Revolution® 13 ft Scarf Oversized scarf measuring 1.5 feet wide by 13 feet long, double-layered premium cotton with jacquard knitting technique; one-time-only branded release.
• Robusta Revolution® 16oz Tumbler 16oz Carter Move Mug by Fellow with 18/8 stainless steel body, inner ceramic coating, and BPA-free plastic lid; dishwasher-safe branded drinkware.
• Fat Miilk Black Embroidered Hoodie Oversized 280gm 80/20 ring-spun cotton/polyester hoodie with minimal black embroidery on the front and left sleeve; drop-shoulder design.
• Double Logo Cropped Tee Part of the Summer '26 Double Series collection. 345GSM GOTS-certified 100% organic combed cotton heavyweight tee with a structured boxy drape; unisex sizing in black and white.
• e-Gift Card Digital gift card for online purchases at fatmiilk.com, available in denominations from $25 to $500.
• FAT MIILK Uptown Cafe Physical Chicago storefront at 5018 N Broadway, open daily 8AM-4PM. Features a phin bar, full coffee menu, ready-to-drink Vietnamese coffee beverages, and retail merchandise. Functions as the company's flagship cafe and HQ.

Quantifiable outcome

• Robusta coffee contains nearly twice the caffeine and up to 60% less sugar than Arabica
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brewpoint CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerToll roasting partner for Fat Miilk's Vietnamese Robusta beans. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois. A 100% woman and minority-owned (Asian woman-owned) coffee roasting company whose mission is to build an equitable and inclusive world through coffee. Handles all small-batch roasting for Fat Miilk products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Philz Coffee: Specialty coffee chain with a strong experiential cafe positioning and limited DTC/retail presence. Comparable as a benchmark for a cafe-led specialty brand that emphasizes custom craft over commodity coffee—relevant for Fat Miilk's Phin brewing workshops and cafe-first community model.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Sustainability-focused specialty roaster with deep wholesale and education programs. Comparable in its emphasis on origin education and direct trade relationships—categories where Fat Miilk also differentiates—and as a wholesale channel competitor to cafes and retailers.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Established third-wave specialty roaster with DTC, wholesale, and cafe operations. Comparable as a benchmark for the kind of omnichannel specialty coffee brand Fat Miilk aspires to scale into, and a likely competitor if it adds Vietnamese coffee to its lineup.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Nestle-owned specialty coffee company with cafe retail, DTC subscription, and wholesale. Comparable in operating all three channels (cafe, DTC, wholesale) at scale and represents the well-capitalized incumbent that could enter Vietnamese specialty if it gains traction.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with DTC, wholesale, and cafe operations including RTD products. Comparable in operating an omnichannel specialty coffee model and in developing branded consumer products beyond beans (driftaway parallel to Fat Miilk's merchandise and bundled kits).
• Caffè Vita Coffee Roasting: Independent specialty coffee roaster operating cafes, wholesale, and DTC. Comparable as a multi-channel independent specialty operator that competes for similar cafe and wholesale customers in the craft coffee segment.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-based specialty coffee roaster with strong wholesale presence. Comparable as a Chicago-anchored third-wave roaster that has educated the local specialty market, against which Fat Miilk competes for shelf space and consumer mindshare.

Direct peers

• Nguyen Coffee Supply: Vietnamese-American owned specialty coffee company selling Vietnamese coffee (including Robusta and specialty single-origin) via DTC and wholesale. The most directly comparable peer given shared diaspora-driven founding story, Vietnamese coffee focus, and similar DTC-plus-wholesale GTM model.
• Copper Cow Coffee: Vietnamese-American founded specialty coffee brand offering Vietnamese coffee via single-serve pour-over formats. Comparable in cultural positioning (Vietnamese heritage-led brand), DTC focus, and target consumer (specialty coffee enthusiasts seeking Vietnamese flavors).

Emerging players

• Heart Coffee Roasters: Small specialty roaster focused on single-origin transparency and design-forward branding. Comparable in the design-conscious, education-driven positioning Fat Miilk pursues, though Heart focuses on Arabica; useful as a peer for understanding independent specialty scaling paths.

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fatmiilk
• Instagraminstagram.com/fatmiilk
• TikToktiktok.com/@fatmiilk
• Facebookfacebook.com/FatMiilk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fat-miilk

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 FAT MIILK COFFEE