Academic Coffee
Academic Coffee is a San Jose-based specialty coffee micro-roastery and DTC e-commerce retailer selling single-origin coffees, premium Japanese teas, and branded merchandise via Shopify to specialty coffee and tea enthusiasts in the US and EU.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Academic Coffee does
Academic Coffee is a San Jose, California-based specialty coffee micro-roastery and direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer founded in 2016. The company sells single-origin and blended coffees, premium Japanese teas (ceremonial-grade matcha and hojicha), and branded merchandise (apparel and stickers) exclusively through its Shopify-powered online storefront, shipping to the United States and the European Union. Its catalog comprises 17 SKUs across coffee (8 items, $21-$28/bag), teas (4 items, $40-$65), and merchandise ($2-$34), with blends named after San Jose landmarks such as Alum Rock and Rose Garden as a local-brand differentiator.
The business operates two revenue streams: one-time DTC purchases and a monthly Roaster's Choice subscription delivering 1-4 bags of rotating curated coffees at $23/bag with 5-10% frequency discounts. Customer acquisition is driven by organic social presence on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, plus an email newsletter; there is no disclosed paid acquisition, wholesale channel, or institutional funding. The operation is founder/small-team run with 1-10 employees and no parent company, partnerships, or external capital referenced in available material.
The company serves a single segment — specialty coffee and tea enthusiasts seeking curated, single-origin, and ceremonial-grade products at home — and competes on local cultural storytelling, curated rotation, and premium Japanese tea sourcing rather than on price, scale, or technology. There is no evidence of AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology beyond Shopify, or quantitative growth metrics, making Academic Coffee best characterized as a lifestyle DTC micro-brand rather than a venture-scale business.
Academic Coffee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Academic Coffee
- Legal name
- Academic Coffee
- Website
- https://academiccoffee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Academic Coffee is a San Jose-based specialty coffee micro-roastery and DTC e-commerce retailer selling single-origin coffees, premium Japanese teas, and branded merchandise via Shopify to specialty coffee and tea enthusiasts in the US and EU.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Academic Coffee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee & Tea
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where Academic Coffee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Academic Coffee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: One-time purchases of coffee beans, teas, and merchandise through their e-commerce storefront. Products include single-origin coffees, blends, ceremonial matcha, hojicha, and branded merchandise like stickers and apparel.
- Monthly Coffee Subscription: Recurring monthly subscription service offering 1-4 bags of rotating coffee selections delivered monthly. Subscribers can choose delivery frequency and save 5-10% depending on frequency. Auto-renews with ability to skip or cancel anytime.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single bag coffee purchases |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium matcha and hojicha teas |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly rotating coffee subscription |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Academic Coffee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Academic Coffee operates a cafe and micro roastery in San Jose, California, roasting and selling specialty single-origin and blended coffees, premium Japanese ceremonial teas (matcha and hojicha), and branded merchandise. Products are sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer Shopify e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a rotating monthly coffee subscription service delivering curated selections.
Product overview
Academic Coffee is a specialty coffee and tea e-commerce retailer based in San Jose, California, operating exclusively through a Shopify-powered online store. The product portfolio consists of single-origin and blended coffees (Alum Rock Blend, Rose Garden Blend, Colombia Decaf, Ethiopia Cascara, Ethiopia Guji, Guadalupe Blend, Guatemala Buena Vista, Honduras), premium Japanese teas (House Premium Matcha, House Premium Hojicha, Saemidori Matcha, Yame Ceremonial), branded merchandise (Seeing Eyes Tee and various logo stickers), and a monthly coffee subscription service (Roaster's Choice) offering rotating curated selections. All products are sold directly to consumers via the Shopify e-commerce platform with no physical retail locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Alum Rock Blend A medium-dark roast coffee blend featuring coffees from Costa Rica and Colombia, delivering notes of baker's chocolate, toasted hazelnut, and lingering toffee sweetness. Named after San Jose's oldest municipal park. Sold to individual coffee enthusiasts.
- Rose Garden Blend A medium roast blending Ethiopian and Colombian coffees with rich chocolate and mixed berry notes complemented by cane sugar sweetness and a smooth finish. Inspired by San Jose's Rose Garden.
- Colombia Decaf A medium-dark roast decaf coffee with notes of roasted marshmallow and cocoa, featuring a smooth body and clean, satisfying finish.
- Ethiopia Cascara A medium-light washed heirloom coffee from Yirgacheffe opening with notes of blueberry pie, bergamot, and floral lemon, with a delicate tea-like finish.
- Ethiopia Guji A fruit-forward coffee layered with raspberry jam, kiwi, and loquat, bright, juicy, and naturally sweet with a smooth clean finish.
- Guadalupe Blend A medium roast built on Colombian coffees delivering creamy milk chocolate, crisp green apple, and gentle cane sugar sweetness.
- Guatemala Buena Vista A medium-light natural Pacamara coffee from Fraijanes, Guatemala bursting with juicy cherry, ripe mango, and sweet sugar plum notes.
- Honduras A medium-light roast with notes of white sangria, honey, and peach rings, bright and juicy with sweetness and balance.
- House Premium Matcha (100g) A vibrant green matcha from Nishio, Aichi Prefecture with delicate nuttiness, gentle sweetness, and spring grass notes. Suitable for matcha lattes.
- House Premium Hojicha (100g) A roasted Japanese tea crafted from leaves and stems, slow-roasted to bring forward warm notes of caramel, cocoa, and toasted grain with naturally low caffeine.
- Saemidori Matcha (30g Tin) A ceremonial-grade matcha from Kagoshima, Japan featuring Saemidori cultivar (First Flush), stone-milled and shade-grown with strong umami, low bitterness, and floral notes.
- Yame Ceremonial (30g Tin) A ceremonial matcha from Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture featuring Okumidori (First Harvest) cultivar with concentrated sweetness, deep umami, and velvety texture.
- Roaster's Choice Monthly Coffee Subscription A rotating coffee subscription delivering 1-4 bags monthly of curated selections including everyday favorites, seasonal releases, and new arrivals. Auto-renews with 5% monthly or 10% bi-weekly discount; subscribers can skip or cancel anytime.
- Seeing Eyes Tee A branded t-shirt featuring the Seeing Eyes design, available in sizes S, M, L, XL.
- Academic OG Logo Sticker The OG logo sticker available in five colorways (Pandan, Guava, OG Teal, Hojicha, Matcha). Measures 4"L x 3"W on glossy weather-resistant vinyl.
- Academic Oval Sticker An oval-shaped logo sticker available in Red/Cream and Grey/Black colorways. Measures 4"L x 2"W.
- Academic Sparkle Sticker A vintage-style logo sticker with sparkle design available in Brown and Teal. Measures 3"L x 2"W on weather-resistant reflective vinyl.
Companies that use Academic Coffee
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Academic Coffee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Academic Coffee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Academic Coffee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with strong DTC e-commerce, subscription program, and cafe footprint. Comparable on product format (single-origin, blends, subscription) and target market; Verve adds a cafe channel that Academic Coffee lacks.
- Counter Culture Coffee: Sustainability-focused specialty coffee roaster with subscription service, wholesale, and training programs. Direct peer on product type (single-origin specialty), GTM (DTC + wholesale), and target customer (specialty enthusiasts).
- Equator Coffees: Specialty roaster combining DTC e-commerce, subscriptions, wholesale, and cafe locations. Comparable business model with a regional anchor (Marin County, CA) similar to Academic Coffee's San Jose identity-driven positioning.
- Driftaway Coffee: Direct-to-consumer specialty coffee subscription brand built around rotating curated selections. Closest pure-play comp to Academic Coffee's Roaster's Choice model — same target customer (home-brewing enthusiasts), same core SKU format, and same digital-first GTM motion.
- Trade Coffee: Online specialty coffee marketplace and subscription service matching customers with roasters. Direct competitor in DTC specialty coffee subscriptions, with broader multi-roaster catalog but identical audience and delivery cadence as Academic Coffee's monthly offering.
- Ippodo Tea Co. Japanese tea specialist offering premium ceremonial-grade matcha, hojicha, and sencha via DTC e-commerce. Directly comparable to Academic Coffee's Japanese tea assortment, with stronger brand recognition but similar price points and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Scaled specialty coffee roaster with DTC subscriptions, wholesale, and cafe network. Comparable on subscription mechanics and target market, but with meaningfully greater scale and capital backing.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Nestlé-owned specialty coffee incumbent with DTC subscriptions, cafe footprint, and broad retail distribution. Sells the same single-origin and blended SKUs but at much larger scale; useful comp for ceiling pricing and brand-building benchmarks.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: PepsiCo/Lex-backed specialty roaster with DTC, wholesale, and cafe presence. Comparable on product and customer but operates at substantially greater scale and brand recognition.
Emerging players
- Cometeer: Specialty coffee brand using flash-frozen brewing technology for DTC delivery. Adjacent competitor for the home-brewing specialty coffee enthusiast customer; differentiated by format rather than bean sourcing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Academic Coffee social profiles
Digital presenceAcademic Coffee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Academic Coffee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Academic Coffee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Academic Coffee M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Academic Coffee
What does Academic Coffee do?
Academic Coffee operates a cafe and micro roastery in San Jose, California, roasting and selling specialty single-origin and blended coffees, premium Japanese ceremonial teas (matcha and hojicha), and branded merchandise. Products are sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer Shopify e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a rotating monthly coffee subscription service delivering curated selections.
Is Academic Coffee a public or private company?
Academic Coffee is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Academic Coffee founded?
Academic Coffee was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Academic Coffee based?
Academic Coffee is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
How does Academic Coffee make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are monthly Coffee Subscription.
Who are Academic Coffee's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Verve Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, Equator Coffees, Driftaway Coffee, Trade Coffee and Ippodo Tea Co.. Broad incumbents are La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Blue Bottle Coffee and Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Cometeer is listed as an emerging player.
Does Academic Coffee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Academic Coffee.
What industry is Academic Coffee in?
Academic Coffee's product category is Specialty Coffee & Tea. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAI, Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.