ULTIMO COFFEE LLC

What ULTIMO COFFEE LLC does

Ultimo Coffee LLC is a Philadelphia-based specialty coffee roaster and multi-unit café operator founded in 2009 by Aaron and Elizabeth Ultimo. The company runs four café locations across the Newbold, Graduate Hospital, Rittenhouse, and Germantown neighborhoods, and operates an in-house roastery and lab in Newbold established in 2016 under the Ultimo Coffee Roasters banner. Coffees are sourced as single-origin lots from six producing countries (Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, Burundi) and roasted to order, with shipments going out on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The core product set is a rotating lineup of single-origin roasted coffees sold at $19-$24.50 per 12oz bag, complemented by a tiered subscription offering (weekly $21, monthly single-bag $21, monthly double-bag $42, and monthly 5lb bulk at $120) and a decaf and instant SKU (the latter produced in collaboration with Swift Cup Coffee). Supporting catalog items include coffee filters, branded drinkware (Fellow, Joco, Miir, enamelware, anniversary ceramic mugs), plastic and e-gift cards, and seasonal holiday pies. Distribution runs through three channels: café retail, a DTC e-commerce site shipping via USPS Priority within the continental US, and a wholesale program serving approximately 13 named accounts across local grocery, food service, and office customers, with low minimums and up to twice-weekly delivery.

Ultimo is a privately held, bootstrapped LLC with no external institutional funding and a stated 1-10 employee headcount. The company is a recognized brand in the US specialty coffee segment, named by The Daily Meal as the #1 Coffee Shop in the Country, featured in Eater's 38 Essential Coffee Shops in America, and recognized by Philadelphia Magazine and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Revenue is generated through in-cafe beverage and food sales, retail bag and merchandise sales, recurring subscriptions, and wholesale coffee supply, with café operations likely the largest single contributor.

Name

ULTIMO COFFEE LLC

Legal name

Ultimo Coffee LLC

Website

https://ultimocoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ultimo Coffee LLC is a Philadelphia-based specialty coffee roaster and four-unit café operator founded in 2009 that sells single-origin coffees, subscriptions, and merchandise via DTC e-commerce, company-owned cafés, and a wholesale program to local food service and retail partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roastery & Cafe

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD), Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Beverage Wholesale (AFAIAGAD), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Single-origin coffee beans
• Coffee subscription service
• Coffee wholesale distribution
• Cafe retail operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales: Direct sales of roasted coffee beans in 12oz, 1.5lb, and 5lb sizes. Prices range from $19-$24.50 per 12oz bag depending on origin.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Weekly, monthly, and bulk subscription options delivering freshly-roasted coffee on recurring basis. Weekly at $21/week, monthly at $21-42/month, bulk at $120/month.
3. Cafe Retail: In-store beverage sales at four Philadelphia cafe locations serving coffee drinks and food.
4. Wholesale Coffee: B2B coffee sales to local grocery outlets, office spaces, and cafes. Extremely low order minimums with up to twice-weekly delivery.
5. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including travel mugs, camping mugs, gift cards, and accessories. Prices from $5-$38.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ultimo Coffee LLC is a specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator that sources single-origin coffees from multiple countries, roasts them in-house at its Newbold roastery, and sells them through four Philadelphia cafe locations, a nationwide e-commerce shop, recurring subscriptions, and a wholesale program for local businesses. The company also sells branded merchandise, drinkware, and gift cards, and offers seasonal food items such as pies.

Product overview

Ultimo Coffee LLC operates as a specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain with a portfolio centered on single-origin coffees and related products. The core offerings include a rotating selection of single-origin roasted coffees sourced from Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Mexico, and Burundi, available for online purchase and in-cafe service. The company also offers coffee subscriptions (weekly, monthly single-bag, monthly double-bag, and monthly bulk 5lb options) that deliver freshly-roasted coffee on recurring schedules. Supporting products include drinkware accessories (Fellow Tumbler, Joco Travel Mug, Miir Travel Tumbler, Camping Mug, ceramic mugs), coffee filters, gift cards (plastic and e-gift via Square), and seasonal holiday pies. The company operates four cafe locations in Philadelphia neighborhoods (Germantown, Graduate Hospital, Newbold, and Rittenhouse) and maintains a wholesale program for businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Decaf - Colombia Decaf single-origin coffee sourced from Tolima, Colombia, featuring Castillo, Colombia, Caturra, Tabi, and Typica varieties processed using the Washed/Ethyl Acetate method at 1200-2000m altitude, with tasting notes of Toffee, Berry, and Banana Bread; roasted to order and shipped every Tuesday and Thursday.
• Kiangoi AA - Kenya Single-origin Kenyan coffee from Kirinyaga region, featuring SL-28, SL-34, and Ruiru 11 varieties processed using the Washed method at 1600 meters above sea level, with tasting notes of Raspberry, Apricot, and Dried Fig.
• Duromina #2 - Ethiopia Single-origin Ethiopian coffee sourced from 400 smallholder farmers in the Agaro region, featuring Indigenous Landrace varieties grown at 1850-1980 masl with tasting notes of Earl Grey, Candied Lemon, and Honey.
• Cosautlán - Mexico Mexican single-origin coffee from Veracruz region, featuring Bourbon, Sarchimor, and CR-95 varieties at 1350 masl with tasting notes of Dried Cherry, Date, and Brown Sugar.
• Munkaze - Burundi Burundian single-origin coffee from Kayanza region, featuring French Mission Bourbon variety grown at 1800-2000 masl with tasting notes of Dried Apricot, Milk Chocolate, and Lime.
• Los Lomas - Guatemala Guatemalan single-origin coffee from Unión Cantinil, Huehuetenango, featuring Bourbon variety at 1700 masl with tasting notes of Nougat, Plum, and Milk Chocolate.
• Imperial - Guatemala Dark roast coffee sourced from the La Danta group of over 70 producers in Guatemala, featuring Bourbon and Caturra varieties at 1200-1900 masl with tasting notes of Toasted Walnut, Raisin, and Dark Chocolate; roasted to order with a round, chocolatey, and sweet profile.
• Matambo AA - Colombia Colombian single-origin coffee from Huila region, featuring Colombia, Caturra, Bourbon Aji, and Pink Bourbon varieties at 1500-1900m with tasting notes of Orange Peel, Cane Sugar, and Browned Butter; sourced from 14 producers in the Gigante region since 2016.
• Karatu AA - Kenya Kenyan single-origin coffee from Kiambu county, featuring SL-28 variety at 1850-1883 masl with tasting notes of Red Currant, Lime, and Stewed Tomato; processed through the Karatu factory associated with the Gitwe Farmers Co-operative of 700-800 small growers.
• Halo Hartume - Ethiopia Ethiopian single-origin coffee from Gedeb, Yirgacheffee region, featuring JARC selections and Indigenous Landrace varieties at 1900-2210m with tasting notes of Melon, Peach, and Honeysuckle.
• Ultimo Instant - Piramide AA - Cauca, Colombia Instant coffee made in collaboration with Swift Cup Coffee from Piramide AA beans sourced in Cauca, Colombia; each box contains six packs brewing six 8-10 ounce cups instantly.
• Weekly Coffee Subscription Weekly subscription service delivering a freshly-roasted 12oz bag of seasonal single-origin coffee; coffee is roasted and shipped weekly on Tuesdays with automatic weekly charging at $21/week.
• Monthly Coffee Subscription Monthly subscription delivering one freshly-roasted 12oz bag of seasonal single-origin coffee, roasted and shipped on the first Tuesday of each month with automatic monthly charging at $21/month.
• Monthly Coffee Subscription (2 bags) Monthly subscription delivering two freshly-roasted 12oz bags of seasonal single-origin coffee (Roaster's Choice), roasted and shipped on the first Tuesday of each month at $42/month with optional gift message.
• Monthly Bulk Coffee Subscription Monthly bulk subscription delivering a freshly-roasted 5lb bag of seasonal feature coffee, roasted and shipped on the first Tuesday of each month at $120/month with free shipping included (code SUBSCRIPTION required at checkout).
• 13th Anniversary Lucky Rabbit Mug High-quality ceramic mug celebrating Ultimo Coffee's 13th year in business, featuring illustration by local artist and former Ultimo barista Lauren Fields.
• Camping Mug Enamelware mug hand-crafted in Poland using traditional firing methods, with double-dipped enamel layer on rim and handle for durability; priced at $18.00.
• Fellow Tumbler Stainless steel tumbler that keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, featuring internal splash guard and available in 12oz and 16oz sizes starting at $38.00.
• Joco Travel Mug Travel mug made from non-porous borosilicate glass, microwave and dishwasher safe, free of chemical nasties, modeled after standard disposable cup sizes.
• Miir Travel Tumbler Stainless steel travel tumbler that keeps beverages hot or cold, featuring attached stopper lid to prevent leaking; 12oz capacity available in black and white colors at $29.00.
• Coffee Filters High-quality coffee filters including Bonmac #2 bleached Japanese filters (100 count) and Chemex pre-folded filters (100 count) for 6c and 10c size brewers, starting at $7.00.
• Plastic Gift Card Physical plastic gift card usable at any Ultimo Coffee cafe location, available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25, $50, $75, and $100; cannot be used for online purchases.
• E-Gift Card Digital gift card purchasable via Square for use at any Ultimo Coffee cafe location, available at squareup.com/gift/9M79565TXNNMW/order.
• Apple Pie 9-inch classic apple pie made with local Pink Lady apples, brown sugar, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and flour; seasonal holiday offering requiring pre-order.
• Pumpkin Pie 9-inch classic pumpkin pie made with pumpkin, eggs, milk, cream, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, flour, and butter; seasonal holiday offering requiring pre-order.
• Wholesale Coffee Program Wholesale partnership program for businesses offering up to twice-weekly delivery/shipping, low order minimums, free cafe/equipment consultation, on-site coffee education, access to wholesale coffee equipment, free equipment installation/repair/maintenance, and a coffee rebate program for wholesale equipment purchases.
• Cafe Locations Four Philadelphia cafe locations serving beverages and food: Germantown (5901 Wayne Ave, weekdays 7A-6P, weekends 8A-6P), Graduate Hospital (2149 Catharine St), Newbold (1900 S 15th St), and Rittenhouse; these locations also serve as pickup points for online orders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average hourly wage $26/hour across all stores
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Maria's Bread SandwichesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• My LoupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• ALICEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• Vessel Coffee CollectiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• Mt. Airy Coffee CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• Williams CafeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• Newbold ExchangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• South Philadelphia Tap RoomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• American Sardine BarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• The Union LeagueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are served for resale.
• South Philly Food Co-opminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner where Ultimo Coffee products are sold through cooperative retail.
• Riverwards ProduceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner with multiple retail locations where Ultimo Coffee products are sold.
• Weaver's WayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale coffee partner with multiple locations where Ultimo Coffee products are sold.
• Swift Cup CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Ultimo Instant coffee product. Swift Cup Coffee enabled the production of instant coffee format, representing a major leap forward in instantly consumable coffee.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with deep farmer relationships, subscription programs, wholesale to cafes/offices, and training services. Highly comparable on sourcing transparency, education-led positioning, and B2B go-to-market.
• ReAnimator Coffee: Philadelphia-based specialty coffee roaster operating cafes and wholesale accounts with a focus on direct trade and roasted-to-order coffee. Directly comparable in city, product mix (single-origin), and channel strategy.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Philadelphia-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator founded in 1994 with national wholesale and DTC distribution. Most direct comparable given shared Philadelphia origin, third-wave positioning, multi-channel model (cafe + wholesale + e-commerce), and in-house roasting capability.
• Sightglass Coffee: San Francisco specialty roaster and cafe operator with in-house roasting, subscription, and wholesale. Closely mirrors Ultimo's roastery-cafe hybrid and single-origin focus.
• Elixr Coffee Roasters: Philadelphia specialty coffee roaster and cafe with a strong third-wave identity, in-house roasting, and DTC plus wholesale channels. Comparable on craft positioning and shared Philadelphia market.
• Joe Coffee: NYC-based specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain with strong wholesale to restaurants and cafes. Comparable cafe + wholesale + DTC structure in a dense urban market.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, wholesale, subscriptions, and single-origin sourcing on the West Coast. Closely matches Ultimo's roastery-cafe hybrid model and premium DTC positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneering third-wave roaster with Direct Trade sourcing, cafes, and wholesale to specialty retailers. Comparable craft positioning and B2B/wholesale model at national scale.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Nestlé-owned specialty coffee brand with cafes, e-commerce, and subscriptions emphasizing freshly roasted single-origin coffee. Overlaps strongly on product and channel model at substantially greater scale.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Nationally distributed specialty roaster owned by Peet's/Strauss Group with cafes, wholesale, and DTC. Same product category at much larger scale; reference competitor for Ultimo's national expansion aspirations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ultimo-coffee-llc

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 ULTIMO COFFEE LLC