The Coffee Barrel
The Coffee Barrel is a family-owned specialty coffee roastery and café in Holt, Michigan, founded in 1983, that roasts premium Arabica beans using fluid bed air roasting and serves individual consumers nationwide via Shopify, local walk-ins at its Holt café, and B2B wholesale customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersHolt, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Coffee Barrel does
The Coffee Barrel is a family-owned specialty coffee roastery and café headquartered at 2237 Aurelius Rd in Holt, Michigan, founded in 1983 and operating continuously for 43 years. The company roasts premium Arabica beans using fluid bed air roasting — a method used by under 10% of roasters worldwide — which roasts beans with hot air rather than a drum, producing a smoother, less bitter cup with batch-to-batch consistency. Its coffee catalog spans light, medium, and dark roast profiles across unflavored single-origin and blended Arabicas sourced from 25 regions, over 70 flavored varieties (caffeinated or decaffeinated), and Fair Trade / USDA Organic certified options; all decaffeinated SKUs are processed via the 100% chemical-free Swiss Water method. Complementary product lines include 1883 Syrups, Cappuccine Frappe Mix, David Rio Chai, Dr. Smoothie concentrates, Stirling Gourmet Flavors, Hollander Chocolate Co. powders and sauces, plus handmade ceramic mugs, frothing pitchers, and gift cards.
The business operates a three-channel go-to-market: a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront shipping nationwide with a Subscribe & Save program (10% discount, multi-purchase minimum, weekly or monthly cadence); a single physical roastery-café location in Holt serving local walk-in traffic Monday–Friday 8–5 and Saturday 9–3; and a B2B wholesale program supplying gourmet coffees and authorized equipment (Nuova Simonelli, LaMarzocco, Bunn) to cafés, restaurants, and specialty food stores under volume-based pricing tiers reviewed periodically. Pricing ranges from roughly $11 for entry-level 16 oz bags up to $360 for premium 5 lb single-origins such as Hawaiian Kona, with merchandise and café-product SKUs layered on top. The company employs 51–100 people, is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding or parent company, has not been involved in any reported M&A or leadership changes, and reports no public revenue figures.
The Coffee Barrel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Coffee Barrel
- Legal name
- Thecoffeebarrel
- Website
- https://thecoffeebarrel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Coffee Barrel is a family-owned specialty coffee roastery and café in Holt, Michigan, founded in 1983, that roasts premium Arabica beans using fluid bed air roasting and serves individual consumers nationwide via Shopify, local walk-ins at its Holt café, and B2B wholesale customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Coffee Barrel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAC), Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE), Beverage Concentrates, Syrups & Mixers Wholesale (AFAIAGAF)
Keywords
Where The Coffee Barrel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Holt
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Coffee Barrel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Coffee Bean Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling premium roasted coffee beans. Offers unflavored and flavored varieties across light, medium, and dark roast profiles. Products available in various sizes from 8oz to 5lbs. Includes single-origin coffees, signature blends, and Fair Trade/Organic options.
- Coffee Subscription: Recurring revenue through Subscribe & Save program offering 10% savings on regular deliveries. Minimum of 3 purchases required with flexible delivery cadence options.
- Wholesale B2B Sales: Supplying gourmet coffees to businesses including Fair Trade & Organic coffees, flavored coffees, and custom blends. Volume-based pricing with periodic account reviews to determine pricing levels.
- Café Products & Accessories: Sale of complementary products including 1883 syrups, Cappuccine frappe mixes, David Rio chai, Dr. Smoothie concentrates, Stirling gourmet flavors, Hollander sauces, and café equipment/accessories.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including handmade ceramic mugs, frothing pitchers, kraft bags, and gift cards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Coffee Bean Pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription Discount |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale Case Pricing |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | B2B Volume Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Coffee Barrel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Coffee Barrel roasts and sells premium Arabica coffees using a proprietary fluid bed air roasting method, offering unflavored single-origin and blended coffees, over 70 flavored varieties, Fair Trade and Organic certified options, and 100% Swiss Water decaffeinated beans. Beyond coffee, the company distributes complementary café products (syrups, frappe mixes, chai, smoothie concentrates, chocolate powders/sauces), café equipment, and branded merchandise to retail customers nationwide and wholesale B2B accounts.
Product overview
The Coffee Barrel is a family-owned roastery and café established in 1983, operating as a single unified product ecosystem centered on premium Arabica coffee roasted using fluid bed air technology. The core offering consists of unflavored single-origin and blended coffees sourced from 25 regions worldwide (including Fair Trade and Organic certified options) available in light, medium, and dark roast profiles, alongside over 70 flavored coffee varieties. The product portfolio extends through complementary café products including 1883 Syrups, Stirling Gourmet Flavors, Cappuccine Frappe Mix, David Rio Chai Tea, Dr. Smoothie Concentrates, and Hollander Chocolate Co. powders and sauces—all designed to support café and specialty beverage operations. Additional offerings include merchandise (handmade mugs), café equipment accessories, and wholesale programs for business customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Ships nationwide to coffee lovers across the United States
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Coffee Barrel
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Coffee Barrel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Coffee Barrel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Nuova SimonelliminorCommercial distributor of Nuova Simonelli espresso equipment, offering professional-grade espresso machines to their café and restaurant customers.
- LaMarzocco Espresso Specialists IncminorAuthorized distributor of LaMarzocco espresso equipment, providing premium espresso machine options for commercial customers.
- Bunn Coffee EquipmentminorCommercial distributor of Bunn coffee equipment including filters, brewers, and accessories for business customers.
- 1883 SyrupscoreExclusive reseller of 1883 premium syrups featuring natural cane sugar, artisanal flavors including Blackberry, Blueberry, Caramel, Cherry, Cinnamon, Coconut, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Peppermint, and more. 33.8oz bottles.
- CappuccinecoreAuthorized reseller of Original Cappuccine Frappe powdered mixes for frozen, over ice, or hot beverages. Popular flavors include Caramel Latte, Chocolate Decadence, Matcha Green Tea, Mocha Frappe, and Vanilla Latte.
- David RiocorePremium chai and tea company founded in 1996 by David Scott Lowe and Rio Miura. Reseller of award-winning chai products including Orca Spice Chai, Tiger Spice Chai, and Flamingo Vanilla Chai. Available in US and 50+ countries.
- Dr. SmoothiecoreReseller of 100% crushed fruit smoothie concentrates made with real fruits and veggies, sweetened with real fruit juices or cane sugar. No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup. Shelf-stable and gluten-free.
- Stirling Gourmet FlavorscoreFamily-owned syrup, sauce, frappe mix, and tea concentrate company for over 25 years. Multiple gold-medal awards for taste and quality. Products include syrups, sauces, frappe mixes, shakable toppings designed to complement each other.
- Hollander Chocolate Co.minorReseller of Hollander chocolate powders and sauces made for specialty coffee and beverages with real ingredients, cleaner labels, and professional flavor profiles.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Coffee Barrel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster operating direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale B2B accounts, and café locations with a similar premium positioning. Most directly comparable as a small-batch roaster competing for the same specialty coffee buyer across DTC and wholesale channels.
- Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty roaster focused on single-origin, sustainability, and Fair Trade certifications with both DTC and wholesale B2B distribution. Highly comparable due to overlapping certifications, sustainability narrative, and channel mix.
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Premium specialty roaster with direct trade sourcing, café operations, and wholesale accounts. Comparable in single-origin emphasis, premium price points, and barista-focused wholesale relationships.
- Kicking Horse Coffee: Canadian specialty roaster selling Fair Trade, Organic, and flavored Arabica coffees through DTC and wholesale channels. Comparable in product range (flavored, decaf, single-origin) and hybrid distribution model.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty roaster with subscription DTC, café retail, and wholesale accounts. Comparable premium positioning, though at significantly larger scale following Nestlé acquisition.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with DTC subscriptions, café locations, and B2B wholesale including draft latte RTD products. Comparable three-channel model and craft-positioning premium segment.
Broad incumbents
- Peet's Coffee: Major specialty coffee incumbent operating DTC, grocery distribution, and a national café footprint. Comparable product categories but operates at much broader scale and serves a wider mainstream audience.
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters: Established coffee roaster now part of Keurig Dr Pepper, producing packaged coffee at industrial scale across grocery and foodservice. Adjacent rather than direct: comparable product category but mass-market distribution model versus The Coffee Barrel's small-batch craft approach.
Regional players
- Biggby Coffee: Michigan-based coffee chain with strong Midwest footprint, headquartered in East Lansing near The Coffee Barrel's Holt location. Comparable as a Michigan-rooted specialty coffee brand serving the same regional customer base.
- Caribou Coffee: Midwest-focused coffee chain offering premium roasted coffee, café service, and packaged retail. Comparable regional Midwest specialty positioning and overlapping customer demographic.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The Coffee Barrel social profiles
Digital presenceThe Coffee Barrel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Coffee Barrel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Coffee Barrel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Coffee Barrel 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 The Coffee Barrel
What does The Coffee Barrel do?
The Coffee Barrel roasts and sells premium Arabica coffees using a proprietary fluid bed air roasting method, offering unflavored single-origin and blended coffees, over 70 flavored varieties, Fair Trade and Organic certified options, and 100% Swiss Water decaffeinated beans. Beyond coffee, the company distributes complementary café products (syrups, frappe mixes, chai, smoothie concentrates, chocolate powders/sauces), café equipment, and branded merchandise to retail customers nationwide and wholesale B2B accounts.
Is The Coffee Barrel a public or private company?
The Coffee Barrel is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Coffee Barrel founded?
The Coffee Barrel was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Coffee Barrel based?
The Coffee Barrel is headquartered in Holt, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Coffee Barrel make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Coffee Bean Sales are the primary driver. The others are coffee Subscription, wholesale B2B Sales, café Products & Accessories and merchandise.
Who are The Coffee Barrel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Counter Culture Coffee, Intelligentsia Coffee, Kicking Horse Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee and La Colombe Coffee Roasters. Broad incumbents are Peet's Coffee and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. Regional players are Biggby Coffee and Caribou Coffee.
Does The Coffee Barrel have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Coffee Barrel.
What industry is The Coffee Barrel in?
The Coffee Barrel's product category is Specialty Coffee Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFADAJ, Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing, with a secondary code of AFAFADAC, Coffee Blending & Flavoring. Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.