The roasters behind
your next favorite cup

“From petroleum engineering to Probat roasting”

Mirian Diop spent a decade at ExxonMobil before leaving it all behind for a Probat machine in Georgetown, Texas. She named her roastery "Katï" — meaning "knowledge" in Lelemi, the native language of a village in Ghana.

Every bag carries intention: her "Grounds for Grace" blend funds support for adults with developmental disabilities, and she runs a scholarship fund at Southwestern University. The coffee itself is meticulous — single-origin lots roasted with an engineer's precision and an artist's intuition.

“Solar-powered, gas-free, zero-compromise”

Jim and Deanna Varney built something radically different in rural Massachusetts: a roastery powered by on-site solar panels, running an all-electric Air-Motion machine with no gas and no drum.

Coffee ships in 100% recyclable steel cans. Their sourcing focuses on climate adaptation, organics, and social equality. Featured in Daily Coffee News' "26 New Roasters to Support in 2026," Wavelength proves sustainability and exceptional flavor aren't in conflict — they're inseparable.

“Zero inventory. Every order roasted fresh.”

Will Richter runs DarkSide with a rule most roasters would call impossible: he keeps absolutely zero pre-roasted inventory. Every single order is roasted fresh, with a five-business-day turnaround.

His signature "Tinkler Blend" was born during a Milwaukee-to-Chicago commute in 2020, combining Sumatran beans with Colombian Supremo. He also offers custom blend design — tell him what you want, and he'll build it from scratch. This is bespoke coffee at micro scale.

“From crisis zones to the Chesapeake Bay”

Annie Leverich spent over a decade with USAID in international crisis response. When her career landscape shifted, she followed a long-held dream to the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

First Light is "built for early risers, dreamers, and doers." Every bag is roasted to order, and 5% of all profits go directly to World Central Kitchen. Featured in Daily Coffee News' 2026 new roaster roundup, Annie's bringing humanitarian precision to every batch.

“A retiree, a fluid-bed roaster, and a 300-sq-ft dream”

Kent Virtue retired from a 32-year grocery industry career and turned his 15-year home-roasting hobby into something real. His roastery: a purpose-built 300-square-foot addition to his house in Baker City, Oregon — population 10,000.

He roasts on a Coffee Crafters Valenta 7 fluid-bed roaster, sells at local farmers markets, and named the whole operation after his commitment to helping local stray cats through Best Friends of Baker, Inc. Proof that passion has no expiration date.

“Behind a barbershop, inside a courtyard, beyond expectations”

Tucked behind a barbershop in Louisville's Germantown neighborhood, Hinterhof is a kaffee shop and micro-rösterei with a courtyard that feels transplanted from Berlin. "Hinterhof" means "backyard" in German.

They select uncommon origins to share unique flavor profiles most roasters won't touch, cupping every new batch to ensure optimum flavor. Jazz nights in partnership with the Louisville Jazz Society make this more than a coffee stop — it's a cultural outpost disguised as a hidden gem.