Coffee is more than just a morning pick-me-up; it’s an experience, a ritual, and a culture. If you’re a coffee aficionado, you know that not all coffee is created equal, and that’s where specialty coffee roasters come in.
Unlike regular coffee shops, specialty roasters source high-quality beans worldwide and roast them in small batches to perfection.
Pittsburgh’s great coffee scene is no exception, with several specialty coffee roasters that offer unique and delicious coffee experiences. Who are the best coffee roasters in Pittsburgh? This article will examine Pittsburgh’s best specialty coffee roasters, what distinguishes each, and what makes Pittsburgh’s coffee scene one to savor.
Best Coffee Roasters in Pittsburgh: Table of Contents
What Makes a Great Coffee Roaster?
A good coffee roaster sources high-quality green coffee beans and uses a careful roasting process to bring out the best flavors and aromas. They should have a strong understanding of the roasting process, including the impact of time and temperature on the beans.
Additionally, a good coffee roaster should prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing practices and be transparent about their processes and sourcing. They should also be able to consistently produce coffee that meets their standards for quality and flavor. Finally, excellent customer service and a commitment to education and community involvement are also important factors that make a good coffee roaster.
One thing that sets Pittsburgh’s coffee scene apart is the emphasis on community and collaboration. Many of the specialty coffee roasters in Pittsburgh work together to source high-quality beans, share brewing techniques, and support each other’s businesses.
This sense of camaraderie is particularly evident in events like Pittsburgh Specialty Coffee Week, which celebrates the steel city that’s vibrant coffee culture with tastings, workshops, and other interactive events. As a result, visitors to Pittsburgh enjoy exceptional coffee and experience a sense of community and inclusivity unique to the city’s coffee scene.
KLVN Coffee Lab
KLVN Coffee Lab is a trendy coffee roastery and cafe in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Known for its specialty coffee blends and unique brewing methods, KLVN offers a curated selection of single-origin beans and signature blends that are carefully roasted in-house.
Their cozy and inviting cafe features modern decor and a friendly staff always happy to chat about their passion for coffee. Whether you’re a coffee aficionado or simply looking for a delicious cup of joe, KLVN Coffee Lab is worth a visit.
Commonplace Coffee
Commonplace Coffee, founded by TJ Fairchild, is a Pittsburgh-based specialty coffee roaster focusing on sustainably sourced, ethically traded, and meticulously roasted coffee. They roast their coffee in small batches and prioritize transparency in their sourcing practices.
The coffee shop sells its beans online and in its cafes throughout Pittsburgh. Their cafes are warm and welcoming, offering a variety of brewing methods and a rotating selection of single-origin and blended coffees. Commonplace Coffee also offers a subscription service, regularly delivering fresh coffee to your doorstep.
One of the distinctive qualities of Commonplace Coffee is its emphasis on customer education, which includes educational coffee tours, coffee brewing classes, and public coffee cupping events. Commonplace is also dedicated to giving back to the community and has partnered with various organizations, including the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy.
Some of their popular coffee offerings include the Honduras Finca Los Lesquines with notes of Chocolate Almond, Acerola, and Raisin and the Kunjin Papua New Guinea with notes of Chocolate Malt, Candied Almond, and Clove.
Grounds and Hounds Coffee
Grounds and Hounds Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster with a charitable mission. They donate 20% of their profits to animal rescue organizations and promote dog adoption through their unique packaging featuring adoptable pups.
Their coffee beans are ethically sourced and roasted perfectly, with various blends and single-origin options. Grounds and Hounds Coffee also offers a subscription service, making it easy to enjoy their delicious coffee on a regular basis while supporting a great cause.
Redhawk Coffee
Redhawk Coffee is a newer addition to Pittsburgh’s coffee scene but has quickly garnered a loyal following. Redhawk is a small-batch roaster specializing in high-quality, ethically sourced coffee. The coffee roaster, located in the Oakmont neighborhood of Pittsburgh, offers a range of roasts and brewing methods that can be paired with their delicious house-made pastries.
They prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility in their sourcing and roasting practices, making them a great choice for coffee lovers who value ethical consumption. With a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, Redhawk is a must-visit for any Pittsburgh coffee enthusiast.
Redhawk Coffee is notable for its expert baristas and welcoming atmosphere, making it a must-visit for coffee lovers in Pittsburgh.
La Prima Espresso
La Prima Espresso is a Pittsburgh-based specialty coffee roaster that has been roasting coffee for over 30 years. They are dedicated to sourcing the best coffee beans from around the world and roasting them to perfection.
La Prima Espresso is committed to sustainability, and they source their coffee beans from farms that use environmentally friendly practices. They offer various single-origin and blended coffees and espresso and decaf options.
La Prima Espresso also operates several cafes in the Pittsburgh area, where customers can enjoy their delicious coffee along with pastries, sandwiches, and other treats.
Steel Cup Coffee Roasters
Steel Cup Coffee Roasters is a family-owned and operated coffee roastery located in the heart of Pittsburgh. They specialize in crafting small-batch artisan coffee using high-quality Arabica beans from around the world.
Steel Cup Coffee Roasters takes pride in its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices, ensuring its coffee is delicious and socially responsible.
Their cozy café in New Kensington is a must-visit for coffee lovers, offering a welcoming atmosphere and a wide range of delicious brews.
Redstart Roasters
Redstart Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They source their coffee beans directly from farmers and cooperatives, paying fair prices for their high-quality beans. Redstart Roasters offers a wide range of single-origin coffees and blends, each with a unique flavor profile.
Their dedication to quality extends to their roasting process, where they use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure consistent and even roasting. Redstart Roasters is committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility, using biodegradable and compostable packaging.
Convive Coffee Roastery
Convive Coffee Roastery is a small-batch coffee roastery in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. The shop sources its coffee beans directly from farmers and cooperatives around the world, ensuring quality and sustainability.
They offer a variety of single-origin and blended coffee options, and their rotating seasonal selection bean coffee is always worth trying. Convive also has a cozy cafe where you can enjoy their coffee drinks and baked goods.
With a commitment to community and the highest quality coffees, Convive Coffee Roastery is a must-visit spot for any coffee lover in Pittsburgh.
Mechanic Coffee Co
Mechanic Coffee Co is a small-batch coffee roaster located in the Pittsburgh area. The company sources high-quality green coffee beans worldwide and roasts them in-house to create delicious and unique blends.
Their coffee is roasted to order and shipped within 48 hours, ensuring maximum freshness. Mechanic Coffee Co offers single-origin coffee, decaf options, and a drip coffee subscription service. The company is committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly packaging and donating some of its profits to environmental causes.
La Colombe Coffee
La Colombe, founded by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti, is a specialty coffee roaster that began in Philadelphia and now has several locations globally. La Colombe has a bright and airy cafe in a historic Strip District building in Pittsburgh.
La Colombe is known for its distinctive roasts, including the Corsica blend, a bold and full-bodied roast, and the Nizza blend, a lighter and fruitier option. They also offer a food menu and specialty espresso drinks, like draft lattes and their famous Oat Milk Draft Latte.
Zeke’s Coffee
Zeke’s Coffee, founded by Chris Rhodes in Baltimore, Maryland, is a specialty coffee roaster that now has a location in Pittsburgh. Zeke’s Coffee roasts their own beans in small batches and offers unique blends like “Café Femenino,” sourced from a women’s cooperative in northern Peru, and “Z-man’s Blend,” a smooth blend created by the founder’s father. Zeke’s Coffee also has partnerships with local artists and musicians, creating a vibrant and community-driven experience for their customers.
21st Street Coffee and Tea
21st Street Coffee and Tea, located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, has served specialty coffee since 2003. This family-owned roaster and cafe offer a range of blends, including the “21st Street Blend,” which is bright and fruity, and the “21st St. Espresso Blend,” which is rich and chocolatey.
21st Street Coffee and Tea also offers alternative brewing methods like the Chemex and V60, and their knowledgeable baristas are happy to share their expertise with customers.
Conclusion
Pittsburgh is home to a vibrant and diverse coffee scene, with specialty coffee roasters offering unique and delicious experiences to satisfy even the most discerning coffee drinkers and connoisseurs.
Around the city, we take our coffee seriously. With so many fantastic specialty coffee roasters, there’s no excuse to settle for a mediocre cup of joe.
We hope that our “Best Coffee Roasters in Pittsburgh” piece helped! Each roaster we’ve highlighted in this article has something unique to offer, from the experimental blends of KLVN Coffee Lab to the socially conscious approach of Grounds and Hounds Coffee. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur, love coffee, or just looking for a tasty pick-me-up, you’ll find something to love in Pittsburgh’s specialty coffee scene. So why not try a new coffee shop and support these local businesses today? Your taste buds will thank you!
