Counter Culture Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster founded in 1995 in Durham, North Carolina, recognized as one of the most influential companies in the American specialty coffee industry. The company is committed to direct trade sourcing, paying premium prices to coffee farmers and investing in long-term relationships with producing communities around the world. Counter Culture publishes annual transparency reports detailing the prices paid to farmers and the company's sourcing practices.
The roaster offers a carefully curated selection of single-origin coffees, seasonal blends, and decaf options, all roasted in its Durham facility and shipped fresh to customers nationwide. Counter Culture is known for its meticulous approach to coffee quality, employing a team of Q-graders and coffee scientists who evaluate every lot. The company also operates regional training centers in cities across the United States where it offers free public cuppings and professional barista education.
Counter Culture has been a leader in sustainability within the coffee industry, achieving carbon-neutral certification for its roasting operations and investing in environmental and social programs in coffee-growing regions. The company's subscription program delivers freshly roasted coffee weekly or bi-weekly, and its online store also carries brewing equipment, merchandise, and educational materials.