A growing roster of microroasters is becoming the roast of the town.
Greenville is becoming a specialty coffee city. With dozens of roasteries, including award winners like Bridge City Coffee, which was named 2024 Roaster of the Year by Roast magazine, it’s clear why coffee enthusiasts are noticing the local roaster scene.
Some of these prominent roasting companies, like Bridge City, are still considered micro roasters because they roast batches of less than 150 pounds of coffee. But, the environment created by these established roasteries has laid fertile ground for even smaller-batch roasters to grow.
These smaller businesses, starting in enthusiasts’ kitchens and garages as most specialty roasters do, may one day blossom into full-blown operations and join the ranks of Due South Coffee Roasters, Methodical Coffee, Unlocked Coffee Roasters, and Bridge City, to name only a few of the coffee companies that fuel Greenville.
Here are some of the newest micro roasters, most of whom donate proceeds to various nonprofits, to keep an eye on and maybe even take for taste-test.
Upstate Microroasters
Good Enough Coffee
goodenoughcoffee.org
As the name suggests, this coffee brand from Bethany and Dallas Garrison doesn’t necessarily aspire to win awards.
“Lots of people think we’re settling with the whole ‘good enough’ concept,” Bethany Garrison says. “But I think kidding ourselves and killing ourselves trying to be the best is way more harmful than admitting that our coffee is good. Whether you think it’s great or not is for you to decide, but we’ll get you through your morning, no problem. And I’m happy with that!”
They first launched out of their home office with one small roaster, selling their home-roasted beans at a few pop-up markets. They’ve since expanded into a wholesale facility and have added another roaster, an online presence, and several wholesale accounts. Proceeds from sales benefit several non-profits, including organizations that support economic development in the countries from which their green coffee is sourced.
“I wasn’t as aware of the impact coffee has on the earth and on people,” Bethany says. “Simply getting green coffee to a roasters’ door is a huge undertaking, not to mention the actual roasting process. In addition, there’s no real guarantee that farmers are fairly compensated for their seriously hard work. In some regions coffee cherries are still handpicked and hand sorted. It’s an unfortunate reality that I don’t think the public thinks about when they brew their morning coffee.”
While bringing more awareness to the unknown aspects of coffee sourcing is part of her goals for Good Enough Coffee, she also brings levity with blend names inspired by favorite songs—like “Golden” by Harry Styles and “Sleep Deprivation” by Chance Pena. There’s a whole Spotify playlist of their naming inspirations.
Bethany says balancing being a mom and business owner can be tough, but she is still planning on having a predictable summer season of Saturdays at the Travelers Rest Farmers Market.
“People know where to find us every week, and I like that,” she says.
Yellow Bike Coffee Roasters
yellowbikeroasters.com
Jonathan Holcomb, a native Kentuckian, started Yellow Bike Coffee Roasters as a side hobby and business when he and his wife, Kristina, lived in Kentucky. They moved in June of 2023 to Easley to be back closer Kristina’s roots in Pickens.
Holcomb is now working full-time as a roaster, and along with supplying a handful of local stores and wholesale accounts, he’s launching a coffee trailer to be a mobile coffee and dry bar for events. And aside from using his coffee to fuel life’s adventures, he’s also looking for ways to work together to help others and discovered a community along the way.
“I have a better appreciation for all of the farmers in so many countries that produce something that we take for granted,” he says. “My source for coffee beans partners with so many different local farming communities, which helps with sustainability and helps the local economy where the beans come from as well as ensuring a high quality product for me and the end consumer. When you not only see the cycle that we are all in with the coffee industry, but you are a part of it, you appreciate how we all can work together to benefit each other.”
Calibration Coffee Lab
calibrationcoffeelab.com
Alex Leblanc, owner and roaster, turned his engineering skills toward coffee when he opened his operations in 2022.
Paris Mountain Roasting Co.
parismountainroastingco.com
Joanne Wade, a military spouse, founded Paris Mountain Roasting Co. in May of 2021 and gives 10 percent of proceeds to support other military families during deployment.
Compass Craft Roasters
compasscraftroasters.com
The in-house roastery for Cafe West in downtown Greenville donates proceeds to Pendleton Place.
Mythology Coffee
mythology.coffee/the-myth
David Miller started this company to offer low acid and women-produced coffee from India. The beans are roasted by Brandon Nelson of Bridge City Coffee.
