US Brand Directory
Richmond, Virginia · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative
Ownership unverifiedRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsAfterglow Coffee CooperativeVirginia coffee roastersNicaraguaColombiaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-house
Visit Afterglow Coffee Cooperative's site Afterglow Coffee Cooperative is a worker-owned roastery and cafe based in Richmond, Virginia, that operates without a traditional hierarchy. The business focuses on ethical sourcing, community support through mutual aid, and creating sustainable career paths for coffee professionals. They roast their own coffee and provide roasting services for other local clients.
Ownership
Afterglow Coffee Cooperative is an independent, worker-owned business. It was founded by five former employees of Lamplighter Coffee Roasters who purchased the roasting and cafe operations from their former employer in 2021.
Founded
2021
Roasting
Roasts its own coffee.
What it's known for
Being Richmond, Virginia's first worker-owned coffee roastery and cafe. They are recognized for their horizontal management structure, commitment to mutual aid, and focus on sustainable, transparent supply chains.
Sourcing countries
Nicaragua · Colombia
Farm-level sourcing
The cooperative prioritizes transparent sourcing by identifying specific farms and washing stations for their single-origin offerings. They emphasize sustainability metrics that account for the welfare of farmers, pickers, and the environment throughout the supply chain.
Notable coffees
- — Nicaragua Finca Un Regalo de Dios Java Natural
- — Colombia Las Palmas Watermelon Co-Ferment
Sources used in this deep dive
- https://afterglow.coffee
- https://www.afterglowcoffee.com/about
- https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/11/10/lamplighter-alums-brew-new-coffee-company-in-scotts-addition-space
- https://freshcup.com/roastery-breakdown-afterglow-coffee-cooperative-in-richmond-virginia
- https://richmondmagazine.com/restaurants-in-richmond/same-but-different
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-01. It is not a review: we have not tasted this brand's coffee. Ownership, roasting and sourcing claims belong to the brand and its published materials. While the cooperative emphasizes transparent sourcing, the specific list of all current sourcing countries beyond their featured single-origin offerings is not fully detailed on their website.