Saint Paul, Minnesota · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Backstory Coffee Roasters

IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level

TagsBackstory Coffee Roasters Minnesota coffee roasters Costa Rica Independent Origin / region level Roasts in-house

Backstory Coffee Roasters is a Saint Paul-based specialty coffee company that focuses on building connections through intentional, high-quality roasting. Formerly known as Bootstrap Coffee Roasters, the company has evolved from a small wholesale operation into a multi-location retailer that prioritizes transparency and collaboration across the coffee supply chain. They are dedicated to sharing the stories behind their coffees while maintaining a commitment to excellence and environmental harmony.

Ownership

The company is independent and family-owned, founded by Micah Svejda with a commitment to organic growth without outside investors.

Founded

2014

Roasting

Reported to roast in-house.

What it's known for

Backstory Coffee Roasters is known for its transparent sourcing, relationship-focused coffee buying, and high-quality light-to-medium roasts. They are also recognized for their rebranding from Bootstrap Coffee Roasters, which emphasized their shift toward storytelling and deeper human connection.

Sourcing countries

Costa Rica

Farm-level sourcing

The brand sources from relationship-focused producers and importers, emphasizing the collaboration between farmers, washing stations, and roasters. While they highlight the importance of the supply network, their public-facing product descriptions typically focus on the region and flavor profile rather than naming specific individual farms for every offering. They offer both single-origin coffees and curated blends.

Notable coffees

— Costa Rica Las Lajas
— Hearthside (Blend)

Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Backstory Coffee Roasters

These are examples recorded during editorial research. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.

El Salvador Isaac Luna - Honey Process

El Salvador · Honey

This coffee is sweet, silky, and lightly tart with flavors of apricot, nougat, fresh berries, and candied almond.

Original roaster or listing source

Guatemala Los Dos Socios

Guatemala · Washed

This coffee offers notes of green apple, burnt sugar, raisin, and plum with a tart acidity and silky body.

Original roaster or listing source

Legend - Blend

Various · Various

Legend is a classic, versatile medium roast blend designed to be creamy and sweet.

Original roaster or listing source

Narrator - Organic Blend

Various · Various

A balanced organic blend designed for consistent daily brewing.

Original roaster or listing source

Wayfinder - Organic Blend

Various · Various

Wayfinder is a sweet and snappy lighter roast blend designed for a great morning cup.

Original roaster or listing source

External customer, cafe, marketplace, and class ratings are not comparable measures of the quality of an individual coffee. We do not convert them into original tasting scores or brand-wide star ratings. Our independent reviews are published separately after a coffee has actually been brewed and evaluated.

Verify original product sources