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Chicago, Illinois · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Metric Coffee

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Metric Coffee; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm & producer level
TagsMetric CoffeeIllinois coffee roastersColombiaEthiopiaGuatemalaHondurasMexicoPeruIndependentFarm & producer levelRoasts in-house
Visit Metric Coffee's site

Metric Coffee is a Chicago-based roaster dedicated to the intersection of quality, sustainability, and radical transparency. They focus on building direct, long-term relationships with coffee producers across the globe to ensure fair compensation and high-quality standards. The company operates with a strong emphasis on education and storytelling, aiming to provide consumers with a deeper understanding of the coffee supply chain.

Ownership
Metric Coffee is 100% independently owned and was founded by individuals who bootstrapped the company using personal loans to purchase their first roaster.
Founded
2013
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Metric is known for its commitment to radical transparency, direct trade relationships with coffee producers, and technical precision in roasting.
Sourcing countries
Colombia · Ethiopia · Guatemala · Honduras · Mexico · Peru
Farm-level sourcing
Metric emphasizes direct trade and frequently names the specific farmers or producers behind their single-origin offerings, such as Ernesto Perez of Finca Fatima. They prioritize long-term relationships and visit farms to gain a deeper understanding of production costs and quality. Their sourcing model includes both single-origin micro-lots and blends, with a focus on providing context and price transparency for their trade.
Notable coffees
  • — Mexico Ernesto Perez (Finca Fatima)
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Metric Coffee

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.

Costa Rica Don Eli Temática White Honey

Tarrazú, Costa Rica · Honey Process

Features tasting notes of Fuji apple, Darjeeling, and green grape.

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

Retailer information: Metric Coffee

Documented physical retailers
Metric Coffee Cafe
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates a physical cafe at 2021 West Fulton in Chicago where they sell their coffee.
Physical
Documented online sources
Metric Coffee's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand sells its full range of roasted coffee beans, subscriptions, and merchandise directly through its website.
Website

I was able to verify the brand's own online store and their physical cafe location in Chicago, but no third-party retail partners were explicitly listed or confirmed via the provided search results.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials. Last checked Oct 14, 2026. They are research links, not proof of current stock or a buying recommendation. Verify availability, price and location directly with the source.
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Metric Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-02-16 · The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops
Metric

Metric Coffee was recognized as one of the top 100 coffee shops in the world. The publication highlighted the company's commitment to transparency, rigorous supply chain management, and its role as a training and development hub for the industry.

2025-09-22 · Daily Coffee News
Milli By Metric Coffee Goes the Extra Mile in Chicago

Metric Coffee opened a new 10,000-square-foot roastery, headquarters, and all-day bakery cafe called Milli in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood. The project, which took three years to complete, was built by the founders without outside investors and serves as the company's primary production facility.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-01. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand states they work with eight countries, only six were explicitly named in the available documentation.

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