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Denver, Colorado · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

MiddleState Coffee

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for MiddleState Coffee; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsMiddleState CoffeeColorado coffee roastersHondurasBoliviaKenyaEthiopiaColombiaIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
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MiddleState Coffee is a Denver-based specialty roaster that emphasizes complexity, acidity, and sweetness in its coffee offerings. Founded by Jay DeRose, the company operates its own roastery and multiple cafe locations, maintaining a reputation for high-quality, expressive beans. Their approach combines a disciplined, technical background in coffee production with a modern, approachable brand identity.

Ownership
MiddleState Coffee is an independent, founder-led company established by Jay DeRose.
Founded
2013
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
MiddleState is recognized for its meticulous sourcing of unique, high-complexity small lots and its clean, modern aesthetic. The brand is highly regarded in the Denver specialty coffee scene for its focus on highlighting origin character and terroir.
Sourcing countries
Honduras · Bolivia · Kenya · Ethiopia · Colombia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand prioritizes small lots from small farms, emphasizing the expression of the grower's hard work and specific terroir. While they maintain relationships with importers like Red Fox Coffee Merchants and Collaborative Coffee Source, they do not consistently publish specific farm or producer names for every offering on their public website. Their catalog features a mix of seasonal single-origins and curated blends.
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from MiddleState Coffee

These are examples recorded during editorial research on Oct 25, 2026. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.

NANSEBO / ETHIOPIA

West Arsi, Ethiopia · Washed

The coffee features flavors of lime hard candy, honeysuckle, starfruit, and a sparkling acidity.

Original roaster or listing source

DECAF / COLOMBIA

Colombia · EA Washed

This decaffeinated coffee is described as being high quality, with a flavor profile so convincing that even baristas have mistaken it for caffeinated coffee.

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: MiddleState Coffee

Documented physical retailers
MiddleState Coffee Flagship Cafe
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand's flagship roastery and cafe in Denver sells whole bean coffee bags and brewed coffee.
Physical
LiddleState
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand's Highlands neighborhood cafe location in Denver sells whole bean coffee bags and brewed coffee.
Physical
Documented online sources
MiddleState Coffee's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand's official website sells a variety of single-origin whole bean coffees, instant coffee, and brewing gear.
Website

I was able to verify the brand's two physical cafe locations in Denver and their primary online store; while the brand engages in wholesale, no specific third-party retail partners were publicly listed or confirmed.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials — last checked Nov 7, 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 MiddleState Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-15. 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 emphasizes sourcing from small farms, specific current farm or producer names are not consistently listed on their public-facing website, making it difficult to verify a 'Farm level' transparency rating.

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