Black Powder Coffee

Black Powder Coffee, operating as Black Powder Roasting Company, is a specialty coffee roaster headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. Established in 2013, the company functions as a small-batch producer, emphasizing a 'roast-to-order' model to ensure freshness for its customers. The company is led by Alexander Stahlman and Melissa Kirk, who have positioned the brand as a provider of both retail and wholesale coffee solutions, including whole bean, ground, and nitro cold brew kegs.

The company’s production facility in Mooresville utilizes San Franciscan and Mill City roasting equipment to process a diverse catalog of offerings. Their product range is extensive, encompassing single-origin coffees, custom blends, flavored coffees, and a variety of teas marketed under the 'Waterfall Teas' brand. By maintaining a small-batch approach, the roastery aims to balance the technical aspects of roasting with the artisanal requirements of developing specific flavor profiles for their various origins.

A central pillar of Black Powder Coffee’s operational philosophy is its sourcing strategy. The company explicitly states that 100% of the coffee beans it supplies are sourced through Rainforest, Direct Trade, or equivalent certification programs. This policy is intended to ensure that the green coffee is purchased under conditions that support fair wages, reasonable working conditions, and environmentally sustainable farming practices. The company emphasizes the importance of selecting high-elevation, shade-grown beans as the foundation for its roasting program.

In practice, Black Powder Coffee operates primarily as a wholesale-focused entity rather than a traditional retail coffee shop. They provide support to local businesses, restaurants, and cafes throughout the Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and surrounding North Carolina regions. By acting as a partner to these businesses, the company provides white-label services and bulk coffee supply, aiming to help their partners reach specific business goals through curated beverage programs.

The company’s approach to blending and roasting is described as a deliberate process designed to manage the flavor progression of a cup from the first sip to the finish. They maintain a catalog of over 20 different single-origin beans, which are roasted daily to maintain inventory freshness. This focus on 'the right roast of the right bean' is a recurring theme in their operational documentation, highlighting a commitment to proper storage and handling both before and after the roasting process.

As of recent reports, the company remains a privately held, small-scale operation with a modest employee count. Despite its size, it has established a presence in the North Carolina manufacturing sector, supported by the state's industry extension services. The company continues to serve a regional customer base while maintaining an e-commerce presence to distribute its products across the United States, focusing on a balance of specialty coffee quality and ethical sourcing standards.