Bold Coast Coffee

Bold Coast Coffee is a specialty coffee roasting operation located on the rugged Bold Coast of Downeast Maine. Founded by Troy Quimby, Jake Berry, and Kathy Harmon, the company began as a small-scale venture operating out of a garage in East Machias. The founders were initially motivated by a lack of local specialty coffee options, leading Quimby to master the roasting process through hundreds of experimental batches before launching the commercial brand. Today, the company maintains a physical presence at 447 Main Street in East Machias, where it continues its roasting operations.

The company’s sourcing philosophy centers on a combination of direct trade and responsible procurement. A defining feature of their supply chain is their ownership of a coffee farm in the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica, known as Café Costa Fuerte. By managing their own production at this high-altitude site—where beans are shade-grown beneath banana and avocado trees—the company bridges the gap between the farm and the final cup. In addition to their own Costa Rican harvest, they source beans from other regions in Central and South America, including Guatemala and Mexico, prioritizing small-scale producers.

Production at Bold Coast Coffee is characterized by a specific regional identity. The roastery utilizes a small-batch approach, and a signature element of their process is the cooling of roasted beans using the natural North Atlantic coastal breezes of Maine. This localized production method is central to their branding, which emphasizes the hardy, independent spirit of the Downeast region. Their packaging frequently features the Little River Lighthouse, serving as a visual tribute to the coastal history of their home.

The company offers a diverse range of products, including single-origin, organic, fair-trade, decaf, and blended varieties. These are available in both full and half-pound packages, catering to both individual consumers and wholesale retail partners. By maintaining control over the roasting process and fostering direct relationships with their farm in Costa Rica, the company aims to provide a consistent, high-quality product that reflects the specific terroir of their high-altitude Costa Rican beans.

Since its inception, Bold Coast Coffee has integrated itself into the Maine specialty food landscape. The company has been recognized as an official trade partner for regional events, such as the New England Made Specialty Food & Gift Show, and has served as the official coffee provider for local initiatives like Bike Maine. Their business model relies on a mix of direct-to-consumer online sales and local retail distribution, supported by a commitment to providing marketing and sales support to their wholesale partners.

The company’s evolution from a garage-based startup to a recognized Maine-based roaster highlights the growing trend of hyper-local, transparent coffee production. By focusing on the narrative of their Costa Rican farm and the unique environmental conditions of the Maine coast, Bold Coast Coffee positions itself as a niche player in the specialty coffee market. Their operations remain focused on the intersection of traditional, small-batch roasting techniques and a direct-to-consumer supply chain model.