Clarity Coffee

Clarity Coffee was established in 2015 in downtown Oklahoma City by co-owners Steve and Chelsea Willingham. The company began as a cafe focused on hospitality and high-quality coffee service, eventually expanding its operations to include in-house roasting. Steve Willingham brought significant industry experience to the venture, having previously worked as a roaster at other local establishments before launching the Clarity brand. The company has since grown to operate multiple locations across Oklahoma City.

A central pillar of the company’s operational model is its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Clarity Coffee utilizes smokeless electric roasting technology, which the company reports reduces carbon emissions by approximately 90% compared to traditional roasting methods. This technical choice reflects a broader organizational philosophy that prioritizes reducing the environmental footprint of the coffee production process while maintaining high standards for bean quality.

The company’s sourcing philosophy centers on single-origin coffees, with a documented focus on regions including Guatemala, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Colombia. By maintaining a direct-sourcing approach, the roastery aims to foster transparency and connection to the coffee's origins. This focus on traceability is intended to ensure that the final product reflects the specific characteristics of the terroir and the labor of the producers involved in the supply chain.

In addition to its roasting operations, Clarity Coffee maintains a strong emphasis on coffee science and extraction precision. The company’s staff is trained to focus on the technical aspects of brewing to ensure consistency and quality for the consumer. This dedication to the craft has earned the company recognition within the specialty coffee industry, including features in national publications such as Food & Wine, which highlighted the roastery for its quality and professional standards.

Beyond its core coffee offerings, the business functions as a community-oriented space, providing a variety of beverages, house-made syrups, and plant-based milk alternatives. The company’s mission statement emphasizes the role of coffee in facilitating meaningful human connection and hospitality. This approach has allowed the brand to establish a presence both as a local destination in Oklahoma City and as a supplier of whole-bean coffee to partners across the United States.

The company’s trajectory has been marked by a transition from a retail-focused cafe to a vertically integrated roaster. This evolution has allowed the owners to exert greater control over the quality of their product, from the selection of green coffee to the final roast profile. By balancing technical expertise with a focus on sustainability, Clarity Coffee continues to operate as a notable representative of the specialty coffee movement in the American Midwest.