CrudeLab Coffee

CrudeLab Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, operating out of a facility located at 5852 Osuna Rd NE. The company is led by founder David Certain, who established the brand as a platform to showcase his extensive experience in the coffee industry. Certain’s professional background spans more than 15 years in coffee roasting, a tenure that informs the company's operational approach and its focus on quality control.

The core mission of CrudeLab Coffee centers on the procurement of high-end, innovative coffee lots. The company places a significant emphasis on its sourcing strategy, which is built upon long-standing personal relationships with coffee producers. This approach is particularly evident in their focus on Colombian coffee, where the company seeks to bridge the gap between specific farm-level production and the final consumer experience.

In practice, CrudeLab Coffee operates as a boutique roaster that prioritizes the selection of distinct varieties and processing methods. For example, the company has featured high-profile offerings such as Gesha variety coffee from Finca Las Flores in Huila, Colombia, processed using washed anaerobic techniques. These selections are curated to highlight specific sensory attributes, such as jasmine, lime, and bergamot, reflecting a commitment to the specialty coffee market's demand for terroir-driven profiles.

The company’s identity is defined by its founder's stated goal of pushing standards for coffee quality and innovation. By maintaining direct lines of communication with producers, CrudeLab aims to ensure that the coffees they offer represent cutting-edge developments in agricultural and processing practices. This model is designed to provide transparency and quality assurance for the end consumer while supporting the specific producers with whom they collaborate.

While CrudeLab Coffee functions as an independent entity within the broader specialty coffee landscape, it contributes to the local coffee culture in Albuquerque. The company is recognized within regional directories of independent roasters, serving as a point of access for consumers seeking specialty-grade, single-origin coffees that are roasted with a focus on technical precision and origin-specific characteristics.

As of the current standing of the company, CrudeLab continues to operate as a direct-to-consumer and potentially wholesale-oriented roaster. Its story is one of a specialized, founder-led business that relies on deep-rooted industry connections to secure and roast coffees that meet the rigorous expectations of the specialty coffee community. The company remains focused on its niche, emphasizing the quality of the raw product and the expertise applied during the roasting process.