Ghost Town Coffee Roasters

Ghost Town Coffee Roasters, headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, is a specialty coffee enterprise that has evolved from a wholesale-focused operation into a multi-faceted community hub. Founded by Chad Kimm and Clarissa Englehart, the company traces its origins to 2006, when it began as Crema Roasting. The business was rebranded as Ghost Town Coffee Roasters in 2012, reflecting a shift in identity while maintaining a core focus on the social potential of coffee as a vehicle for community building.

The company’s founding philosophy is rooted in the concept of coffee as a 'third space'—a social environment outside of home and work where people can gather. Kimm, who drew inspiration from the community-centric atmosphere of early specialty coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, designed the business to prioritize human connection. This mission is reflected in their operational model, which balances the technical demands of roasting and equipment maintenance with the hospitality required to run successful retail cafes.

Ghost Town operates as both a roaster and a distributor, providing specialty coffee, brewing equipment, and allied products like syrups and tea to wholesale partners. Their roasting facility and flagship cafe, located on Bridger Center Drive in Bozeman, serves as the nerve center for their operations. In addition to their primary roasting site, the company has expanded its retail footprint to include a downtown Bozeman location, aiming to provide consistent, high-quality coffee experiences to the local population.

Sourcing and stewardship are central to the company’s stated operational goals. Ghost Town emphasizes the importance of purchasing coffee that is socially, economically, and agriculturally responsible. By maintaining a focus on the entire supply chain—from the farm level to the final preparation—the company positions itself as a 'coffee guide' for its customers. This approach includes providing professional, certified barista training to both their own staff and the broader community to ensure that the quality of the green coffee is preserved through to the final cup.

Beyond roasting and retail, Ghost Town functions as a comprehensive service provider for the regional coffee industry. Through an affiliate model, they offer commercial espresso machine sales, service, and repair, which allows them to support other local businesses. This technical expertise is a cornerstone of their brand identity, as they believe that the person operating the machine is just as critical to the final product as the quality of the beans themselves.

In recent years, the company has navigated both growth and legal challenges. In 2023, the business faced a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by Montana Coffee Traders regarding the use of the name 'Glacier' for one of their coffee blends. The resulting legal proceedings and the subsequent public fundraising campaign to cover associated costs highlighted the complexities of operating a growing regional brand within the competitive specialty coffee landscape.

Today, Ghost Town Coffee Roasters remains a staple of the Bozeman coffee scene, characterized by its distinct branding—which features a lantern motif symbolizing their role as a guide—and its continued commitment to wholesale and retail excellence. By integrating education, equipment support, and a focus on community, the company continues to operate as a significant player in the Montana specialty coffee market.