Methodical Coffee

Methodical Coffee was established in 2015 in Greenville, South Carolina, by three founders: Marco Suarez, Will Shurtz, and David Baker. The company was built on a foundation of combining community-focused hospitality with technical expertise in coffee preparation and roasting. Within 18 months of its founding, the business expanded its operations to include in-house roasting, allowing the team to exert greater control over the flavor profiles of their offerings.

The company’s sourcing philosophy is centered on "relational sourcing," which prioritizes long-term partnerships with coffee producers. This approach is intended to ensure traceability and quality while supporting sustainable farming practices. Methodical Coffee explicitly seeks out producers who engage in regenerative agriculture, including soil restoration, biodiversity initiatives, and agroforestry, aiming to align their supply chain with environmental stewardship.

In its roasting practice, Methodical Coffee avoids traditional roast-level labels like "light" or "dark." Instead, the company emphasizes roasting to highlight the inherent characteristics of the coffee, such as its sweetness and complexity, which are influenced by the specific terroir and processing methods of the origin. This technical approach is supported by rigorous quality control, where beans are tested for moisture, density, and consistency throughout the roasting process.

Beyond its core coffee business, Methodical Coffee has expanded into tea, apparel, and home brewing accessories. The company maintains a strong focus on education, providing resources such as brewing guides and videos to help customers improve their home coffee preparation. This commitment to accessibility is reflected in their stated mission to make craft coffee approachable for all consumers, regardless of their prior experience.

In early 2025, Methodical Coffee implemented a company-wide profit-sharing program. Inspired by management literature on incentive structures, CEO Marco Suarez and CFO Ethan Messier developed a formula to distribute profits among the company's 85 employees, including staff across their cafe locations, the roastery, and support teams. This initiative was designed to create a more sustainable business model that directly benefits the workforce.

Today, the company operates multiple cafe locations in Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina, and maintains a robust wholesale division. The business remains privately held and continues to emphasize its "methodical" approach to craft, hospitality, and organizational culture, aiming to connect consumers to the coffee experience through intentionality and transparency.