Prime Roast Coffee Co

Prime Roast Coffee Co. is a long-standing independent coffee roaster and cafe located in Keene, New Hampshire. Founded in 1993, the company was established with the objective of providing fresh, high-quality coffee to the southwestern region of the state. The business operates both a retail cafe on Main Street in downtown Keene and a dedicated roasting facility, known as the Brick House Roastery, which serves as the hub for its production and distribution operations.

The company’s roasting facility is notable for its adaptive reuse of a historic 1840s mill manager’s house. Acquired in 2014, the building underwent significant renovations to modernize its infrastructure while preserving its architectural character. The facility features energy-efficient upgrades, including LED lighting and enhanced insulation, alongside a radiant-heated concrete floor. This site houses the company's primary roasting equipment, which the team refers to as 'Stella.'

Central to the company's production process is the use of a Loring coffee roaster. This technology is utilized for its clean-burning capabilities and energy efficiency, which the roaster credits with allowing for more precise control over the development of flavor profiles. By employing this advanced roasting system, the company aims to achieve consistency across its various single-origin and blended offerings, including its organic and Fair Trade certified selections.

Sourcing and transparency are core components of the company's operational philosophy. Prime Roast Coffee Co. emphasizes partnerships with farmers globally to secure high-quality beans, often highlighting specific regions such as the Huila department in Colombia. The company’s product range includes a variety of roast levels, from medium to dark, and it provides detailed information regarding the origin and processing characteristics of its beans to its customers.

Beyond its roasting activities, the company maintains a strong focus on local community involvement. The business is deeply integrated into the Keene area, participating in local events and fostering a space for community interaction within its cafe. This emphasis on local connection is balanced with a broader reach through its online retail platform, which offers coffee subscriptions and direct-to-consumer shipping for both whole bean and ground coffee.

The company is managed by a small team, including Emily Lavigne, who serves as a roaster, buyer, and manager. The organizational structure reflects its status as a private, small-scale enterprise. While there is another entity operating under a similar name in Minco, Oklahoma, the Keene-based Prime Roast Coffee Co. remains the primary entity associated with the historic Brick House Roastery and the established brand identity developed since its inception in the early 1990s.

Today, Prime Roast Coffee Co. continues to operate as a fixture of the New Hampshire specialty coffee scene. Its reputation is built on a combination of traditional community-focused values and the adoption of modern, sustainable roasting technology. By maintaining a direct link between its historic roasting facility and its downtown cafe, the company continues to serve as both a local gathering place and a provider of specialty coffee to a wider audience.