Raphael's Roastery

Founded in 1993, Raphael's Roastery operates as a dedicated roasting facility located on Coffee Street in Tullahoma, Tennessee. The company distinguishes itself from traditional coffee shops by functioning primarily as a production-focused entity, emphasizing a roast-to-order model where coffee is processed only after an order is placed to ensure maximum freshness. In 2011, the business was acquired by M77 Management, Inc., and it currently operates under the direction of Mike Arnold.

The company’s production philosophy centers on the use of small-batch San Franciscan roasters, which the roastery utilizes to maintain control over the development of its single-origin offerings and custom blends. To ensure consistency across its product line, the facility employs Agtron near-infrared analyzers to quantitatively measure the degree of roast, a practice they adopted early in their history to standardize their output against exacting internal specifications.

Raphael's Roastery maintains a diverse catalog that includes single-origin coffees, custom-formulated blends, and a variety of flavored coffees. For their flavored products, the company specifies that they use top-grade current crop beans rather than past-crop inventory. They also employ a specific post-roast protocol for flavored beans, allowing them to rest for at least 24 hours to ensure the flavor extracts are fully absorbed before grinding.

Sourcing and corporate identity are central to the company's operations. The roastery identifies as a Christ-centered business, with its corporate name derived from the biblical reference Matthew 7:7. Beyond their primary brand, they operate the 35 North Coffee Co. label, which they utilize to market Certified Fair Trade coffees. Their stated mission includes supporting various missionary causes as part of their broader business objectives.

In practice, the company serves both wholesale clients—including gourmet food stores and coffee houses—and individual consumers through their e-commerce platform. They emphasize specific preparation recommendations for their customers, such as the use of burr grinders and the avoidance of refrigerator storage, to preserve the quality of the beans once they reach the consumer's home.

Today, the roastery remains a fixture in the Tennessee coffee landscape, maintaining its focus on the Tullahoma facility. While they have expanded their reach through digital sales, their operational core remains tied to the technical aspects of small-batch roasting and the logistical management of a roast-to-order supply chain.