Temple Coffee Roasters

Temple Coffee Roasters was established in 2005 by founder and barista Sean Kohmescher. Inspired by his travels in Indonesia, Kohmescher sought to create a community-focused gathering space that mirrored the atmosphere of the temples he encountered abroad. Since its inception, the company has grown from a single coffee house into a multi-location retail chain and roastery operation based in Sacramento, California, serving the surrounding regions of Fair Oaks, Davis, and Folsom.

The company operates under a "farm-to-cup" philosophy, which serves as the foundation for its sustainability efforts. This model is built upon three pillars: social, economic, and environmental responsibility. In practice, this involves maintaining direct, long-term relationships with coffee producers and farms. Temple reports that it consistently pays prices well above standard Fair Trade requirements to ensure financial stability for its suppliers and their workers, while also prioritizing producers who implement sustainable practices such as shade management and water conservation.

Sourcing is a central component of the company's operations, with leadership often spending significant time at origin to foster these direct partnerships. This hands-on approach is intended to ensure transparency and quality control throughout the supply chain, from the initial harvest and milling to the final importation and roasting stages. By working closely with farmers, the company aims to secure high-quality green coffee that reflects the unique characteristics of its specific growing region.

Temple’s roasting philosophy is defined by a tailored approach to each coffee. Rather than applying a uniform roast style, the roastery team develops custom profiles for every origin to highlight its distinctive flavor notes and story. This process involves rigorous analysis and multiple cuppings conducted by the Director of Coffee and the roastery team to ensure each coffee reaches its full potential. The company offers a diverse range of products, including single-origin coffees, signature blends, and subscription services.

Beyond its retail and wholesale operations, Temple Coffee Roasters is active in coffee education. The company hosts courses on home brewing, espresso preparation, and sensory tasting at its roastery, aiming to share its technical knowledge with the broader community. This commitment to education and quality has earned the company recognition within the specialty coffee industry, including high scores from independent reviewers and mentions in national publications.

Today, Temple remains a privately held, locally owned entity that continues to operate its own roastery in Sacramento. It maintains a focus on specialty-grade coffee, balancing its retail presence with a robust e-commerce platform that ships its roasted-to-order products across the United States. The company’s trajectory reflects a broader trend in the specialty coffee sector toward increased transparency, direct trade, and a focus on the specific narrative of the coffee producer.