Thankfully Coffee
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Thankfully Coffee is an Auburn, Alabama-based specialty coffee roaster founded by Alex Shotts that emphasizes long-term, seasonal purchasing partnerships with producers. The company focuses on highlighting the inherent sweetness, acidity, and body of high-quality beans through light-to-medium roasting profiles, aiming to foster consumer gratitude toward the farmers behind each cup.
Thankfully Coffee is an independent coffee roasting company based in Auburn, Alabama, owned and operated by founder Alex Shotts. The company’s origins trace back to a decision made by Shotts on Thanksgiving Day in 2019. Before establishing the roastery, Shotts had a diverse professional background, including experience in coffee shops and other industries, and he eventually built the business from a starting point of a single 50-pound bag of green coffee.
The company’s name, "Thankfully," was chosen to reflect a core mission of cultivating gratitude and appreciation among consumers for the farmers who produce their coffee. This philosophy is intended to encourage a high regard for the labor and lives of coffee producers, moving beyond the transactional nature of commodity coffee to emphasize the human element of the supply chain.
In practice, Thankfully Coffee’s sourcing strategy is built upon the commitment to long-term, repeated seasonal purchases from the same producers. By establishing these consistent relationships, the roaster aims to provide economic stability to its farming partners. The company sources specialty-grade beans that are selected for their nuance, character, and complexity, often working with importers who align with these values of transparency and partnership.
Regarding its roasting methodology, the company focuses on highlighting the specific characteristics of the coffee—namely sweetness, approachable acidity, and body—without masking the bean's profile with excessive roast character. The roastery typically employs light-to-medium roast profiles to ensure that the inherent qualities of the origin are preserved and clearly expressed in the final cup.
The company’s product offerings frequently feature single-origin coffees from diverse regions, including Ethiopia, Colombia, Kenya, and Guatemala. These offerings often highlight specific varietals, such as Pink Bourbon or Gesha, and provide detailed information regarding the producer, altitude, and processing methods, such as washed or natural processes, to educate the consumer on the specific terroir of the coffee.
Thankfully Coffee operates primarily as a roaster and retailer, offering subscriptions and wholesale options to its customers. Its business model is centered on the belief that contributing to the flourishing of coffee farmers is a tangible way to improve the industry, and that this care for the producer is ultimately reflected in the quality and flavor of the coffee served to the drinker.
Today, the company remains a notable presence in the Auburn coffee scene, maintaining its focus on quality-driven roasting and producer-focused sourcing. By prioritizing seasonal consistency and transparent partnerships, Thankfully Coffee continues to position itself as a roaster dedicated to both the technical excellence of its product and the ethical treatment of the individuals within its supply chain.