Southerners expect the best when it comes to food and drink, from fresh-picked produce to barrel-aged bourbon. So why should coffee be any different? At the office, Garden & Gun editors brew the Bulldog Edition blend by Red Truck Bakery in Marshall, Virginia. But Red Truck isn’t the only Southern company that roasts a mean bean. High-quality coffee options abound throughout the region, and more drinkers than ever are shopping small. Here, we’ve rounded up thirty-five Southern coffee companies that ship nationwide—many of whom also offer recurring subscriptions and eye-catching merch, too.
ALABAMA
Prevail Coffee Roasters | Montgomery
Founded in 2012 in Auburn, Prevail beans can now be found in coffeehouses and restaurants throughout Alabama, as well as in their Montgomery storefront. Pick up a single bag, subscribe for biweekly or monthly deliveries, or check out tees and sweatshirts with the company’s motto: “Together we prevail.” prevailroasters.com
Monarch Espresso | Tuscaloosa
This college-town operation offers a shippable box for the coffeehouse experience at home, throwing in granola and a tote bag along with the espresso beans. The package makes a great gift for a recent Alabama grad—or a graduating high school senior who can’t wait to get there. monarchespresso.com
ARKANSAS
Onyx Coffee Lab | Rogers, Fayetteville, and Bentonville
Founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Jon and Andrea Allen, this Arkansas stronghold maintains a farm-to-cup philosophy. Order the Roaster Sampler Box to try four seasonal varieties, or peruse personal and gift subscription options to stock your shelves (or a friend’s). onyxcoffeelab.com
FLORIDA
Panther Coffee | Miami
Leticia and Joel Pollock have been serving up specialty coffee in Miami since 2010, and their offerings have expanded in popularity as they’ve grown into three locations throughout the city. Order single bags, subscribe to monthly deliveries, or invest in Panther’s cold brew kit to beat the suffocating Southern heat. panthercoffee.com
Lineage Coffee Roasting | Orlando
What began as a pop-up at farmers’ markets has grown into two locations and a healthy wholesale business, with plenty of online offerings for individuals, too. Subscription customers can count on regular shipments that include limited-edition blends, many of which never make it to the website for sale. lineageroasting.com
Bandit Coffee Co. | St. Petersburg
This coastal coffeehouse wants drinkers to heed where their joe comes from: Notes about the farms, producers, and countries of origin are listed right alongside the tasting notes on every bag. Bandit’s subscription services offer automatic deliveries for every one, two, or four weeks. banditcoffee.co
Eastlick Coffee Company | Tampa
After founding Eastlick in Brooklyn in 2015, roasters Renata and Joel Eastlick relocated to their Florida hometown in 2017 and Cigar City’s coffee scene is all the better for it. Follow along on Instagram for regular updates on Eastlick’s growers and suppliers, or purchase a subscription for regular shipments: Roaster’s Choice members can sign up to receive up to four bags monthly. eastlickcoffee.com
GEORGIA
BD Imports | Acworth
BD Imports makes gender equity a priority, investing in women throughout the supply chain and remaining transparent about where their beans originate. BD is also one of the few small roasters with single-serve coffee pods on order, and customers can buy the plastic-free portable packages in regular and decaf options. bdimports.com/
East Pole Coffee Co. | Atlanta
East Pole’s “Yacht Club” membership, one tier of several in their wide selection of subscriptions, delivers freshly roasted beans every two weeks. But their individual bags of coffee and perpetually sold-out From Atlanta mug are equally worthy orders for long-distance fans of the brand. At checkout, customers can opt to donate to one of three organizations fighting for racial justice—East Pole has pledged to match up to $5,000. eastpole.coffee
Gilly Brew Bar | Atlanta
Located in one of Stone Mountain’s oldest homes, Gilly prides itself on being more than a coffeeshop by strategically giving back to the community. With a second location on the way and an incubator for up-and-coming chefs in the works, Gilly also offers options for at-home drinkers: Bottles of cold brew and flavored syrups are available for local pickup, and coffee beans ship in five- and ten-ounce packages. gillybrewbar.com/bodega
Portrait Coffee | Atlanta
This Southwest Atlanta business set out to “pour a new narrative” in specialty coffee, with a name and a mission inspired by the African people who discovered coffee in the first place. Portrait’s coffee subscriptions come in several packages, with creative titles like the weekly “Baldwin’s Club,” named for the novelist and playwright, or “An Ode to Prop Joe,” a nod to The Wire that delivers every two weeks. portrait.coffee
Radio Roasters | Atlanta
Roasted in small batches in Decatur, Radio Roasters offers a number of different bean varieties, as well as single-serve steeping bags, for purchase online or regular delivery through subscriptions. We recommend Nice Beans, a release created in partnership with BrotherMoto: All profits from the limited-edition coffee go to the Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that supports hospitality industry members in need. radioroasters.com
Jittery Joe’s Coffee | Athens
The Classic City mainstay pays homage to its fellow local businesses, from the Mama’s Boy blend, named for the beloved brunch spot, to the Terrapin Wake-n-Bake, a collaboration with the Athens-born brewery. The city’s reputation as a haven for musicians gets a nod, too: The Widespread Panic Proving Grounds are guaranteed to have you up all night. jitteryjoes.com
KENTUCKY
Good Folks Coffee | Louisville
This Derby City wholesale roaster has a dozen different coffees on order, with sample boxes available for those who can’t pick just one. And that’s not all: On top of traditional beans, Good Folks carries an instant coffee that actually, y’know, tastes good—available in single units and packs of six or twenty. goodfolkscoffee.com
Quills Coffee | Louisville
Since 2007, Quills has been serving up quality coffee in Louisville, expanding over the years with locations in New Albany and Indianapolis and to a growing list of wholesale clients. At-home coffee drinkers can choose from six different varieties and order up to five pounds in bulk. quillscoffee.com
LOUISIANA
Rêve Coffee Roasters | Lafayette
This Acadian micro-roaster, started in 2013, takes its name from the French word for “dream.” Choose brews by region, from varieties hailing from Africa, Asia, Central America, and more, and tack on a Stay Warm mug for a stylish new drinking vessel. revecoffeeroasters.com
Congregation Coffee | New Orleans
Congregation has built a reputation for supporting their community—most recently, the company has donated a portion of sales to Youth BreakOUT New Orleans—and locals in Orleans and Algiers Parishes can enjoy free delivery and cold brew by the jug. When ordering for longer-distance shipping, customers can choose from whole beans or select a grind optimized for filter, French press, espresso, or cold brew coffee. Try the sampler for a quartet of four-ounce packages of the roaster’s favorite varieties. congregationcoffee.com
MARYLAND
Vagrant Coffee | Baltimore
Founded in 2017 by friends Jared Cate and Josh Dew, Vagrant offers on order single-origin, espresso, decaf, and espresso beans along with several house blends—and an on-tap nitro cold brew subscription for local Baltimore businesses. The duo is also laying the groundwork for coffee’s next generation: The HustleCast, Vagrant’s podcast about business, coffee, and social responsibility, premiered in May and offers an engaging peek behind the scenes. vagrantcoffee.com
Vigilante Coffee | Hyattsville
Vigilante’s commitment to transparent pricing ensures that every person who plays a part in getting the beans to your door is paid fairly, and the result is a fine cup of joe. Create your own subscriptions by choosing from a wide variety of beans, or join the coffee club for exclusive access to the brand’s freshest inventory. vigilantecoffee.com
MISSISSIPPI
BeanFruit Coffee Company | Flowood
The only Fair Trade Certified coffee company in the Magnolia State, BeanFruit’s coffee subscription is highly customizable: Choose from five bean varieties, three delivery schedules, and any quantity or combination of beans. Customers can also order a decaf blend—one produced using a water process system rather than the more standard chemical one—for an exceptional cup without the caffeine buzz. beanfruit.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Hex Coffee | Charlotte
What began as a pop-up cafe from three Queen City buddies—Tanner Morita, John Michael Cord, and Chandler Wrenn—has now graduated to a brick and mortar where customers can see the coffee-roasting process and grab a fresh cup. Seasonal and year-round varieties are sold online, too, in ten-ounce packages for traditional beans and six-packs of single-serve instant coffee. hex.coffee
Black & White Coffee Roasters | Wake Forest
Lemuel Butler and Kyle Ramage founded Black & White in 2017 following a win at the U.S. Barista Championships. Subscribe to receive one or two bags delivered monthly, or choose a combination subscription for one bag of beans and one box of instant coffee. blackwhiteroasters.com
SOUTH CAROLINA
Second State Coffee | Charleston
A Lowcountry mainstay, Second State roasts its beans on James Island and operates cafes downtown and across the Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant. Charleston locals can pick up growlers of Second State’s beloved cold brew to-go, but six kinds of coffee beans and a variety of merchandise are available online. secondstatecoffee.com
Methodical Coffee | Greenville
Methodical’s colorful packaging may look pretty on your counter, but its nine-plus coffee varieties will bring plenty of pop to your mug, too. The company offers specialty subscriptions, including options for espresso beans or all-decaf deliveries, along with easy prepaid gifting options in three-, six-, and twelve-month increments. methodicalcoffee.com
TENNESSEE
Bonlife Coffee | Cleveland
Big cities haven’t cornered the market on top-notch brews: Bradley County’s Bonlife Coffee has brought home several national awards. The small-town roastery and coffeeshop sources its beans responsibly, ensuring that each farmer is earning a living wage, and offers five varieties online. bonlifecoffee.com
Cxffee Black | Memphis
This Grind City coffeehouse offers sustenance and education, sharing a curriculum on the Black history of coffee around the world—and all the work that goes into a single cup. In addition to receiving a history lesson, online customers can order Guji Mane, a collaboration with Ethnos coffee that was “crafted to be taken black while listening to Southern rap.” cxffeeblack.com
Ethnos Coffee | Memphis
Five year-round varieties and rotating collaborations with local businesses keep this small-batch roaster busy. Order for free delivery throughout Shelby County and $5 flat-rate shipping anywhere else in the continental U.S. ethnos.coffee
TEXAS
Cuvee Coffee | Austin
Cuvee buys its coffee straight from the growers, so every bean that comes through its state-of-the-art lab in Austin is ethically sourced. From single-use steep bags to single-origin specialty releases, the online shop offers something for every coffee fan—and all orders over $25 ship for free. cuveecoffee.com
Merit Coffee | Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio
Merit has been roasting responsibly sourced coffee in an old San Antonio warehouse for nearly seven years. Online, you can choose from four varieties (including a formidable decaf option) and tack on a “Y’all Enjoy” tumbler to take that buzz on the road. meritcoffee.com
Praxis Coffee Roasters | Austin
Sizes range from ten-ounce bags to five-pound bulk orders in this South Austin shop’s online store, and customers can choose between ground and whole-bean options. Join the VIP Program for monthly deliveries and a ten percent discount on in-store purchases. praxiscoffee.com
Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters | Dallas
Customers can taste OCCR at several coffeehouses in the Lone Star State, from Yellow House in Lubbock to Race Street in Fort Worth. Customizable subscriptions allow coffee-crazed fans to stock up on as many as four bags every two weeks, all sustainably sourced and carefully roasted at Oak Cliff’s Dallas facility. oakcliffcoffee.com
Three Keys Coffee | Houston
Named for the three valves of a trumpet, this new hotspot on the Houston coffee scene takes cues from the jazz tradition, citing the genre’s sophistication and accessibility as touchstones for great coffee, too. We recommend Three Keys’s signature offering, the 33 ⅓ LP, a smooth, balanced bean that takes its name from the number of rotations per minute a standard vinyl record takes on a turntable. threekeyscoffee.com
VIRGINIA
Red Rooster Coffee | Floyd
Red Rooster offers craft syrups, non-dairy milks, trippy T-shirts, and more alongside a variety of coffee beans in their online store. Adventurous drinkers gravitate toward the Fix, a coffee loyalty club that features a different rare bean each month, drawing from locations all over the world. redroostercoffee.com
Lamplighter Coffee Roasters | Richmond
Lamplighter has offered hot coffee and a strong community to the Richmond area for more than ten years. For a one-off bag, try the Recovery Roast—all proceeds go to Rams in Recovery, a program that supports VCU students struggling with recovery from substance use disorders. lamplightercoffee.com
WEST VIRGINIA
Mountaineer Roasting Company | Morgantown
Roasted on-campus at West Virginia University, every order from Mountaineer Roasting Company supports scholarships and international experiences for students. The roastery’s mug and beans set makes a great gift for any graduating high school senior bound for “almost heaven.” mountaineerroasting.com
