Top 10 Coffee Roasters in 2025: Expert Picks for Premium Beans

Onyx Coffee Lab has solidified its position as America’s premier coffee roaster through an unwavering commitment to transparency and quality. Founded by Jon and Andrea Allen, Onyx has revolutionized how specialty coffee is presented, sourced, and appreciated in the United States.

What truly sets Onyx apart is their unprecedented transparency. Each coffee comes with detailed information about farm relationships, pricing structures, and flavor development. Their “Never Settle for Good Enough” motto permeates every aspect of their operation, from their meticulous sourcing trips to their scientific approach to roasting.

Originally founded in Melbourne, Australia, Proud Mary has become a global coffee powerhouse with their Portland, Oregon roastery serving as their American flagship. Founded by Nolan and Shari Hirte, Proud Mary has revolutionized how specialty coffee is categorized and presented to consumers.

Their innovative approach to classifying coffees on a spectrum from “Mild” to “Deluxe” has made specialty coffee more accessible while maintaining exceptional quality standards. Their direct relationships with producers and commitment to paying premium prices has resulted in some of the most sought-after coffees in the world.

Founded by US Barista Champions Kyle Ramage and Lem Butler, Black & White Coffee Roasters has quickly risen to prominence in the specialty coffee world. Their mission to make competition-level coffees accessible to everyone has resonated with both coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike.

What distinguishes Black & White is their commitment to transparency and their innovative approach to categorizing coffees by experience rather than origin. Their “Classic,” “Comfort,” and “Experimental” designations help guide customers to coffees that match their preferences while still celebrating the unique characteristics of each bean.

Passenger Coffee has earned its reputation as one of America’s most thoughtful and innovative roasters. Founded by David Stallings and Kyle Sollenberger, Passenger approaches coffee as both an agricultural product and a vehicle for storytelling and connection.

Their groundbreaking “Reserve Lot” program preserves exceptional coffees through specialized storage techniques, allowing customers to experience aged coffees at their peak. This commitment to preserving coffee’s legacy, combined with their industry-leading transparency reports, has positioned Passenger at the forefront of specialty coffee’s evolution.

Sey Coffee has established itself as a leader in ultra-light roasting that celebrates the inherent qualities of exceptional green coffee. Founded by Tobin Polk and Lance Schnorenberg, Sey has developed a distinctive approach that emphasizes clarity, sweetness, and vibrancy in every cup.

Their commitment to sourcing only the highest quality green coffee and their meticulous approach to roast development has earned them a devoted following among coffee professionals and enthusiasts. Sey’s transparent approach to business and their beautiful Bushwick cafe/roastery have made them a benchmark for quality in the specialty coffee industry.

Founded by Paolo Maliksi, Regalia Coffee Roasters has earned a reputation as one of the most technically precise and scientifically-minded roasters in the country. Trained by legendary coffee consultant Scott Rao, Maliksi has developed roasting protocols that consistently produce exceptional results.

Regalia’s approach combines rigorous data analysis with sensory evaluation to create roast profiles that maximize sweetness, clarity, and flavor development. Their coffee program showcases coffees that perfectly capture regional terroir while maintaining impeccable consistency from batch to batch.

JBC Coffee Roasters has built a reputation for excellence through their meticulous approach to sourcing and roasting. Founded by Michael Johnson, this small Midwestern roaster has consistently earned top scores from Coffee Review and multiple Good Food Awards, proving that world-class coffee can come from anywhere.

What distinguishes JBC is their commitment to highlighting producers and telling their stories while paying significantly above fair trade prices. Their seed-to-cup approach ensures that every step of the process contributes to an exceptional coffee experience that honors everyone involved in bringing that coffee to your cup.

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters has been a pioneer in the specialty coffee industry for over two decades. Founded by Chuck Patton, who started by selling at farmers’ markets before expanding to multiple locations, Bird Rock has maintained an unwavering commitment to quality and direct relationships with coffee producers.

Their approach to direct trade goes beyond fair trade limitations, establishing meaningful connections with farmers and paying premium prices for exceptional quality. This commitment to both quality and ethics earned them the prestigious Roaster of the Year award and has made them a cornerstone of San Diego’s vibrant coffee scene.

Devoción has revolutionized the coffee industry with their unprecedented commitment to freshness. Founded by Steven Sutton, a native Colombian, Devoción has created a unique farm-to-cup model that delivers coffee from harvest to roasting in as little as 10 days—compared to the industry standard of 3-12 months.

Their exclusive focus on Colombian coffee allows them to develop deep relationships with over 1,000 farmers across the country. By controlling the entire process from cherry selection to dry-milling at their Bogotá facility to roasting in Brooklyn, Devoción delivers a level of freshness that transforms the coffee experience.

Though relatively new to the scene, Prodigal Coffee has quickly established itself as one of the most technically precise and scientifically-driven roasters in America. Founded by legendary coffee consultant and author Scott Rao along with Mark Benedetto, Prodigal represents the culmination of Rao’s 30+ years of coffee expertise.

Rao’s influential books and workshops have shaped how an entire generation of coffee professionals approach roasting. With Prodigal, he’s putting theory into practice, creating meticulously developed roasts that maximize sweetness, clarity, and flavor while minimizing roast defects. The result is coffee of remarkable consistency and quality.