Coffee consumption is a growing part of our daily life, whether it be specialty coffee, brewed coffee, or iced coffee. Duluth Coffee Company is a local Duluth coffee shop with close ties to Duluth Pack.

Sam Levar, the sales manager for Duluth Coffee Company, had previously worked with Duluth Pack for nearly eight years. Levar has always had a passion for small local businesses. His lifelong friend, the Director of Coffee at Duluth Coffee Company, introduced him to the coffee industry. Levar fell in love with coffee sales because it is a consumable product that can be sourced and sold with integrity. This passion and help from his friend led him to Duluth Coffee Company in 2016.

Duluth Coffee Company began in 2012 when owner & founder Eric Faust opened a small coffee house. They started with a small 3kilo roaster and would distribute to local farmers markets and restaurants. They put coffee as their passion and source, roast, and craft coffee with integrity. The company has now grown into two locations and their coffee can be found in hundreds of retailers, restaurants, and cafes.

Duluth Coffee Company likes to stay busy with their future plans and dreams. Their focus is on sourcing coffee sustainably. They work with coffee farmers to produce high-quality coffee beans, which lead to a high-quality cup of coffee. They have been to nearly every region to source coffee, but they plan to build stronger relationships with the actual coffee producer.

When Levar isn’t working, you can find him on the Superior Hiking Trail. He also spends a considerable amount of time camping, traveling to meet coffee producers and exporters, and canoeing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Levar spends a lot of time driving throughout the Midwest to visit with wholesale partners. Traveling can be expensive with all the hotel stays, but Levar has found a creative way to avoid that cost. He stays in his hammock when the weather permits it.

Duluth Coffee Company started with a 3kilo roaster but has since upgraded to a 70kilo roaster. Levar says, “The roaster has significantly changed the business.” The larger roaster allows them to source and roast more coffee. It also allows them to focus on the coffee origin place more. Duluth Coffee Company has grown substantially since it first opened its doors.

Levar’s favorite coffee variety often comes from Costa Rica. Levar says, “I am personally attracted to brighter, fruiter cups of coffee, and the natural process from Costa Rica fits that.” He also says it is important to note that the coffee is very dynamic and will change year to year.

Over time, they have built many valuable relationships. Their importer, Café Imports, has been crucial in creating lasting relationships with coffee producers. They frequently travel with them to source the coffee beans. Duluth Coffee Company has also partnered with Twin Ports Paper who does all of its packaging, distribution, and billing. Partnering with Twin Ports Paper allows them to focus on what they are best at, roasting coffee.

Remember when we wrote about HOOPS Brewing, and remember Duluth Coffee Company has a location within HOOPS? Duluth Coffee Company had been looking for a way to get into the Canal Park area but had difficulty finding a place. They partnered with Hoops and The Ripple Bar to share a Canal Park space, and it has been beneficial to everyone involved. Levar says, “The biggest advantage has been all the new market awareness, our Canal Park location is definitely helping to promote our story.”

If you are in the Duluth Area and looking for a new coffee house, stop on by Duluth Coffee Company. They are a local company with a big mission and have delicious coffee. For those of you not from the Duluth Area, you can shop coffee from their website or look for a local business offering their coffee.

Levar has been using Duluth Packs his entire life and has a difficult time narrowing down his favorite product. Levar says, “I love the longevity of the product. They are a specialty good built for a purpose.” His love for his #3 Cruiser Pack makes it his favorite product he owns, but it was a difficult decision he notes. It has been with him for hundreds of miles in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and will be on his 2^nd border route this summer.

Duluth Pack offers a wide variety of coffee supplies, including beans, coffee sleeves, thermoses/mugs, and leather coasters.

Drink up, friends.