Metropolis Coffee

Metropolis Coffee is a Chicago-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 2003. The company describes itself as bridging artisanal quality with everyday accessibility, evolving from a neighborhood cafe into a leader in both retail and wholesale coffee sectors. Its retail presence centers on a flagship cafe in the Edgewater neighborhood and a robust online store, while its wholesale operations run from a state-of-the-art roastery in Avondale. On the retail side, Metropolis offers signature blends such as Redline Espresso alongside single-origin beans and what it describes as North America's first commercially compostable espresso capsules, catering to eco-conscious home brewers. The company maintains a "Great Coffee for Everyone" philosophy. In the wholesale arena, Metropolis serves cafes, restaurants, hotels, offices, universities, and institutions nationwide. It provides private labeling, co-packing, and professional barista training, positioning itself as "the brand behind your brand." The company won Roaster of the Year from Roast Magazine in 2007, a recognition that prompted it to focus exclusively on wholesale rather than simultaneously operating cafes. Metropolis offers a comprehensive wholesale product range including whole bean and ground coffee, compostable espresso capsules, frac packs, ready-to-serve and concentrated cold brew (canned, kegged, and concentrated), tea programs, commercial coffee and espresso equipment from manufacturers such as La Marzocco, Eversys, Synesso, Nuova Simonelli, Curtis, Fetco, and BUNN, as well as allied products like cups, filters, and oat milk. Services include equipment supply and support, coffee training, and private label solutions.

Metropolis Coffee was founded in 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. The company began as a neighborhood cafe and gradually expanded into a specialty coffee roaster serving both retail and wholesale customers. According to the company's own account, it has been a dedicated wholesaler since 2003. A turning point came in 2007 when Metropolis won Roaster of the Year from Roast Magazine. The overwhelming number of wholesale inquiries that followed made it clear that the company could not adequately serve its wholesale customers while simultaneously opening and running cafes. Management made the choice to focus on wholesale, a decision from which, in the company's words, it "never looked back." This shift positioned Metropolis as what it calls "the brand behind your brand," quietly supporting partners in their success. Over the years, Metropolis developed a flagship cafe in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago and a state-of-the-art roastery in Avondale. Its retail line grew to include signature blends such as Redline Espresso, single-origin beans, and what it describes as North America's first commercially compostable espresso capsules. The company also built a comprehensive wholesale offering that includes coffee, tea, equipment, private labeling, co-packing, and professional barista training. Metropolis serves a range of sales channels including coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, universities, and institutions. Notable wholesale partners mentioned by the company include Hogsalt, a Chicago-based restaurant group whose properties include Au Cheval, Bavette's, Gilt Bar, Green Street Smoked Meats, and The Donut Vault, and WithMe, Inc., a printing business. The company continues to operate under its "Great Coffee for Everyone" philosophy, maintaining both its retail community presence and its national wholesale business.

• 2007

  Won Roaster of the Year from Roast Magazine; subsequently chose to focus exclusively on wholesale.

• 2003

  Metropolis Coffee founded in Chicago as a neighborhood cafe and wholesale coffee provider.

• Opened flagship cafe in Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago.

• Established state-of-the-art roastery in Avondale.

• Launched North America's first commercially compostable espresso capsules.

Specialty coffee roaster bridging artisanal quality with everyday accessibility; "Great Coffee for Everyone"; "the brand behind your brand" for wholesale partners.

• Redline Espresso

  Signature espresso blend.

• Single-origin beans

  Single-origin coffee offerings.

• Compostable espresso capsules

  North America's first commercially compostable espresso capsules, compatible with Nespresso Original Line machines.

• Cold brew

  Available in cans, kegs, and concentrate.

• Frac packs

  Nitro-flushed single-serve frac packs for drip.

• Tea program

  Black, green, herbal, iced, chai concentrate, and matcha powder.

• Commercial equipment

  Espresso machines and batch brewers from La Marzocco, Eversys, Synesso, Nuova Simonelli, Gaggia, Curtis, Fetco, and BUNN.

1. 1Metropolis Coffee Companymetropoliscoffee.com
2. 2Metropolis Coffee Company – Wholesale coffee roastermetropoliscoffee.com
3. 3What Wholesale Products and Services Does Metropolis Coffee Offer?metropoliscoffee.com
4. 4Private label wholesale coffee – Metropolis Coffee Companymetropoliscoffee.com