Dark Blue

Founded in 2009, originally as a single location on 8th Avenue South. Ed Reed, Sam Reed, and Q-Juan "Q" Taylor (Reed Hospitality Group) partnered with the original founders in 2016 and completed a full acquisition in March 2017. They've since expanded to several Nashville locations including a roastery equipped with a San Franciscan SF25. Since 2021, they've moved away from third party certifications in favor of direct trade relationships, traveling to Latin American farms during harvest season to set prices above fair trade minimums. They roast across the full spectrum — light through dark — with both single origins (their "Sweet Brazil" is the most popular) and blends. The Titans Blend, created for their partnership as official coffee partner of the Tennessee Titans, uses a Costa Rican washed lot from Hacienda La Minita in Tarrazú. They're also official coffee partner of Vanderbilt University. In May 2024, they acquired Good Citizen Coffee Co (founded 2018 by Sean Stewart), absorbing both the Good Citizen line and its sister brand Common Voice, which offers more accessible blends while paying farmers a 5% green coffee premium.