Our Thoughts:Our second year with this crowd-pleaser: a truly versatile coffee that delivers a sweet, balanced cup no matter how you brew it—from Chemex to Moka to espresso. Expect rich chocolatey caramel, molasses-like sweetness, and bright papaya-like tropical notes.
Birch Coffee was founded in 2009 by Jeremy Lyman and Paul Schlader, who bootstrapped the business from a $10,000 investment that included loans from friends, family, and a cashed bar mitzvah bond. Schlader is a certified Q Grader who manages all green coffee purchases and oversees roasting, sourcing beans from Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Ethiopia through direct trade relationships. The company roasts daily in small batches at a 4,000 square foot LEED certified facility in Long Island City, supplying multiple Manhattan café locations. Their range includes the Birch Blend, single origin selections, and Filtron brewed cold brew, with organic and fair trade certified options available throughout.