Trade Coffee

Trade Coffee was founded in 2018 by Mike Lackman, who previously led the expansion of Seamless and served as COO of Grubhub. The company aims to democratize access to specialty coffee by connecting consumers directly with the country’s best independent roasters.

Company Mission

Trade Coffee’s mission is to help people discover and enjoy the best coffee from America’s top roasters. By partnering with over 50 independent roasters across the country, Trade provides access to specialty-grade coffee that would otherwise be difficult to find outside major cities.

Products & Services

Trade Coffee offers a personalized coffee subscription service:

• Coffee Matching Quiz: Algorithmic matching based on taste preferences
• 450+ Coffee Selection: Single-origin and blends from 50+ roasters
• Flexible Subscriptions: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly delivery
• One-Time Purchases: Buy individual bags without subscribing
• Brewing Guides: Educational content for optimal extraction

All coffee is roasted to order and shipped directly from partner roasters for maximum freshness.

What Sets Them Apart

Trade Coffee’s differentiator is control and personalization. Unlike curated subscriptions where you receive whatever the company selects, Trade lets you choose specific coffees or rely on their algorithm to match your preferences. The extensive catalog of 450+ coffees from 50+ roasters means there’s something for every palate.

The company also emphasizes direct partnerships with roasters, ensuring fair compensation and maintaining quality standards. Trade has been recognized by CNN Underscored as “clearly the best coffee subscription” for its combination of variety and flexibility.