$17 Million in Coffee Roasted to Taste

$17 Million in Coffee Roasted to Taste

From Failing to Success by Chad Kaleky

September 24, 2025 · 13 min · Season 2 · Episode 433

About this episode

The episode discusses the growth and innovative strategies of Stone Creek Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster founded in 1993.

Company Stats: Founded: 1993 Annual Revenue: $17 million Employees: 195 Locations: 9 cafes in Southeastern Wisconsin Co-ownership: Established in 2016 Certified B Corp since 2022 Podcast Highlights: ✅ Stone Creek Coffee scales through B2B, grocery distribution, and e-commerce rather than new physical locations. ✅ Roast-level guided product lines make specialty coffee more accessible to everyday consumers. ✅ Certified B Corp ensures focus on employee wellbeing, ethical sourcing, and positive community impact. Episode Summary: Stone Creek Coffee began in 1993 as one of the first specialty coffee roasters in the United States, years before large brands entered the scene. Over three decades later, the company has grown to nine retail cafes, a thriving wholesale presence, and a rapidly expanding e-commerce division. With annual revenue reaching $17 million, Stone Creek Coffee stands out as a leader in quality, accessibility, and community-driven business practices. Drew Pond, who joined as a café manager in 2014, became COO just months later and a co-owner in 2016. He has played a pivotal role in shifting the company’s growth strategy toward online and B2B sales while maintaining a…

People in this episode

Host: Chad Kaleky

Topics covered

  • business growth
  • specialty coffee
  • B2B sales
  • e-commerce
  • ethical sourcing

Keywords

  • Stone Creek Coffee
  • Drew Pond
  • specialty coffee
  • B2B
  • e-commerce
  • B Corp
  • coffee roasting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stone Creek Coffee

Places: Southeastern Wisconsin

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