Inside our coffee roaster at MudPenny
At MudPenny, coffee is a daily craft and a shared ritual. As a specialty coffee roaster and a local coffee roaster, we focus on relationships, repeatable quality, and hospitality that shows up in every cup. Our approach starts with ethically sourced coffee and ends with house roasted coffee that’s balanced, flavorful, and ready for your morning, your cafe, or your office.
Looking to bring MudPenny coffee home or to your team? Start with a curated lineup designed to be simple to choose and delightful to drink.
We support small gatherings, large corporate functions, and everything in between with a flexible coffee catering service designed for smooth setup and great guest experiences.
Our roastery approach
At Mudpenny, coffee is more than a beverage – it’s where our story begins.
Every Monday, our team roasts coffee for every Mudpenny café across West Michigan. What starts on farms around the world ends in your cup through thoughtful sourcing, intentional roasting, and a commitment to consistency.
Whether you’re enjoying a espresso in Rockford, a cappuccino in Ada, a cold brew in Grand Rapids, or a latte in Spring Lake, you’re drinking coffee selected, roasted, and served with care.
We believe great coffee starts long before it reaches our roastery. That’s why we partner with farmers who share our values of quality, sustainability, and long-term relationships.
Our Sourcing Philosophy
We don’t chase trends.
We look for coffees that are balanced, approachable, and memorable – coffees we genuinely enjoy drinking every day.
Every coffee we source is selected based on five principles:
- Producer relationships
- Traceability
- Quality
- Sustainability
- Seasonal freshness
We believe exceptional coffee begins at origin. By working with trusted partners and paying attention to every step, we’re able to offer coffees that reflect both place and people.
Because better coffee begins with better farming.
Why We Roast
Coffee is the foundation of Mudpenny.
Roasting allows us to control quality from start to finish and create a coffee program that reflects our values.
Every Monday, our team roasts coffee for all Mudpenny locations, ensuring consistency, freshness, and quality across every café.
Our goal isn’t to roast coffee that impresses judges.
It’s to roast coffee people want to drink every day.
Coffee that is balanced, approachable, and memorable.
Coffee that feels at home in your morning routine.
What We Look For In A Great Coffee
Great coffee doesn’t have to be complicated.
We believe every coffee we serve should be:
Sweet. Natural sweetness that makes every cup enjoyable.
Balanced. No single flavor overpowering the others.
Clean. A clear, pleasant finish from the first sip to the last.
Consistent. The same quality experience every time you visit.
Choose your path: Shop or Wholesale
Whether you’re stocking your kitchen or fueling a team, we’ve made it easy to get the right coffee.
For home
Head to the Shop for a tight selection of whole beans, simple gear, and gifts. The experience is curated—five coffees in two sizes—so choosing is quick and confident.
For business
Our Wholesale program is built for cafes, offices, and hospitality partners. Get guidance on offerings, brew support, and ordering cadence that fits your volume.
Quick start: Prefer auto-delivery? See Coffee Subscriptions for flexible cadence and stress-free restocks.
Meet the Farmers
Behind every bag of coffee is a community of growers, producers, and families who dedicate their lives to the craft.
We work with trusted partners around the world to source coffees that reflect the unique climates, traditions, and communities that produce them.
Hafi | Muyinga Province, Burundi
Sometimes the most remarkable coffees come from the most remote places.
Grown in the hills of Muyinga Province, Hafi coffee is produced by farmers who live so far from the nearest washing station that delivering freshly harvested cherries can take more than a full day. Working with JNP Coffee, these producers have developed innovative natural and anaerobic processing methods that create exceptionally layered coffees known for their fruit-forward sweetness and complexity.
The name “Hafi” means “near” in Kirundi, reflecting the farmers’ hope of one day having a washing station closer to their communities.
Origin: Burundi
Elevation: 1,715 MASL
Process: Natural
Risaralda | Colombia
Located within Colombia’s renowned Coffee Triangle, Risaralda has been producing exceptional coffee for generations.
The combination of rich volcanic soils, mountain elevations, and ideal climate conditions create coffees celebrated for their sweetness, balance, and consistency. Carefully harvested and washed before being slowly dried, these coffees showcase the craftsmanship that has made Colombian coffee respected around the world.
Origin: Colombia
Elevation: 1,450–1,750 MASL
Varieties: Caturra, Castillo, Colombia
Process: Washed
Rogicha | Guji, Ethiopia
Nestled high in the mountains of southern Ethiopia’s Guji Zone, Rogicha combines centuries of coffee-growing tradition with modern quality-focused processing.
Every cherry is hand-picked, carefully sorted, and dried on raised beds, producing coffees known for vibrant fruit character, floral aromatics, and remarkable complexity.
Origin: Ethiopia
Elevation: 2,200 MASL
Variety: Ethiopian Heirloom
Process: Natural
Sugar Cane Decaf | Colombia
Decaf should never mean sacrificing flavor.
Our Sugar Cane Decaf begins as specialty-grade Colombian coffee before undergoing a natural sugar cane decaffeination process that preserves sweetness, body, and character. The result is a coffee that remains rich, balanced, and enjoyable without compromising quality.
Origin: Colombia
Elevation: 1,450–1,750 MASL
Varieties: Caturra, Castillo, Colombia
Process: Washed | Sugar Cane Decaf
Nueva Esperanza Farm | Chiapas, Mexico
For Oliverio Pérez, coffee is more than a crop—it’s a family tradition passed down through generations.
Located in the mountains of Chiapas, Nueva Esperanza Farm is built on careful stewardship of the land, sustainable farming practices, and a commitment to quality. Through meticulous harvesting, washing, and drying methods, Oliverio produces coffee that reflect both the character of the region and the dedication behind every harvest.
His focus on sustainability, community, and craftsmanship helps create coffees that are clean, balanced, and expressive from farm to cup.
Producer: Oliverio Pérez
Farm: Nueva Esperanza
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Elevation: 1,700+ MASL
Varieties: Geisha, Typica
Process: Washed
Understanding Tasting Notes
Tasting notes are not added flavors.
They are naturally occurring characteristics developed through variety, elevation, soil, climate, and processing methods.
When we describe a coffee, you may notice notes such as:
Chocolate. Rich, comforting sweetness.
Citrus. Orange, lemon, or grapefruit brightness.
Berry. Strawberry, blueberry, or jam-like fruit character.
Nutty. Hazelnut, almond, and roasted nut qualities.
These notes help describe what makes each coffee unique and allow us to celebrate the individuality of every origin we source.
FAQs
What kind of coffee do you roast?
Where can I buy MudPenny coffee?
Order online through the Shop, or enjoy MudPenny coffee at our restaurants listed on the Restaurants page.
How is Wholesale different from the shop?
Do you offer subscriptions?
Yes. Choose your coffee and delivery cadence on Coffee Subscriptions for effortless refills.
What drinks use house-made syrups?
Our teams craft syrups in-house to pair with espresso and brewed coffee. Specifics vary by location and season—please see Restaurants for current menus or send us a note via Contact.
Where is your coffee served?
MudPenny coffee is served at our restaurants in Ada, Grand Rapids, Rockford, and Spring Lake. We also share occasional updates on placements and features in News.
Still have questions?
If you have other questions that weren’t answered here, feel free to send us a message. We’re happy to assist you and provide the information you need.
