Coffee · Small Batch · Veteran-owned ·

Why Veteran-Owned Coffee Deserves Your Attention

The veteran coffee space is crowded. Camo bags, American flags, and "support the troops" copy as far as the eye can see. Some of it is real. Some of it is a marketing department that watched a documentary and found an angle.

I'm Mike Klemmer. Twenty years in Army logistics. Three combat deployments. Bronze Star. I drink coffee black and I have opinions.

Here's the honest breakdown of who's actually veteran-owned, who built something real, and who traded their veteran identity for a NYSE ticker.

What "Veteran-Owned" Actually Means

The SBA defines a veteran-owned small business as one where veterans own at least 51% and control daily operations. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) require the same plus a service-connected disability.

That definition matters. Because "founded by a veteran" and "veteran-owned" are not the same thing. One means something. The other is a bio line.

Keep that in mind as you read.

⭐ #1 — Best Overall

Aerial Resupply Coffee

Charlottesville, VA — Founded by Mike Klemmer, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Yes, this is my company. No, I'm not going to pretend otherwise. You're reading this on my website. But I'm also going to tell you exactly why ARC deserves the top spot, and you can decide.

ARC is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. Not a brand with a veteran in the "about us" page. Not a public company with a veteran co-founder who hasn't been involved in five years. Me. Still here. Still roasting. Still answering emails.

Every bag is small-batch roasted to order in Charlottesville, Virginia. There is no warehouse full of pre-roasted inventory waiting to ship. When you order, we roast. That's it.

The lineup: Firewatch (Colombian medium), 15W40 (dark Italian), Spectre (dark espresso), MOAB (double-caffeinated Robusta for when coffee isn't cutting it), Lifeline (light roast), Hercules (blonde). Plus K-cups, bundles, flavored roasts, and a subscription that puts $1 per order toward Service Dogs of Virginia.

Best for: Anyone who wants their coffee money to go directly to a veteran, not a shareholder.

Shop ARC Coffee → Start a Subscription →
#2 — Best Brand Recognition

Black Rifle Coffee Company

Salt Lake City, UT — Founded by Evan Hafer, U.S. Army Special Forces (Ret.)

Credit where it's due. BRCC got there first. Evan Hafer built something from nothing, created a category, and proved that veterans could compete at scale in the consumer coffee market. That is genuinely impressive and worth saying out loud.

The coffee is solid. The branding is sharp. They have more SKUs, more retail placement, and more name recognition than any other veteran coffee brand in existence. If you walk into a gas station and see a veteran coffee brand on the shelf, it's probably theirs.

Here's what changed.

In 2022, BRCC went public on the NYSE. The company is now answerable to shareholders, quarterly earnings reports, and Wall Street analysts — not to the veteran community. Their own SEC filings show DTC revenue dropped 14% in 2024 and another 15% in Q1 2025. Wholesale now makes up the majority of their revenue. The company that built its identity on being the anti-corporate veteran brand is now a publicly traded corporation.

None of that makes the coffee bad. It makes the brand something different than what it started as. You're allowed to have feelings about that.

Best for: Brand recognition, wide retail availability, large variety.

Worth knowing: Publicly traded. No longer qualifies as a veteran-owned small business under SBA definitions.

#3 — Best for First Responder Support

Fire Department Coffee

Rockford, IL — Founded by veterans and firefighters

Fire Department Coffee is the real deal. Founded by veterans and active firefighters, they roast in-house and put their mission front and center — supporting injured and ill first responders through the Fire Department Coffee Foundation.

The coffee punches. Bold, straightforward roasts that don't mess around. The branding leans hard into firefighter culture, which makes sense given who built it. If you're a first responder or you want your purchase to support that community specifically, this is your brand.

They've built something with staying power. Consistent product, clear mission, and a customer base that genuinely believes in what they're buying. That's not easy to build and it's worth acknowledging.

Best for: First responders, firefighter families, buyers who want mission-driven coffee with a cause they can see.

Side by Side

Brand Veteran-Owned? Small Batch? Roast to Order? Subscription?
Aerial Resupply Coffee ✅ SDVOSB ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Black Rifle Coffee ⚠️ Publicly traded ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Yes
Fire Department Coffee ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ❌ No ✅ Yes

The Bottom Line

All three brands on this list were built by people who served. All three make coffee worth drinking. None of them are scams.

The difference is what you're buying beyond the bag. BRCC built the category and went public. Fire Department Coffee is mission-driven and doing it right. ARC is the one still run by the veteran who started it, roasting to order out of Charlottesville, Virginia, and putting $1 from every subscription toward Service Dogs of Virginia.

Your call.

Shop ARC Coffee →

About the Author

Mike Klemmer is the founder of Aerial Resupply Coffee. After 20 years as an Army logistics officer — including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan — he launched ARC to build a veteran-authentic coffee brand that competes on quality, not just camo. He drinks his coffee black. He roasts it weekly. He answers his own emails.

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FAQs

The standard coffee-to-water ratio is 1:16 (1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water). For example, a 12-ounce cup (about 355 grams) would need approximately 22 grams of coffee. Adjust to your taste: 1:15 for stronger coffee or 1:17 for lighter brews.

Grind size directly impacts how water extracts flavor from coffee grounds. A grind too fine can result in over-extraction and bitterness, while a grind too coarse can lead to weak, under-extracted coffee. Match the grind to your brewing method:

  • French press: Coarse grind (like sea salt)
  • Drip coffee: Medium grind (like sand)
  • Espresso: Fine grind (like powdered sugar)

Bitterness can result from:

  • Water that’s too hot (above 205°F).
  • Brewing for too long.
  • Using too fine a grind for your brewing method.

To fix this, lower the water temperature, shorten your brew time, or switch to a coarser grind.

Store coffee in an airtight, opaque container like the Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister. Keep it in a cool, dark place away from heat, light, and moisture. Avoid storing coffee in the fridge or freezer, as condensation can degrade the flavor.

Use a thermometer or a temperature-controlled kettle like the Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle. The ideal brewing temperature is 195°F–205°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, let boiled water sit for 30 seconds before using it.

A burr grinder is strongly recommended for consistency. Burr grinders produce uniform grind sizes, which ensure even extraction and better-tasting coffee. Blade grinders, on the other hand, create uneven particles that can lead to inconsistent flavor.

For the best flavor, use beans within 2–3 weeks of roasting. Check the roast date when buying coffee. At Aerial Resupply Coffee, our beans are roasted in small batches to ensure maximum freshness when they reach your door.

Start with these three simple upgrades:

  1. Use freshly roasted, high-quality beans like MOAB Medium Roast.
  2. Invest in a burr grinder for precise grind sizes.
  3. Measure coffee and water with a digital scale to ensure consistent ratios.

The French press is a great starting point for beginners. It’s straightforward, requires minimal equipment, and delivers rich, full-bodied coffee. Pair it with a reliable burr grinder and a scale for consistent results.

At Aerial Resupply Coffee, every purchase helps support veterans, military spouses, and first responders. By choosing our coffee, you’re not just enjoying bold, flavorful blends—you’re contributing to a meaningful mission and honoring those who serve.