Bandit

Bandit Coffee Co. operates as a specialty coffee roaster and retailer based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The company was established in February 2016 by co-founders and husband-and-wife team, Joshua and Sarah Weaver. Both previously worked in the advertising and graphic design industries before channeling their passion for coffee shop culture into their own venture. They identified a need in Sarah's hometown of St. Pete for a gathering place focused on a high-quality coffee experience. The business model centers on direct-to-consumer sales through its physical cafe and online store, supplemented by wholesale accounts.

The company's primary revenue stream is the sale of beverages and food at its cafe in the Grand Central District, which serves a clientele of local creatives, entrepreneurs, and residents. In 2017, Bandit expanded its operations by beginning to roast its own coffee beans. This led to the launch of a webstore to sell bags of their single-origin and blended coffees directly to consumers, with orders roasted weekly. The company sources beans from various global regions, including Ethiopia, Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico. Beyond coffee, the cafe's offerings have grown to include a curated selection of natural wines and beers, as well as a made-to-order food menu featuring items like breakfast sandwiches and toasts.

A key milestone was the 2020 opening of a dedicated roasting facility, enabling the company to significantly increase production capacity with a roaster capable of handling over 100 pounds of coffee per hour. This space also serves as a venue for tastings and workshops, though it is not open to the public for retail. The physical cafe is characterized by its minimalist design, which the founders built out themselves, and functions as a community hub, regularly hosting events and collaborations. Initially, the shop featured coffees from other small-batch roasters before transitioning to exclusively roasting its own. The business has demonstrated resilience, navigating challenges by implementing online ordering and utilizing local and federal financial assistance programs.

Keywords: specialty coffee, coffee roaster, St. Petersburg Florida, direct to consumer coffee, cafe, single-origin coffee, wholesale coffee, cold brew, natural wine, community hub, Joshua Weaver, Sarah Weaver, Grand Central District, coffee subscription, online coffee sales, minimalist cafe, food service, coffee beans, espresso, ethically sourced coffee