This recognition means the world to us because it’s a reflection of the relationships we’ve built over the years—with our community, our partners, and, of course, all of you. As we just celebrated our 12-year anniversary last month, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the journey that led us here.

A HISTORY OF RECOGNITION

Here’s a look at our Metro Awards journey over the years:

1. Best New Coffee Roaster - Short List, 2013

2. Best Coffee Roaster - 3rd place, 2014

3. Best Independent Coffee House - 2nd place, 2017

4. Best Independent Coffee House - 1st place, 2018

5. Best Independent Coffee House - 2nd place, 2019

6. Best Independent Coffee House - 2nd place, 2020

7. Best Local Coffee Roaster - 1st place, 2021

8. Best Cafe / Coffeehouse - 2nd place, 2021

9. Best Independent Coffeehouse - 2nd place, 2021

10. Best Local Coffee Roaster - 1st place, 2022

11. Best Local Coffee Roaster - 2nd place, 2023

12. Best Coffee Roaster - 1st place, 2024

Twelve awards in twelve years—each one a testament to the work, passion, and dedication we pour into every cup.

SO, WHAT MAKES US THE "BEST"

"Best" is a subjective term, right? There’s a lot of personal preference that goes into these decisions. But we think this award offers an opportunity to peel back the curtain and share what makes us worthy of this recognition:

1. Direct Trade and Relationship Coffee Models
We believe in building lasting relationships with producers, ensuring ethical sourcing and investing in the communities that grow the coffees we love.

2. Our Philosophy on Roasting
Roasting is a craft. It’s about balancing precision and creativity, using tools like data logging, color tracking, years of experience, and good-old intuition to perfect every batch. Our roasting team works tirelessly to maintain consistency while pushing boundaries.

3. Creativity Meets Craft
We run Chromatic like a mashup of a record label and a comic book publisher. Every coffee release becomes its own art project, blending fresh drops every few weeks with original bag designs, photography, and storytelling. Take the most recent Unicorn Pony, for example—our team went all out with RPG-themed events, custom Chromatic dice, stunning new graphics stamped in-house with our hot stamp machine, and captivating photography. It’s not just a roastery; it’s a full-on creative studio!

4. A Daily Love for Coffee
We don’t just make coffee—we live it. Our team drinks it daily and continuously ensures quality through rigorous cupping and tasting.

5. Global Involvement
Our reach extends far beyond our café. Our roasters and green buyers are deeply involved in the global coffee industry, participating as judges in prestigious competitions like Cup of Excellence, Private Collection Auctions, and Taza Dorada (for both Arabica and Robusta).

6. Continuous Education and Expertise
From earning certifications like Aidan Delaney’s CQI credential to years of experience tasting coffees from every corner of the globe with boots on the ground for harvests and processing, our team strives to stay at the top of their game.

7. DIY at Heart
Our approach is unapologetically DIY. We’ve built Chromatic with a hands-on, innovative mindset—whether that’s in sourcing, roasting, designing, or storytelling.

We work hard because we love what we do, and we know you deserve the best.

LAST WEEKS' DROPS

The buttery mouthfeel is rich and complex, with caramel and honey-like sweetness, flavors of cacao & fresh mint, and lively notes of green apple & flowers not often experienced in robusta, elevated through his carefully executed honey anaerobic methodology.

To everyone who’s been part of our story, thank you for being here. This recognition isn’t just ours—it’s yours, too. Here’s to many more years of great coffee and great community!

Much love,
The Chromatic Team