Cherrybook.

Roaster

Counter Culture Coffee

Roaster of the YearRoast Magazine · 2020Price-transparentSCTG data donorUSDA Organic
Coffees in catalog
9
Also available
2
Avg Cherry's Index (limited data)
76.2
Reddit sentiment
90/100
FreshnessRoasts to order · ships in ~2d
OriginsCOPEETGTKEEC
How Cherry’s Index is calculatedavg coverage 40% · limited data

Coverage is below 50%. Most of this roaster’s lots are scored off roaster-level signals (Reddit + YouTube) without per-lot SCA grades, Coffee Review entries, or published buyer reviews. With limited signal, scores are also pulled toward a neutral 50 baseline by the Cherry’s Index methodology, so lots can read flatter than the actual cup quality differences between them. The avg Cherry’s Index reflects general reputation more than per-lot quality.

Roaster signals

Apply to every lot from this roaster.

  • Reddit90/100weight 18%
  • YouTube85/100weight 10%

Per-lot signals (averaged)

Vary across lots; averaged over 9 in-stock lots.

  • SCA gradenot on file · weight 25%
  • Coffee Review51.7/1003/9 lots · weight 20%
  • Buyer reviewsnot on file · weight 12%
  • Cherrybook reader ratingsnot on file · weight 5%
  • Transparency38.9/1009/9 lots · weight 5%

Bonuses earned (per lot)

  • roty9/9
  • editorial cluster9/9
  • stale decay9/9

Base components are renormalized over whatever signals are available for each lot. SCA + Coffee Review are capped at 40% combined to keep the cupping story from dominating. Bonuses (accolades, awards, editorial coverage) and freshness decay are applied on top.

Community reputation · Reddit

Cult favorite· sentiment 90/100

Counter Culture Coffee is consistently regarded as a high-quality, benchmark roaster within the coffee community. Users frequently cite them alongside other top-tier roasters when discussing quality standards, and they are often used as a point of comparison for home roasters aiming to achieve professional-level results. Their beans are praised for bright, fruity, and flavorful profiles, and the brand is respected for its long-standing influence on coffee education and industry standards.

benchmark for high-quality coffeebright and fruity flavor profileswidely respected industry leaderfrequent point of comparison for home roastersappealing branding and design
Threads cited (9)

On YouTube

8 videos · 108k combined views

Outside coverage consistently positions Counter Culture Coffee as a foundational pillar of the specialty coffee industry. Reviewers emphasize their dual focus on technical precision in roasting operations and a deep commitment to professional education. The roaster is frequently described as a bridge between coffee producers and wholesale partners, with a reputation for maintaining rigorous quality standards throughout the entire supply chain.

Emphasis on professional education programsRigorous supply chain transparencyLarge scale roasting infrastructureFocus on wholesale partner successLong standing industry leadership

Flagship cafe

Retail location

Durham, NC

Open in maps →

Seed-city fallback applied (Durham, NC); the website didn't expose a specific flagship address. LLM-finder notes: The website provides a 'Store Locator' tool that is not functional in the provided text, and no specific physical retail or HQ address is listed on the pages provided.

The catalog

9 in stock · 112 archived

Filter on browse →
Mpemba
79

Clementine, Honey, and Tea Like on a washed build.

Kayanza, BI · Washed

LightTangerineHoneyTea Like
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.01/oz

Also available · subscriptions, sample packs, gear

Archived (112)
Abel Salinas
82

Experimental lot with Nectarine, Blood Orange, and Tropical in the cup.

Saraguro, EC · Experimental

LightPeachOrangeTropical Fruit
ROTY 2020 roaster
$3.01/oz
Out of stock
Buchiro
82

Kiwi, Lime, and Black Tea on a washed build.

South Kivu, CD · Washed

Medium-LightLimeBlack Tea
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.78/oz
Out of stock
Valle Inca
82

Golden Raisin, Nougat, and Creamy on a washed build.

Cusco, PE · Washed

LightRaisinNougatOverall Sweet
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.16/oz
Out of stock
Los Charapanos
82

Expect Brown Sugar, Orange, and Graham Cracker from this washed.

Zumba, EC · Washed

Medium-LightBrown SugarOrangeGraham Cracker
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.70/oz
Out of stock
Ngarutua
81

Washed lot with Blackberry, Grapefruit, and Juicy in the cup.

Embu, KE · Washed

LightBlackberryGrapefruitJuicy
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.16/oz
Out of stock
Borderlands
81

Expect Milk Chocolate, Almond, and Nectarine from this washed.

Nariño, CO · Washed

LightChocolateAlmondPeach+1
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.24/oz
Out of stock
Alto Ihuamaca
81

Expect Milk Chocolate, Caramel, and Green Apple from this washed.

San Ignacio, PE · Washed

LightMilk ChocolateCaramelApple
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.78/oz
Out of stock
Muriama Estate
80

Expect Bright Grapefruit Acidity, Black Currant Compote Sweetness, and Silky Mouthfeel from this washed.

KE · Washed

LightGrapefruitBlack Currant
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.42/oz
Out of stock
Kabeywa
80

Expect Stone Fruit, Citrus, and Chocolate from this washed.

Mount Elgon, UG · Washed

LightPeachCitrusChocolate
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
Yacuri80

Brown Sugar, Apricot, and Almond on a washed build.

Loja & Zamora-Chinchipe, EC · Washed

LightBrown SugarApricotAlmond
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.92/oz
Out of stock
San Miguel
80

Expect Vanilla, Cola, and Dried Cherry from this washed.

San Marcos, GT · Washed

LightVanillaColaCherry
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
Bijao
80

Expect Berry, Chocolate, and Red Grape from this washed.

Huila, CO · Washed

Medium-LightBerryChocolateGrape
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.01/oz
Out of stock
Juana Gaspar
80

Washed lot with Citrus, Plum, and Golden Raisin in the cup.

Concepción Huista, GT · Washed

LightCitrusPlumRaisin
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.70/oz
Out of stock
Muthonjo
80

Roaster flags Dried Fig, Blackberry, and Floral in the cup.

Kirinyaga, KE

FigBlackberryFloral+1
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.32/oz
Out of stock
La Viuda
80

Expect Black Cherry, White Grape, and Juicy from this washed.

Cajamarca, PE · Washed

LightCherryGrape
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.09/oz
Out of stock
Idido
80

Floral, Melon, and Citrus on a washed build.

Yirgacheffe, ET · Washed

LightFloralMelonCitrus
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
ASUVIM
80

Expect Stone Fruit, Milk Chocolate, and Syrupy from this washed.

Sololá, GT · Washed

LightPeachChocolateSyrupy
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.09/oz
Out of stock
Buliza
80

Cranberry, Fruit Leather, and Crisp on a washed build.

Rulindo, RW · Washed

LightCranberryDried FruitCrisp
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.78/oz
Out of stock
Luis Huayhua80

Expect Tropical Fruit, Cherry, and Juicy from this natural.

Nueva Llusta, BO · Natural

Medium-LightTropical FruitCherry
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
Intango
80

Apricot, Citrus, and Black Tea on a washed build.

Karongi, RW · Washed

LightPeachCitrusBlack Tea
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.01/oz
Out of stock
El Batan79

Dark Chocolate, Plum, and Blackberry on a washed build.

Loja, EC · Washed

DarkDark ChocolatePlumBlackberry
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
Incahuasi79

Washed lot with Golden Raisin, Almond, and Caramel in the cup.

Cusco, PE · Washed

LightRaisinAlmondCaramel
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.09/oz
Out of stock
Sipacapa
79

Cupping notes point toward Apple, Simple Syrup, and Cocoa.

San Marcos, GT

LightAppleMaple SyrupCocoa
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.70/oz
Out of stock
Pedro Patana
79

Roaster flags Dried Cherry, Dark Chocolate, and Sweet in the cup.

Yungas, BO

MediumCherryDark ChocolateOverall Sweet
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.70/oz
Out of stock
Fundochamba
79

Washed lot with Dried Apricot, Milk Chocolate, and Almond in the cup.

Loja, EC · Washed

LightPeachMilk ChocolateAlmond
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.09/oz
Out of stock
K’uychi
79

Green Grape, Clementine, and Milk Chocolate on a natural build.

Nariño, CO · Natural

GrapeTangerineMilk Chocolate
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.93/oz
Out of stock
Urcunina
79

Expect Dried Fruit, Caramel, and Chocolate from this washed.

Nariño, CO · Washed

MediumDried FruitCaramelizedChocolate
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.78/oz
Out of stock
Duromina
79

Expect Sweet Tea, Apricot, and Honeysuckle from this washed.

Agaro, ET · Washed

LightSweet TeaApricotHoneysuckle
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.08/oz
Out of stock
Burera79

Black Currant, Tropical Fruit, and Juicy on a washed build.

Burera, RW · Washed

LightBlack CurrantTropical Fruit
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.00/oz
Out of stock
Kushikamana
79

Roaster flags Citrus, Raisin, and Savory in the cup.

Central and Eastern Regions, KE

LightCitrusRaisinSavory
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.93/oz
Out of stock
Sanctuary
79

Expect Praline, Brown Sugar, and Apple from this washed.

GT · Washed

MediumPralineBrown SugarApple
ROTY 2020 roaster
$1.85/oz
Out of stock
Gemini
78

Natural lot with Apple, Blueberry, and Melon in the cup.

Natural

Medium-LightAppleBlueberryMelon
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.63/oz
Out of stock
Field Trip
78

Washed lot with Blackberry, Clementine, and Sweet in the cup.

BR · Washed

Medium-LightBlackberryOrangeOverall Sweet
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.01/oz
Out of stock
Santafé
75

Expect Black Cherry, Cocoa, and Syrupy from this washed.

Nariño, CO · Washed

Medium-LightCherryCocoaSyrupy
ROTY 2020 roaster
$2.01/oz
Out of stock

For roasters

Cherrybook runs a monthly Roaster Spotlight Series featuring one roaster with an editorial piece and a giveaway. Interested in being featured? See the format or email josh@cherrybookcoffee.com.