Allegro Coffee

Media Kit

Media Kit

If you shop at your neighborhood Whole Foods Market, chances are you’ve enjoyed our coffee.

Allegro Coffee Company is a specialty coffee company located in Thornton, CO.  Founded in 1977 with the idea of bringing a superior experience of coffee to the people, we are a recognized and respected leader in the specialty coffee arena. Since 1997 our business has grown to include fine tea, wellness tea, drinking chocolate, and spices. In 1997, we became a wholly owned subsidiary of Whole Foods Market. Our coffee, tea, and drinking chocolates are available at Whole Foods Market, independent coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Whether we’re at origin sourcing coffee, tea, cacao or spice, or at our headquarters in Thornton, CO roasting and blending, we are mission-driven —committed to offering quality products, grown in sound social conditions at origin, and supporting sustainable farming practices.

Logos

Need an Allegro Coffee logo to accompany your story? Please read our Asset Policy and Logo Standards.  To request our logo, Please contact marketing@allegrocoffee.com for a logo format that best suits your needs.

Fast Facts
  1. In 2011 we will purchase and roast approximately 7.1 million pounds of coffee.
  2. We source from 80 farms and cooperatives worldwide in 22 countries in the Americas, East Africa, and Pacific Rim.
  3. 60% of our coffee is sourced from Organic certified farms.
  4. 22% of our coffee is Rainforest Alliance certified. 
  5. 17% of our coffee is Fair Trade certified.
  6. We currently employ 90 team members as part of the Allegro team.
Timeline
  • 1977. Saturday Night Fever is playing in theaters, gas costs 65 cents per gallon, the first Apple II computers hit the stores, and Jeffrey Cohn opens The Brewing Market with the desire of bringing superior coffee to the people.
  • 1980. Cohn begins roasting beans.
  • 1985. Cohn sells The Brewing Market and launches Allegro Coffee Company, an import, roasting, and wholesale distribution venture. 
  • 1986. Allegro is the first coffee company in Colorado — and one of the first in the United States to become organic certified.
  • 1992. Allegro enters tea business – offering loose leaf tea.
  • 1995. Allegro is distributing its coffee throughout the United States.
  • 1997. Whole Foods Market acquires Allegro Coffee Company.
  • 1998. Allegro introduces TOP LOT coffees (originally as Allegro Limited Edition). These micro lot coffees represent the are grown in small lots in microclimates whose perfect conditions develop flavor profiles that embody the region’s sun, soil, water and altitude
  • 2000. Allegro moves to new facility in Thornton, CO.
  • 2003. Jeff Teter joins Allegro as President.
  • 2003. Allegro Special Reserve program is launched (originally asHigh Five for Farmers). 
  • 2005. Allegro expands tea line to include bagged tea.
  • 2005. Allegro partners with Renewable Choice to become a %100 wind powered facility.
  • 2005. Earth University students intern with Allegro — beginning a partnership in coffee.
  • 2007. Allegro becomes a licensed Fair Trade certified roaster—introduces four Fair-trade certified coffees.
  • 2007. First Whole Trade Guaranteed product offered, Organic El Salvador St. Adelaida.
  • 2008. First Rainforest Alliance certified product offered, Organic El Salvador St. Adelaida.
  • 2009. Allegro is honored with the Rainforest Alliance Corporate Green Globe Award.
  • 2010. Allegro introduces certified organic spices for food/restaurant service.
People

We’re A Group Of People Pouring Our Passion For Great Coffee And Tea Into Every Cup.

  • Jeff Teter, President:  “I’m proud of the quality of our products, the relationships we have with our growers, and the favorable atmosphere we provide for our team members.”
  • David Kubena, Vice President Sales and Training: “We’ve built a family of people at Allegro that care deeply about the quality of our products, the lives of our farmers, and stewarding the environment for future generations."
  • Tara Cross, Director of Marketing: “We believe that our coffee should represent the unique and diverse culture and climate it comes from. We are diligent in nurturing this expression of grower, region, and roast every step of the way."
  • Christy Thorns, Director of Sourcing: “We insist on transparency throughout the supply chain, and partner with suppliers who share our values of equitable and traceable sourcing."

FAQ

1) What is Fair Trade? The term Fair Trade is used to describe a market-based approach to trade, in which farmers are paid “fairly” for their goods so that they can not only have a living wage, they can develop their communities—socially, economically and environmentally. Fair Trade also seeks to cut out layers between producers and buyers to foster long-term relationships between workers and those who buy their goods.

Coffee is perhaps the most notable Fair Trade commodity.  The first Fair Trade coffee was offered in the late 1980’s as a response to a historical drop in coffee prices.  Since then, Fair Trade coffee has become a staple offering in both coffee bars and supermarkets—impacting the lives of more than five million coffee growers and their communities.

 2) What Makes a Product Fair Trade? In order to be identified as Fair Trade, a product must meet established criteria that have been established by FLO (Fair Trade Labeling Organization) and then be certified by an approved agency. 

Standards for Fair Trade coffee certification include: Fair labor conditions; Environmentally sustainable growing practices; Democratic and transparent organizations; Community development.

 3) Allegro’s Approach to Fair Trade: Allegro offers Fair Trade certified coffee as well as Rainforest Alliance, Organic, and Whole Trade certified coffee. We also offer coffee that is not Fair Trade certified. Currently, only cooperatives are eligible to be Fair Trade certified.  We purchase some of our coffee from single-family farms that are not part of a cooperative. We have forged long-term relationships with these farms and can attest to worker and community development that is often found in Fair Trade communities.

4) Why is some Fair Trade coffee more than others? Not all Fair Trade coffee is created equal.  Although Fair Trade is greatly influential on the lives of growers, it does not necessarily represent a coffee’s “quality” in your cup. Many factors go into determining the quality of the coffee (and thus, the price) that have nothing to do with Fair Trade—region grown, grade of coffee, growing requirements, roasting, and other certifications. Our Fair Trade coffee is typically also certified Organic.  Organic coffee is more expensive due to the stringent growing and handling conditions and the availability of organic coffee. 

5) Resources