Our Story

Every cup of coffee has a story behind it. So do we.

Carrier Roasting Co. started with a simple question: what happens when you treat coffee with the same care and respect as any craft food?

2015

The First Roast

What began as a curiosity between friends Scott Kerner and Ross Evans quickly became a craft. Neither Scott nor Ross came from generations of coffee roasters. They simply became fascinated by the idea that one agricultural product could express so much character, depending on where it was grown, who cultivated it, and how it was roasted. Driven by this passion and a desire to better understand every step of its journey, they formed Carrier Roasting Co. to explore what specialty coffee could become in Vermont.

True to its Vermont roots, Carrier got its start in a barn utilizing the simple CSA (community supported agriculture) model. Customers subscribed to weekly coffee shares, with each delivery featuring coffees chosen for what was freshest, most expressive, and in season.

2017

Opening Our Doors

Two years after launching Carrier, Scott and Ross met Matt Borg, who had recently relocated from California after serving as Production Roaster at Handsome Coffee, later acquired by Blue Bottle Coffee. Together, they saw an opportunity to take Carrier to the next level and expand to downtown Northfield began.

With more space, we were not only able to expand our roasting operation but it was an opportunity to build our first coffee bar. The first retail location gave us a place to build community, share conversations, and introduce more people to our vision for specialty coffee.

2019

Growing the Roastery

With the growth of both our coffee bar and roasting operations, we quickly ran out of space that would hold both pieces of the business. As demand grew, it became clear that the coffee bar and roasting operation each needed room to thrive. After a brief time in a larger space in Northfield, the roastery eventually moved to its current home in Waterbury, Vermont.

2020

Expanding to Burlington

Opening our Burlington coffee bar introduced Carrier to an even broader community while staying true to the same values that shaped the company from day one: thoughtful hospitality, exceptional coffee, and genuine relationships. Our Burlington coffee bar sits inside the Jake’s ONE Market in Burlington’s Old North End and gives Carrier a foothold in Vermont’s largest city.  

2024

A Facelift for the Coffee Bar

With the roasting operation well established, a new path was formed for Carrier’s flagship coffee bar in Northfield. The space was completely redesigned and rebuilt allowing for more seating and customer areas, better flow for baristas behind the bar, and an overall better customer experience.