Revocup Coffee Roasters Opened in Maryland Heights

Kansas City-based fair trade coffee chain, Revocup Coffee Roasters, opened its first St. Louis metro location in Maryland Heights, marking Revocup’s fifth location and expanding its commitment to quality coffee and ethical sourcing.

The coffee shop offers a variety of espresso drinks, including the Ethiopian macchiato, lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and Revocup’s popular single-origin drip coffee. Customers can also enjoy frozen drinks, smoothies, and a limited food menu, featuring light sandwiches and pastries.

Revocup’s freshly roasted coffee is at the heart of its offerings, featuring beans sourced from Ethiopia and other coffee-growing regions like Colombia, Tanzania, El Salvador, Kenya, and Costa Rica. Guests can savor a cup on-site or purchase bags of coffee to take home, with prices averaging $14–$16. Popular varieties include Ethiopian Sidamo Natural, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, and Genesis Natural.

Founder Habte Mesfin emphasizes transparency and quality in his coffee. “People know our coffee is fresh, and we give them more information than anyone else: which country it comes from, what particular farm or region it comes from, and the date it was roasted,” says Mesfin. To ensure this freshness, bags of retail coffee are typically removed from shelves after three to five weeks and brewed in-store.

Mesfin, who founded Revocup in 2008 after working in finance and advocating for better conditions for coffee farmers in Ethiopia, explains that his mission extends beyond coffee. “I felt the need to tell the human side of the coffee story,” says Mesfin. He emphasizes that in order to address these issues, it’s important to deliver a product of the highest quality.

In addition to fair-trade coffee practices, Mesfin and his wife, TG, established the Revocup Foundation, which donates 10 cents from every cup of coffee sold and $1 from every bag. The foundation has opened 38 libraries in coffee-growing communities in Ethiopia, reflecting Mesfin’s belief that “education is the most effective weapon against poverty.” The foundation also focuses on clean water initiatives.

With the Maryland Heights location, Mesfin continues his mission to improve the lives of coffee farmers while delivering high-quality coffee to customers. “They know they’re not only enjoying a cup of coffee but also helping someone else,” he says.