By Bakio · Last updated · Independent. No paid placements.
Pittsburgh's coffee scene has quietly matured into something worth paying attention to. The Strip District anchors the city's specialty movement with eight coffee venues clustered along a few walkable blocks, while South Side Flats and neighborhoods like West Oakland and Larimer have developed their own micro-roasting hubs. This isn't a city chasing third-wave trends for the sake of it—the roasters here tend toward approachable, drinkable coffee that doesn't require a tasting journal to enjoy. Of the 75 coffee venues we've mapped across Pittsburgh, only five are roasting in-house and selling retail online, which means the local roasting community is small but serious. These aren't vanity operations. They're roasters who've committed to sourcing traceable beans, dialing in consistent roast profiles, and actually showing up in the daily routines of people who care about their morning cup.
The Pittsburgh scene at a glance
- ●Strip District dominates with 8 specialty venues in a concentrated, walkable stretch
- ●Only 5 local roasters offer online retail—small scene, but focused and quality-driven
- ●Pricing skews accessible: most single-origins land between $5-7 per 100g, well below coastal averages
- ●Blends still matter here—roasters aren't abandoning crowd-pleasers for ultra-light microlots
- ●Burundi, Colombia, and Ethiopia show up repeatedly; PNG and Tanzania appear more than you'd expect
- 1
Commonplace Coffee
22 coffees tracked·avg US$9.02/100gCommonplace is Pittsburgh's largest specialty roaster by catalog size, with 21 coffees spanning approachable blends and traceable single-origins from places like Burundi and Colombia. Their All Day Blend sits at the center of their lineup—a workhorse coffee priced at $22 for 12oz that's built for daily brewing without fanfare. They also offer an AeroPress Clear blend at $50 for a 363g bag, which suggests they're willing to get specific about brew methods. The range here is wide enough that you can find both a $2.06-per-100g entry point and more curated microlots depending on what you're after.
Editor's pick
Try the Ninga Hill from Burundi for $22.25—it's a solid example of what East African coffee can do without the fruity pyrotechnics.
- 2
Steel Cup Coffee Roasters
14 coffees tracked·avg US$7.57/100gSteel Cup leans into both ends of the roast spectrum—they'll sell you a natural-process Ethiopian at medium roast and a French Roast blend without apology. Their Ethiopia offering, priced at $18.50 for a 79g bag, comes in at a steep $23.42 per 100g, which likely means it's a limited microlot or competition-grade bean. They're also one of the few local roasters listing a decaf (Sunset Decaf from Honduras) as a headliner, which tells you they're thinking about the full range of home brewing needs, not just the single-origin obsessives.
Editor's pick
Try the Ethiopia for $18.50—it's a natural-process, medium roast that justifies the per-gram cost if you want something special.
Currently in stock
- 3
19 Coffee Company
18 coffees tracked·avg US$4.94/100g19 Coffee Company offers some of the most affordable specialty coffee in Pittsburgh, averaging $5 per 100g across their lineup. Their Colombia Tolima Suave and Organic Papua New Guinea Timizua A/X both hover around $17 for a 12oz bag, which is exceptional value for washed, traceable single-origins. They also roast a Decaf Espresso at medium-light, priced at $16.60, that undercuts most decaf offerings in town. This is a roaster for people who want clean, honest coffee without the markup that often comes with specialty branding.
Editor's pick
Try the Colombia Tolima Suave for $17.35—washed process, approachable, and priced like they actually want you to buy it regularly.
- 4
Redhawk Coffee
7 coffees tracked·avg US$5.92/100gRedhawk focuses on Latin American origins—Guatemala, Colombia, and Peru—with a pricing structure that rewards bulk buying. Their Peru Cajamarca Lima Coffee drops to $2.65 per 100g when you buy the 2-pound bag, which is about as cheap as traceable coffee gets. The Guatemala Huehuetenango Quetzal and Colombia Cauca El Tambo are both priced in the low-$20s for 12oz, positioning Redhawk as a straightforward, no-fuss option for people who want recognizable origins without the ceremony.
Editor's pick
Try the Peru Cajamarca Lima Coffee for $24—it's a 2-pound bag that brings the per-cup cost down to nearly nothing.
- 5
Convive Coffee Cafes and Roastery
6 coffees tracked·avg US$5.78/100gConvive keeps their retail lineup tight—just two coffees available online, including a Tanzania Peaberry and a Revive House Espresso blend. The Peaberry is priced at $23, though the weight isn't listed, which suggests it might be a rotating microlot rather than a year-round staple. Their house espresso comes in at $21 for 12oz, which is competitive for a dialed-in blend meant to pull shots at home. This is a roaster that seems more focused on their cafe operations than building a sprawling online catalog.
Editor's pick
Try the Revive House Espresso for $21—it's built for espresso but works fine as drip if you like a bit of body.
Also worth knowing about
- 6
De Fer Coffee & Tea
6 coffees tracked·avg US$3.64/100g - 7
GHOST COFFEE COLLAB
5 coffees tracked·avg US$20.10/100g - 8
KLVN Coffee Lab
4 coffees tracked·avg US$8.21/100g
See every coffee shop in Pittsburgh
Map of cafes, roasters, and specialty stores in Pittsburgh, with prices and quality scores.
Open the Pittsburgh map →Frequently asked questions
Who are the best specialty coffee roasters in Pittsburgh?
Top specialty roasters in Pittsburgh include Commonplace Coffee, 19 Coffee Company, Steel Cup Coffee Roasters, Redhawk Coffee, Convive Coffee Cafes and Roastery. Each is ranked by independent quality data — expert cupping scores, awards (Cup of Excellence, Good Food Awards), and community reviews. See live ranked list at bakio.co/best-roasters-in/pittsburgh.
How many specialty coffee roasters are in Pittsburgh?
Bakio tracks 75 coffee venues in Pittsburgh, of which 8 are specialty roasters with online retail. Updated regularly.
What does specialty coffee cost in Pittsburgh?
Specialty coffee in Pittsburgh averages around $7.70 per 100g (about $26 for a 12oz bag).