Our Story

PT’s was born in 1993 in Topeka, Kansas, out of Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin’s simple desire for an excellent cup of coffee.

Four years and two retail locations later, we began buying green coffee, roasting, and traveling to origin, forging the Direct Trade partnerships that have made us a leader in the specialty coffee industry. A simple question guides our judgments and motivates us every day: Is our coffee the best it can be?

Over 30 years in this business we’ve learned that it’s more important to succeed on our own terms than on anyone else’s. And when we focus on superior quality, from seed to cup, our business thrives.

Nearly 80% of the coffee we produce is acquired through our Direct Trade program. Exceptional coffee depends upon great partnerships, and our partners are selected for more than just their harvests—they are socially responsible and environmentally conscious.

We roast dozens of single-origin coffees and signature blends to order five days a week for our retail locations, wholesale clients, and online customers. We were named Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine in 2009 and are among the leading roasters reviewed by industry resource Coffee Review, with nearly 50 scores of 94 and above and multiple appearances in their Top 30 Coffees of the Year—including at No. 1 in 2022!

Our wholesale operation supplies fine cafes, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, corporate offices, and small businesses nationwide. Meanwhile, we give back to the northeastern Kansas community and to stakeholders along the global coffee supply chain with various Coffees for a Cause throughout the year. 

We remain a group of explorers committed to sourcing, roasting, and drinking the best coffees in the world. We warmly invite you to join us on this journey: Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates from our roasting facility.