Metropolis Coffee Company
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coffee roasting, wholesale, and retail |
| Founded | December 2003 |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people |
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| Products | Coffee and coffee capsules |
| Website | www |
Metropolis Coffee Company is a family-owned coffee roaster, wholesaler, private-label producer, and retailer based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2003 by Jeff and Tony Dreyfuss, the company operates an Edgewater cafe and an 18,000-square-foot roastery in Avondale; its brand is also used at a partner-operated cafe in Terminal 5 at O'Hare International Airport.[1][2]
History
Jeff and Tony Dreyfuss opened Metropolis near Loyola University Chicago in December 2003.[3] In 2005, Newcity named it the best place in Chicago to buy coffee beans and noted a campaign that donated $2 to Oxfam for each pound sold.[4] Roast named Metropolis its 2007 Micro Roaster of the Year.[5]
In 2009, Metropolis and the disability-services nonprofit Aspire created Aspire CoffeeWorks, a social enterprise providing paid work and job experience for adults with developmental disabilities. Proceeds from the coffee brand support Aspire's programs.[6][7]
By 2010, the company had moved all roasting from the original cafe to a warehouse in Andersonville.[8] Metropolis coffees received Good Food Awards in 2014 and 2015.[9][10] In September 2015, it opened an 18,000-square-foot roastery at Rockwell on the River in Avondale, replacing the Andersonville space.[11]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Edgewater cafe operated in reduced formats before temporarily closing in February 2021. It reopened that June with a revised menu and layout.[12]
Anne Djerai was promoted to chief executive officer in December 2022 as Metropolis expanded its co-packing business and began producing compostable espresso capsules compatible with Nespresso Original machines.[13][14] A Metropolis-branded cafe began operating at O'Hare's Terminal 5 in 2024 through local airport-concession partners.[2][15] In 2024, the Avondale roastery produced more than one million pounds of coffee annually.[7]
References
- ↑ Meena, Akanksha (May 2, 2025). "Inside Metropolis Coffee's packaging process". Labels & Labeling. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- 1 2 "WH Smith North America Announces Three New Store Openings at Chicago O'Hare International Airport" (Press release). WHSmith North America. May 22, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "About Metropolis". Metropolis Coffee Company. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Chamberlain, Dave. "Best of Chicago: 2005". Newcity. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Roaster of the Year Award". Roast Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Cheung, Ariel (March 18, 2016). "How Chicago Coffee Is Helping People With Disabilities Get Much-Needed Jobs". DNAinfo Chicago. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- 1 2 Struett, David (March 3, 2024). "Coffee roaster's partnership creates job opportunities for adults with disabilities". WBEZ. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Sneak peek inside Metropolis Coffee Company". WLS-TV. December 22, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "2014 Coffee Winners". Good Food Foundation. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "2015 Coffee Winners". Good Food Foundation. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Cheung, Ariel (October 20, 2015). "Metropolis Roastery Opens in Avondale, Chocolate and Cheese Could Follow". DNAinfo Chicago. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Ward, Joe (June 17, 2021). "Metropolis Coffee Reopens In Edgewater With New Menu — And More Focus On Community". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Metropolis Coffee Company appoints Anne Djerai as chief executive officer". Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. December 20, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Reynolds, Pat (July 11, 2025). "Compostable Capsules for Nespresso Original Line Systems". Packaging World. Retrieved August 12, 2026.
- ↑ Pyke, Marni (August 28, 2024). "Coffee, headphones and cookies among O'Hare's latest products to tempt travelers on the fly". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 12, 2026.