Fire Department Coffee
{{Short description|Coffee and soft drink manufacturer and distributor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Fire Department Coffee
| logo = Fire Department Coffee logo.webp
| type = Private
| industry = Food, Retail
| founded = {{Start date and age|2016}}
| founder = Luke Schneider
| hq_location_city = Rockford, Illinois
| products = coffee, drinks
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.firedeptcoffee.com/}}
}}
Fire Department Coffee is an American coffee retailer and coffee roaster based in Rockford, Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Love |first=JB|title=Popular Rockford Coffee Company Featured in TODAY Show 'Products That Give Back' Segment |url=https://q985online.com/popular-illinois-coffee-company-featured-in-today-show-products-that-give-back-segment/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Q985 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cornell |first=Ashley |date=2022-04-04 |title=An Illinois Veteran Who Started Fire Department Coffee Leaves The Fire Department To Run The Brewing Business - S Chronicles |url=https://www.spamchronicles.com/an-illinois-veteran-who-started-fire-department-coffee-leaves-the-fire-department-to-run-the-brewing-business/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=📢 BIG NEWS BREWING! - Fire Department Coffee |url=https://deal.town/fire-department-coffee/big-news-brewing-FKJ3WGHZ47 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=deal.town |language=en}} It was founded by Luke Schneider in 2016.{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Ann |date=2022-03-31 |title=Illinois veteran who launched Fire Department Coffee leaves fire service to run 'brew' business |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/illinois-veteran-fire-department-coffee-business |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kurl |first=Ann Trieger |date=2021-08-24 |title=Wake up with Fire Dept. Coffee (and support first responders) - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/24/lifestyle/wake-up-with-fire-dept-coffee-support-first-responders/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Elyzabeth |first=Michele |date=2022-03-28 |title=Spirit-Infused Fire Dept. Coffee Is A Unique & Delicious Way To Start The Day |url=https://www.latfusa.com/article/2022/03/spirit-infused-fire-dept-coffee-is-a-unique |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=LATF USA NEWS |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=These Rockford Firefighters Are Making Excellent Small-Batch Coffee |url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/food-drink-chicago/rockford-firefighter-small-batch-coffee |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=InsideHook |language=en-US}}
History
Fire Department Coffee was founded by Luke Schneider, a Navy veteran and former Rockford firefighter and paramedic.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-17 |title=Time To Switch To Fire Department Coffee - Times Square Chronicles |url=https://t2conline.com/time-to-switch-to-fire-department-coffee/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=t2conline.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Willis |first=Lenise |date=2022-04-15 |title=These Firefighters Sell Wholesale Coffee and for Good Reason |url=https://www.giftsanddec.com/trending-gifts/vendor-profiles/these-firefighters-sell-wholesale-coffee-and-for-good-reason/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Gifts & Decorative Accessories |language=en-US}} Schneider hired Jason Patton, a fellow firefighter and the YouTuber who created the Fire Department Chronicles comedy channel, as the company’s vice president and made him a part-owner.{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Luli |date=2019-08-09 |title=Riviera Beach firefighter goes beyond the call of duty by raising money for charities |url=https://cbs12.com/news/local/riviera-beach-firefighter-goes-beyond-the-call-of-duty-by-raising-money-for-charities |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=WPEC |language=en}}
The brand launched its first roasting center in a local strip mall in 2016. In January 2021, the company purchased the Al Grace Appliance building in Rockford to use as its international distribution center.{{Cite web |last=Bodee |first=Richard |title=Fire Department Coffee expands for national distribution |url=https://www.wrex.com/news/fire-department-coffee-expands-for-national-distribution/article_335549e7-af6b-5d9f-87cc-668f58410a1e.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=WREX |language=en}} Fire Department Coffee also purchased a building to use as its first café location in the 900 block of W. Riverside Blvd in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Carrigan |first=Andrew |title=Fire Department Coffee to open first café location in Rockford |url=https://www.wrex.com/news/positive-local-news/fire-department-coffee-to-open-first-caf-location-in-rockford/article_ceec1b02-b457-11ec-be38-7f6281498947.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=WREX |language=en}}
They also launched a line of ready to drink coffees in October 2022.{{Cite web |last=Bartiromo |first=Michael |date=2018-06-06 |title=Founder of Fire Department Coffee is focused on giving back to injured firefighters, veterans |url=https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/founder-of-fire-department-coffee-is-focused-on-giving-back-to-injured-firefighters-veterans |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Ready-to-Drink Fire Department Coffee Review: 4 Delicious Flavors That Will Keep You Powered On-the-Go! |url=https://geardiary.com/2022/09/22/ready-to-drink-fire-department-coffee-review/ |website=geardiary.com}}
Professional mixed martial artist and former UFC champion Stipe Miocic starred in a commercial for Fire Department Coffee in 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-29 |title=Video: UFC champ Stipe Miocic featured in hilarious coffee commercial |url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/07/video-ufc-stipe-miocic-fire-dept-coffee-commercial |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=MMA Junkie |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2020-02-28 |title=How much caffeine does Stipe Miocic Extra Strength Coffee have? |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/02/how-much-caffeine-does-stipe-miocic-extra-strength-coffee-have.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=cleveland |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Fire Department Coffee releases extra strength version |url=https://www.bevindustry.com/articles/92784-fire-department-coffee-releases-extra-strength-version |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=bevindustry.com |language=en}} In January 2023, the company made a partnership with National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).{{Cite web |date=2023-01-31 |title=Fire Department Coffee named Official Coffee of NHRA |url=https://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/coffee-service/news/21294151/fire-department-coffee-named-official-coffee-of-nhra |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Vending Market Watch}} Its local and national distribution partners and resellers include Meijer,{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Sarah |title=This Veteran-Owned, Firefighter-Run Coffee Company is Set to Blaze Into Retail |url=https://ecrm.marketgate.com/Blog/2021/05/This-Veteran-Owned-Firefighter-Run-Coffee-Company-is-Set-to-Blaze-Into-Retail |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=ecrm.marketgate.com |language=en-US}} Albertsons, and Candy Cloud.
Charitable donations
Through its affiliated non-profit organization, the Fire Department Coffee Charitable Foundation, Fire Department Coffee donates a portion of proceeds to provide aid for sick and injured first responders.{{Cite web |title=Fire Department Coffee rescues RTD category with spirit-infused Nitro Cold Brew {{!}} Dairy Foods |url=https://www.dairyfoods.com/articles/95905-fire-department-coffee-rescues-rtd-category-with-spirit-infused-nitro-cold-brew |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.dairyfoods.com |language=en}}