Frequently Asked Questions
How the directory works, where the data comes from, and how to get involved.
- What is Premium Roast?
- Premium Roast is a directory of independent specialty coffee roasters, cafes, and wholesalers across the US and beyond. We index businesses so coffee lovers can find roasters worth their attention — we do not sell coffee ourselves.
- How does Premium Roast verify its listings?
- Every listing sits in one of three tiers. PR Profiled means we have parsed origin sourcing, certifications, flavor notes, and service offerings directly from the roaster's own website. PR Enriched means the listing has been cross-checked against Google Places — photos, phone, hours, and website confirmed. Listed means the business exists and is independent, sourced from OpenStreetMap, but has not yet been fully enriched.
- Where does the listing data come from?
- Base listings come from OpenStreetMap, the largest open geographic database updated continuously by volunteers. Profile data (origins, certifications, flavor notes) is extracted directly from each roaster's public website. Photos and descriptions are supplemented via Google Places and OG tag scraping. Community submissions are reviewed before publication.
- How often is the data refreshed?
- OSM base listings sync every 6 hours. Roaster profile data is refreshed on a rolling basis — the 50 stalest profiles are re-scraped every 4 hours, which means every profile is refreshed roughly every 17 days. The "Updated" date on each listing reflects the last refresh for that specific entry.
- Why are chains excluded?
- Premium Roast indexes independent businesses only. Major chains — Starbucks, Dunkin', Peet's, and similar — are excluded by editorial policy at ingest. The goal is to make local, owner-operated coffee easier to find. Chains already have massive visibility; we focus on the specialty scene that doesn't.
- How do I claim or update my listing?
- Visit the Submit page and fill out the form. Owners can correct details, add photos, or claim an existing listing. Submissions are reviewed before going live.
- How do I report an incorrect or closed listing?
- Use the Submit page to flag it. Listings come from automated sources and occasionally contain errors — closed shops, wrong websites, or chains that slipped through. Reports are reviewed and corrected promptly.
- Is Premium Roast free to use?
- Yes. Browsing the directory, saving places to your list, and submitting corrections are all free. Creating an account is optional and also free.
- How do I save roasters and coffee shops?
- Create a free account, then tap "Added to List" on any roaster or cafe page. Your saved places appear on your My List page.
- What is specialty coffee?
- Specialty coffee refers to beans that score 80 points or above on the Specialty Coffee Association's 100-point scale, indicating exceptional quality. Specialty roasters typically source single-origin or traceable lots, apply precise roasting profiles, and focus on highlighting a bean's natural flavors rather than masking defects.
Still have questions? Contact us via the Submit page.