Seattle has long been known for its love of coffee. But one local startup aims to craft a more environmentally sustainable brew, by cutting out the farming and harvesting of beans.
Founded in 2019, Atomo Coffee Inc. says it reverse engineers its beanless coffee products from upcycled ingredients that are typically discarded, such as date pits — a process that requires 94% less water and emits 93% less carbon than traditional cold brew coffee.
The company announced Tuesday it raised a $40 million Series A round.
"With Atomo in the hands of the consumer we are empowering them to drink coffee they love while making a choice to do something better for the planet every day," CEO and co-founder Andy Kleitch said in a news release.
The funding, from S2G Ventures, AgFunder and Horizons Ventures, will be used to invest in product development and manufacturing. It comes with company's launch of its online store, which sells a variety of canned cold brew drinks, such as "classic black" and "oat milk latte."
"Atomo's cold brew products deliver great environmental benefits and their taste is superior to other products on the shelves," said Chuck Templeton, managing director of S2G and founder of OpenTable, in the release. "Great taste and better for the planet is a win-win combination."
Atomo currently employs about 30 people, according to Craft.com, though online job listings show dozens of openings, both in Atomo's Seattle office and its California production facility. It plans to expand into brick-and-mortar retail later this year.
