ABOUT US
It all began in 1994 when ink! Coffee founder and former ski bum, Keith Herbert, hopped aboard a plane to Italy to study the art of coffee making. He returned with a new appreciation for espresso and set out to make a living making coffee. On a cold winter morning, brewing hot coffee on a stainless steel cart located in Snowmass Village, ink! Coffee was born.
Since then, the love for ink! Coffee’s exceptional brews has expanded his vision from that lone cart to several stores in Denver. Serving exceptional coffee to people who really care about it for almost two decades, we’ve built a following of zealots. Those zealots also love our gourmet sandwiches, salads, and pastries. But we all know there’s really only one thing that gets us up in the morning.
Keith “Herbie” Herbert
Founder/Partner, President and CEO of ink! Coffee Company
Current Coffee Fix: Double Cortado
Go to Cocktail: Single Malt Scotch
Favorite food that’s not Italian: Indian
Music cranking: Hip Hop and Lounge World Music
Most days I am: Figuring out where to go next, how to get there and make an impact
Why ink!: Controlling the bean from seed to cup. Working with everyone who strives for excellence
Keith is a 30-year veteran of the restaurant industry manning all aspects of the trade from the smallest Mom and Pops to T.G.I. Fridays and the Caribou Club in Aspen, CO. Keith has been in the coffee industry for the past 23 years. He was trained at IllyCaffe’s training headquarters in Arizona as a sales representative and has spent time with the late Dr. Ernesto Illy in Trieste, Italy. He has helped conceive and manage cafes in California, New York and Colorado in addition to founding ink! Coffee in 1994. He is responsible for the creation and development of the ink! concept from a single stainless steel push cart to eight retail locations and a wholesale roasting and distribution business. He holds degrees of certification in coffee brewing, espresso preparation, and cupping workshop programs certified by The Specialty Coffee Association of America. He works closely with the founder of Socially Conscious Coffee, whose direct relationships in coffee-producing countries provides guidance, assistance, education and resources to farmers and their families. Herbie’s idea of Heaven is a links golf course built in the middle of a lush coffee farm with an Italian café.
TEAM
Have questions? Concerns? You simply cannot keep your love of ink! Coffee to yourself for one second longer? We understand – and we’d love to hear from you.
Call us: 303-292-7369
Email us: info@inkcoffee.com