UMD Alumni Coffee

Vigilante Coffee started in 2012 on Chris Vigilante's back porch in Washington, DC, with a used three kilogram Diedrich roaster. From that modest beginning, the company grew into a roasting operation now built around a 12 kilogram Loring, with head roaster Franklin Ventura shaping the roast profiles since 2014. Sourcing is personal: Vigilante visits each coffee producer directly, building multiyear relationships and participating in auctions at origin. The company works with Certified B Corp importers and pursues zero waste across its operations, using compostable bags and recyclable packaging. Vigilante earned the Slow Food DC Snail of Approval, a designation that reflects its commitment to quality, transparency, and responsible production.