Navy veteran Mike McKim founded Cuvee Coffee in 1998, making it one of the oldest specialty roasters in Texas. McKim transitioned to full time roasting in 2006, and the Austin based roastery now operates on a 60 kilogram Giesen with capacity to scale well beyond its current output. Cuvee is widely credited with pioneering nitro cold brew, first serving it publicly at a Slow Food Austin event in August 2012 and becoming the first company in the world to can it in the fall of 2014. Direct trade sourcing underpins the operation, with farmers invited to visit the roastery and full transparency maintained through published contract documentation. The lineup spans single origins from Ethiopia, Colombia, and El Salvador alongside house blends like Karmadillo and Stella Cometa.