Jared Karr, Jules Tompkins, and Matt Chesla, friends since high school in Atlanta, founded East Pole Coffee Co. in 2015. Karr had previously lived in Indonesia working with coffee farmers, an experience that shaped the company's sourcing philosophy. The flagship roastery opened in 2017 at Armour Yards in midtown Atlanta, where roasting is visible through a glass partition in a space finished with walnut surfaces and brass details. The operation started with a 5 pound U.S. Roaster Corps machine and has grown into a wholesale program serving restaurants and cafes across the city, with barista training, equipment consultation, and co branding support built into the partnership model.