The Story
Methodical Coffee opened on February 11, 2015 with pennies in the bank and opened with a line out the door that stayed out the door until we closed . The company was founded by three owners — David Baker, Will Shurtz and Marco Suarez , each bringing distinct expertise to the venture. Will Shurtz, the eventual co-founder, was still in high school when he worked as a barista and found a deep passion for coffee — so much so that he forewent a full scholarship for sound engineering to pursue his own business, launching Vagabond Barista in 2012 at age 18 . David Baker had fallen in love with coffee while living overseas and running a hostel in Prague, then moved back to Greenville with the intention of building a coffee roasting business in another city . Marco Suarez helped him with design and branding .
They set out in 2014 to open a coffee shop in Greenville, SC that approached its craft, hospitality, and atmosphere with care and intention. What began as a simple mission has grown into a way of life—shaping how we see our business, and the role coffee plays in it . Initially, the founders said “We didn’t want to be in Greenville” , but the city welcomed them. They’ve been roasting coffee since summer of 2016 , transitioning from a multi-roaster café to producing their own beans within eighteen months of opening.
The company has grown substantially from its humble beginnings. The company settled into a new home when it moved into a 40,000-square-foot roasting and training facility in Travelers Rest in 2023 . Methodical has three cafes in Greenville and one opening this summer in Columbia , with plans call for growing the company’s cafe footprint in the near future, with a goal to open up at least one cafe a year .
Sourcing & Relationships
Methodical forges lasting partnerships with producers for quality, transparency, traceability, and unique coffees and processes. They partner with producers who prioritize sustainable practices like soil restoration, biodiversity, composting, clean water initiatives, and agroforestry . They source from farms across the globe, many of which they’ve worked with for years, forming lasting friendships along the way. They prioritize producers who show a deep commitment to the health of their land and the well-being of their communities .
The company emphasizes transparency in their sourcing approach. Coffee traceability has become table stakes for specialty-grade coffee roasters and their customers. Traceable coffee includes precise information for where and how the coffee was cultivated, processed, and how much every person was paid along the way. This transparency encourages equitability and sustainability as well as education for how flavor is impacted by all coffee goes through in its life . A key philosophy at Methodical Coffee is the dedication to sustainability and ethical sourcing. They build direct relationships with coffee farmers, ensuring fair trade practices and supporting sustainable farming methods .
Many of their early clients remain clients today. “We have always served Methodical, and it is the only roaster we will use,” said Greer Gilchrist, co-owner of The Harbinger Café & Bakery and Harken Café & Bakery in Charleston . Last year, Methodical brought on a certified Q Grader, akin to a sommelier in the wine world. This has helped hone the quality of Methodical coffee even more .
Roasting Philosophy
Methodical’s roasting approach is guided by one goal: to bring out each coffee’s natural sweetness and character. Rather than sticking to conventional labels like light or dark, they roast to express the life the coffee lived—the weather, the soil, and the place it grew . Each coffee is expertly roasted in small batches to highlight its inherit sweetness, balance, and complexity. All their coffees go through continual testing for moisture and density, and consistency in roast and flavor .
The roastery takes a methodical approach that balances accessibility with complexity. Coffee nerds, not coffee snobs, is how they describe themselves, and it shows in everything they do: meticulous sourcing, thoughtful roasting, and a lineup that runs the full spectrum from approachable classic blends to cutting-edge avant-garde microlots. Their goal is simple: express the life of where the coffee comes from, and honor everyone who brought it to your cup . Head roaster Will Shurtz explains: “We’ll probably try to shoot at first for coffees that are scoring in the high 80s… I don’t want to try to impose my own ideas about how a coffee should be if it could be roasted in a way that makes that coffee better” .
They believe all people can be craft coffee people. Whether you prefer it dark and bold, bright and funky, or smooth and sweet, they have the perfect roast, blend, or single origin that will be your new favorite. It’s just a matter of discovering it . This philosophy extends to their diverse offerings, from single-origin staples that bridge the gap between blends and limited releases, offering coffees from a single location with unique characteristics, yet available year-round .
What to Try
The leader of their coffee offerings, the Blue Boy blend is smooth, sweet, and velvet-y soft . Named after the eighteenth century portrait, The Blue Boy, this medium-roast begins smooth and chocolaty with a humble sophistication. It features notes of chocolate graham cracker that lead into a silky, crème caramel finish . You can serve it to coffee drinkers who only have their coffee black or to lovers of cream and sugar. Brew it on an Aeropress, espresso, or in a coffee maker. Serve it for your parents or to your coolest coffee friends. If there’s anyone Blue Boy can’t win over, we haven’t met them yet .
Beyond their flagship blend, Methodical offers a comprehensive range. Where single origin coffees highlight the nuance of mother nature, blends highlight a specific flavor profile. Blends are created for flavor consistency for those who want their coffee to taste relatively the same with every cup. So a roaster may choose to create a dark roast coffee with a flavor profile of baking spices and chocolate. They’ll find several single origin coffees that when mixed together, create that profile . For those seeking adventure, where coffee blends are a safer bet, if you’re looking for nuance and something you may have never had before, single origin coffee is where it’s at. Coffees from a single origin will be more daring, adventurous, and complex .
At Methodical Coffee, customers can explore a wide variety of offerings, from bright and citrusy light roasts to rich and full-bodied dark roasts. Their selection includes single-origin coffees and custom blends, each carefully crafted to highlight the distinct characteristics of the beans. Whether you’re a fan of delicate fruity notes or prefer a bold, smooth cup, Methodical provides something for every palate. Their coffee experience extends beyond taste, emphasizing freshness, consistency, and the artistry behind every roast .