Compass Coffee, a Union Kitchen Accelerator Member and one of D.C.’s favorite coffee brands, has built a business rooted in community, operational excellence, and a relentless focus on product quality. Founded by Michael Haft, a former U.S. Infantry officer for the Marines, Compass Coffee has grown from a small-batch operation into 25+ cafes, a national CPG presence, and a 50,000-square-foot roastery and production facility in Washington, D.C.
The company’s story begins during Haft’s deployment in Afghanistan, where coffee became more than a beverage—it became a daily ritual. It was a source of structure, connection, and calm in a high-pressure environment. That experience planted the idea for Compass Coffee: a company that would serve real good coffee while helping people get their bearings and start their day with clarity.
After returning home, Haft immersed himself in the world of specialty coffee—learning about sourcing, roasting, equipment, and operations from the ground up. He joined the Union Kitchen Accelerator in 2014 to build his successful food business.
Compass Coffee began in Union Kitchen’s shared kitchen, where Haft developed the company’s early roasting process and began testing product-market fit. Through the Accelerator, he worked with the Union Kitchen team to refine Compass Coffee’s mission, brand, and operational systems. The ecosystem provided critical infrastructure—from shared production space to local distribution through District Distribution and access to Union Kitchen’s stores.
Haft embraced Union Kitchen’s phased growth approach: start local, own the process, and scale intentionally. By building each layer of the business—production, distribution, and retail—Compass maintained control and responsiveness to what people want at every step. Feedback from early customers shaped everything from the flavor profile of the roasts to the layout of Compass’s cafes.
That iterative mindset has become a core strength. As Compass expanded, the company continued to adapt—adding drive-thru locations, expanding its breakfast menu, and responding directly to customer preferences.
The opening of Compass Coffee’s Ivy City roastery marked a major inflection point. The 50,000-square-foot facility consolidated operations under one roof: roasting, canning, flavor syrup production, bakery, and logistics. Complete ownership of manufacturing has given Compass the ability to maintain quality, control costs, and move quickly in response to market demand.
Today, Compass Coffee is one of the fastest-growing coffee brands in the region. Its growth is grounded in fundamentals: a strong mission, a commitment to community, and an operational model designed to scale. By owning its manufacturing and growing in phases, Compass has built a business with strong margins, strategic agility, and lasting relevance.
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