Modcup Coffee: Jersey City's Floral, Fruit-Forward Roaster Born From a Hoboken Coffee Cart
Modcup Coffee traces its roots to 2013, when founder Travas Clifton began roasting coffee out of a converted hotdog cart along the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey. What started as a single mobile stand grew into a full roastery and multi-café operation based in Jersey City, where Modcup now roasts small batches for its own shops and a growing wholesale and online audience. The brand's DIY, cart-to-roastery origin still shows up in its catalog: an appetite for experimentation, from thermal-shock and hybrid washed processing to anaerobic fermentation, alongside more classic washed lots.
That experimental streak shows up across a compact but adventurous single-origin lineup sourced from Peru, Kenya, Ecuador, and Colombia, paired with a run of approachable, everyday blends. Floral and tea-like character recurs throughout — jasmine, chamomile, orange blossom — often layered with tropical fruit and citrus from Colombia's more unusual processing methods. CoffeeByMe's AI recommendation engine is a useful guide here, helping you sort Modcup's brighter, processing-forward lots from its more grounded, chocolate-driven blends.
Single Origins
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGLE Gesha Hybrid Washed | Light | CitrusHoneyJasmineWhite FloralsHoneyed SweetnessMandarinFloral | $60.00 |
| Wilton Benitez Natural Decaf | Medium Light | Bright floralsChocolate sweetnessEffervescent aciditySmooth silky texture | $30.00 |
| Granja Paraíso 92 Pink Bourbon | Light | Passion FruitStrawberry-RhubarbLycheeButtery YogurtPineapple | $35.00 |
Blends
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decaf | Medium | NuttyAlmondBalanced AcidityCaramel | $22.50 |
| Sunburst Blend | Light | StrawberryPeachFloral | $30.00 |
| The OG (aka Jeff) | Medium | Berry SweetnessFull-BodiedDark Chocolate | $22.50 |
Roast Profile & Flavor Range
Modcup leans decisively light: roughly three in five coffees in the catalog are roasted at the lightest level, prioritizing clarity and varietal expression over roast character. A handful of blends push into medium and dark territory for drinkers who want a smokier, bolder cup, but the house identity is bright and floral. Cup notes trend toward jasmine, citrus, stone fruit, and tropical fruit on the single-origin side, with chocolate and berry sweetness carrying the darker blends. Acidity runs elevated across most of the catalog, with light-to-medium body. Pricing spans roughly $22.50 for everyday blends up to $70 for rare, intensively processed single-origin lots, with most of the catalog clustering between $22.50 and $35 per bag.
Why Buy Modcup Coffee
Processing-forward single origins: Modcup's single-origin lineup showcases hybrid washed, thermal-shock, and anaerobic techniques alongside traditional washed lots, giving processing geeks real variety to explore.
Floral, tea-like signature: Recurring notes of jasmine, chamomile, and orange blossom set Modcup apart from roasters that lean purely fruity or purely chocolatey.
Cart-to-roastery story: Founded from a single hotdog cart in Hoboken, Modcup's Jersey City roastery retains an experimental, small-batch spirit that's easy to taste in the cup.
Range for every drinker: From bright, delicate light roasts to bolder dark-roast blends, CoffeeByMe's AI recommendations help you land on the right spot in Modcup's spectrum before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Modcup Coffee located?
Modcup Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in Jersey City, NJ.
What does Modcup Coffee specialize in?
Modcup leans decisively light: roughly three in five coffees in the catalog are roasted at the lightest level, prioritizing clarity and varietal expression over roast character.
Where can I buy Modcup Coffee coffee?
You can browse Modcup Coffee's coffees on CoffeeByMe and click through to buy directly from the roaster, or visit Modcup Coffee's own website.
