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A new coffee roaster recently took up residence in the Riverwest neighborhood -- though if you search for a retail space you’ll come up empty-handed.

That’s because Carpo Coffee is currently only available online. 

The subscription-based coffee company, which launched online in February, was founded by Jon Wolf and Jeff Jasinowski, two communication and marketing professionals who saw potential in the niche market.

"There are other subscription coffee companies out there," says Wolf, who began roasting coffee as a hobby about two years ago, "But, what sets us apart is the quality of the coffee."

Quality starts with quality single-origin beans and a small-batch mentality. While larger roasters tackle fifty pounds or more at a time, Carpo typically roasts its coffee in five pound batches using one of two methods -- the traditional tumbler approach or injected heat roasting, an artisan approach during which beans are slowly roasted in a pot, creating a deep, rich flavor. 

They also believe in taking the time to allow freshly roasted beans to rest for a day or two, a step which allows the beans to de-gas before being packaged and shipped out to consumers. As a result, there’s no need for a degassing valve on their packaging.

Carpo currently offers four roasts, the names of which are synonymous with Milwaukee : Atwater Breakfast Roast, Brattle French Roast, Eastsider Roast and Tosa roast. And Wolf says they’ll expand their product line by another four roasts in the coming months. Currently, consumers have the option of three subscriptions ranging in price from $7.99 (for ½ pound weekly) to $24.99 per month (2 pounds per month). Businesses can also purchase coffee delivery services for their small to medium-sized offices.

Carpo realizes they’re entering a market with well-established coffee roasters, including Stone Creek, Anodyne and Colectivo. But, they’re not daunted by the competition.

"It’s a competitive space, but there’s always room for more," says Wolf. "What often sets coffee companies apart isn’t necessarily the coffee itself, but it’s the culture and the brand."

For Carpo that means establishing an image that can be described with words like simple, artisan, creative and rustic. It also means setting themselves apart with an online-first, potential retail establishment-later, approach.

"We are so small, it’s really about the handiwork," Wolf notes. "So we have a small shop mentality, and kind of an underdog approach."

And heck, they’re probably right. After all, if a market like Seattle support nearly 20 local coffee roasters, why can’t Milwaukee?

For more information on Carpo Coffee, or to sign up for a subscription, visit carpocoffee.com. Or follow Carpo on Facebook or Twitter.