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Longmont may be home to a coffee roasting company that ships its beans worldwide, but many residents might not know that Traction Coffee Roasters has been doing so since 2018. The company now sends its coffee to more than 30 countries.
“We’re proud to represent Longmont on a global scale,” said Mike Murfitt, co-founder of Traction Coffee Roasters.
The journey began in Lyons, where the company first operated out of a converted horse stable. Two years later, Traction moved to a new location near downtown Longmont, but its Lyons origins are still reflected in one of its popular blends, “Stable.”
Murfitt, a Longmont native, first became involved in coffee through a partnership with Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis. When the chance to start his own roasting company came up, Murfitt seized the opportunity to focus on sustainable and high-quality coffee.
“We want to offer a product that inspires people to start their day on the right foot,” Murfitt said. “Coffee is a catalyst for so many great things.”
Ricky Aughenbaugh, the director of coffee operations, oversees the roasting process at Traction. Aughenbaugh carefully monitors the beans as they roast in a giant drum, a process he describes as unlocking a wide range of flavors. “There are thousands of changes happening in just 15 minutes,” Aughenbaugh explained. “Roasting is very much a culinary art. We’re proud of the work we do with the resources we have.”
Beyond coffee, cycling is another passion for the Traction team. Both Murfitt and Aughenbaugh have backgrounds in bike motocross, and the company often hosts events at local skate parks. The name “Traction” was inspired by the idea of gaining grip and moving forward — a concept that parallels both biking and brewing coffee.
While Traction initially focused on online sales due to its small roasting capacity, the company is now working on expanding its local presence. Traction’s coffee can be found at Juniper Goods, a new store in Longmont, where it’s used for drip coffee and cold brew. The beans are also available for purchase at Juniper Goods, and Traction is served in espresso martinis at The Roost and at Pistachio Cafe Bakery in north Longmont.
“It’s been a goal of ours to expand our local footprint,” Murfitt said. “We are Longmont’s coffee roaster. We’re from here, we love this community, and we want to share that with everyone.”
Traction also offers free local delivery, with team members personally delivering coffee every Wednesday.
In addition to Traction, Longmont is also home to Nimbus Coffee Roasters and Fair Isle Coffee. Rather than competing with these businesses, Murfitt sees collaboration as the way forward. “The more we all work together, the more we can challenge the bigger brands,” he said.
For Aughenbaugh, the ultimate goal is to inspire intentionality in customers — not just in choosing where to get their coffee, but in every part of their lives. “If it starts with a cup of coffee, that’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
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