Luke Schneider

Firefighters and first responders keep alert with a never-ending pot of coffee. Thanks to Luke Schneider and his partners at Fire Department Coffee, they can now brew good coffee and support their peers in need.

“Our coffee is roasted by firefighters and first responders,” says Schneider, 37, who founded Fire Department Coffee with firefighter/paramedic Jason Patton. “And through the Fire Department Coffee Foundation, we give back to help injured firefighters and first responders who have physical and mental challenges.”

Schneider served in the U.S. Navy from 2004-2008, working as a firefighter. After his service, he returned to Rockford, Illinois, and became a full-time firefighter. He met his wife, who was a barista, and they began roasting coffee for themselves and his co-workers.

In 2016, Fire Department Coffee was launched in an 800-square-foot facility in a strip mall. Schneider recruited other firefighters, both active and retired, to join him in the venture. They grew quickly, adding a fulfillment center the following year. The company is a certified U.S. veteran-owned business.

Schneider points out, “A good coffee roaster needs to understand heat transfer and so do firefighters. They make excellent roasters.” Fire Department Coffee’s chief roaster is a retired fire department captain. The company currently has 50 full-time employees.

Giving Back

Schneider is passionate about coffee—and about giving back. Firefighters and first responders have dangerous occupations and are often physically injured. They also suffer from cancer, heart disease, and back injuries more than most. Medical insurance often does not cover all costs and they can teeter on bankruptcy due to their willingness to aid the public.

“There are often huge financial gaps when firefighters and first responders get injured,” says Schneider. “But they are also dealing with mental challenges. For many, their life revolves around the firehouse and the camaraderie with their fellow firefighter. An injury can also take that away along with their health.”

Fire Department Coffee donates 10 percent of profits to the Foundation; more if possible. The goal is to give $2 million by 2025 and the company is well on its way to achieving that, according to Schneider. It supports people in small yet substantive ways, sometimes through direct donations but also through organizations such as the New Jersey Firefighters Benevolent Fund, which recently received $3,000 to assist a New Jersey firefighter who suffered a series of strokes and removal of part of his skull.

A generous financial donation from Naked Wines has allowed the Foundation to donate to the Napa Valley Fire Department to assist firefighters injured in the California wildfires.

Spirited Coffee for Supermarkets

Fire Department Coffee is currently sold in 2,500 retailers, including Albertsons and Fred Meijer. It also does a substantial online business. There are 15 coffees (beans, ground, and pods) and four spirited coffees—Bourbon-Infused; Whiskey-Infused; Rum-Infused, and Tequila-Infused. (The alcohol cooks out in the roasting process.) The next innovation: Irish Coffee and an RTD line.

“We are expecting to sell $30 million of coffee in 2023,” says Schneider. “We have a unique position in the industry and a special opportunity to take care of those who take care of us.”