Roaster Profile: Milestone Coffee Roasting & Café
Location: Montrose, Pennsylvania
Founder and Roast Master: Matt Ford
GO Customer Since 2023
From humble beginnings to a bustling café in the heart of Montrose, Pennsylvania, Milestone Coffee Roasting & Café is rooted in passion, persistence, and a powerful metaphor: chasing milestones.
Tatyana and Matthew Ford with Milestone Coffee Roasting bag
Matt Ford first began roasting coffee in his apartment using a Fresh Roast 800, sharing early batches with friends who encouraged his talent. But it wasn’t until a trail-running challenge—a 157-mile Fastest Known Time (FKT) attempt—that the name “Milestone” truly came to life.
“I ran this trail while working a dead-end job. I was seeking the next thing, which I knew would be coffee, I just didn’t know what that looked like,” he recalls. “I failed this attempt and didn’t make it to the end, but that failure fueled me to quit my job and pursue my dreams of owning my own business.”
Inspired by both athletic and life milestones, Matt built a brand meant to accompany people on their journeys—through the grind and the glory. “Coffee can fuel us when we’re tired, distract us when we’re stressed, and celebrate with us when we achieve our goals,” he says. “I wanted my product to be part of that for others.”
After gaining a health department license for a church kitchen roasting space, Milestone began showing up at farmers markets, craft fairs, and community events. When Montrose’s only café went up for sale, Matt saw his chance. Backed by friends and family, he took the leap—refinishing the space, updating the menu, and opening the doors just five months ago.
Today, Milestone is powered by an Aillio Bullet roaster and a whole lot of community spirit. While they’ve outgrown markets and fairs for now, Matt still personally connects with customers at the bar while pulling shots, sharing what’s in the cup and where it came from.
What’s Brewing at Milestone?
Matt gravitates toward crowd-pleasing origins that are flavorful but accessible—especially for those new to specialty coffee. He looks to Genuine Origin for several of his go-to roasts:
- Peru Organic Minca – “A great body and strong flavors for espresso. It’s chocolaty without being overpowering.”
- Colombian Supremo – “Classic sweetness with extra fruity cherry notes. A staple in our blends.”
- Sumatran Wet-Hulled – “Deep, rich, and complex—perfect in a Christmas blend. More woody than earthy, with pine notes that made it really comforting.”
He keeps a core lineup of classic chocolate-nutty profiles and rotates in brighter, fruit-forward coffees like Yirgacheffe for pour-overs. “I love the complexity of those brighter coffees, even if they don’t sell quite as fast,” Matt says.
Community & Future Goals
Milestone Coffee Roasting Cafe in Montrose, PA is open for business
Milestone is deeply connected to the Montrose community. “There’s no other roaster within an hour of here, so people have been curious about what we’re doing,” Matt explains. Regulars now include local business owners and morning commuters, many of whom didn’t previously engage with specialty coffee.
Looking ahead, Matt hopes to grow past the startup stage into a profitable, sustainable business that supports his family—and eventually employs others in the community. His long-term dream? A dedicated roasting facility with a larger roaster, capable of supplying a dozen or more shops across northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.
Tatyana of Milestone Coffee Roasting at a local farmer’s market
He’s already planting the seeds for that future by educating customers through email blasts, social posts, and one-on-one conversations over the espresso machine. YouTube may be next.
“We’re still learning every day, but roasting and barista work come naturally now. The business side is the next milestone we’re chasing”.
