To launch your own coffee brand in Colorado, choose your compliance path first—Cottage Food direct-to-consumer or licensed wholesale/e‑commerce—because it dictates permits, labels, and where you can sell. Cottage Food: roasted beans/ground coffee are generally allowed as non‑potentially hazardous; complete required food‑safety training (CSU/ServSafe), use the state cottage disclaimer on labels, and include product name, ingredients, net weight in oz and g, producer name/city/state, contact, and prep/roast date; sales are in‑state, direct only (no wholesale). Wholesale: lease a permitted roastery or hire a co‑packer, secure a CDPHE Wholesale Food Manufacturing License, register with FDA if shipping interstate, implement CGMPs and a food‑safety plan, obtain fire/building permits for your roaster/afterburner, and verify Air Pollution/APEN thresholds for your batch size. Business stack: form an LLC and trade name with the CO Secretary of State, get a Sales Tax License via MyBizColorado, enroll in SUTS for home‑rule cities, and collect the Retail Delivery Fee on taxable in‑state deliveries. Labels: valve bag, roast date and lot code, grind, net weight, distributor statement; Nutrition Facts only if you exceed the small‑business exemption or make claims; “organic” requires USDA certification. Fast start: book co‑roasting time, launch 2–3 SKUs, adapt roast curves for altitude, and secure green contracts.
