Alpha Coffee is a coffee shop and cafe located at 7260 Racquet Club Drive in Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121. The company provides premium roasted blends and maintains physical locations in both Cottonwood Heights and downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded on September 11, 2010, by Carl and Lori Churchill, the business began as an online coffee operation run out of a basement after the founders' previous business ventures were impacted by the Great Recession of 2009. The company is characterized as a veteran and woman co-owned business, with the founders having served as a soldier and spouse respectively prior to their entrepreneurial journey.
Central to the company's mission is a commitment to "compassionate capitalism," a philosophy where the founders believe that people and profits are not mutually exclusive. Through the Grounds for Good program and the Coffee for Troops initiative, Alpha Coffee donates over 10% of its annual profits to various nonprofits. These charitable efforts focus on three specific tenants: veterans, the planet, and the community. Among the veteran-focused organizations supported by the company are Heroes & Horses, Pat Tillman Foundation, Warrior Rising, Continue Mission, Warrior Revival, and TORN Warriors. For environmental causes, the company supports organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Stewardship Utah.
The business has seen significant professional growth and leadership development within its team. For example, Mariah Hale, the Director of Customer Experience, began her tenure as a full-time barista six years ago, shortly after the opening of the flagship coffee shop. Her career progressed from barista to the company's first general manager, eventually leading to her current remote role overseeing customer communications and email marketing. Similarly, Chloe McPeak joined the flagship café in Cottonwood Heights in the spring of 2021 and serves as the Director of Operations.
Alpha Coffee also plays an active role in the local community through its engagement with environmental awareness. The company has publicly discussed the importance of Earth Day and how it celebrates the holiday by focusing on sustainable practices. This commitment to the local environment is relevant in Utah, where the state faces specific geographical challenges such as air pollution caused by temperature inversions and water scarcity. By incorporating sustainable practices into its business model, Alpha Coffee seeks to address these regional environmental concerns while maintaining its mission of giving back to the community.
What this means for Cottonwood Heights
For the residents of Cottonwood Heights, Alpha Coffee represents a local business that integrates social mission with commerce. By donating a portion of its profits to veteran and environmental causes, the cafe serves as a community hub that supports both the local economy and broader humanitarian and ecological efforts through its dedicated giving programs.
