If you are truly a coffee connoisseur, then you need to know about Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters. This is Citrus county’s first (2008) and only bean roaster. In fact, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters has the most single-origin coffees in the United States – yes, that’s the whole US of A. Sip your way around the world with their many single-origin varieties.

Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters also has the most k-cup varieties available in THE WHOLE WORLD! Cattle Dog will cup your favorite brew for easy single servings with no fuss.

Four locations in Citrus County, Florida provide a great respite: Hernando, Inverness, Crystal River and Homosassa.

Their stores are warm, well-lit and inviting and their first motto is, “Where friends come to meet.” Their second motto is, “Wake up and be Awesome!”

Providing the Finest Coffee Anywhere

As true connoisseurs, the Cooks have added Nitrogen-infused (“Nitro”) cold brew on tap at the Hernando and Inverness stores. Now you can try “flights,” which are similar to beer flights, but a lot easier on the driving record.

In March 2017, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters competed on the national coffee level with its amazing Cold Brew at Coffee Fest in Nashville, Tennessee. As one of only two coffee roasters selected from the State of Florida, James brewed and competed with roasters from around the U.S. for the title of America’s Best Cold Brew!

With the largest selection of freshly roasted flavors on the property, including single-origin from more than 20 countries, flavored (over 30 flavors), decafs, and blends, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters is unique in Florida’s Nature Coast.  They package ALL of their beans in K-cups on location, which allows you to choose your favorite beans and have them prepared for a single brew, drip, or French press with one call.

The Food is Fresh, Creative and Delicious

As a graduate of Johnson and Wales University and a lifelong restaurateur, James Cook strives for simple, delicious, and fresh in the Cattle Dog menu. The pastries and bread are baked on-site (with a few exceptions). Sandwiches and salads are prepared to order. The menu changes with the seasons.

Chef James Cook of Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters earned local fame and a golden ticket in the 2017 Taste of Inverness that propelled him to the World Food Championships and did it again in 2018 and 2019 to compete in the national contest. Nationally, he and his team won a fourth-place prize for his pan-seared scallop on roasted garlic polenta.

It seems like some fancy stuff for the Nature Coast, but these wonderful coffee shops and breakfast/lunch restaurants are full of character, charm and delicious foods, wrapped around a positive attitude that shows “customer first” is important to each member of the Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters team.

The Future Looks Bright

With four restaurant locations and a 7,000 square foot central Roastery and Warehouse on US 41 in Inverness, Cattle Dog offers opportunities for a great drink, great meal, great career and now – franchise opportunities.

As true professionals with a passion for excellent coffee and the willingness to invest in top-of-the-line equipment, education and staff, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters stands out in the coffee world, and we are so fortunate to have them on the Nature Coast. Make a visit to one of their fine locations today and try a coffee flight or a Nitro. Take home a growler of cold brew and some k-cups to hold you over until your return… it will happen.

Here’s the Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters Story:

Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters was started by a gentleman named, Stephen Dorst, in 2008, who was passionate about providing Citrus County, FL with a great cup of freshly roasted coffee. Stephen built the counters and cabinets in the Hernando store, including the store’s focal point – the coffee bean bar. Stephen also came up with the name and logo for the business. The logo is a blue heeler cattle dog, named Barney, which was Stephen’s dog. Stephen successfully opened the doors to the business, but tragically passed away only two days after opening, due to a blood clot.

One month later James and Heather Cook found the store in its bare core, and they saw the potential of a great business. James Cook, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University’s culinary program, grew up in the restaurant business in Crescent City, CA.  He and Heather began experimental roasting from home with a popcorn popper!

Over the next 9 months, they got to know the Dorst family and Stephen’s dream better. Following in the footsteps of Stephen to understand his journey and prove to the family they would be the perfect fit to take on Steven’s dream while building their own dream too, James and Heather reopened Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters on February 23, 2009.