Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) is America’s best-known veteran-owned coffee brand — roasting premium coffee with a military-culture identity built around active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders. Founded in 2014 by U.S. Army veteran Evan Hafer, BRCC went public on the NYSE in 2022 and has become one of the fastest-growing coffee brands in the United States.
| Full Name | Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) |
| Founded | 2014 — Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| Founder | Evan Hafer (U.S. Army veteran, Special Forces) |
| Listed | NYSE: BRCC (via SPAC merger, Feb 2022) |
| Headquarters | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Key Products | AK-47 Espresso, Silencer Smooth, Beyond Black, Coffee Bomb |
Who Owns Black Rifle Coffee Company?
Black Rifle Coffee Company is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE under the ticker BRCC. Founder Evan Hafer remains the Executive Chairman and the largest individual insider shareholder, while institutional investors hold significant stakes. BRCC went public in February 2022 through a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) merger with SilverBox Engaged Merger Corp I. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas after relocating from Salt Lake City, Utah.
| Key Stakeholder | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Evan Hafer | Founder & Executive Chairman | U.S. Army veteran; Special Forces; founded BRCC 2014 |
| Matt Best | Co-founder | Army Ranger veteran; brand face and content creator |
| Tom Davin | Former CEO | Stepped down; oversaw public listing |
| Public / Institutional Investors | Shareholders | NYSE: BRCC — tradeable shares since Feb 2022 |
How Black Rifle Coffee Became a Brand
Evan Hafer founded BRCC in 2014 after returning from service with the U.S. Army’s Special Forces (Green Berets) and later serving as a CIA contractor. His concept: roast exceptional coffee, build a brand that unapologetically celebrates the military and veteran community, and donate a portion of proceeds to veteran causes. BRCC grew rapidly through social media, YouTube content (featuring co-founder Matt Best), and aggressive e-commerce subscription sales. By 2018, BRCC was pledging to hire 10,000 veterans. It expanded into coffee shops, ready-to-drink canned coffee, and licensed merchandise. The brand attracted backlash and praise in equal measure for its politically conservative branding, which paradoxically fuelled viral growth. Revenue exceeded $350 million in 2022.
