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Our Story

Fresh Roasted Coffee

Bear Swamp is the name of the homestead road where our passion for handcrafted coffee began. Near our home, it was common to see black bears wandering among the sugar maples and blackberry bushes on the hill. As kids growing up, the outdoors always promised a new adventure. Today, we embrace the spirit of exploration by sourcing the finest coffees from around the globe and ensuring an extraordinary experience through small-batch roasts made fresh to order and exclusively to your roast-level preference. The Bear Swamp Coffee name is a promise that our rich-tasting roasts will provide you with a fresh sense of adventure and take you back to wherever home may be.

Meet the Roaster

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Lance Cooper

Lance Cooper is a passionate coffee enthusiast, seasoned roaster, and a dedicated communicator making his mark in Columbia, South Carolina. As the founder of Bear Swamp Coffee Roasters, Lance has created a local business that celebrates the art of genuinely fresh roasted coffee. His mission? To bring coffee lovers on a global journey of flavor with his signature Coffee Adventure Club, offering a freshly roasted, unique coffee experience each month.

 

With years of coffee roasting expertise under his belt, Lance's journey began with a love for coffee and a vision to share that passion with the community. He previously started the Oliver Gospel Roastery located in the Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia. Today, Bear Swamp Coffee Roasters reflects his commitment to quality and freshness. Unlike mass-produced alternatives, Bear Swamp roasts each batch to order, giving customers the choice of light, medium, or dark roast, and delivers it fresh within days—never sitting on a shelf.

 

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Lance’s primary focus is his role as Director of Communications and Marketing for University Development at the University of South Carolina. Lance recently received the Outstanding Marketing Professional in Support of Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. His work embodies a blend of creativity, community, and craftsmanship, with Bear Swamp Coffee Roasters standing as a testament to his belief in quality, innovation, and bringing people together—one cup of coffee at a time.

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