If Counter Culture Coffee applied to college, it would be the prep school student that sailed straight to an Ivy (and not just Cornell): It's overwhelmingly philanthropic, gets straight A's in quality tests, and has a rich, complex personality. The Durham, NC-based direct trade coffee company sells its mostly organic, shade grown beans as they should be – seasonally. No retailers exist (just the cafes who brew it) but you can choose online from custom blends or buy straight from different growers. You'll have to grind the beans yourself but that's the fair trade-off for your order being roasted the day it's sent.

Sip a brewed cup at Winston-Salem, NC's Simplyummy Cafe, or order online at counterculturecoffee.com.