“I hope that when somebody drinks Alpine Air Coffee, they can taste the love and care that we put into our product,” said Alex Suckling, owner and founder of Alpine Air Coffee. From the precise roast profiles to the fresh, ethically-packaged beans, Suckling’s goal is simple: to make you a really good cup of coffee. “The time and attention to detail that we’ve taken to develop our roast profile, to try and make sure that it is the most delicious version of that coffee it could be, I’m hoping that makes your morning or afternoon (if you’re an afternoon coffee drinker) that much better.”
From New Zealand to the Tetons
Originally from New Zealand, Suckling’s coffee journey began as a barista during high school. A subsequent job at a coffee roastery in Christchurch exposed him to the intricacies of roasting and espresso training, sparking his passion for coffee. About this experience, Suckling said, “It gave me a little bit of exposure to see how a coffee roastery could run.”
After spending a decade as a self-proclaimed ski bum, Suckling and his wife fell in love with Teton Valley during a visit. Once his wife completed her master’s degree in wildlife biology, they made the move. Suckling worked in sales for Kate’s Real Food, but his passion for coffee lingered. By late 2018, he had founded Alpine Air Coffee and was selling coffee at local farmers markets in Jackson and Teton Valley. “We started one step at a time,” Suckling recalled, “but that was a big turning point for the business. We realized, we can make this work, we just need to figure out where is the right place and the right time to sell coffee.”
The Early Evolution of Alpine Air Coffee
By the end of the 2019 farmers market season, Suckling had enough revenue to increase production and begin approaching wholesale outlets like Victor Valley Market. However, Suckling was still looking for a place to sell directly to consumers. On Jan. 1, 2020, he purchased the Local Joe Coffee Hut drive-through in Victor. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, he rebranded and revamped the menu, reopening in April to enthusiastic reception.
Soon, Alpine Air’s wholesale delivery route spanned Jackson, Teton Village, Star Valley, Swan Valley and beyond. Needing a new space for an expanded roastery, Suckling partnered with Guidepost Brewing Company to build a shared facility, which became Alpine Air’s roastery and café in Victor. In late 2023, the café had a successful soft opening, marking another milestone in the company’s growth. In the time since, Suckling said, “things have been going really, really well. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic team between the drive through, café, and roastery that really care and want to make sure it is an excellent, excellent product.”
The Alpine Air Difference
The name of the company was an amalgamation of Suckling’s love for the mountains it was born in, as well as his passion for air roasting. “There are twenty-two styles of coffee roasting,” Suckling explained, “and I really love air roasting.” When it comes to roasting their coffees, Suckling described the approach at Alpine Air as a celebration of the coffee itself, including its terroir and origin. Meanwhile, “our coffee is roasted a little bit lighter,” Suckling said, in comparison to other regional roasters. “In doing so, that really lets the flavors come out and ring true.”
Freshness is another cornerstone of the brand. “Coffee is this commodity, where you buy a bag and it’s going to be gone within a couple of weeks,” Suckling observed, “so the packaging shouldn’t last forever either.” To this end, Alpine Air packages its coffee in compostable packing. The craft paper has a PLA liner, meaning the corn-based plastic will break down in a commercial composting facility.
Alpine Air Origins
“I still remember the first time I ever tried a naturally-processed Ethiopian coffee,” Suckling said. “It had these super vibrant blueberry notes and that just blew my mind that coffee could taste like that.” That’s what inspired Goat Herder—Alpine Air’s light roast Ethiopian coffee, and Suckling’s favorite of their coffee varieties. “We try and buy these naturally processed Ethiopian coffees that are going to be super fruity and really interesting and unique and roast them so that you actually get those flavors coming through.”
In addition to its single origin coffees, Alpine Air offers a few blends as well. Of these, Suckling is partial to Peak Bagger, a breakfast blend. “It has some of that Ethiopian coffee in it, and then we’ve also put some Central American coffee with it too, so there’s some more familiar flavors, and a bit more robustness to it.” When looking at Central American coffees too, Suckling said, “We try and find Central American coffees that are going to bring some of those chocolatey and caramel notes to it while still having that Ethiopian coffee in the mix to bring some fruitiness to it. You end up with a chocolate and berries flavor profile.” With options ranging from light to dark roasts, plus decaf and espresso, Alpine Air has something for every coffee enthusiast.
Proof That Persistence Pays Off
Suckling started Alpine Air Coffee with a small family loan and a determination to succeed. “I’m not somebody that’s going to shy away from a challenge and I’d credit that to my parents, that don’t give up attitude is definitely something that they instilled in me from a young age. I really love and thrive in those challenges, to be honest. You start to look at the opportunity that it provides.” That resilience, paired with a deep love for coffee and his team, has grown Alpine Air into the thriving business it is today.
