DD-214 Coffee [Veteran Vices]

Cory Grant served in the Navy, as a Petty Officer Second Class Electronics Technician. He was stationed in multiple countries across Western Europe, operating and maintaining microwave and cryptography equipment during the height of the Cold War. He served from 1977 to 1981, after which he was medically discharged.

Now, he continues to serve his fellow veterans through his brand DD-214 coffee. (For the uninitiated, a DD-214 is the Report of Separation that military members are issued when they leave service and return to civilian life.) When asked what prompted him to get into the coffee business, Grant says:

“I wanted to create a sustainable business that could provide jobs for disabled veterans and Gold Star family members, while also supporting homeless veterans. As I reached out to other business owners to get feedback and advice, I found we were almost always meeting up over a cup of coffee. Coffee helps power us through our day, but it also helps power conversations and connections.”

Right now, DD-214 offers three coffee blends. Their dark roast is called “Midrats,” which is military slang for Midnight Rations. A lighter roast called “Reveille” is also available, as is the decaffeinated “Taps” blend. Behind the beans, DD-214 is working diligently to help veterans in need. Their charitable focus right now is an organization known as Off-Road Outreach. 

Based in Fayetteville, North Carolina — the home of Fort Liberty, headquarters of both the XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command — Off-Road Outreach focuses on providing homeless vets with food, goods, and services. 

You can purchase DD-214 coffee directly from their website, listed at the right. While they’ve started with these three flagship blends, they hope to offer more variety and expand beyond just coffee in the future — with an eye on coffee-infused beer or spirits. 

We hope to see the results soon, but, in the meantime, we’ll happily raise a cup of joe to help homeless veterans. 

Why you can trust RECOIL

---

Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. 

Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. 

At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. 

Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products.

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL

For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).

Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.

You want this. Trust Us.