Evan Hafer | Biography

• By Anuska
• Update : November 01, 2021

Evan Hafer is a former green beret and the founder and CEO of the Black Rifle Coffee Company.

Who is Evan Hafer?

Evan Hafer is a US Army veteran turned businessman. During his tenure in the military, he worked as a Green Beret and a CIA contractor. He is popularly known for being the founder and CEO of the Black Rile Coffee Company. 

Early Life and Education

Evan Hafer was born in 1977 and is about 45 years old. He grew up in a rural town in Northern Idaho. He belongs to a family of loggers, and his family generated income from felling trees. 

In an interview with The Veteran Project, Hafer admitted to being unruly in his adolescent days. He would get in trouble most of the time. Hafer’s family members had also served in the military. They would join the army, serve their country and return to take a job in the woods. 

Evan followed in the same footsteps as his family and joined the National Guard after he graduated from high school. He soon returned from his basic training, and after rebellious and dysfunctional teenage years, Hafer decided to get his life on track. So, he went to college and graduated from the University of Idaho in 2000. 

Career 

Hafer served in the US Army in different positions for 20 years. He worked as an infantryman, a Special Forces Soldier, and also a CIA contractor. In 2000, Hafer got selected to become a Green Beret. He was also included in the invasion of Iraq while he was working as a Green Beret. 

Between 2003 and 2014, Hafer was deployed either as a green beret or a contractor for the CIA. However, at the end of 2014, Hafer experienced significant psychological issues that affected his individual success. 

Hafer became exhausted with war but still defended his country. At the same time, he found another love for himself - Coffee. Hafer fell in love with coffee in Seattle in 1997 and started roasting coffee in 2006. He would take the roasted coffee with him to his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Founding Black Rifle Coffee Company

After leaving the military in 2014, Hafer cared about coffee and his veteran community, leading him to build a business with his passion. He founded the Black Rifle Coffee Company and started acting as the CEO of the company in 2015. 

Hafer co-owns the company with Tom Davin and Matt Best. Tom Davin is a Marine Corps infantry officer veteran and also the co-CEO of the company. Likewise, Matt Best is the executive vice president of the company and former CIA contractor.

Black Rifle Coffee Company serves premium coffee, supports veterans, law enforcement, and first responders, and employs retired army men. 

In the 2020 election, Hafter told The New York Times that he voted for and supported Donald Trump. However, the company spokesperson noted that the company was not affiliated with any campaign or political party. In 2017, Donal Trump Jr. endorsed Black Rifle Coffee and mentioned meeting with the company leaders. 

Net Worth 

The Black Rifle Coffee Company earned $1 million in revenue during the first year of its establishment in 2015. By 2017, the revenue was $30 million. The company planned to open more branches and launch new products. 

Wife

Evan Hafer is married to Kate Hafer. The two share a daughter. In an interview, Evan mentioned is struggles for not having any tangible skills after he quit the military. He also expressed his fear about not being able to bond with his daughter.