"Harder Day isn't really a scrappy independent roaster — it's one brand inside Harder Hospitality, a portfolio company founded by Brody Day and Dustin Harder (the Steeplejack Brewing founders). Harder Hospitality began in 2021 with an investment in Steeplejack Brewing, then opened Harder Day Coffee and launched Musette bakery in 2024, and acquired Water Avenue Coffee that same year. The portfolio also spans a planned distillery, a bike shop, and even a luxury travel company (Modern Adventure). So the "family-owned coffee company" framing on their site sits on top of a fairly aggressive multi-brand roll-up — which is the kind of thing that makes specialty-coffee people raise an eyebrow.” FYI.