De Espresso Liber, a South Sound based coffee roaster is carving out a name for itself in Washington's vibrant coffee scene. It's a small veteran-owned enterprise.

Its founder, Alex, is a former Green Beret.  Because of the sometimes sensitive nature of special operations, Alex prefers to keep his last name out of the newspapers - at least for now.

But all the same, he's been busy making connections, picking the brains of fellow entrepreneurs, and collaborating with other companies.

His company's name is a play on U.S. Army Special Forces motto "de oppresso liber" - Latin for "liberate the oppressed." Alex became interested in coffee while conducting operations in Asia; the Philippines in particular. He and his fellow soldiers often worked in remote areas near coffee plantations and local roasteries. "It was a lot fresher than the stuff they sent us from home," he explained.

He took up roasting as a hobby. A little over a year ago, he decided to turn his passion into a business.

"Everybody drinks coffee," Alex explained. He pointed out that the American coffee market generates about $18 billion annually. Though the market is saturated with dozens of established brands, Alex said there's always room to break in. It's all about carving out a niche.

Alex explained that the coffeehouse culture of the Pacific Northwest in particular, inspired him. The coffee scene is incredibly diverse and people are always interested in trying new things. Alex saw an opening for him in that there wasn't anything in coffee that was veteran or military-oriented.

He said that his experiences with the military have influenced the way he manages his business and tackles problems. "(It's about) being able to prioritize and see what needs to get done," he said.

Alex experimented with a few different brandings, but it was when he branded his coffee around special operations that people really started to notice. "It gained more traction and gave it identity," he explained.

It's become a hit with Special Forces troops and other soldiers who relate to the branding. But they aren't the only ones interested. Today, many Americans - military and civilian alike - have a fascination with the secretive world of special operations. Video games, films and books centering on elite forces have spawned a veritable genre and made millions of dollars.

But Alex isn't looking to cash in on that. He's made honoring his fellow soldiers and giving back to the community a core part of the company's mission. In no small part, he's made honoring the fallen a huge part of it.

"We have three ‘Gold Star Blends' so far, which have the image of a fallen soldier on the front along with a write-up on the back of the bag," he explained. "Everything about the coffee, the blend, the name, image etc., was worked on hand in hand with the families of each soldier."

One of the blends is named for Sgt. First Class Wyatt Goldsmith of Colville, Washington. Goldsmith served with the JBLM-based 1st Special Forces group as a medic and was recognized for valor more than once. He was also an avid coffee connoisseur in life. He died July 15, 2011 in a military hospital from injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades in Helmand province.

The roaster has also teamed up with other veteran-owned companies, notably Seattle-based Rain City Spirits. They worked together to craft the Special Forces Brew, a special coffee liqueur. In September, they donated $2,940 of revenue from the Special Forces Brew to the Green Beret Foundation.

"Each coffee has a specific foundation or find that a portion of profits from the specific blend supports," Alex said. "We're reorganizing the website so those blends are grouped together."

Despite big plans, De Espresso Liber is a small operation. And for now, Alex intends to keep it that way. It allows him to ensure the quality he wants, and focus on the causes that matter to him.

To browse their selection and order their coffee, go to their online store at www.deespressoliber.com.