Ironclad Coffee partners with Delaware North to bring local favorite to Richmond International Airport

Local coffee concept licensed to airport foodservice manager Delaware North 

A local favorite coffee house is officially open for business at Richmond International Airport.
 
Richmond-based Ironclad Coffee and global hospitality company Delaware North, which manages foodservice operations at the airport, today celebrated the grand opening of locations in both the A and B concourses, along with a pre-security café in the atrium. The three new Ironclad outlets replace locations previously occupied by Caribou Coffee.
 
“My wife and I established Ironclad in the autumn of 2015 after spending almost five years in the Republic of Ireland. We brought back a literal world of coffee experience with the determined intention to offer a unique coffee experience with uncommon levels of customer service,” said Ryan O’Rourke, owner of Ironclad Coffee Roasters. “Having a major presence in our beloved hometown airport is a major step for us in representing Richmond and sharing our passion more broadly.”
 
Ironclad’s flagship café in the Shockoe Bottom of downtown Richmond opened in July 2018 after the O’Rourkes spent about 2½ years of perfecting their style of roasting. Their second location opened in February 2022 in the West End of Henrico County. 
 
“The O’Rourkes created something truly special in Ironclad Coffee Roasters,” said Johanna Wheeler, general manager for Delaware North at Richmond International Airport. “We know travelers will really appreciate getting a true taste of the town with the three Ironclad locations conveniently located throughout the airport.”
 
Menu highlights in the airport locations will be quite familiar to anyone who has visited either of the streetside locations.
 
“Our batch brew – or drip coffee – is known as JetBrew, and this takes on even greater meaning at the airport locations,” O’Rourke said. “Everything starts with top-quality, specialty grade coffees from Latin America and African countries that we roast meticulously for impeccable flavor and aroma. All espresso-based beverages with steamed milk will feature our flagship Bare-Knuckle Espresso (decaf is also available). And our tea-based beverages will include masala chai lattes, matcha lattes and premium loose-leaf teas.” 
 
Since arriving on the scene in Richmond, Ironclad has earned multiple medals in The Golden Bean (national specialty coffee-roasting competition), All-Star designations from Angel’s Cup (international specialty coffee subscription service) and recognition by CoffeeReview.com (a pioneering organization in the specialty coffee industry). The cafés also have been featured in both regional and national publications as “musts” when visiting Richmond.