Kris Fulton
Sophomore Coffee | Baltimore, MD
February 2026
Every Sunday after church in Fort Meade, Maryland, Kris Fulton and his father, an Air Force veteran, would share a cup of coffee together. Although it started as a simple routine, that cup of coffee brought the two men closer and set the younger Fulton on a path to hospitality. During his sophomore year of college at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, he got a job working at City Dock Coffee in Annapolis, developing an early talent for hospitality and service. After graduating, Fulton spent time singing in a punk band and experimenting with coffee before joining the team at Charmington’s.
In 2011, Fulton helped open the Baltimore location of LAMILL Coffee before moving to Los Angeles, California, to continue his training with the group. After trips to Korea and the Philippines, he moved to New York City to work at Toby’s Estate, now Partners Coffee, where he took part in their educational program and helped open the coffee shop’s West Village location.
In 2016, Fulton returned to Baltimore and joined the team at Clavel, stepping away from coffee to work as a server. In his spare time, he began developing a concept of his own. Inspired by his experience working in cafés, coffee shops, and restaurants, Fulton opened Sophomore Coffee in 2019, creating an inviting and hospitable third space with thoughtfully sourced coffee. During the pandemic, he expanded the program and started roasting in-house, originally as a way to keep his business afloat. He spent the next several years honing his technique and creating a roast profile that brings balance, sweetness, and the natural flavors of the beans into focus. Now, Fulton is expanding his operations, growing his wholesale accounts, and creating educational opportunities for the local community while continuing to develop close relationships with farmers at points of origin.
2026 StarChefs D.C.-Maryland-Virginia Rising Stars Award Winner
