Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee logo

Blue Bottle Coffee is a coffee roaster and retailer headquartered in Oakland, California. The company was founded by James Freeman in 2002. Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its high-quality, freshly roasted coffee beans and its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.

History

Blue Bottle Coffee was founded by James Freeman, a freelance clarinetist, who started roasting coffee in a small potting shed in Oakland, California. Inspired by the freshness of the coffee he experienced in Vienna, Freeman aimed to provide a similar experience in the United States. The company takes its name from one of the first coffee houses in Europe, the Blue Bottle Coffee House in Vienna.

Expansion

The company initially sold its coffee at farmers' markets and through a small network of independent cafes. In 2005, Blue Bottle Coffee opened its first brick-and-mortar location in San Francisco. Since then, the company has expanded significantly, opening cafes in major cities across the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.. In 2015, Blue Bottle Coffee expanded internationally, opening its first cafe in Tokyo, Japan.

Products

Blue Bottle Coffee offers a variety of coffee products, including single-origin beans, blends, and espresso. The company is known for its meticulous brewing methods, which include pour-over, siphon, and espresso. Blue Bottle Coffee also offers a subscription service, delivering freshly roasted beans to customers' doors.

Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

Blue Bottle Coffee is committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing. The company works directly with coffee farmers to ensure fair wages and sustainable farming practices. Blue Bottle Coffee also focuses on reducing its environmental impact by using compostable packaging and minimizing waste in its cafes.

Acquisition by Nestlé

In 2017, Nestlé acquired a majority stake in Blue Bottle Coffee, valuing the company at around $700 million. Despite the acquisition, Blue Bottle Coffee has maintained its commitment to quality and sustainability.

See Also

• Coffeehouse
• Third wave coffee
• Specialty coffee
• James Freeman (entrepreneur)
• Nestlé