Equator Coffees

Overview

Equator was founded in 1995 by life and business partners Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell, who started roasting in a Marin County garage after running two espresso carts in San Francisco. In 2011 it became the first U.S. coffee roaster certified as a B Corporation, and in 2016 it won the Obama administration's National Small Business of the Year award.

Known for

• First U.S. coffee roaster certified as a B Corporation (2011)
• Women-owned and LGBTQ-owned, founded 1995 in Marin County
• Co-owns Finca Sophia in Volcán, Panama with Willem Boot — multiple Best of Panama wins
• Long-standing partnership with Thomas Keller restaurants (French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon Bakery)
• Macro Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine

Why it matters

An early third-wave pioneer that built scaled specialty out of social-responsibility values rather than retrofitting them — and demonstrated that B Corp principles, Fair Trade purchasing, and LGBTQ ownership are compatible with selling 1M+ pounds a year through wholesale partners like Google, LinkedIn, and the French Laundry.

Production

head roaster

null

roaster machine

Loring Smart Roaster

roastery location

5,500 sq ft facility in Marin County, California

annual volume tonnes

null

Café

This roaster operates a café.

Recognitions

• First U.S. coffee roaster certified B Corporation (2011)
• Macro Roaster of the Year, Roast Magazine
• Obama administration National Small Business of the Year (2016)

Sources

• https://www.equatorcoffees.com/pages/about
• https://www.drinktrade.com/blogs/roasters/helen-russell-equator-coffees-interview
• https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/interview/economic-sustainability-leads-to-environmental-sustainability-equator-coffees-co-founder-helen-russell/
• https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/09/28/magazine/equator-coffees-ethically-sourced/
• https://capitalaccess.com/building-a-solid-business-foundation-with-capital-access-group-the-story-of-equator-coffee/