Red Bay Coffee

What Red Bay Coffee does

Red Bay Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster founded in 2014 by Keba Konte in Oakland, California. The company operates a vertically integrated specialty coffee business spanning direct-trade green coffee sourcing, in-house roasting, five Bay Area retail cafes (Fruitvale roastery, Grand Ave, Berkeley, Ferry Building, 220 Montgomery, and 650 California in San Francisco), nationwide direct-to-consumer e-commerce, a recurring Coffee Club subscription program, and a B2B wholesale and food service operation targeting Fortune 500 accounts, independent cafes, and consumer packaged goods retail distribution including World Market.

The core product portfolio includes 15+ coffee SKUs organized into a Signature Line (East Fourteenth, Coltrane, Chasing Lions, Brazilian Cake Lady, Slow Burn, Ocho Libre Decaf), the Hero Collection of protest-themed blends (Fight The Power, This Is America, People Get Ready), limited releases (Juneteenth), and adjacent offerings (Shizuoka Matcha, Red Bay Teas, drinkware, gift cards). Pricing spans $19–$25 for 10 oz bags, $52.95 for 1 kg and $108 for 5 lb bulk, with subscribers receiving 10–15% discounts and free shipping. The company's underlying capability is its direct-trade sourcing infrastructure: long-term relationships with Sweet Unity Farms in Tanzania, CENCOIC in Colombia, Exportadora San Vicente in Honduras (100+ smallholders on Santa Barbara Mountain), SOAC in Papua New Guinea, and Peruvian and Ethiopian smallholder cooperatives, which the company uses to claim farmer-direct pricing without middleman markup.

Revenue is generated through four streams: one-time DTC e-commerce purchases, recurring Coffee Club subscriptions (1 to 8 week delivery cadences), B2B food service wholesale to Fortune 500 offices, hotels, tech companies, hospitals, and hospitality businesses, and CPG retail distribution through World Market and independent retailers. The company markets itself as a flagship of the fourth wave of coffee movement, emphasizing equity, inclusion, and community impact, and has won multiple Golden Bean North America roaster competition medals. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2024 amid rising input costs and subsequently filed an SEC exempt securities offering in May 2025 for $662,050 USD.

Name

Red Bay Coffee

Legal name

Red Bay Coffee Company, Inc.

Website

https://redbaycoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Red Bay Coffee is a Black-owned Oakland-based specialty coffee roaster operating five Bay Area cafes, nationwide DTC e-commerce, a recurring Coffee Club subscription, and a wholesale program serving Fortune 500 food service accounts and retail partners including World Market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Instant Coffee & Coffee Extract Manufacturing (AFAFADAD), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Direct trade coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Specialty coffee retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Coffee Product Sales: One-time purchases of whole-bean and ground coffee products sold through e-commerce and 5 Bay Area cafe locations. Products include signature roasts, single origins, and specialty collections.
2. Coffee Subscription: Recurring subscription model delivering freshly roasted coffee on a schedule (every 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 weeks) with 10% discount and free shipping. Subscribers receive exclusive access to limited releases and Coffee Club events.
3. Food Service Wholesale: Scalable coffee solutions for Fortune 500 companies, offices, hotels, tech companies, hospitals, and hospitality businesses throughout the U.S.
4. Consumer Packaged Goods: Retail distribution through independent to larger retail, DSD (Direct Store Delivery), Big Box, and Drugstores for packaged coffee products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Red Bay Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster that sources direct-trade green coffee from farmers and cooperatives in Tanzania, Colombia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and across Latin America and Africa. It sells roasted whole-bean and ground coffee, matcha, teas, drinkware, and accessories through its own e-commerce store, a subscription program, five Bay Area cafes, and a wholesale food service program serving Fortune 500 companies, retail partners, and independent cafes.

Product overview

Red Bay Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster offering a diverse portfolio of single origin and blended coffees across multiple roast profiles. The core product lineup centers on 15+ coffee varieties including signature roasts (East Fourteenth, Coltrane, Chasing Lions), the Hero Collection (Fight The Power, This Is America, People Get Ready) inspired by protest anthems, and specialty offerings like Ocho Libre Decaf and Half Caff. The company also offers non-coffee beverages (Shizuoka Matcha, Red Bay Teas), drinkware, accessories, and gift cards. A subscription service provides recurring deliveries with 10% savings and free shipping, while a wholesale program serves food service, retail, and hospitality businesses. Products range from single 10oz bags to bulk 5lb and 1 kilo options, with prices from $19.00 to $108.00.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• East Fourteenth Coffee Dark roast single-origin coffee sourced from Sweet Unity Farms in Tanzania, featuring notes of blackberry, dark chocolate, and date. Available as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers and home brewing.
• Coltrane Coffee Medium roast Colombian single-origin coffee with tasting notes of orange, nectarine, and chocolate, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• Fight The Power Coffee Espresso blend combining Papua New Guinea and Peru origins with notes of passionfruit, brown sugar, and toffee, sold as part of the Hero Collection for individual consumers.
• This Is America Coffee Dark roast Honduras single-origin coffee from Santa Barbara Mountain featuring plum, almond, and s'mores notes, sold as part of the Hero Collection for individual consumers.
• Chasing Lions Coffee Medium roast Ethiopian single-origin coffee from the Guji Zone with stone fruit, wildflower, and citrus notes, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• People Get Ready Coffee Coffee blend from the Hero Collection inspired by the protest anthem, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• Brazilian Cake Lady Coffee Medium roast Colombian coffee with a sweet, comforting flavor profile reminiscent of Brazilian cake, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• Ocho Libre Decaf Coffee Decaffeinated medium roast Colombian single-origin coffee with notes of dark chocolate, cane sugar, and grape, sold as a 10oz bag for individual consumers seeking caffeine-free options.
• Slow Burn Coffee Medium-dark roast coffee offering rich, bold flavor with a smooth finish, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• Half Caff Coffee Blend combining half caffeinated and half decaffeinated beans for a balanced coffee experience with reduced caffeine, sold as a 10oz whole-bean bag for individual consumers.
• 1 Kilo Whole Bean Coffee Bulk 1 kilogram (~2.2 lbs) whole-bean coffee option for individual consumers, families, or small offices wanting larger quantities.
• 5 lb Whole Bean Coffee Bag Bulk 5 lb whole-bean coffee bag for individual consumers, families, or small businesses wanting high-volume freshly roasted coffee.
• Juneteenth Limited Release Coffee Limited release coffee commemorating Juneteenth and celebrating freedom and Black history, sold as a 10oz bag for individual consumers during the Juneteenth season.
• Shizuoka Matcha Matcha green tea sourced from solar-powered and organically produced tea farms in Shizuoka, Japan, with light umami and bittersweet notes and a fragrant sweet aftertaste.
• Red Bay Teas Tea collection featuring various loose-leaf and bagged tea offerings from Red Bay Coffee for individual consumers seeking non-coffee alternatives.
• Africa Unite Combo Pack Combo pack featuring multiple African-origin coffee varieties bundled together for individual consumers who want to sample or gift African-sourced coffees.
• Africa's Gift Coffee Mug Black ceramic coffee mug featuring the 'Africa's Gift' design, sold as part of Red Bay Coffee's drinkware merchandise line for individual consumers.
• Hero Collection Button Pack Button pack featuring designs from the Hero Collection celebrating protest anthems and social movements, sold as accessories for individual consumers and brand fans.
• Red Bay Coffee E-Gift Card Electronic gift card available in $25 increments, redeemable on the Red Bay Coffee e-commerce site for gifting purposes.
• Coffee Subscription Service (Coffee Club) Recurring coffee delivery subscription offering 10% savings and free shipping with flexible delivery frequencies from weekly to every 8 weeks. Subscribers receive exclusive access to limited releases, Coffee Club events, and direct contact with the Coffee Club manager. Targeted at individual consumers who want fresh specialty coffee delivered regularly.
• Wholesale Coffee Program (Food Service & CPG) B-Corp certified specialty coffee wholesale program offering scalable food service coffee solutions for Fortune 500 companies, offices, hotels, tech companies, hospitals, and hospitality businesses, plus consumer packaged goods distribution through independent retail, DSD (Direct Store Delivery), Big Box, and Drugstores across the U.S.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4296 verified reviews with high customer satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sweet Unity Farms (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-trade coffee sourcing partnership with Sweet Unity Farms in Tanzania, founded by David Robinson (son of Jackie Robinson). Provides beans for the East Fourteenth blend. Supports smallholder farmers in the southern highlands of Tanzania with quality-focused harvesting and sustainable practices.
• CENCOIC (Colombia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-trade sourcing partnership with CENCOIC, a Colombian coffee producer organization. Supports equitable access to global specialty coffee markets.
• Smallholder Cooperatives (Latin America & Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect-trade relationships with smallholder cooperatives across Latin America and Africa, eliminating middleman mark-up to ensure fair prices for farmers.
• Exportadora San Vicente (Honduras)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term, transparent relationship with Exportadora San Vicente for Honduras coffee sourcing. Works with over 100 smallholder producers farming along Santa Barbara Mountain.
• Siane Organic Agriculture Cooperative (SOAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SOAC cooperative in Chuave District, Papua New Guinea. Members gain direct access to international markets with sustainable incomes, organic certification, and community programs supporting education and gender equity.
• Peruvian Smallholder FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSourcing partnership with Peru's smallholder farmers (over 95% of producers manage fewer than 3 hectares). Peru is the third-largest coffee producer in South America with 100% washed Arabica production.
• World MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor retail distribution partner with 100+ store locations across the U.S. selling Red Bay Coffee packaged products.
• Fortune 500 Companies (Food Service)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise food service partnerships providing scalable coffee solutions for offices, hotels, tech companies, hospitals, and hospitality businesses throughout the U.S.
• Andy's Sunflower Cafe (Chicago)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent cafe in Chicago serving Red Bay Coffee products.
• Taste 222 Cafe (Chicago)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent cafe in Chicago serving Red Bay Coffee products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster operating cafes in California (including Bay Area), with DTC e-commerce and subscription. Highly comparable to Red Bay in cafe-plus-roastery hybrid model and West Coast urban market focus.
• Ritual Coffee Roasters: Bay Area specialty roaster with cafe locations, direct-trade sourcing, and wholesale accounts. Directly comparable to Red Bay in San Francisco cafe market, quality positioning, and wholesale distribution.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee roaster with cafe locations, direct-trade sourcing, and subscription service. Closely comparable to Red Bay in product model (specialty single-origins), retail format (roastery cafes), and DTC-plus-subscription revenue mix.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafe locations, direct-trade sourcing (Hair Bender, etc.), subscription service, and wholesale distribution. Closely matches Red Bay's product portfolio, DTC-plus-cafe model, and foodservice channel.
• Equator Coffees: B-Corp certified specialty coffee roaster based in Marin County, California, with direct-trade sourcing, cafe/wholesale operations, and a values-led mission. Strong analog to Red Bay in B-Corp certification, Northern California footprint, and sustainability framing.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with strong direct-trade farmer relationships, training programs, and wholesale distribution to cafes and foodservice. Comparable to Red Bay in values-led sourcing model, educational mission, and specialty wholesale focus.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneering specialty roaster with direct-trade farmer relationships, training programs, and barista competitions. Comparable to Red Bay in third-wave sourcing philosophy and quality-driven brand positioning.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, DTC subscriptions, draft latte RTD line, and national wholesale. Comparable to Red Bay in roaster-plus-cafe-plus-subscription model and broad channel distribution strategy.
• Sightglass Coffee: San Francisco-based specialty roaster with roastery-cafe hybrid locations and direct-trade sourcing. Direct geographic and operational peer to Red Bay's Bay Area cafe footprint and roastery model.

Regional players

• Philz Coffee: Bay Area-originated specialty coffee chain with cafe locations across California and beyond. Comparable to Red Bay in Bay Area cafe density and specialty coffee positioning, though more chain-style and less roastery-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/redbaycoffee
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQrO8Oi0prFYpypc31zp3MA
• Facebookfacebook.com/redbaycoffee
• Instagraminstagram.com/redbaycoffee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Bay Coffee