1951 Coffee Company

What 1951 Coffee Company does

1951 Coffee Company is a Berkeley, California-based 501c3 nonprofit specialty coffee organization founded in 2015. The company operates a physical café at 2410 Channing Way in Berkeley, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront on Shopify, a wholesale program, and a catering service. Its underlying production assets include a Bellwether zero-emission roaster and a solar-powered café facility. Coffee offerings span single origins (Guatemala ASOPCE, Mexico Rio Blanco EA decaf, seasonal Roaster's Choice), blends (Cloud King Espresso, Durable Solution Blend, 75th Anniversary Blend), subscriptions, and branded merchandise priced from $5 for accessories to $105 for 5lb coffee bags.

The organization's primary beneficiary population is refugees, asylees, asylum seekers, SIV holders, and other humanitarian immigrants authorized to work in the United States. Since 2016 it has run a free barista training program based on Specialty Coffee Association standards, with cohorts run monthly from January through October at a training site in Oakland's Lake Merritt neighborhood. The training is valued at $2,500 per participant, requires no English fluency, and covers brewing, espresso operation, customer service, and American workplace navigation. To date the program has produced 510+ graduates from 52 countries, with a +70% post-program employment rate supported by a 40+ partner-café network in the Bay Area, plus entrepreneurial support that has helped launch 13 graduate-owned businesses in the Bay Area, San Diego, and Pittsburgh.

Revenue is generated through five streams: café retail sales at the Channing Way location, e-commerce and subscription sales via the Shopify storefront, catering ($40 per gallon of coffee and espresso-cart events), wholesale accounts (Graduate Wholesale and Community Wholesale), and donations plus institutional grants from the James Irvine Foundation, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Regeneration Church, Torani, World Centric, and others. A Dec-2024 $150,000 grant from the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise and a stated 2026 fundraising goal of $328,000 supplement earned income and underwrite the free training program. Leadership comprises co-founder and CEO Doug Hewitt, Barista Training Program Manager Evelyn, Cafe Program Manager Kelly, Development Manager Adiba, Lead Barista and Head of Roasting Tayesh, plus a board of directors with affiliations including the International Rescue Committee, Texas Instruments, Berkeley Haas, Ground Control, Daimler Truck, and Gensler.

Name

1951 Coffee Company

Legal name

1951 Coffee Company

Website

https://1951coffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

1951 Coffee Company is a Berkeley-based 501c3 nonprofit specialty coffee roaster and retailer that employs and trains refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants as baristas, operating a solar-powered cafe, an e-commerce store, wholesale, catering, and a free SCA-standard training program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Retail

NAICS

Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFADAE

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Cafes & Coffee Shops

SECONDARYCRADAHAG

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks, Water)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee retail
• Barista training programs
• Nonprofit social enterprise
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Espresso catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cafe Retail Sales: Physical cafe sales at Channing Way location in Berkeley, CA with in-store coffee beverages and pastries
2. Online Coffee and Merchandise Sales: Direct-to-consumer e-commerce through Shopify storefront for specialty coffee products (single origin, blends, sample boxes) and branded merchandise with subscription options
3. Catering Services: Event catering including 1-gallon coffee service ($40) and espresso cart catering for gatherings
4. Wholesale: Wholesale accounts for cafes and businesses to purchase 1951 Coffee products, including graduate wholesale and community wholesale programs
5. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and institutional grants from foundations (James Irvine Foundation, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Regeneration Church, Torani, World Centric) to fund the free training program

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

1951 Coffee Company is a 501c3 nonprofit that sells specialty roasted coffee (single origin, blends, decaffeinated, sample boxes) through a Berkeley cafe, a Shopify e-commerce storefront, and wholesale and catering channels. It also runs a free barista training program for refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants based on Specialty Coffee Association standards, paired with job placement and graduate-cafe incubation support.

Product overview

1951 Coffee Company is a non-profit specialty coffee organization offering a portfolio of coffee products and social impact services. The core product line includes specialty coffee offerings: blended coffees (Cloud King Espresso, Durable Solution Blend, 75th Anniversary Blend) and single origin coffees (Guatemala ASOPCE, Mexico Rio Blanco Decaf, seasonal Roaster's Choices). These are available in various sizes (4oz, 12oz, 5lb) and grind options, sold through an e-commerce shop and physical Channing Way cafe in Berkeley, CA. The company also offers a Coffee Subscription service for recurring deliveries with subscriber discounts. Merchandise items (apparel, drinkware, accessories) complement the product line. Beyond retail, the organization operates a free Barista Training Program for refugees and asylees, a Wholesale Program for graduates and community partners, Catering Services for events, and supports Graduate Cafes founded by program alumni. The cafe operates as a solar-powered facility using a Bellwether zero emission roaster.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1951 Coffee: Primary brand name for coffee products, merchandise, and cafe operations
• Graduate Cafes
• 1951 Coffee Graduate Wholesale
• 1951 Community Wholesale

Products and services

• 75th Anniversary Blend Limited edition South American/East African blend with tasting notes of dark chocolate and blackberry sweetness, sold with $5-$20 per purchase contributed to USA for UNHCR in support of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.
• Cloud King Espresso House espresso blend named after the first 1951 Coffee cafe manager, comprising naturally processed Brazilian and washed process Ethiopian coffees with tasting notes of bittersweet chocolate, candied orange, and praline; available in 4oz to 5lb sizes.
• Durable Solution Blend Signature blend named after the UNHCR's goal of finding durable solutions for refugees, sourced from Guatemala and Colombia with tasting notes of caramel, toffee, and bittersweet chocolate; available in 4oz to 5lb sizes.
• Guatemala ASOPCE Single origin coffee sourced from the ASOPCE cooperative in Guatemala; available in 4oz, 12oz, and 5lb sizes.
• DECAF Mexico Rio Blanco EA Decaffeinated single origin coffee sourced from Mexico's Rio Blanco region using ethyl acetate (EA) processing; available in standard coffee bag sizes.
• 1951 Coffee Sample Box Curated sample box containing 4oz bags of Cloud King Espresso, Durable Solution Blend, Latin American Single Origin, African Single Origin, and Single Origin Decaf; each bag makes approximately six cups; priced at $36.50 with a 25% subscription discount.
• Roaster's Choice Seasonal Subscriptions Seasonal coffee subscription products in single origin and blend varieties with rotating selections based on fresh coffee arrivals and component availability.
• Coffee Subscription Service Recurring coffee delivery subscription service offering discounts on all products, with options to manage deliveries, skip orders, adjust frequencies, change product selections, and free shipping on 12oz and 5lb bag subscriptions.
• Channing Way Cafe Physical cafe at 2410 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA offering espresso drinks, pour-overs, and pastries; order-ahead available via Snackpass; operates as the primary retail location and headquarters.
• Catering Service Event catering including 1-gallon coffee service (regular or decaf) at $40 for 16 cups with disposable containers, cups, creamer, and stir sticks; hot water option at $15; pastries at $4.75 each; and espresso cart catering for events.
• Barista Training Program Free barista training program for refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants; based on Specialty Coffee Association standards with curriculum covering brewing coffee, using espresso machines, coffee history, customer service, and navigating the American workplace; over 510 graduates from 52 countries have completed the program.
• Wholesale Program Wholesale coffee program for cafes and businesses including the 1951 Graduate Wholesale track for graduates of the barista training program and the 1951 Community Wholesale track for other businesses, with enquiries handled via [email protected].
• Graduate Cafes Cafes founded and operated by graduates of the 1951 Coffee Barista Training Program, including Damask Rose (Oakland), Coffee Hut (Berkeley), Merritt Station Cafe (Oakland), Novaria Coffee Co (Pittsburgh), and Jebena Cafe (Oakland), with free startup support provided through the nonprofit.
• Branded Merchandise Branded 1951 Coffee merchandise including apparel (Language Shirt $25, Hoodie $65, Beanie $25, Tools of the Trade Hat $35), drinkware (City Language Mug $30), and accessories (Tote Bag $16, Bandana $15, Pin $5), sold through the Shopify storefront.

Quantifiable outcome

• 510+ refugees trained with +70% post-program employment rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USA for UNHCRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the 75th Anniversary Blend commemorating the 1951 Refugee Convention. Every 12oz box contributes $5 and every 5lb bag contributes $20 to USA for UNHCR to support refugees and asylum seekers worldwide
• Refugee and Immigrant TransitionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to pilot Youth Barista Training Camps for high school students aged 15-24, developed into the Youth Barista Training Program hosting classes during spring and summer breaks
• StroopiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and Immigrant Supporting Social Enterprise partner - Lancaster, PA based food and beverage company
• Refugee Artisan InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and Immigrant Supporting Social Enterprise partner - Seattle, WA based organization creating economic opportunities for refugees through artisan work
• The Refugee CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and Immigrant Supporting Social Enterprise partner - Austin, TX based collective supporting refugee communities
• Global NeighborhoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee and Immigrant Supporting Social Enterprise partner - Spokane, WA based organization supporting refugee integration

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst Coffee Company: A Seattle-based nonprofit coffee company that trains and employs refugees, offering barista training and employing refugees in its cafes. Closely comparable to 1951 Coffee's refugee-employment specialty coffee model, though operating in the Pacific Northwest rather than the Bay Area.
• Spring Valley Coffee Roasters: A Nashville-based coffee roaster founded on the mission of employing refugees, with a roasting operation and wholesale business that supports refugee employment. Highly comparable social-enterprise specialty coffee model.
• Higher Grounds Trading Company: A specialty coffee company focused on the refugee experience through coffee, including refugee farmer partnerships and refugee-focused retail products. Shares 1951 Coffee's refugee-centered mission and specialty coffee product focus, though operates primarily in Michigan.
• Philz Coffee: A Bay Area specialty coffee chain with cafe-retail locations and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, founded on a craft/mission-driven coffee ethos. Comparable as a Bay Area specialty coffee/cafe operator with subscription and retail channels, though commercial in nature.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: A specialty coffee roaster with cafes in California and beyond, focused on single-origin and direct-trade coffee with subscription e-commerce. Comparable as a West Coast specialty roaster/cafe operator targeting premium consumers.
• Ritual Coffee Roasters: A Bay Area specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with a sustainability and quality focus. Comparable on geography (Bay Area specialty coffee/cafe), product range (single origin, blends, subscriptions), and wholesale operations.
• Counter Culture Coffee: A specialty coffee roaster with a strong sustainability, training, and education focus (Counter Culture offers industry training). Comparable as a specialty roaster combining wholesale, training, and sustainability-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bottle Coffee: A large, well-funded specialty coffee company with cafe-retail locations, e-commerce, and subscription services across the U.S. and Asia. Comparable product/channel mix (specialty roasted coffee, subscription, cafes) but operates at far greater scale and as a commercial enterprise.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: A nationally distributed specialty coffee roaster with cafe locations, wholesale, and direct-trade sourcing. Comparable as a specialty roaster competing for the same premium consumer and wholesale accounts, but at significantly larger scale (owned by a major corporate parent).

Regional players

• Reunion Coffee Roasters: A Canadian specialty coffee roaster focused on social impact and refugee integration through coffee partnerships. Comparable mission-driven specialty coffee positioning, though primarily operating in the Canadian market rather than the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1951coffee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/13179202
• Instagraminstagram.com/1951coffee
• Xx.com/1951coffee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 1951 Coffee Company