bluebottlecoffee
Roasts and serves premium specialty coffee through global cafes.
Company facts
- Founded
- 2002
- Employees
- 1,077
- Headquarters
- United States
- CEO
- James Freeman
- Type
- Private
- Funding
- Private Equity · $400M · 2026
- Subsidiaries
- Blue Bottle Coffee Korea, Blue Bottle Coffee Japan, Blue Bottle Coffee China
About
Blue Bottle Coffee, Inc. was founded in 2002 by James Freeman as a specialty coffee roaster and retailer originally based in Oakland, California. The brand was inspired by European coffee culture, tracing its name from one of the first cafes in Vienna. Initially focused on the concept of fresh, single-origin coffee, the company emphasized the importance of providing freshly roasted coffee within 24 hours of roasting. This dedication to quality helped establish Blue Bottle Coffee as a prominent player in the third wave coffee movement, which seeks to elevate coffee to a high-quality artisan product. Since its inception, Blue Bottle has expanded significantly, with locations across the United States and in international markets, including Japan and South Korea. As of 2021, Blue Bottle operates 99 cafes, showcasing its commitment to delivering unique coffee experiences. The company raised considerable funding over the years, including $20 million in 2012 and $70 million in 2015. In 2017, it became a majority-owned subsidiary of Nestlé, benefiting from the multinational food giant's resources while maintaining its unique brand ethos. Blue Bottle's mission is to connect people to delicious coffee, and the company is known for its direct trade relationships with coffee farmers to ensure sustainability and ethical sourcing.