Our Mission
Coffee can be a force for good
That realization inspired our founders Brooke and Helen to roast and sell coffee themselves from a Marin County garage in 1995. Coffee can be roasted better, brewed better and, most importantly, it can be sourced in a way that makes lives better. That garage became Equator Coffees and marked the beginning of a high-impact coffee company focused on quality, sustainability and social responsibility.
Our Promise
Drinking Good Coffee Leads to Good Things
After two decades, twelve cafes (and counting) and thousands of cups served, our impact has grown but our values remain the same.
Equator was named after the region where coffee grows, but has come to mean so much more than that. It’s the path around the planet that connects us all. As we tread that path from bean to sip, we try to make everything we touch better. Because we believe drinking good coffee leads to good things.
Our Leadership Team
Helen Russell
Co-Founder & Executive Chair
Brooke McDonnell
Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer
Maureen McHugh
Executive Vice President
JP Lachance
Chief Executive Officer
Certified B Corp since 2011
As the first California coffee roaster to receive B Corp certification, Equator is a demonstrative leader in sustainable practices. This third-party certification requires us to demonstrate transparency and accountability throughout our supply chain and quantify the impact our business creates for our employees, the community, and the environment.
learn more about our impact