Equator Coffees
About Us
Equator Coffees is a Bay Area-founded, B Corp Certified specialty coffee roaster with twelve neighborhood cafes, serving exceptional, sustainably sourced coffee in our own spaces and beyond.
Our Story
Drinking Good Coffee Leads to Good Things
In 1995, Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell, partners in life and business—coffee obsessed and passionate about growing something of their own—set out to do something bold: build a coffee company rooted in quality, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Helen and Brooke started roasting coffee in a garage in Marin, working closely with Northern California restaurants, cafes, and businesses that shared their belief that coffee could be better. Their journey evolved as they connected with producers and built relationships around the world to source exceptional coffee.
Practices that have now become commonplace for people and planet-aware businesses were second nature to Helen and Brooke in the 90s. Equator helped pioneer the direct trade model, becoming an early adopter of Fair Trade certification in 1999. Then, in 2011, Equator became the first Certified B Corporation coffee roaster in California, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to blending quality with positive social and environmental impact.
Thirty years later, Equator Coffees has evolved from a humble roasting operation into a recognized leader in the coffee industry with award-winning coffees, cafes across California, and a thriving wholesale program serving quality-obsessed top chefs and businesses from coast to coast. But at its heart, Equator has never wavered on what matters: exceptional coffee, sourced with care and shared with intention.
Our Values
Good Coffee
Equator is proud to source coffee from over 50 producers and co-ops in 20 countries. Dozens of these relationships span many years, built on trust and shared values.For us, great coffee goes beyond the cup—it starts with the land, the producers, and the communities that nurture it. Innovation is crucial to making specialty coffee sustainable and accessible.For Equator, that means everything from sourcing from a new generation of producers in Thailand, to establishing a farm in Panama sitting at an elevation previously un-farmable, to bringing to market the first annual harvest of Regenerative Organic Certified® coffee ever commercially available.
Our Values
Kind People
At Equator, our people are our reason for being and are the heart and soul of the organization. Our team is made up of passionate individuals who bring to life our values and culture of kindness. From the coffee team’s trips to origin to evaluate sustainable and equitable sourcing practices, to the care of our skilled roastery and customer service teams, to the baristas who craft delicious drinks and memorable experiences day in and day out—none of our work is possible without our people.
Our Values
Better Planet
As the first California coffee roaster to receive B Corp certification, Equator is a demonstrative leader in practices that prioritize people and planet. Sustainability isn’t just about using recyclable and compostable materials (though it does include this!); it means continually finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint, from investing in energy-efficient roasting technology to supporting regenerative organic farming practices and sourcing from vendors who share our values and commitments.Creating a sustainable future is an active and intentional process. We regularly reflect on how we can improve our systems and practices while also recognizing and sharing what’s working through our annual Impact Report.