Our coffee could be coming soon to a cup near you--even if you’re not in one of our cafes. As our wholesale program grows, our beans are helping more and more businesses take their customers on the journey from farm to cup.
Here’s a quick tour of some of the companies who are partnering with Coffeebar--including a couple of innovative enterprises who are expanding the definition of hospitality.
The Market’s the Spot
In Tahoe City, the West Shore Market has become a beloved local community hub since it opened in 2015, offering glorious sandwiches, gourmet picnic goodies, and an impressive selection of wines. And since every self-respecting community hub must have great coffee, locals and visitors alike will find Coffeebar coffee on the shelf.
Manager Anthony Shein chose our coffee for the market because, he explains, “On top of offering high quality coffee, the Coffeebar team provides great educational opportunities for our customers and staff.” Anthony reports that the Vertical Reserve coffees are a customer favorite among West Shore coffee aficionados.
Education is a huge part of our brand. Coffeebar’s workshops and webinars help inform consumers and wholesale customers alike about everything from the coffee’s origins to tasting notes and tips on brewing the perfect cup.
Summer Camp, but with Caffeine
Northwest of Truckee is the small resort community of Graeagle. It’s one of those sweet, laid-back towns where summertime childhood memories are made, where families rent the same cabins year after year for reunions with friends and relatives.
If you’ve been there in the summer you’ve probably noticed a little red and white clapboard cottage under the pines, Millie’s Ice Cream & Coffee. It’s a straight-out-of-central-casting rustic gathering spot for vacationing families and locals alike. On summer days you may see a line of eager adults and kids extending out the door, across the porch, and down the steps.
“My son, who’s a coffee snob, was friends with David Wilson Coffeebar’s former Director of Coffee,” says Debbie Keck, the proprietor. “And we loved the flavor of their coffee. So we decided to buy wholesale. We use the Zephyr blend in our espresso machine, and we buy retail bags to sell on our shelf.”
The resort location in Graeagle means that Millie’s welcomes a lot of campers, hikers and climbers on their way to the stunning Sierra Buttes. “We also stock Trailhead Instant Coffee,” Debbie says. “We’ve had different roasters approach us to try their coffee but nothing compares to Coffeebar beans and service.”
And it’s not just about selling our customers uber-fresh, roasted-to-order coffee. Connecting all the dots from farm to cup also means making sure our wholesale customers have everything they need to succeed.
“We work closely with Matt, Coffeebar’s Wholesale Manager, who helped us buy a new Simonelli espresso machine,” says Debbie. “What an amazing machine! We got a very good price, and the Simonelli has made all the difference in our busy coffee business. Matt also helped us get a new grinder, and he does all the maintenance on our machines.
“Everyone loves our coffee, visitors and residents alike,” she reports. “We claim to have the best coffee in Plumas County and many of our customers would not go anywhere else. We’re thankful for our loyal customers, who keep us busy even in the off season.”
Eats, Beats, and Beans
Zooming east toward Reno, Coffeebar coffee also makes an appearance at Peavine Taphouse Eats & Beats, the brainchild of owner Anita Noble. The restaurant, which opened in January 2020 and pivoted to a takeout-only model during lockdown, is now open and in full flower. Peavine is a family-friendly venue that boasts an impressive lineup of live music on the weekends, a full bar, and an irresistible comfort-food menu.
Anita credits Matt with being “super-responsive” as her business morphed in the past year. Now her guests can finish a meal with a molten Chocolate Lava Cake or homemade frozen custard...and a really great cup of coffee.
You loved the art, now try the coffee
Not all Coffeebar wholesale customers are bricks-and-mortar hospitality businesses. The owners of Reno-based Western lifestyle brand Homestead Valley were personal customers of Coffeebar for years. “Homestead Valley encompasses an experience that consists of cultural arts, clothing, accessories, and more,” says its co-founder Christian Webber. Their Curly Wolf brand “spreads western themes”, with a nod toward retro-playful Reno design, and supports local businesses as well as the community.
The partners decided to launch their own coffee, Curly Wolf Biggest Little Blend, because coffee played such a large role in their customers’ day to day activities. The company just debuted their newest collections at the Genoa Candy Dance, the wildly popular crafts fair and street festival that takes over the tiny Nevada hamlet at the end of September.
“We wanted to work with a coffee company who highlighted the quality of craft products from Reno,” says Christian. “And we knew the quality of the Coffeebar coffee was great--something we could trust. We also wanted great communication.”
What has it been like partnering with Coffeebar? “It’s been a pleasure,” he reports. “They’ve consistently understood our vision and been helpful in providing inventory as needed. Each and every employee has been outstanding in their own capacity.”
YAY for great coffee
Perhaps our most unique wholesale customer is YAY Concierge. Founder and Chief Experience Officer Darmaris Messina describes her company as a “bespoke virtual events platform that gathers learners and sharers united by the joy of trying something new.” From leading guests through sommelier-led wine pairings to workshops on creating Pinterest-worthy tablescapes, the online gatherings connect family and friends with hospitality industry experts.
“We enrich people's lives through joyful moments by partnering with knowledgeable industry experts who take pride in their craft,” says Damaris. “Matt and the team at Coffeebar have been sharing their passion for coffee with our customers for almost a year, hosting carefully curated coffee tasting experiences and unlocking the secret to the perfect cup with almost 100 virtual attendees. Their product and service is superb and their sourcing practices allow us to be great citizens of the world.”
Wholehearted Wholesale
From the beginning, we’ve thought of coffee as more than a product--it’s a medium for creativity, energy, and connection. So we treat our wholesale customers with the same spirit of hospitality that we do the folks who come into our cafes. In fact, Matt sees to it that they become extended family.
It’s kind of thrilling to see how our coffees are moving out into the world, whether they’re under the Coffeebar brand, co-branded, or private-labeled. We love to see our customers become the coffee mecca of their market, or do something utterly unexpected with it.
We work to support their unique coffee vision in whatever way we can--everything from teaching the best techniques for p
reparation to creating a custom-blended coffee that will be theirs alone. And we love to socialize their brand on Insta, in blogs, and through events. Because, after “coffee”, “collaboration” is our absolute favorite word.
Do you or someone you know need a coffee partner you can count on? Reach out to the amazing Matt Brown, our Wholesale Manager, to explore the possibilities.
