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.
Kind People
At Equator, our people are our reason for being and are the heart and soul of the organization.
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.
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.
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.
Our Evolution
Equator's Timeline
1995: In the Garage
Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell found Equator Estate Coffees & Teas in a garage in Marin County, CA. Maureen McHugh became Equator's first employee soon after.
1997: First Trip to Origin
Brooke embarked to Guatemala for her first trip to origin to study coffee production at the Chipicay Cooperative. The first visit to see the land and the people who grow coffee filled me with a sense of wonder, gratitude and privilege to be a small part of the coffee world, said Brooke.
1999: Fair Trade Certified
Equator became an early partner of Fair Trade USA™, buying coffee from the SOPPEXCCA Cooperative in Nicaragua. It was the beginning of a decades-long relationship with Fair Trade and SOPPEXCCA.
1999: The French Laundry
Brooke and Helen embarked on a partnership with Michelin Star chef Thomas Keller, developing his signature French Laundry Blend. Decades later, Equator has developed blends for all of Chef Keller's restaurants, including TK Espresso, Per Se Blend and Bouchon Bakery Blend.
2003: Expanding to Jordan Street
Equator opened our Jordan Street coffee roastery in San Rafael, CA. It has housed our main roasting operation ever since.
2007: Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
Equator purchased our first energy efficient Loring Kestrel K35 coffee roaster. As early adopters of Loring Smart Roast technology, we're able to roast high volumes while maintaining consistency and reducing our environmental impact via lower natural gas usage and emissions.
2008: An Award-Winning Farm of Our Own
Equator founders Helen and Brooke partnered with world-renowned coffee expert Willem Boot to found Finca Sophia, an experimental coffee farm in Volcán, Panama. Finca Sophia went on to win 1st place in the Best of Panama in the Washed Gesha category in 2017 and again in 2020, when the farm took home the Panama Cup. Finca Sophia's coffees have set records at auction multiple times, and received a rare 98 point score from Coffee Review in 2020.
2010: Roaster of the Year
Equator awarded Macro Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine.
2011: B Corp Certified
Equator became the first coffee roaster in California to become a Certified B Corporation. The company is a demonstrative leader in using business as a force for good.
2013: Our First Cafe
Equator opened its first retail store at the Proof Lab campus in the Tam Junction neighborhood of Mill Valley.
2016: Business of the Year
Equator won National Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Association. It is the first Certified LGBTQ-owned business to win this award.
2021: Coffee with a View
Equator opens its ninth retail location at one of the most iconic crossroads in the world, the Round House at the Golden Gate Bridge. First opened in 1937, this Art Deco perch with a near-360 degree view of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers a coffee experience like no other.
2022: A Regenerative Revolution
Equator partnered with Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples Sacaclí to bring to market the first annual harvest of Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC®) coffee ever commercially available. Regenerative agriculture can build resilience to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the future of coffee and our planet. Equator offers seasonal ROC® single origin coffees as well as a year-round ROC® blend.
2023: Equator Ready to Drink Cold Brew
In April 2023, Equator launched a new range of ready-to-drink (RTD) organic cold brew coffee in four classic flavors — Pure Black, Hint of Milk and Sugar, Velvet Mocha, and Hint of Vanilla. A year later, Regenerative Organic Certified® Espresso Roast and organic Oat Milk Latte items joined the lineup.
2025: 30 Years of Impact
Equator celebrated 30 years of making coffee a force for good by introducing Anniversary Blend in March of 2025. The blend was quickly awarded 93 pts by Coffee Review.