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Berkeley, California · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

1951 Coffee Company

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for 1951 Coffee Company; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
Tags1951 Coffee CompanyCalifornia coffee roastersGuatemalaMexicoIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
Visit 1951 Coffee Company's site

1951 Coffee Company is a Berkeley-based non-profit specialty coffee organization dedicated to empowering refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants through professional development. Founded in 2015, the organization derives its name from the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, which established the foundational guidelines for refugee protection. The company operates a specialized barista training program that provides participants with the technical skills and confidence necessary to secure employment within the competitive specialty coffee industry. Beyond its educational mission, the brand maintains a high standard of quality by roasting its own coffee in-house using zero-emission, solar-powered equipment. By integrating social impact with a commitment to sustainable, high-quality coffee, 1951 Coffee Company serves as both a retail operator and a community resource for individuals navigating the complexities of resettlement in the United States.

Ownership
1951 Coffee Company is an independent non-profit organization founded by Doug Hewitt and Rachel Taber.
Founded
2015
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
1951 Coffee Company is known for its social mission of providing free barista training and employment opportunities to refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants.
Sourcing countries
Guatemala · Mexico
Farm-level sourcing
The brand offers a mix of single-origin coffees and blends. While they identify the country of origin and specific washing stations or cooperatives for some offerings, such as the Guatemala ASOPCE and Mexico Rio Blanco, they do not consistently provide detailed farm-level data for all products.
Notable coffees
  • — Guatemala ASOPCE
  • — DECAF Mexico Rio Blanco EA
  • — Cloud King Espresso
  • — Durable Solution Blend
  • — Limited Edition 75th Anniversary Blend
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from 1951 Coffee Company

These are examples recorded during editorial research on Nov 8, 2026. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.

Cloud King Espresso

Latin American and Eastern African · Washed and Natural

This blend offers a profile of bittersweet chocolate, candied orange, and praline.

Original roaster or listing source

Durable Solution Blend

Guatemala and Colombia · Washed

This blend provides a balanced cup with notes of caramel, toffee, and bittersweet chocolate.

Original roaster or listing source

External customer, cafe, marketplace, and class ratings are not comparable measures of the quality of an individual coffee. We do not convert them into original tasting scores or brand-wide star ratings. Our independent reviews are published separately after a coffee has actually been brewed and evaluated.

Verify original product sources

Retailer information: 1951 Coffee Company

Documented physical retailers
1951 Coffee Company Cafe
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates a physical cafe at 2410 Channing Way in Berkeley, California, where they sell their house-roasted coffee.
Physical
Documented online sources
1951 Coffee Company's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand sells its full range of roasted coffee beans and merchandise directly through its official website.
Website

I was able to verify that 1951 Coffee Company sells its coffee through its own physical cafe in Berkeley and its dedicated e-commerce website; no other third-party retail partners were identified.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials — last checked Oct 9, 2026. They are research links, not proof of current stock or a buying recommendation. Verify availability, price and location directly with the source.
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about 1951 Coffee Company, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-05-14 · UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
World Refugee Week with 1951 Coffee

1951 Coffee Company hosted a World Refugee Week event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The event featured a special product launch in partnership with USA for UNHCR, a limited-edition summer drink menu, and fundraising efforts to support the organization's barista training and business programs.

2025-10-23 · FYP SF Bay
1951 Coffee Company: Brewing Empowerment for Refugees

This profile highlights 1951 Coffee Company's ongoing mission to provide free barista training and employment to refugees and asylees. The article notes that the organization has trained nearly 500 graduates since 2016 and continues to maintain strong job placement rates within the specialty coffee industry.

2024-12-13 · FundedIQ
1951 Coffee Company Funding Rounds

1951 Coffee Company secured $150,000 in an undisclosed funding round reported in December 2024. This capital supports the nonprofit's operations as it continues to provide job training and employment opportunities for the refugee community.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-02. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the organization is a non-profit with a clear social mission, it does not publish specific financial percentages or dollar-amount commitments regarding its philanthropic giving programs.

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