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Wake Forest, North Carolina · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Black & White Coffee Roasters

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Black & White Coffee Roasters; not a documentary photograph
Owned by FairWave Specialty Coffee CollectiveRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsBlack & White Coffee RoastersNorth Carolina coffee roastersColombiaEthiopiaHondurasOwned by FairWave Specialty Coffee CollectiveFarm levelRoasts in-houseThermal ShockCo-fermentationAnaerobic
Visit Black & White Coffee Roasters's site

Black & White Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company dedicated to making high-end, competition-style coffees accessible to a broad audience. Founded in 2017 by US Barista Champions Kyle Ramage and Lem Butler, the brand operates with a philosophy centered on service, community, and excellence. They are widely recognized for their innovative approach to processing and roasting, frequently releasing experimental, competition-grade single-origin coffees that challenge conventional flavor profiles. By bridging the gap between elite coffee competitions and daily consumption, they have established a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what specialty coffee can be while maintaining a commitment to approachability.

Corporate ownership disclosure

Black & White Coffee Roasters is owned by FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective

Black & White was acquired by the FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective in April 2025, becoming its 11th brand. Following the acquisition, co-founder Lem Butler departed the company, while co-founder Kyle Ramage remained to lead operations.

Ultimate owner: a mid-size coffee group

Ownership is disclosed when documented. Corporate parents can shape sourcing and independence claims. Public sources were researched as of 2026-10-05.

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Ownership
Black & White was acquired by the FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective in April 2025, becoming its 11th brand. Following the acquisition, co-founder Lem Butler departed the company, while co-founder Kyle Ramage remained to lead operations.
Founded
2017
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Founded by consecutive US Barista Champions, the brand is known for its philosophy of keeping exceptional, high-quality coffee simple and approachable. They are also recognized for their frequent, innovative releases of competition-grade coffees.
Sourcing countries
Colombia · Ethiopia · Honduras
Farm-level sourcing
The brand frequently identifies specific producers, farms, or community projects for their single-origin offerings, often highlighting unique processing methods. Their year-round blends are more general in origin description, while their rotating single-origin menu provides detailed information about the specific farm or washing station.
Notable coffees
  • — Jhonatan Gasca - Thermal Shock Pacamara
  • — Marlon Bolaños - Pink Bourbon
  • — Familia Bermudez - Lychee Peach
  • — Julio Madrid - Sakura
  • — Worka Chelbesa - Washed
  • — The Classic
Documented coffees linked to this brand

These published coffee profiles are linked to this brand. Each profile distinguishes verified origins, roasters, farms and producers from information that remains undisclosed. A catalog entry is not automatically an independent tasting review.

Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Black & White Coffee Roasters

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

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: Black & White Coffee Roasters

Documented physical retailers
Black & White Coffee Roasters
Historical source note (not live inventory): Operates physical cafes in the Triangle area of North Carolina, including a location in Wake Forest.
Physical
Documented online sources
Black & White Coffee Roasters's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): Sells a wide variety of whole bean specialty coffees, subscriptions, and merchandise directly to consumers.
Website

I was able to verify the brand's own physical cafe locations and their direct-to-consumer online store, but the brand's third-party store locator tool was not functional during the research process, preventing the identification of specific external retail partners.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials. Last checked Oct 24, 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 Black & White Coffee Roasters, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2025-04-02 · Daily Coffee News
Raleigh’s Black & White Coffee Roasters Now Part of FairWave Collective

Black & White Coffee Roasters, a prominent North Carolina-based roaster founded by former US Barista Champions, was acquired by the FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective. This move marked the brand's entry into the FairWave portfolio as its 11th member, providing the roaster with additional resources for scaling while maintaining its existing operations.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-05. 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 brand maintains a strong community focus, specific long-term philanthropic commitments beyond the ALS-related product donation were not publicly detailed.

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