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Santa Cruz, California · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Cat & Cloud

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Cat & Cloud; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsCat & CloudCalifornia coffee roastersBrazilColombiaEthiopiaGuatemalaIndonesiaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-houseAnaerobic
Visit Cat & Cloud's site

Cat & Cloud is a Santa Cruz-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer that prioritizes human connection and community alongside high-quality coffee. Founded by industry professionals, the brand operates multiple cafes and a dedicated roastery, maintaining a strong focus on education and transparency through their public-facing podcast and open roasting practices.

Ownership
The company is independent and was founded by Chris Baca, Jared Truby, and Charles Jack.
Founded
2016
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Cat & Cloud is known for its community-focused culture, approachable specialty coffee, and its popular industry podcast which shares insights on business and leadership.
Sourcing countries
Brazil · Colombia · Ethiopia · Guatemala · Indonesia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources both single-origin coffees and blends, often identifying specific farms or producers for their single-origin offerings. They emphasize meticulous sourcing practices as a core component of their quality standards.
Notable coffees
  • — The Answer (House Blend)
  • — The Best Friends Blend
  • — Friend Zone Decaf
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 Cat & Cloud

These are examples recorded during editorial research on Oct 29, 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.

The Best Friends Blend

Honduras and Ethiopia · Anaerobic Washed & Natural

This espresso-focused blend offers bright, crisp flavors of key lime, apple, and white wine.

Original roaster or listing source

Night Shift

Guji, Ethiopia · Natural

A dark roast designed for those who enjoy full-bodied coffee with notes of dark chocolate and sweetness.

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.

In the news

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

2026-09-08 · The Lutrinae
A look at the Library Café’s partnership with Cat & Cloud.

Cal State University Monterey Bay has partnered with Cat & Cloud to serve the roaster's coffee at the campus Library Café. The partnership, which was soft-launched earlier this year, aims to bring local, premium coffee to the student body.

2026-04-29 · The United Food & Commercial Workers International Union
Coffee Shop Workers in Northern California Join Local 5

Approximately 70 employees across four Cat & Cloud locations in Santa Cruz and Aptos have unionized with UFCW Local 5. The workers sought representation to address concerns regarding pay, scheduling, and workplace communication.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-17. 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 identifies specific countries and some farm-level details for single origins, a comprehensive list of every current farm partner is not explicitly indexed in a single public database.

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