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St. Petersburg, Florida · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info
TagsSun Bear Specialty Coffee RoastersFlorida coffee roastersEthiopiaIndependentRoasts in-house
Visit Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters's site

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters is a St. Petersburg-based roastery and café dedicated to the third-wave coffee movement, founded by Kenny Beers following his time working with at-risk youth in Cambodia. The brand specializes in small-batch, light-roast profiles that prioritize fruit-forward and process-forward characteristics, exclusively sourcing beans that meet SCA-grade standards of 85 points or higher. Beyond their production of high-quality single-origin coffees, the company has established a reputation for fostering community through their transition from a micro-roastery inside a zero-waste store to a standalone flagship café in the Grand Central District. They maintain a strong focus on customer education, positioning themselves as a resource for home brewers looking to refine their craft through expert guidance and transparent roasting practices.

Ownership
Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters is an independent, locally-owned business founded by Kenneth Beers.
Founded
2020
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
The brand is known for its light-roast, fruit-forward, and SCA-grade single-origin coffees. They are also recognized for their focus on coffee education and community engagement in the St. Petersburg area.
Sourcing countries
Ethiopia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand emphasizes a farmer-forward approach and sources specialty-grade coffee from various origins globally. While they highlight their commitment to processing methods and quality, they do not consistently publish specific farm or producer names for their current offerings.
Notable coffees
  • — Ethiopian Single Origin
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters

These are examples recorded during editorial research on Sep 28, 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.

Pepe Jijon - Sydra Wave Fermented Honey 150g

Ecuador · Wave Fermented Honey

This coffee features complex, fruit-forward characteristics typical of high-end experimental processing.

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: Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters

Documented physical retailers
Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters Cafe
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates its own brick-and-mortar cafe and roastery located at 1942 1st Avenue South in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Physical
Documented online sources
Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand sells its single-origin, light roast coffee beans directly to consumers through its official website.
Website

I verified the brand's primary retail presence at its own physical cafe in St. Petersburg and its direct-to-consumer online store; while the brand previously operated a micro-cafe at Sans Market and participates in local markets, these are the current primary verified channels.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials — last checked Oct 11, 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 Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-09-29 · Daily Coffee News
Sun Bear Coffee Basks in its First Standalone St. Petersburg Cafe

Sun Bear Specialty Coffee Roasters opened its first standalone 1,200-square-foot cafe in St. Petersburg, Florida, in late July. The shop features a retro aesthetic and highlights the brand's focus on lightly roasted single-origin coffees and experimental processing methods.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-03. 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 founder's background involves missionary work with children in Cambodia, no specific, verifiable ongoing philanthropy programs or charitable donation percentages were found on the company's official website or in public financial filings.

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