Macon, Georgia · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Z Beans Coffee

IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm & producer level

TagsZ Beans Coffee Georgia coffee roasters Ecuador Independent Farm & producer level Roasts in-house

Z Beans Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in Macon, Georgia, that operates on a direct-trade model exclusively with farmers in Ecuador. Founded following a mission trip, the company emphasizes supply chain transparency and sustainable economic development for its producer partners. They operate multiple retail locations, including several situated within hospital facilities.

Ownership

Z Beans Coffee is an independent, family-owned company founded by Shane Buerster.

Founded

2016

Roasting

Reported to roast in-house.

What it's known for

The brand is known for its direct-trade model focused exclusively on sourcing coffee from Ecuador and its unique retail presence within hospital locations across the Southeast United States.

Sourcing countries

Ecuador

Farm-level sourcing

The brand maintains a direct-trade model, sourcing exclusively from Ecuador and naming specific farmer partners such as William Martillo and Diego Rogel. They avoid brokers and middlemen, providing transparency regarding the specific farms and producers behind their single-origin offerings.

Notable coffees

— William Martillo (Manabí)
— Diego Rogel (Zaruma)

In the news

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

2026-10-06 · The Macon Newsroom

MBCIA approves $90M in Costco bonds, sale of Allied Industrial building to Z Beans

The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority approved the $50,000 sale of Building 106A at the Allied Industrial Park to Z Beans Coffee. This acquisition supports the continued expansion of the Macon-based coffee importer's roasting and distribution operations.

2026-01-14 · 13 WMAZ

Z Beans closes downtown Macon location, as Cochran-based coffee shop moves in

Z Beans Coffee closed its downtown Macon retail location, which was replaced by a coffee shop based in Cochran. The brand continues to operate its other locations in Mercer Village and Piedmont Hospital.

Sources used in this deep dive

Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-27. 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 names specific farmers, it was not possible to verify if every single coffee SKU currently offered is tied to a specific named farm or if some are blended from the broader network of Ecuadorian partners.

Z Beans Coffee

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