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Berkeley, California · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Zolo Coffee Roasters

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Zolo Coffee Roasters; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsZolo Coffee RoastersCalifornia coffee roastersIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
Visit Zolo Coffee Roasters's site

Zolo Coffee Roasters is a Berkeley-based, family-operated coffee company that manages its own sourcing, roasting, and distribution. They prioritize sustainable and ethical practices, including Rainforest Alliance certification, while maintaining a direct connection to customers through local farmers' markets and wholesale channels.

Ownership
Zolo Coffee Roasters is an independent, family-owned and operated business founded by Dave, Laurie, and their son Nick. The company identifies as woman and veteran-owned.
Founded
2013
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Zolo is known for its approachable, small-batch specialty coffee and its strong presence at Bay Area farmers' markets. They describe themselves as a 'Fourth Wave' roaster, focusing on high-quality, sustainable sourcing without the pretentiousness often associated with specialty coffee culture.
Farm-level sourcing
The brand states they source coffee from around the world and aim to highlight the characteristics of a bean's region and processing methods. While they emphasize working with small-lot farmers and maintaining sustainable practices, they do not consistently publish specific farm or producer names for their current offerings.
Notable coffees
  • — Ocho Estrellas
  • — Monkey See Monkey Do
  • — Little Dog
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Zolo Coffee Roasters

These are examples recorded during editorial research on Oct 30, 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.

Roaster's Choice Single Origin Medium Roast Coffee

Guji, Ethiopia · Natural

This coffee features notes of pomegranate, blackberry, and rose with a pleasing acidity.

Original roaster or listing source

Farmhouse French Roast

Sumatra, Indonesia and Central/South America · Washed

A bold, full-bodied blend with semi-sweet chocolate and hazelnut flavor notes.

Original roaster or listing source

Little Dog Medium Roast

Brazil and Colombia · Natural (Brazil) and Washed (Colombia)

This blend offers bright citrus notes with a pleasing acidity and a smooth finish reminiscent of sweet blackberry jam.

Original roaster or listing source

Mamazolo's Classic Espresso Roast

South America and Brazil

A Northern Italian style coffee with flavor notes of almond, chocolate, and stone fruit.

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 Zolo Coffee Roasters, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2025-07-17 · Berkeleyside
Check out this sweet spot on San Pablo Avenue

A local report on the opening of a new cafe in Berkeley mentions that the establishment serves coffee roasted by Zolo Coffee Roasters. The article highlights the roaster's involvement with the local co-roasting facility and cafe, CoRo.

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 mentions sourcing from around the world, they do not provide a specific list of countries on their website, and their Facebook page lists a co-roasting facility address (CoRo Coffee Roastery) which conflicts with their claims of being a vertically integrated roaster.

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