Bold Bean Coffee Roasters

Bold Bean Coffee Roasters was established in 2007 in Jacksonville, Florida, originating from the hobby of Jay Burnett, an award-winning journalist and editor. What began as a small-scale operation in a garage eventually evolved into a professional specialty coffee business. Today, the company is managed by Jay’s son, Zack Burnett, and operates multiple retail locations in the Jacksonville area, serving as a prominent fixture in the local specialty coffee scene.

The company’s roasting operations are centered in a 6,000-square-foot facility in Jacksonville, which houses a 35 kg Loring Kestrel S35 roaster. This equipment is central to their production philosophy, allowing for precise control over heat application and airflow. The team utilizes Cropster software to track roast profiles in real time, ensuring consistency across their product line. Before moving to production, all coffees undergo sample roasting on a Roest machine and rigorous evaluation on the cupping table.

Bold Bean’s sourcing philosophy is built on the premise that coffee is a differentiated agricultural product rather than a commodity. They maintain a network of producers, suppliers, and exporters across regions including Colombia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. The company explicitly states that it purchases coffee well above the C-market price, basing its procurement on the cost of production, quality, and sustainable profit margins for the farmers involved.

Their roasting approach is tailored to the specific characteristics of the green coffee. Single-origin offerings are typically roasted light to emphasize the lineage and terroir of the bean, while their blends are roasted to a medium profile to enhance sweetness and body. The company emphasizes that their goal is to create lively expressions of the coffee's innate qualities, influenced by factors such as micro-climates and processing methods.

Quality control is a continuous process at the roastery. Every production roast is cupped at least once a week to score the coffee and maintain consistency. This commitment to sensory evaluation is paired with an educational focus, as the company frequently shares information regarding the science of roasting, the importance of resting coffee post-roast, and the complexities of coffee processing with their customers.

Throughout its history, the company has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, notably navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to online ordering and curbside delivery models. Beyond its retail presence, the company has expanded its product offerings to include items like nitro coffee, reflecting a broader effort to reach new consumers while maintaining its specialty standards.

Today, Bold Bean Coffee Roasters stands as a representative of the third-wave coffee movement in the United States. By prioritizing long-term relationships with suppliers and investing in roasting technology, the company seeks to bridge the gap between the producer and the final consumer, emphasizing transparency and the pursuit of quality in every cup.