Caribbrew

Caribbrew is a coffee and beverage company founded by Beverly Malbranche, a Haitian entrepreneur who moved to the United States in 2009 to pursue studies in business administration. Recognizing a lack of access to high-quality Haitian coffee in the U.S. market—a gap she identified through her own family's tradition of importing coffee from Haiti—Malbranche co-founded the business in 2016 and officially launched the brand in 2018. The company is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, where it operates its roasting facilities and, as of 2024, a physical cafe location.

The company’s core mission is to revitalize and promote Haiti’s coffee industry, which has historically relied on the production of premium Arabica beans. Caribbrew sources its coffee primarily from the mountainous region of Thiotte, where the beans are shade-grown at high elevations. The brand emphasizes that its sourcing model is built on direct trade relationships, bypassing traditional middlemen to work directly with farmers and cooperatives. This approach is intended to ensure that farmers receive compensation above standard fair-trade pricing, with additional proceeds allocated to support local Haitian organizations.

In practice, Caribbrew’s production philosophy centers on small-batch roasting to maintain quality control and freshness. The coffee is marketed as organic and chemical-free, noting that farmers utilize organic manure rather than synthetic fertilizers. By focusing on these agricultural practices, the company highlights the low-acid profile of its beans, which it positions as a key differentiator for consumers seeking a stomach-friendly coffee experience.

Beyond its coffee operations, Caribbrew has expanded its product line to include cacao-based products and beauty items, often referred to as 'skinfood.' The company reports that it partners with over 3,000 coffee and cocoa farmers in Haiti. This scale of operation is framed by the founder as a mechanism for creating sustainable economic opportunities and jobs within the Haitian agricultural sector, aiming to bridge the gap between the island's centuries-old coffee traditions and the modern American consumer.

As a minority-owned and female-led business, Caribbrew has gained visibility for its efforts to increase representation within the specialty coffee industry. The company utilizes both e-commerce platforms and wholesale channels, supplying coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores. Its operational structure is managed by a team that oversees the entire supply chain, from the initial sourcing in Haiti to the final roasting, packaging, and distribution processes in New Jersey.

Today, Caribbrew stands as a notable example of a brand leveraging direct trade to support agricultural development in a specific origin country. By combining retail, wholesale, and digital marketing strategies, the company continues to advocate for the quality of Haitian Arabica while maintaining a focus on social impact. Its growth trajectory, marked by the opening of its first cafe and continued expansion of its product offerings, reflects a broader effort to integrate Haitian agricultural products into the global specialty coffee market.