Dave's Coffee

Dave's Coffee was established in 1998 by founder David Lanning, beginning as a small cafe operation located in the back room of a historic 1740 farmhouse in Charlestown, Rhode Island. For the first decade of its existence, the business functioned primarily as a retailer, serving coffee sourced from various small-batch roasters across the United States. This initial period allowed the company to cultivate a local following before transitioning into a production-focused entity.

The company's trajectory shifted significantly in 2009 when Lanning began roasting coffee in-house within a 500-square-foot space in an old brick factory in Westerly, Rhode Island. This move marked the brand's evolution into a dedicated roasting company, enabling Lanning to exert direct control over the flavor profiles and quality of the beans. Today, the company operates out of a 7,000-square-foot roastery in Narragansett, utilizing a 25-kilo American-made Diedrich infrared roaster to process its weekly orders.

Sourcing philosophy remains a cornerstone of the company's operations. Lanning emphasizes the importance of traceability, aiming to work directly with independent family farms that produce small harvests. By focusing on these smaller producers, the company seeks to understand the specific conditions of cultivation and the impact of farming practices on local communities. This approach is framed by the founder as a culinary endeavor, where the roaster acts as a chef interpreting the unique characteristics of the raw ingredients.

Beyond its whole-bean coffee program, Dave's Coffee is widely recognized for its production of all-natural coffee milk syrup. Coffee milk is a cultural staple in Rhode Island, and the company produces its version using only cold-brewed coffee and pure cane sugar, intentionally omitting corn syrup, artificial colors, and preservatives. The syrup is packaged in recyclable amber glass bottles, reflecting a stated commitment to reducing unnecessary waste in its product line.

Retail operations have expanded alongside the roasting business. The company currently maintains two retail cafes located in Charlestown and Providence, Rhode Island. These spaces are designed to serve as community hubs while showcasing the company's approach to coffee preparation, including pour-over bars and custom-built espresso equipment. These locations serve as the primary testing ground for the company's focus on individual coffee regions and brewing techniques.

In addition to its retail and wholesale coffee business, the company has diversified its offerings to include single-serve steeped coffee, flash-brewed iced coffee, and various flavored syrups. The business model also incorporates private-label roasting and custom blending services for wholesale partners, including cafes, restaurants, and gourmet food markets throughout New England.

As the company has grown, it has maintained its identity as a privately held, artisan-focused organization. By keeping its roasting operations small-batch and strictly to-order, Dave's Coffee prioritizes freshness over high-volume warehousing. The brand continues to balance its legacy as a local Rhode Island institution with its broader reach as a wholesale supplier of specialty coffee and shelf-stable coffee products.