Welcome to Tea Coffee Lovers: A Journey of Discovery
Our story begins in a small tea shop in Darjeeling, India, where our founder, Sarah Chen, experienced an epiphany that would change her life. As a former technology executive seeking respite from Silicon Valley’s relentless pace, Sarah found herself captivated by the tea master’s intimate knowledge of every leaf, every processing method, and every subtle nuance that transformed simple leaves into extraordinary experiences. This moment of revelation in 2013 sparked a two-year journey across the world’s most renowned tea and coffee regions, laying the foundation for what would become Tea Coffee Lovers.
A Vision Takes Root
Sarah’s journey took her from the misty mountains of Taiwan, where she learned the art of traditional oolong processing, to the volcanic slopes of Guatemala, where she worked alongside coffee farmers during harvest season. Each destination added layers to her understanding and strengthened her resolve to create something unique in the beverage industry.
In 2015, Sarah partnered with James Martinez, a third-generation coffee roaster from Colombia, and Dr. Maya Patel, a botanical researcher specializing in tea cultivars. Together, they established Tea Coffee Lovers with a vision that went beyond creating another online retailer. They aimed to build a platform that would bridge the gap between ancient traditions and modern appreciation, between producers and consumers, and between casual enthusiasts and devoted connoisseurs.
The Early Days: Building Foundations
Our first office was a converted greenhouse in San Francisco’s Sunset District – a fitting beginning for a company dedicated to agricultural artistry. The space doubled as our first tasting room, where we hosted intimate gatherings of local tea and coffee enthusiasts. These early sessions, which we called “Sip and Share Sundays,” became the template for our community-focused approach to business.
Our initial collection featured just twelve products: six teas and six coffees, each personally sourced during Sarah’s travels. Among them was our now-famous “Moonlight White,” a rare white tea from Yunnan that we still offer today, produced by the same family we’ve worked with since our founding. Another original offering, our “Altura Azul” coffee from the Martinez family farm in Colombia, continues to be our most celebrated single-origin coffee.
Growing Through Knowledge
As our community grew, we recognized the need for deeper educational resources. In 2017, we launched our “Origins and Artistry” program, which has since educated over 10,000 enthusiasts through online courses and in-person workshops. Our commitment to education led to partnerships with prestigious institutions, including the development of specialized curricula for several culinary institutes.
The Tea Coffee Lovers Institute, established in 2019, represents our dedication to advancing beverage science and preservation of traditional knowledge. The institute conducts research into cultivation methods, processing techniques, and the effects of climate change on tea and coffee production. Our annual scholarship program supports young researchers and farmers in their pursuit of innovation within these traditional industries.
Sourcing Philosophy: Beyond Fair Trade
Our relationships with producers go deeper than traditional business partnerships. We’ve established the “Heritage Cultivator Program,” which provides technical support and guaranteed purchase agreements to farmers who maintain heirloom varieties of tea and coffee plants. This initiative has helped preserve over 30 rare cultivars that might otherwise have been replaced by higher-yielding commercial varieties.
In the coffee regions of Ethiopia, we’ve partnered with local cooperatives to establish the first genetic library of wild coffee varieties, protecting the future of coffee biodiversity. Similar efforts in the tea regions of China have led to the documentation and preservation of ancient processing methods that were at risk of being lost to modernization.
Innovation in Tradition
While we honor traditional methods, we also embrace innovation where it enhances quality and sustainability. Our state-of-the-art cupping laboratory in Oakland, California, utilizes advanced spectroscopy to analyze chemical compounds in our products, ensuring consistent quality while deepening our understanding of what makes each variety unique.
In 2021, we launched our “Digital Terroir” project, which uses blockchain technology to provide unprecedented transparency in our supply chain. Customers can trace their purchase from cup to origin, accessing detailed information about the growing conditions, processing methods, and individuals involved in creating their beverage.
Sustainability in Practice
Environmental responsibility guides every aspect of our operation. Our packaging facility in Portland, Oregon, operates entirely on renewable energy and uses innovative plant-based packaging materials that we developed in partnership with environmental scientists. Our “Leaves Back to Land” program ensures that all tea and coffee waste from our tasting rooms is composted and returned to partner farms.
We’ve also pioneered several water-conservation initiatives in coffee processing, including a closed-loop water recycling system now used by several of our partner farms in water-stressed regions. This system has reduced water usage in coffee processing by up to 80% while improving the consistency of the final product.
Community and Culture
The Tea Coffee Lovers community has grown into a global network of beverage enthusiasts, professional tasters, farmers, and researchers. Our online platform hosts daily discussions, virtual tasting sessions, and knowledge-sharing events in multiple languages. The annual Tea Coffee Lovers Festival, launched in 2018, brings together members of our community from around the world for three days of tasting, learning, and celebration.
Our flagship stores in San Francisco, Portland, and New York serve as community hubs where people can experience rare and exceptional beverages while learning from our certified experts. Each location features a “Heritage Bar” where visitors can taste historic varieties and traditional preparations that aren’t available anywhere else in North America.
Looking to the Future
As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our founding principles of quality, sustainability, education, and community. We’re currently developing new programs to support the next generation of tea and coffee professionals, including apprenticeships and startup incubation for innovative beverage-related businesses.
Our research institute is expanding its focus to include climate resilience strategies for traditional growing regions, working with climate scientists to help producers adapt to changing conditions while maintaining quality and tradition.
Join Our Journey
Whether you’re new to the world of fine beverages or a seasoned professional, Tea Coffee Lovers offers you a place in our community. We invite you to explore our carefully curated selection, participate in our educational programs, and join us in our mission to preserve and advance the art and science of tea and coffee.
Connect with us through our social media channels, visit our tasting rooms, or contact our team of experts. Every cup tells a story, and we’re here to help you discover yours.
Thank you for being part of the Tea Coffee Lovers story.