Spyhouse Coffee Roasters, a Minneapolis-based roaster, is joining FairWave, a collective of leading specialty coffee brands operating together to drive world-class coffee, bakery and culinary experiences in their local markets.
Messenger Coffee Co. and The Roasterie are the original brands banding together to form the FairWave specialty coffee collective.
Through this acquisition, FairWave is providing Spyhouse with industry best practices and support, including marketing, technology, culinary development and operating strategies. In addition, the best practices that Spyhouse possesses will be shared with the other brands in the collective.
“We are thrilled to have Spyhouse join the FairWave collective. Spyhouse has a remarkable history of serving some of the best specialty coffee in the country and creating some of the best café settings we have seen across the region, so we are excited to support and enable the growth plans that are in place for Spyhouse,” said FairWave CEO, Dan Trott.
Spyhouse remains a Minneapolis-based company, led by president, Kevin Wencel.
“I am thrilled that Spyhouse is joining a forward-thinking collective of specialty coffee brands that allow us to operate independently while sharing best practices and creating economies of scale. With access to a broader range of coffees from around the world, we look forward to expanding our coffee lineup to make it even more interesting for our guests and wholesale partners,” said Wencel.
FairWave is committed to expanding its equitable coffee purchasing programs and supporting more positive impacts at the farm level with Spyhouse joining the group. Spyhouse will maintain the same coffees sourced through a transparent supply chain that its customers have grown to love. The current Spyhouse team is integral for continuity in the short term and growth in the longer term. The Spyhouse Roasting Facility in Northeast Minneapolis will continue to produce some of Minnesota’s finest and most interesting coffee.
FairWave was formed in 2020 to ensure that local specialty coffee companies continue to thrive as the best means of serving spectacular coffees grown around the world, roasted to perfection daily, and served in memorable cafes or in-home brewing to the highest standards possible.
“The Collective enhances local coffee brands in their respective markets so that the brands truly stay local and remain a part of the community in which they operate,” said Trott.
The Roasterie operates six locations in the Kansas City metro, including a roasting operation. Messenger Coffee Co. operates eight cafés in the Kansas City metro, including Blackdog Café, three Filling Station locations, three Messenger cafes, along with operating the renowned IBIS Bakery.
Spyhouse currently has six locations in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Whittier, Uptown, Northeast, North Loop, St. Paul, and Emery Hotel. In addition to having its own roasting facility, Spyhouse also supplies other businesses, including grocery stores, coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants with its specialty coffee.