Equator Coffees
San Francisco, CA
Better coffee. Better world.
Curator's Notes
Equator Coffees was born in a Marin County garage in 1995, when partners Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell set out to prove that coffee could be better. Better sourced, better roasted, and better for the people who grow it. They were right. Equator became an early Fair Trade adopter in 1999, the first B Corp certified coffee roaster in California in 2011, and in 2016 became the first certified LGBTQ-owned business to win National Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Administration. Roast Magazine's Roaster of the Year in 2010, multiple Good Food Award winners, and Sprudgie Award honorees for sustainable roasting. Thirty years later, they source from over 50 producers across 20 countries, operate twelve neighborhood cafes across California, and remain one of the most principled and pioneering roasters in the country. In the cup, expect award-winning, sustainably sourced coffees with exceptional range and a Bay Area soul.
Coffees from Equator Coffees have been reviewed 31 times,
with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
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Frequently Asked About Equator Coffees
Can I buy Equator Coffees coffee online?
Yes. Bean Box ships 17 Equator Coffees coffees freshly roasted to your door, available as whole bean or freshly ground. Orders of two or more bags ship free, and you can add Equator Coffees to a Coffee Subscription to save up to 20% on regular deliveries.
What is Equator Coffees's most popular coffee?
Equator Coffees's most popular coffee on Bean Box is Thailand Chaiprakarn Red Honey Single Origin Espresso — a light roast with notes of chocolate covered raisin, tahini, plum.
Where is Equator Coffees located?
Equator Coffees is based in San Francisco, CA. Through Bean Box, Equator Coffees ships fresh coffee nationwide.
Where does Equator Coffees source its coffee?
Equator Coffees sources beans from Ethiopia, Sumatra, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya, and Peru.
Is Equator Coffees direct trade?
Yes. Equator Coffees is a direct trade roaster, sourcing through direct trade relationships with coffee producers. Roast Magazine's Roaster of the Year in 2010; first B Corp certified coffee roaster in California in 2011; first certified LGBTQ-owned business to win National Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Administration in 2016.
What does Equator Coffees coffee taste like?
Equator Coffees's coffees lean fruit-forward and chocolaty, with spiced accents. Common tasting notes across the lineup include dark chocolate, cedar, apricot, cinnamon, and cherry.
What roast levels does Equator Coffees offer?
Equator Coffees's coffees on Bean Box include 5 light, 9 medium, and 3 dark roasts, ranging from light and bright to dark and roasty.
Does Equator Coffees offer decaf?
Yes. Bean Box carries 4 Equator Coffees decaf options: Decaf Equator Blend, Decaf Shakeout , Decaf Eye of the Tiger Espresso, and Decaf Ethiopia Suke Quto Natural.
What Equator Coffees coffee should I try first?
If you're new to Equator Coffees, start with Thailand Chaiprakarn Red Honey Single Origin Espresso — a light roast with notes of chocolate covered raisin, tahini, plum. Roast Magazine's Roaster of the Year in 2010; first B Corp certified coffee roaster in California in 2011; first certified LGBTQ-owned business to win National Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Administration in 2016.
How fresh is Equator Coffees's coffee?
Every Equator Coffees bag ships from Bean Box within days of roasting. Choose whole bean or freshly ground at checkout, and orders of two or more bags ship free.
Ratings & Reviews
Most Recent Reviews
CHLOE
05/06/2026
★★★★★
"a nice, pretty well rounded breakfast blend coffee, I wouldn't say it was 5 stars though, just good with a splash of cream. Nothing especially unique though"
JOHN
04/23/2026
★★★★★
"Great coffee! Smooth and buttery."
JOHN
04/23/2026
★★★★★
"Great coffee! Good body, balanced with a sweet finish."
ABBY
02/21/2026
★★★★★
"I really like this coffee. It's quite dark and robust, but not bitter or ashy tasting at all. I taste cedar in this one, but it's not overwhelming. This is a really good dark roast."
ABBY
02/21/2026
★★★★★
"Coffee wasn't as dark or bold as I hoped, but bad a nice flavor and wasn't bitter. "
ABBY
02/03/2026
★★★★★
"We enjoyed this one. Dark without being bitter or tasting like an ashtray. The bittersweet chocolate and walnut flavors complimented each other nicely "
CHLOE
12/15/2025
★★★★★
"great dark roast coffee, pretty smooth as I expected from premium coffee. My partner liked it but I thought it was a bit less impressive so I dropped it to a 4 star avg between our two opinions"
MOLLY
11/06/2025
★★★★★
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GISELA
10/28/2025
★★★★★
"Received this through my subscription and would be happy to have it again. I really enjoy the smell of this coffee - and the flavor is lovely, when offset with a tad bit of almond milk.... The smell alone is enough to wake me up in the morning."
ALEX
10/27/2025
★★★★★
"This is my top spot coffee at the moment. Layers of complexity with every cup. I get cherry cola on the nose of the initial brew. And while it is a great fruit-forward cup… it also has plenty of the toasted caramel flavors I personally enjoy. I couldn't help but think about pulling off the lightly toasted outer shell of a freshly roasted marshmallow over an open fire. I make this as a double, double-shot/14-oz Americano, in a Breville Oracle Touch, and it makes a really great cup! "