Our Story
Founded 2016 · Crafted in pursuit of the extraordinary cup.
Vela began in a rented garage with a 3kg sample roaster, a single origin from Ethiopia, and a stubborn belief that most people had never tasted coffee at its actual best.
We started as baristas — not investors. The first years were spent behind bars and behind cupping tables, learning what made a coffee truly extraordinary rather than merely good.
In 2018 we took our first origin trip to Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe region. That single week changed everything. We met producers farming coffees of astonishing quality and receiving a fraction of what the market would bear. We came back with three lots, a phone full of faces, and a new sense of obligation.
By 2020, Vela had four wholesale accounts and was roasting weekly. By 2022, Marcus Osei won the US Barista Championship pulling one of our single origins. By 2024, we had grown into a team of 28 and opened our fourth café.
We still cup every roast at 2, 5, and 10 days. We still take every origin trip ourselves. We still answer every wholesale inquiry personally. The garage is gone, but the stubbornness remains.
A Decade of Pursuit
Vela founded in a rented garage with a 3kg sample roaster and a single Ethiopian origin.
First origin trip to Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia. Three lots sourced. Everything changes.
Four wholesale accounts. Weekly roasting schedule established. B-Corp certification achieved.
Marcus Osei wins US Barista Championship using our single-origin. Team grows to 18.
Elena Park places 3rd at World Brewers Cup. Fourth café location opens downtown.
Named Outstanding Design Team by Sprudge. 140+ wholesale partners across 12 countries.
Ranked #1 Coffee Shop in North America by World Coffee Guide.
O u r V a l u e s
Origin Accountability
We visit every farm we source from. No exceptions, no intermediaries without transparency. The producer's name is on every bag because their work deserves recognition.
Roast Precision
Every roast is profiled, tracked, and cupped multiple times before it ships. We don't release a coffee until it's at its best — even if that means waiting an extra day.
Community First
Our cafés are gathering places, not showrooms. Our wholesale program is a partnership, not a transaction. Good coffee tastes better when it's shared honestly.