This month we are excited to be working with the recipient of the 2022 Micro Roaster of the Year Little Waves Coffee Roasters. Little Waves, from Durham, NC, chose that name because they hope the small decisions they make as a company – from sourcing to roasting – can have small but impactful effects on communities throughout the world.

At home, this means investing in their employees and bringing together people of diverse backgrounds. As they grow and continue to hit revenue milestones they find ways to invest even more into their employees, such as increasing pay, benefits and more. They also use a roaster that uses 80% less energy that traditional roasters, use coffee bags that are 60% compostable, and donate all of their coffee bi-product chaff to local gardens.

When sourcing coffee, Little Waves doesn’t just look to import whatever coffee is popular right now. Their goal is to create long-term relationships with their producers. They work with producers that understand their mission and values. Just like their revenue goals allow them to increase quality of life for their employees, Little Waves also has goals set up for producers. As they continue to grow, they are able to enact new programs and partnerships with the communities where they source their coffee.