At Onyx Coffee Lab, our core mission has always been clear: to champion quality, transparency, and innovation in the specialty coffee industry. From our inception, we have sought to be coffee makers for the coffee community, continually pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through collaboration and continuous learning. Today, we are thrilled to announce the launch of a groundbreaking initiative that embodies these values — the Onyx International Roasting Collective.
In an industry often dominated by business acquisitions and giant conglomerates, the Onyx International Roasting Collective represents a completely different model of growth for specialty coffee roasters. This initiative focuses on sustainable expansion that honors the expertise, equity, and ownership of our partners. By forming coalitions with like-minded roasters, we aim to foster a collaborative environment that benefits everyone involved and contributes to the betterment of the entire specialty coffee industry.
Traditional global expansion methods in the coffee industry often involve complex logistics, significant capital investments, and the potential for quality dilution. The Onyx International Roasting Collective addresses these challenges head-on with a creative solution that leverages local expertise and infrastructure. This model allows us to maintain the high standards our customers expect while reducing environmental impact and logistical inefficiencies.
Our first venture under this new model is a partnership with Manhattan Coffee Roasters in the Netherlands. This collaboration is built on mutual respect, shared values, and a joint commitment to excellence. For over a year, we have worked closely with Manhattan Coffee Roasters, meticulously sourcing exceptional coffees, developing sophisticated roasting profiles, fine-tuning quality control protocols, and navigating the logistical complexities of international operations. The result is a unique roasting project that allows us to bring Onyx coffees to the European market in an entirely new way.
The high-end specialty coffee scene is tightly knit and interconnected. Over the years, we have observed many similarities between ourselves and Manhattan Coffee Roasters in terms of quality sourcing ethics, meticulous roasting, and stringent quality control standards. Co-Founder Ben Morrow is not only a friend but also a trusted coffee professional. Additionally, our Wholesale Director, Lance Hedrick, who resides in Portugal, plays a crucial role in steering this program towards the modern European coffee market.
This partnership initially focused on establishing and serving wholesale partnerships throughout the EU, but direct-to-consumer sales via onyxcoffeelab.com is now available. This leads to faster shipping times, fresher roast dates, and increasingly more seamless access to our most popular subscriptions and offerings.
The Onyx International Roasting Collective is more than just a business venture; it’s about redefining what’s possible in the coffee industry through collaboration and shared expertise. By partnering with like-minded, quality-focused roasters, we are not only expanding our reach but also enhancing our knowledge and capabilities in coffee making. Our long-standing commitment to “never settle for good enough” drives us forward, and we are excited to learn and grow to see this new model thrive.
This initiative embodies our belief that the coffee industry need not be laced with competition but can flourish through unity and collective growth. While this model will need to prove itself over time, we are confident in its potential to revolutionize the way we think about coffee partnerships.
In anticipation of this program’s success, we are already dreaming of what’s ahead. We are excited to extend the Onyx International Roasting Collective to other areas around the world as well and are slowly exploring future partnerships as we learn and grow. This initiative will further our mission of creating a more unified and collaborative specialty coffee industry, bridging the gap between different regions, and bringing exceptional coffee to more people around the world.
The Onyx International Roasting Collective is a bold new direction for Onyx Coffee Lab and the specialty coffee industry. It’s about sustainable growth, honoring the expertise and ownership of our partners, and fostering a collaborative spirit. Join us as we embark on this exciting new journey, bringing exceptional Onyx coffee to Europe and beyond.