From a backyard garage to a cherished community roaster.
BREWCO started with Jamie Lee modifying a modest drum roaster in a small California garage. Driven by a simple realization—that most commercial coffee strips away the nuanced climate, soil, and craft of the farmer—every roast became an intentional study in heat application and bean density.
Today, joined by Head Roaster Alex Smith, our mission remains grounded: small micro-batches, direct farmer relationships, and absolute transparency from harvest cherry to morning brew.
"Brewing exceptional coffee isn't about rushing the flame; it's about listening to the first crack and honoring every hand that touched the cherry."
Jamie Lee & Alex Smith
Founder & Head Roaster • BREWCO
Roast Style
Micro-Batch Drum
Origin Focus
Single Estate & High-Altitude
Traceability
Farm-to-Cup Direct
Drum Roasted Daily
Archival Roast Drum #02Coffee City, CA
Milestones in Craft
Batch No. 01 in the Garage
Started with a rebuilt 5lb drum roaster and a curiosity for micro-lot origin profiles.
100% Direct-Trade Commitment
Established long-term partnerships paying 40% above fair-trade floor prices.
Community Roastery & Tasting Room
Roasting daily on Brewco Lane, sharing behind-the-scenes craft with every cup.
From backyard flame to craft roastery
Every blend we roast today carries the curiosity, failures, and breakthroughs of our earliest batches. Here is how BREWCO grew into a community home for specialty coffee.
The Garage Drum Experiment
Armed with a modified 1kg vintage sample drum in a tiny garage in Coffee City, Jamie and Alex roasted their first single-origin lots. Smoke, curiosity, and relentless batch testing set our standard.
Direct-Trade Ethos Founded
We cut out middlemen to partner directly with smallholder farming families across Huehuetenango and Yirgacheffe. Paying transparent quality premiums transformed our sourcing philosophy.
The Community Roastery Opens
We opened our dedicated production roastery on Brewco Lane. The space brought in custom cast-iron roasting machinery alongside an open tasting bar where neighbors gathered every morning.
Sensory Lab & Tasting Series
Expanded our doors to include public cupping sessions, barista masterclasses, and dedicated single-origin roast drops celebrating distinct seasonal harvests with coffee lovers across the country.
Taste the results of our journey
Explore our current seasonal single-origins and signature roasts crafted fresh on Brewco Lane.