Worka Chelbessa, Ethiopia

Highwire Coffee Roasters was founded in 2011 in the East Bay by Rich Avella, Eric Hashimoto, and Robert Myers, three friends who connected in the mid 1990s over shared values around coffee and community. The roastery operates out of Emeryville, California, with multiple cafés across Oakland, Alameda, Albany, and Walnut Creek. Highwire roasts and ships on the same day to ensure peak freshness, offering a range from light, bright single origins to deeper, chocolatey darker roasts. Sourcing prioritizes the freshest green coffees available in any given season, and the team builds direct relationships with producers who share their focus on quality and sustainability. The company describes its approach as approachable excellence, a philosophy that extends from the coffee itself to the neighborhood feel of each location.