Roaster · Los Angeles, CA
On YouTube
About the roasterInterview
Talks at Google · 3.6K views on YouTube
Watch on YouTubeCherrybook summary of the video
Colby Barr, co-founder of Verve Coffee Roasters, discusses his journey from growing up on a family farm to starting his own coffee business. He highlights the importance of quality and the influence of his early experiences in the coffee industry, including his time in Santa Cruz and his early relationship with Google as a client.
From Talks at Google:
“Our 1950 blend in fact that we sell, one of our most popular selling blends, was named after the 1950 building at Google.”
“I think it definitely instilled to me these kind of core values that there's something out there that exists for doing great work in food and that there was an opportunity there.”
Explore the videos
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20 lots in stock, mostly Ethiopia, Honduras and Colombia.
Coverage is below 50%. Available roaster-level evidence comes from Reddit. Per-lot evidence from SCA grades, Coffee Review entries, and public on-shop product ratings is limited across the catalog. With limited signal, scores are also pulled toward a neutral 50 baseline by the Cherrybook Index methodology, so lots can read flatter than the actual cup quality differences between them. The average Cherrybook Index therefore leans more heavily on roaster-level reputation than per-lot quality.
Roaster signals
Apply to every lot from this roaster.
Per-lot signals (averaged)
Vary across lots; averaged over 20 in-stock lots.
Bonuses earned (per lot)
Base components are renormalized over whatever signals are available for each lot. SCA + Coffee Review are capped at 40% combined to keep the cupping story from dominating. Bonuses (accolades, awards, editorial coverage) and freshness decay are applied on top.
The catalog
Expect Rainier Cherry, Watermelon, and Jasmine from this anaerobic washed lot.
Boquete, PA · Anaerobic Washed
Typical $10.20 to $16.34/oz
Natural lot with Yellow Plum, Honeysuckle, and White White Tea in the cup.
Boquete, PA · Natural
Typical $8.55 to $13.68/oz
Broad comparison
Expect Yellow Plum, Rainier Cherry, and Orange Wine from this natural lot.
Fraijanes, GT · Natural
Typical $2.22 to $3.55/oz
Typical $1.98 to $3.17/oz
Expect Tangerine, Honey, and Vanilla Custard from this washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Typical $1.83 to $2.93/oz
Broad comparison
Typical $2.07 to $3.32/oz
Broad comparison
Washed lot with Fig, Yellow Peach, and Brown Butter in the cup.
Limu, ET · Washed
Typical $1.92 to $3.07/oz
Typical $1.98 to $3.17/oz
Expect Red Apple, Milk Chocolate, and Candied Orange from this washed lot.
Tolima, CO · Washed
Typical $1.86 to $2.98/oz
Washed lot with Jasmine, Toffee, and Lemon Custard in the cup.
Yirgacheffe, ET · Washed
Typical $1.92 to $3.07/oz
Natural lot with Pineberry, Golden Raisin, and Molasses in the cup.
Huila, CO · Natural
Typical $2.17 to $3.48/oz
Washed lot with Star Fruit, Meyer Lemon, and Black Tea in the cup.
Jimma, ET · Washed
Typical $1.63 to $2.61/oz
Broad comparison
Taste data is still sparse; open the detail page before judging this lot.
Typical $1.36 to $2.59/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.40 to $2.68/oz
Limited comparison
Typical $1.61 to $3.08/oz
Typical $1.51 to $2.88/oz
Limited comparison
Think Honeydew, Apricot, and Hazelnut.
Typical $1.36 to $2.59/oz
Limited comparison
Roaster flags Blueberry Pie, Cocoa, and Candied Pecan in the cup.
Typical $1.57 to $2.99/oz
Limited comparison
Roaster flags Molasses, Dark Chocolate, and Fig in the cup.
Typical $1.45 to $2.76/oz
Think Clementine, Red Apple, and Honeycomb.
Typical $1.57 to $2.99/oz
Limited comparison
Also available · subscriptions, sample packs, gear
Taste data is still sparse; open the detail page before judging this lot.
Not much signal yet; the detail page has what we know.
Not much signal yet; the detail page has what we know.
Washed lot with Molasses, Dark Chocolate, and Fig in the cup.
Colombia · Washed
Expect Chocolate, Red Apple, and Maple from this washed lot.
Colombia · Washed
Washed lot with Chocolate, Red Apple, and Maple in the cup.
Colombia · Washed
Expect Almond, Honey, and Cola from this swiss water processed lot.
Swiss Water Processed
Cupping notes point toward Jasmine, Toffee, and Lemon Custard.
Yirgacheffe, ET
Think Red Apple, Milk Chocolate, and Candied Orange.
Tolima, CO
Expect Clementine, Red Apple, and Honeycomb from this washed lot.
Washed
Think Red Apple, Milk Chocolate, and Candied Orange.
Tolima, CO
Cupping notes point toward Clementine, Red Apple, and Honeycomb.
Washed lot with Pineapple, Strawberry, and Milk Chocolate in the cup.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Experimental lot with Purple Plum, Lilac, and Grape Soda in the cup.
Quindio, CO · Experimental
Expect Peach, Vanilla, and Orange Wine from this anaerobic natural lot.
Tarrazú, CR · Anaerobic Natural
Hibiscus, Yellow Plum, and Dried Cranberry on a washed lot.
Huila, CO · Washed
Anaerobic Natural lot with Mango, Black Currant, and Pineapple in the cup.
Nyeri, KE · Anaerobic Natural
Expect Strawberry, Lemon Custard, and Blackberry from this white honey lot.
Tarrazú, CR · White Honey
Expect Clementine, Honey, and Grilled Pineapple from this washed lot.
Chikmagalur, IN · Washed
Experimental lot with White Grape, Plum, and Natural Wine in the cup.
West Valley, CR · Experimental
Expect Mango, Lemongrass, and Cane Sugar from this washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Natural lot with Apricot, Cherry, and Dark Chocolate in the cup.
Nariño, CO · Natural
Expect Tangerine, Pomegranate, and Lemonade from this washed lot.
Tarrazú, CR · Washed
Washed lot with Red Apple, Baking Spices, and Brown Sugar in the cup.
Antigua, GT · Washed
Red Apple, Raw Honey, and Milk Chocolate on a yellow honey lot.
Tarraz\u00fa, CR · Yellow Honey
Cherry, Persimmon, and Lemongrass on an anaerobic natural lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Anaerobic Natural
Expect Tangerine, Lemongrass, and Raw Sugar from this washed lot.
Chalatenango, SV · Washed
Expect Apricot, Sweet Cream, and White Peach from this washed lot.
Guji, ET · Washed
Blood Orange, White Peach, and Juniper on a natural lot.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Peach, Cranberry, and White Tea on a washed lot.
Santa Barbara, HN · Washed
Black Cherry, Hazelnut, and Dark Chocolate on a washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Expect Plum, Orange, and Cane Sugar from this washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Honey lot with Plum, Lychee, and Pink Lemonade in the cup.
Santa Barbara, HN · Honey
White Honey lot with Peach, Meyer Lemon, and Brown Sugar in the cup.
Tarrazú, CR · White Honey
Key Lime, Honey, and Red Apple on an anaerobic washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Anaerobic Washed
Anaerobic Natural lot with Key Lime, Raspberry, and Cane Sugar in the cup.
Sidamo, ET · Anaerobic Natural
Washed lot with Passion Fruit, Melon, and Raspberry Leaf in the cup.
Copán, HN · Washed
Green Apple, Nectarine, and Simple Syrup on a white honey lot.
Tarrazú, CR · White Honey
Tangerine, Toffee, and Dark Chocolate on a honey lot.
Tarraz\u00fa, CR · Honey
Natural lot with Watermelon, Cranberry, and Caramel in the cup.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Natural
Washed lot with Grilled Pineapple, Nectarine, and Simple Syrup in the cup.
Embu, KE · Washed
Plum, Green Apple, and Cane Sugar on a washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Orange, Green Apple, and Candied Walnut on a washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
White Honey lot with Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, and Toasted Coconut in the cup.
Tarrazú, CR · White Honey
Expect Lychee, Pomegranate, and Vanilla Custard from this natural lot.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Washed lot with Blood Orange, Melon, and Dark Chocolate in the cup.
Guji, ET · Washed
Pineapple, Strawberry, and Sweet Cream on a natural lot.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Blackberry, Grapefruit, and Baking Chocolate on a washed lot.
Santa Barbara, HN · Washed
Natural lot with Plum, Pineapple, and Sweet Cream in the cup.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Washed lot with Candied Orange, Nectarine, and Dark Chocolate in the cup.
Jimma, ET · Washed
Expect Green Apple, Plum, and Butterscotch from this white honey lot.
Tarrazú, CR · White Honey
Yellow Plum, Honey, and Candied Orange on a washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Pineapple, Lime Blossom, and Oolong Tea on a honey lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Honey
Expect Cherry, Vanilla Custard, and Honeysuckle from this washed lot.
Yirgacheffe, ET · Washed
Natural lot with Tangerine, Hibiscus, and Pink Guava in the cup.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Natural
Washed lot with Raspberry, Peach, and Grapefruit in the cup.
Huila, CO · Washed
Natural lot with Plum, Nectarine, and Black Tea in the cup.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Expect Meyer Lemon, Honeydew, and Raw Sugar from this washed lot.
Kirinyaga, KE · Washed
Natural lot with Strawberry, Cherry, and Vanilla Custard in the cup.
Guji, ET · Natural
Natural lot with Pineapple, Pomegranate, and Pink Lemonade in the cup.
Nariño, CO · Natural
Expect Red Apple, Peach, and Toffee from this washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Expect Apricot, Oolong Tea, and Orange Blossom from this washed lot.
Jimma, ET · Washed
Expect Floral and Herbal from this anaerobic washed lot.
Huila, CO · Anaerobic Washed
Expect Meyer Lemon, Yellow Peach, and Black Tea from this washed lot.
Sidama, ET · Washed
Expect Grapefruit, Nectarine, and Fudge from this washed lot.
Antioquia, CO · Washed
Red Apple, Yellow Peach, and Dark Chocolate on a washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Natural lot with Strawberry, White Tea, and Apricot in the cup.
Sidamo, ET · Natural
Expect Blood Orange, Rainier Cherry, and White Tea from this washed lot.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Expect Nectarine, Pomegranate, and Candied Lemon from this natural lot.
Guji, ET · Natural
Washed lot with Yellow Apple, Kumquat, and Cacao in the cup.
Santa Bárbara, HN · Washed
Cherry Cola, Orange, and Caramel on a washed lot.
Huehuetenango, GT · Washed
Washed lot with Honeycrisp Apple, Meyer Lemon, and Raw Sugar in the cup.
San Antonio La Paz, GT · Washed
Natural lot with Blackberry, Hibiscus, and Yellow Peach in the cup.
Gedeb, ET · Natural
Washed lot with Raisin, Candied Hazelnut, and Milk Chocolate in the cup.
Guanacaste, CR · Washed
Anaerobic Washed lot with Orange Zest, Sugar Cane, and Watermelon in the cup.
Mexico · Anaerobic Washed
Community reputation · Reddit
Cult favorite· sentiment 93/100
Two Reddit posters strongly praise Verve. One names it among favorite high-quality roasters; another calls Verve 1950 an absolute favorite and says all sampled Verve coffees outperformed the poster's home roasts.
I have really started enjoying great coffee over the last year and want to try home roasting. My favorite roasters are Heart, Verve, Intelligentsia, George Howell, Culture, and whoever roasts for Kaffee 1668. Couple of questions: 1. How much quality is sacrificed roasting at home versus what is possible using a large c
...ted burnt/baked with less clarity 2.5/5. https://s4.postimg.org/fc27lwznx/El_Salv_Tashi_Washed_2.jpg During my tasting at the shop, I was lucky to meet Kevin from Verve coffee, and he cupped along with my samples. We cupped 3 Verve coffees. My absolute favorite of the bunch is their 1950. All of the verve coffees we
Flagship cafe
Los Angeles Arts District
500 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, CA
Open in maps →Flagship of 13 Verve cafes across California and Japan.
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