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James Freeman
Strategic Advisor and Founder of Blue Bottle Coffee
James Freeman is the founder of Blue Bottle Coffee, a company he started in 2002 after leaving his career as a freelance clarinetist. His initial roastery was a small converted potting shed in Oakland, California. Blue Bottle Coffee has since grown into a prominent network of cafes and roasteries across the United States and Asia, and was majority-owned by Nestlé starting in 2017.13
Freeman's background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Master's degree in Clarinet Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Before founding Blue Bottle Coffee, he worked as a freelance musician and music analyst.2 His passion for coffee began in his childhood and was influenced by his experiences as a musician traveling across Northern California.1
In addition to his work with Blue Bottle Coffee, Freeman has been recognized as one of Fast Company magazine’s 100 most creative people in business and was named "Coffee Professional of the Year" by Imbibe Magazine.3 He continues to innovate in the coffee industry, recently launching high-end coffee tasting experiences such as the Blue Bottle Studio pop-up.4
