Vita started a line of Coffees for a Cause, donating $2 from every bag sold to non-profits like Seattle Foundation, Lambert House, FareStart, and more. Business Partnerships Caffè Vita partners with Easy Street Records, after whom it named its Easy Street Indo 30 coffee blend. The store's founder, Matt Vaughan, was Caffè Vita's first wholesale customer in 1995. In 2017, all Washington State Ferries began serving Caffè Vita coffee, and in 2019 the company began barrel-aging its coffee in partnership with Batch 206 Distillery. Three barrel-aged coffees have been released to date - with bourbon, rum, and gin. Sustainability Caffe Vita is a pioneer of the Farm Direct movement, meticulously sourcing coffee while developing long-term relationships with growers in more than 11 countries. The chain has served numerous Organic, Farm Direct, and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees. In 2009, Caffè Vita began collaborating with Woodland Park Zoo's Tree Kangaroo Project to develop the first-ever coffee from Papua New Guinea's Yopno Uruwa Som region made commercially available in the U.S., purchased directly from growers. The coffee was sold at all Seattle Caffe Vita locations and at Woodland Park Zoo ZooStores. A Zoo Special Reserve coffee was also offered, with a dollar from each purchased bag being donated to the Woodland Park Zoo. Change in Ownership Local restaurateur Deming Maclise — who had a minority stake in the company before — assumed control of the Caffé Vita company on January 1, 2020. Addressing a previous controversy over the McConnells' position on giving unsold food to the homeless, he emphasized that the company should "have a general welcoming policy to everyone." Maclise also indicated that the deal was unrelated to the controversy, having been in negotiation for about a year and a half. He suggested that the Caffé might change its food menus over time and seek more local businesses collaborations, both of which might involve his other restaurant properties. See also Coffee in Seattle List of coffee companies References External links Coffee companies of the United States Companies based in Seattle Food and drink companies established in 1995 Coffee in Seattle 1995 establishments in Washington (state)