From Bankruptcy To Dubai Auction: Frinj's California-Grown Coffee – CoffeeTalk

Frinj Coffee, a Goleta-based pioneer in California coffee cultivation, is making a comeback after facing challenges over the past two years, including bankruptcy due to lawsuits from employees and investors. The company, founded in 2017, is participating in the Dubai Coffee Auction on January 18 and 19, making history as the first California-grown coffee to compete in such an international event. Founder Jay Ruskey compares this opportunity to the “Bottle Shock moment” of California wines in the 1976 Judgement of Paris, emphasizing its significance for California agriculture and specialty coffee.

At the auction, Frinj will showcase a 20-kilogram sack of Traditional Washed Geisha from Ruskey’s Condor Ridge Ranch, competing with renowned estates like Panama’s Hacienda La Esmeralda, which set a record price of $30,204 per kilogram. Following a period of expansion that involved over 70 farms and processing beans at Ruskey’s ranch, Frinj encountered financial difficulties that necessitated a company reorganization. However, with the resolution of legal issues and new Series A funding, Frinj has moved its headquarters and processing to Ventura for greater operational efficiency.

Ruskey is enthusiastic about promoting California coffee on the global stage, sharing that he is quickly learning the intricacies of coffee auctions as he prepares for this pivotal event. He notes a transformation in the perception of California’s ability to produce high-quality coffee, stating that the region’s terroir now rivals that of traditional coffee-growing tropics, demonstrating significant advancements in specialty coffee cultivation.

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