Coffee connoisseurs in the San Francisco Bay area often source their favorite brews from a famed local roaster called Mr. Espresso. The company, which opened in 1978 selling Italian espresso machines to restaurants and cafés, has supplied gourmet coffee, including espresso blends, since 1982.

The family-run business, founded in Oakland by Carlo Di Ruocco, promotes traditional Italian coffee making through the artisanal nature of its operations. One example is an innovative oak wood fire roasting technique that releases robust coffee flavor.