There's a New Brew in Town

RAKO Coffee Roasters, the DMV’s new women-owned specialty coffee collective

Melissa and Lisa Gerben, founders of RAKO Coffee

By Annalise Morrone | From the Edible DC Summer Issue

A family trip to Guatemala sparked an interest in the complex world of coffee for the sisters behind RAKO Coffee Roasters, Lisa and Melissa Gerben. A few careers later and with a deep interest in crafting the best-possible cup of coffee, the sisters decided the time was right to launch their passion project.

RAKO Coffee Roasters has been serving wholesale accounts since December 2019, including clients like Maketto and the Ethiopian Embassy, with plans to bring their coffee direct to consumers this spring and summer. As the COVID-19 pandemic widened its hold this spring, the sisters’ plan to open two cafés this summer was postponed. Instead, in April RAKO started an online store. Customers are now able to shop through an array of sustainably sourced, single-origin beans and browse specialized brew guides that the RAKO team created to help customers create great coffee in their own homes, using anything from a French press to a Chemex. 

What sets them apart from other coffee roasters in the region? Lisa Gerben says, “It’s our focus on delivering a quality product alongside advanced brewing methods, tailored specifically to the types of coffee that we roast.” Whether on their website or, eventually, when their brick-and-mortar shops come to life, the Gerben sisters also view their platform as an opportunity to educate those who want to know more about the backstory of coffee, beyond the cup.

Sustainability is also a primary part of their business model. Lisa Gerben has an extensive background in international trade, expertise that guided the RAKO team in being able to create direct, long-standing relationships with coffee farmers in the regions from which they source. They also pay special attention to their production process, utilizing roasting methods that require 80% less fuel and emit almost no greenhouse gasses.

At the onset of the pandemic, RAKO partnered with Erik Bruner-Yang’s Power of 10 Initiative, donating 10% of every sale to support the re-employment of restaurant industry workers and provide meals to community members and first responders. Alongside this local crowdfunding initiative, RAKO donates a portion of its proceeds to the International Women’s Coffee Alliance. 

To shop online for RAKO Coffee, go to rakocoffee.com.