Wolf coffee was founded in 1990 when Rick and Jeanne Mariani left their family prune farm to bring artisanally roasted coffee to the homes and restaurants of Sonoma County. At the time, Folgers dominated the coffee pots in most homes and offices, and the coffee served at your local breakfast spot had been sitting in a pot for hours. Ultimately, Folgers wasn't the best part of waking up for anyone in the area, so Rick and Jeanne found a solution.
The Marianis joined forces with Sal Bonavita (Peet’s Coffee), combining their experiences to create a specialty coffee roaster based in Sonoma County. They called it Wolf Coffee to signify the family values they wanted the company to embody, and the community aspect of enjoying good food and drink.
During the ‘90s and early ‘00s, Wolf Coffee grew to serve their specialty blends in nine retail shops throughout Sonoma County, built a roasting facility, and brought on a group of employees they treated like family.
Things changed in 2008 when corporate coffee shops infiltrated Sonoma County, and the recession hit. Wolf Coffee made the difficult decision to close the retail locations. However, they placed their efforts in their roasting facility, allowing them to continue providing specialty coffees to restaurants, offices, and loyal customers across the nation.
In 2018, the Mariani family sought to pass their beloved business to another local family dedicated to preserving its legacy. Nick, with a passion for coffee and a vision for the future, stepped away from his corporate career to take the helm. After reinvigorating the roasting facility and process, Nick worked hard to rebuild this cherished local brand. At Wolf Coffee, the experience is about more than just passionate people roasting top-quality beans in small batches. It’s about trusting Wolf to take care of the details so you can relax.
Nick grew up in New York, cooking and eating good food with his Italian family, which sparked a passion for extraordinary food and drink. Therefore, when the opportunity came, he packed his suits away to bring gourmet coffee to people who enjoy a good cup. He’s a details guy, so whether he’s perfecting a roast, maintaining equipment, adopting sustainable business practices, or interacting with customers, Nick’s on it.
