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Our Story

Bear Lake Coffee Co. is a Certified B Corporation and fourth-wave roastery & coffeehouse rooted in the Northwoods of Wisconsin — working with coffee farms around the world to build a better system, one relationship and one cup at a time. We source and roast exceptional, exploitation-free coffee with partners who formally align with our Five Sourcing Principles: Full Traceability, Living-Income Pricing, Zero Deforestation, No Forced or Child Labor, and Long-Term Partnerships.

Third-party verified, bean to business. B Lab verifies our practices as a Certified B Corporation. Licensed Q Graders verify our coffee — at origin and at the roastery — ensuring every lot meets the highest standards for quality and transparency.

Quality and responsibility belong in the same cup. That's Coffee with a Purpose®.

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Bear Lake Team

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Gabe Damiani

Founder & Head Roaster

Gabe Damiani is an entrepreneur and visionary committed to a better tomorrow, with over two decades immersed in coffeehouses worldwide. As a Licensed Q Grader, CVA Certified Cupper, and SCA Roasting Professional, his expertise extends beyond building a business—it’s about crafting a blueprint for positive impact on humanity and the planet. Through Bear Lake Coffee, Gabe has created more than a coffeehouse and roastery; he has built a beacon of hope that demonstrates how even from the most remote corners of the world, meaningful change can be made.

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Carmen Wenger

Production Roaster

Carmen is a devoted coffee connoisseur who believes specialty coffee is far more than a beverage—it’s a bridge between people, cultures, and ideas. With a lifelong passion for the craft, she approaches every aspect of roasting with purpose, curiosity, and care. Her work is rooted in the belief that coffee can inspire connection and create positive change, from the farms where it’s grown to the communities where it’s shared. Through dedication to quality, sustainability, and authenticity, Carmen strives to craft coffee that not only tastes exceptional but also uplifts everyone it touches.

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Katie Fischer

Café Manager

Katie is the creative heart behind the food at Bear Lake Coffee! She’s the one dreaming up the delicious dishes that pair perfectly with your favorite Bear Lake beverage. From fresh breakfast bites to cozy lunch specials, Katie keeps our menu full of flavor and variety—sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible to ensure every plate is as fresh as it is flavorful. When she’s not in the kitchen and cafe, you’ll likely find Katie in her garden, exploring the great outdoors, or curled up with a good book.

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Zach Beinlich

Bean Ambassador

Zach is our bean ambassador, hoping to bring the best coffee in the world to as many people as possible. After touring the country in bands for the last ten years, searching every city in the country for the best coffee shop and most delicious cup of coffee, he ended up in Barronett at Bear Lake Coffee! Zach’s hopes to bring Bear Lake’s mission to as many people as possible: that we can drink the best cup of coffee in the world while also choosing a system that honors the earth, the people farming the coffee, and the people drinking it!

Our Timeline So Far…

2022

We began roasting and delivering coffee from Atlanta, GA, operating exclusively online. That year, we acquired our future Barronett, WI, coffeehouse site—a historic general store—and partnered with UW–Madison students on a study to shape our northwest Wisconsin launch strategy.

2023

We worked with local artisans to restore and build a distinctive fourth-wave coffeehouse and roastery in Barronett. Designed as a renewable-energy powered “third place,” it was created to serve as a welcoming gathering spot for the community.

2024

We proudly became Wisconsin’s 24th Certified B Corporation — a milestone that underscores our commitment to a triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. Soon after, we opened the doors to our first coffeehouse and roastery in Barronett, creating a warm, welcoming space where patrons can connect, relax, and recharge.

2025

We tripled our online revenue. We grew our community. We also launched our Proudly Serving program. We became a Licensed Q Grader and SCA Professional-trained roasting operation. With 30+ coffees scoring 93+ on Coffee Review, we earned nine medals at Golden Bean Americas.

Blog posts

We Joined the B Corp Coffee Coalition — Here's Why It Matters

Bear Lake Coffee has officially joined the B Corp Coffee Coalition — a global network of 40+ Certified B Corps tackling the systemic challenges no single roast…Bear Lake Coffee has officially joined the B Corp Coffee Coalition — a global network of 40+ Certified B Corps tackling the systemic challenges no single roaster can solve alone. As one of only three US-based roasters in the group, we're joining the "From Poverty to Prosperity" working group and heading to the World of Coffee in Brussels this month. Here's why it matters.

Ripples to Waves: Why Bear Lake Coffee Chose the B Corp Path

Bear Lake is a Certified B Corp because profit, people, and planet all matter. Building a better coffee system means being accountable at every level.

Coffee with a Purpose®: Building a Better System for Coffee

Every cup connects us to a global system that too often hides a bitter truth. In 2026, every Bear Lake supplier has formally committed to our Five Sourcing Principles — because true quality respects the people who grow it.
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