Challengers & Icons Podcast Series

Jonathan Ford, Designer and Founding Creative Partner of Pearlfisher, speaks to the people behind the brands of the future who understand the need to harness creativity, design and bold ideas to create success. Here Jonathan speaks to James Freeman, the Founder of Blue Bottle Coffee Company. Though he started his career as a classical clarinetist, James capitalized on his love for coffee in 2002 when he started Blue Bottle Coffee Company. Founded with the mission of sharing great coffee made with organic, shade grown, pesticide-free beans roasted no longer than 48 hours prior, Blue Bottle sets the precedent for flavorful, thoughtful coffee. Now, one of the country’s leading artisan roasters, Blue Bottle boasts multiple cafes in both San Francisco and New York. James’ dedication and passion for the craft of coffee brewing has established Blue Bottle not only as a champion of the coffee world, but also an icon for artisan businesses striving to make change in a competitive marketplace.