A Profile on Frinj Coffee

The agricultural industry of California is one of the strongest in the United States of America. While other states focus on more widely available commercial crops, like corn, California has instead opted to pursue more niche crops.

California farmers are the innovative type, dreaming of ways to bring some of the world's most specialized and treasured crops to the state. No one exemplifies this more than Jay Ruskey, the co-founder of Frinj, one of California's leading coffee producers.

The story of Frinj is one of enterprise, perseverance, and innovation, the key ingredients to a successful business at the frontier of a new industry.

Bringing Coffee to California

Various California farmers have attempted to bring the coffee crop to California, but the few who succeeded only ever managed to make small plantations. The difficulties faced in bringing this crop, content in tropical regions, to the Mediterranean-Esque climate of California proved too difficult for most farmers to take on.

That was until Ruskey tried his hand at the venture. An adventurous organic farmer not afraid of experimenting with new crops, Ruskey got the opportunity to nurture forty coffee plants and ran with it. He decided to blend these plants with his existing crops. He planted the coffee plants under his avocado trees, experimenting with their cohabitation.

This quickly proved successful, as the avocado plants provided just enough shade from their canopy to shelter the coffee plants from the unforgiving California heat. With that settled, the coffee plants were able to get as much water as they needed while sharing the irrigation supply of the avocado trees.

It takes several years for coffee plants to bear a viable yield, which Ruskey and his team spent researching and experimenting with their plants to see what benefited them. They soon settled on a robust growing system that helped support the coffee plants so that all were able to flourish in California.

But then, it was time to reap their rewards and move forward with a harvest. At this point, a new problem arose. Processing the coffee plants was an entirely different challenge that required even more research and expertise. Ruskey decided to call upon his more experienced colleagues and learn everything he possibly could about coffee production.

The story of Frinj is one of enterprise, perseverance, and innovation, the key ingredients to a successful business at the frontier of a new industry.

Perfecting California Coffee

As all coffee aficionados know, coffee processing dramatically influences the taste of the final product. Coffee production is more akin to artistry than the science typically seen in other agricultural work. Ruskey set out to experiment with this process and discover the unique method he would use to create Frinj's own roasts and blends.

He invited many experts in crop processing, particularly coffee processing, to help guide him on this journey. This intense research and rigorous testing allowed Frinj to develop and perfect their own coffee. When their products were introduced to the wider world, many who were unaware of the dedication of the company were shocked with the quality they presented.

In 2014, Ruskey offered up a sample of his work to the Coffee Review, who promptly ranked it 27th in the world. This caused a stir in the coffee community and allowed Frinj the opportunity to debut their brand to a larger audience. Among coffee aficionados who were willing to pay a bit more for high-end locally grown coffee, Frinj found its market.

With this support behind them, they began to explore the different flavors they could achieve. Throughout this period, they found flavors and blends that became their specialty.

Growing Frinj

Frinj soon teamed up with other local farmers to help expand their business and meet the growing demand for their coffee products. This partnership helped introduce the coffee crop to more California farmers and allowed Frinj to focus more on perfecting their products.

Sharing their techniques to help coffee crops grow in California's climate, farmers began incorporating coffee crops amongst their own avocado and other crop fields. While this happened, Frinj slowly but surely found their footing in the market and established themselves as California's premier coffee producers.

The Future of Frinj

Frinj is projected to continue its growth into the niche and high-end coffee market. In the future, as strains of coffee crop are developed to better tolerate the California environment, they may expand their operations into other coffee markets; however, their success has shown that this isn't the only way forward for them.

Actionable Takeaways

• Innovative ideas are born out of perseverance and diligent experimentation.
• Carving out a market often means finding a niche your business can excel in.
• The specialty coffee market in California is ripe, and Frinj is reaping the rewards of their early venture.