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From Clarinet to Coffee
- James Freeman, Blue Bottle's founder, was a clarinetist before roasting coffee in his oven.
- This hobby led to Blue Bottle's meticulous, Japanese-inspired coffee focus.
The Anti-Starbucks
- Blue Bottle's cafes are minimalist, lacking Wi-Fi and power outlets, emphasizing the coffee itself.
- Their uniquely sized ceramic cups exemplify this focus, rejecting to-go culture.
Early Funding and Notable Investors
- Blue Bottle secured early venture funding, including a $5M round from Chris Sacca.
- Later, a $20M round included investments from Index Ventures, Google Ventures, and even Tony Hawk.