Verve at Yahoo!

Verve at Yahoo!

Adding to the already impressive arsenal of possibilities at Yahoo!, the ever progressive Bon AppĂŠtit team has taken a revolutionary step forward once again.

A new partnership with Verve Coffee Roasters brings forth a giant leap towards the goal of continued sustainable, community-friendly services.

Verve, located in Santa Cruz, CA, is one of pioneering labels for not only delicious coffee beverages, but supreme customer service and care in all aspects of their business.

Their business conducts most buying of coffee beans directly with farmers around the world to ensure fair and just trade and treatment of farmers and their products.

Their employees travel 6 months of the year exploring the world finding the best coffee for their guests.

Our Partnership

It’s not hard to see why we partnered with Verve to bring Yahoo! fresh delicious coffee.

Not only are their beverages worth a thousand words, their business principles closely align with those of Bon Appétit.

Similar to our goals of sustainability and superior customer service, Verve also fights to be the “seekers of truth” in providing the best and most honest coffee on the market.

Barista Training To ensure that all the baristas are trained to provide the coffee drinks that Verve prides itself on, each employee has received one on one instruction with Verve team members at 6 training sessions held on the Yahoo! campus.

Barista Tour Additionally, team members went on an adventure-filled field trip to the headquarters of Verve Coffee Roasters in Santa Cruz. At the headquarters the employees experienced an Informative tutorial of how Verve buys coffee, sources it and seeks the truth about the coffee industry.

Barista Tour

Mastering the Verve process is important so we can educate Yahoo! guests about the process behind their coffee. The team also learned the process of roasting coffee beans; from raw to perfectly roasted.

cupping

The baristas-in-training learned about the art of “cupping�, a coffee-specific way of consuming drinks in order to properly taste and feel the differences between different beans. They trained their taste buds to experience a multitude of flavors and textures.

latte art

Another technique the baristas learned about was the art of latte designs. For Verve, the appearance and design of the coffee is just as important as the drink itself. No one wants to serve a product without a polished final appearance, and a coffee drink is no different. Using special techniques for pouring the steamed milk, the baristas ensure that the coffee looks just as beautiful as it tastes.

Team Members

Sean White

Coffee Manager at Yahoo!

As long as Sean can remember he's been curious about coffee. So when he started working as a barista in 2004 he was hungry for knowledge about every part of the process - from seed to cup. That hunger lead him out of the cafe and into the roasting world.

In 2007 Sean moved to Santa Cruz to help open Verve Coffee Roasters. He wore many hats in the organization, most notably, Head Roaster. After leaving Verve to explore other areas, Sean moved to Portland, Oregon and roasted for Heart Coffee. The Portland weather and family ties eventually brought him back to the Bay Area. Now, Bon AppĂŠtit has brought him back to Verve.

Verve Team Members Amy Dankser

Business Development Manager Amy Dansker cultivated a love of food and beverage when she began working in fine dining as a beverage program director after graduating from USCS. Amy joined Verve Coffee Roasters in 2012, where she discovered the many similarities between specialty coffee and wine and spirits. As the Business Development Manager at Verve, Amy gets to expand and share her knowledge daily with people who share her passion for culinary experience.

Chris Baca

Head of Business Development Chris Baca has had a passion for education his entire adult life. Originally planning on being a history teacher, he changed his course when he got his first coffee job in 2001. As Head of Business Development for Verve Coffee Roasters, he uses his educational drive to share his love and knowledge of coffee with others.

Chris is a Regional Barista, Brewer's Cup, and Latte Art Champion, and is a threetime United States Barista Championship finalist.

Colby Barr Co-Founder

Colby Barr grew up farming in Northern California, where he learned the relationships between farmers, processors, buyers, and consumers. With Colby’s love of coffee and travel, and his experience in farming and supply chain management, he naturally took on the position of Green Coffee Buyer for Verve Roasters, which he founded with partner Ryan O’Donovan in 2007. In this role, he travels the globe to discover and develop the finest coffees in the world, while co-managing the company and its direction.

Ryan O’Donovan Co-Founder

Ryan O'Donovan discovered a natural affinity for coffee and customer service when he began working at local cafes during college in Chico, California. He expanded his education and obsession in the Pacific Northwest, working with some of the best roasters in the country and sample roasting at home to develop new and interesting coffees. As cofounder of Verve Coffee Roasters, Ryan leads product innovation and works alongside Colby to drive company culture and brand direction.

Welcome Verve Coffee Roasters to the Bon AppĂŠtit Family!