Durham Coffee Roaster Little Waves Wins International Award | Eater Carolinas

"A Durham-based micro roastery and subscription-driven coffee business that won Roast Magazine’s 2022 Micro Roaster of the Year for both product quality and a values-driven approach. Primarily Latina-owned and led by Areli Barrera Grodski, the operation emphasizes sustainability, equitable pay across the supply chain, and active community giving. Roasting out of a Lakewood neighborhood location, it produces roughly 60,000 pounds of coffee annually for the owner’s cafes, wholesale accounts, and a growing nationwide subscription base that expanded during the pandemic and helped the business avoid layoffs. Signature efforts include a 2020 dark roast called “Royal 7,” named for the seven locals who led the Royal Ice Cream Parlor sit-ins, with a portion of proceeds funding Feed Durham; leadership aims to scale past 100,000 pounds to enter the macro category and re-compete at a higher level." - Eric Ginsburg