Founded by James Freeman in the early 2000s in Oakland's Temescal District, Blue Bottle began when the former clarinetist started roasting coffee in a 186-square-foot converted potting shed, gradually building a cult following for his meticulously crafted single-origin coffees. In 2017, Nestlé acquired a 68% majority stake in the company in a deal valuing Blue Bottle at over $700 million, though the brand maintains its focus on quality and craft coffee culture.