Gorilla Coffee opened in Brooklyn in 2002, making it one of New York City's earliest independent specialty coffee roasters. The company seeks sweet, well balanced coffee that is interesting but has broad appeal, an approach that set it apart during an era when the city had almost no independent specialty coffee. Gorilla sources from Brazil, Sumatra, and Ethiopia, among other origins, working with specialty importers and paying close attention to processing methods, elevation, and varietal characteristics. The roastery has maintained a loyal local following for more than two decades through consistency and a refusal to chase trends.