When Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti met at a grunge concert in Seattle in the 1980s, their unlikely friendship would eventually revolutionize American coffee culture. Founded in 1994 in a third-floor walk-up on 21st and Spruce Street in Philadelphia, La Colombe emerged from 100 bowls of coffee roasted on a gas stove—a relentless pursuit of the perfect espresso that would become their signature Nizza blend. Their roasting philosophy centers on what Carmichael calls "the European secret," learned during years living on a sailboat in Antibes, France, where he wrote the business plan while taking odd jobs to survive. From establishing the Haiti Coffee Academy in 2013 following the devastating earthquake to partnering with the ACLU and National Parks Foundation, they've woven social responsibility into their operations while maintaining direct relationships with farmers.