Cartel Roasting Co. Partners With Little Bear Coffee For “Blends With Friends” Initiative

TEMPE, Ariz. — August 27, 2026 — Cartel Roasting Co. has partnered with Albuquerque-based Little Bear Coffee as part of its “Blends with Friends” initiative, a collaboration series celebrating independent coffee roasters, shared values, and the relationships that make specialty coffee communities thrive.

The collaborative blend is a 50/50 combination of washed Peru and natural Colombia coffees. The clean, bright sweetness of the Peru complements the wild, complex fruit tones of the Colombia, resulting in a well-rounded, full-bodied and sweet coffee with a touch of funk. The blend features tasting notes of red apple, lime, and baking spices.

Coffee lovers can purchase bags of the collaborative blend at all Little Bear Coffee retail locations in Albuquerque and at all Cartel Roasting Co. retail locations across Arizona, excluding the Sky Harbor location. In addition to coffee, custom t-shirts for the collaboration will also be available at participating locations. The collaboration will launch August 28th and will be available while supplies last.

Founded in 2018, Little Bear Coffee is a specialty coffee company and roaster serving fully traceable, ethically sourced, specialty-grade coffee in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company operates four cafés across the city.

The partnership grew from a shared commitment to working with independent coffee producers, taking pride in the roasting process, investing in local communities, and making specialty coffee fun and approachable. “The partnership started when we met Jacob Fox, owner of Little Bear, at World of Coffee Expo in San Diego back in April. We knew immediately this was the type of roaster we wanted to partner with,” said Sebastian Maconi, Green Buyer at Cartel Roasting Co.

Through “Blends with Friends,” Cartel collaborates with like-minded roasters to create coffees that reflect the distinct perspectives, communities, and values of each partner. The initiative highlights the ways independent coffee companies can work together to build connections and introduce customers to new coffees and roasting styles.

About Cartel Roasting Co
Founded in 2008 by Jason and Amy Silberschlag in Tempe, Arizona, Cartel Roasting Co. was built on the idea of fostering community through coffee. What began as a small roastery and café has since grown into 13 locations across Arizona and California, each rooted in craftsmanship, transparency, and connection.

From sourcing green coffee to roasting and brewing, Cartel’s passionate team of coffee enthusiasts continues to refine its craft while sharing it with the communities it serves. Cartel uniquely engages its community through fundraising via a StartEngine campaign, which invites coffee lovers and loyal customers to invest and become equity shareholders.
Cartel intentionally places coffee quality, transparency, and the challenge of being better than today at the top of its priority list. The company offers a wide variety of coffee choices to satisfy every type of coffee drinker. Filter coffees like the Ethiopian Sidamo, which recently won Bronze in the Global Coffee Awards, and the Barista’s Choice Single Origin daily drip, which is handpicked by each barista, highlight Cartel’s dedication to exceptional coffee in every cup.
Cartel also uses NuMilk to make its oat and cashew milk in-house without non-recyclable packaging. The Cartel experience can also be enjoyed at home through a curated selection of whole-bean coffees highlighting unique origins, flavor profiles, and roasting styles.

Options include Blend-Forty Eight, another Global Coffee Awards winner, with a rich chocolate and berry profile; Kenya Kiangoi AA, with notes of Meyer Lemon, Lime Zest, Kumquat, Butterscotch; and the Give Back Blend, which donates 10% of total sales to local nonprofits.

Cartel Cold Brew is available in select Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Upward Projects stores, as well as at cafés and restaurants across the West, including Postino Wine Bar. Guided by a belief that coffee can inspire positive change, Cartel strives to create a more equitable world where individuality is celebrated and meaningful connections thrive.
For more information, visit www.cartelroasting.co or follow @cartelroastingco.

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