ORANGE — Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. announced that its most recent B Corp recertification has earned the company a B Impact Score of 168.5, an increase of 57.9 points since its last certification in 2022. The new score places the Massachusetts-based, worker-owned coffee company as the highest scoring B Corp-certified coffee roaster in the world.

B Corp certification is widely recognized as the gold standard for companies committed to balancing purpose and profit. Administered by the nonprofit B Lab, the certification evaluates companies against rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Businesses are assessed across key areas, including governance, treatment of workers, environmental practices, and community impact.

Dean’s Beans is part of a global community of nearly 10,000 B Corps operating across more than 100 countries and 150 industries. Companies must earn a minimum score of 80 points to become certified. With a score of 168.5, Dean’s Beans lands in the top 25 B Corp companies certified since 2023.

For Dean’s Beans, the new score reflects a period of meaningful change. Since its last certification, the company transitioned to a worker-owned cooperative, giving employees shared ownership and a direct voice in how the company operates and grows.

“Our mission has always been to use specialty coffee as a vehicle for positive change,” CEO Beth Spong said. “Ensuring that we’re documenting all the ways we protect the environment improved our score, as did becoming a worker-owned cooperative – putting ownership in the hands of the people who roast, pack, and ship our coffee every day.”

Founded in 1993 by environmental and Indigenous rights lawyer Dean Cycon, Dean’s Beans was built on the idea that a coffee company could prioritize people and the planet and still be profitable. The company sources organic, fair-trade, shade-grown coffee through long-term partnerships with farmer cooperatives. It also helps fund social, economic, and environmental projects identified and led by those communities.

Dean’s Beans roasts all of its coffee at its ‘beanery’ in Orange, supplying cafés, grocery stores, and coffee drinkers across the U.S.

“Coffee brings people together,” the team stated. “Our goal is to make sure Dean’s Beans supports the people and communities who make it possible.”

ORANGE — Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. announced that its CEO, Beth Spong, has been appointed to serve on the board of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), a global organization dedicated to empowering women in the coffee industry, fostering gender equality, and promoting the inclusion of women at all levels of the coffee supply chain.

Now in its 20th year, IWCA is committed to creating an equitable coffee industry by empowering women in chapters serving 33 countries around the world through leadership development, strategic partnership, and amplified market visibility.

Spong brings a wealth of experience with nonprofit boards and a passion for promoting equity to her new role. Under her guidance, Dean’s Beans continues to be at the forefront of advocating for fair-trade practices, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility within the specialty coffee industry. As a board member, she will contribute her expertise to further IWCA’s mission and initiatives supporting women coffee farmers, exporters, importers, roasters, and entrepreneurs.

“IWCA is thrilled to welcome Beth to our board of directors,” said Sharon Riecher, IWCA board president. “Dean’s Beans has been a longtime supporter of IWCA, and Beth’s commitment to making a positive impact aligns perfectly with IWCA’s mission. Her insights and wealth of experience will be valuable in helping to guide IWCA toward achieving its goals.”

Added Spong, “it’s an honor to serve on the board of such an impactful organization. IWCA has a 20-year track record of empowering women in the international coffee community to achieve meaningful work and sustainable incomes. Providing leadership training, technical assistance, and support to 33 chapters across the globe makes a big difference. Dean’s Beans is 100% aligned with IWCA’s vision and goals.”