The Beginning

La Terza Coffee was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio with a simple conviction: exceptional coffee and ethical business practices aren't competing priorities—they're inseparable.

What began as a small specialty roasterie has grown into a company serving coffee shops and restaurants throughout Southwest Ohio, built on relationships with producers who share our commitment to quality and fair treatment of workers.

A Different Kind of Coffee Company

In 2013, David Gaines became owner of La Terza after years of consulting with the company and recognizing its potential to do something most businesses don't: make a genuine impact while building a sustainable enterprise.

The coffee industry is fraught with injustice. Most of the world's coffee is grown in developing countries where farmers and workers have little negotiating power and few protections. La Terza was founded as one of a small percentage of companies committed to operating differently—paying fair prices, building real relationships with producers, and proving that profitability and positive impact can go hand in hand.

That philosophy extends to every aspect of how the company operates: how we treat our team, how we work with the shops and restaurants we serve, how we engage with fellow roasters, and how we think about our environmental footprint.

The Meaning Behind Our Name

"La Terza" means "the third" in Italian—a nod to Italy's contribution of espresso and an embrace of the "third place," those welcoming spaces between home and work where community happens.

We believe the world needs more of these spaces. Coffee shops have always served as community gathering places, and in a time of division, they remind us that conversation and connection across differences are still possible.

Learn more about the Third Place

Radical Business

In 2023, David published Radical Business: The Root of Your Work and How It Can Change the World, drawing on his experience at La Terza and beyond.

The book introduces the Seven Seeds framework—seven stakeholder groups that every business touches:

  1. Supply Chain — Behind every product is a story
  2. Employees & Team — Successful brands are built by happy teams
  3. Customers — What does ethical marketing look like?
  4. Community — Fostering healthy interdependence
  5. Competitors — A rising tide lifts all boats
  6. Environment — Rethinking the costs and benefits of going green
  7. Self — True sustainability requires self-care

At its core, Radical Business makes the case for shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance—from win-lose to win-win. The book serves as both the philosophy behind La Terza and a practical guide for anyone who believes business can be a force for good.

Read Radical Business

David is currently completing a second book, Radical Consumerism, which applies the Seven Seeds framework to the other side of the equation: how consumers can use their purchasing power to support the kind of economy we all want to live in.

2001

Our beginning

Started our journey with a passion for quality coffee.
2005

First expansion

Opened our second location and expanded our roasting capacity.
2010

Award winning

Received our first national award for coffee excellence.
2015

Going sustainable

Committed to 100% sustainable and ethically sourced beans.
2020

National presence

Expanded to serve customers across the entire country.