Dunn Brothers Coffee
A Minnesota-founded American coffeehouse franchise distinguished by small-batch, in-store coffee roasting.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Dunn Brothers Coffee is an American coffeehouse franchise founded by brothers Ed and Dan Dunn in St. Paul, Minnesota, in December 1987. The business developed around a comparatively hands-on coffee model: rather than relying exclusively on centrally roasted and distributed beans, its traditional stores roast coffee on site, generally in small batches and often daily. This roasting approach is central to the brand's identity and supports the sale of freshly roasted whole beans alongside brewed coffee and espresso beverages. The founders established the first store at 1569 Grand Avenue in St. Paul after traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Minnesota in an old Dodge van while looking for an underserved market for a coffee business. To equip the shop, they obtained a refurbished 1950s Probat roaster from Cincinnati, Ohio. The business expanded beyond its original location with a second store in Uptown Minneapolis in 1991. The Grand Avenue store was temporarily the only operating location after a fire that year led to the original site being rebuilt. Although a coffee shop still operates at the Grand Avenue address under the Dunn Bros Coffee name, that location is not part of the Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise system. Dunn Brothers Coffee operates primarily through franchising, with many locations locally owned and operated. Its footprint is concentrated in the Upper Midwest and neighboring Great Plains states, especially Minnesota, where the brand has historically maintained its strongest presence. By the reference period in 2025 and 2026, the network included stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The chain's store-level roasting format typically supports a rotating selection of approximately 12 to 15 whole-bean varieties, although the selection can vary by location. The menu centers on roasted coffee, brewed coffee, espresso drinks, specialty beverages, whole beans, pastries, and light breakfast food such as sandwiches. The brand positions freshness, craft preparation, and neighborhood connection as differentiators within the competitive American coffeehouse market. It also works with sustainability and certification organizations, including Fair Trade USA and the Rainforest Alliance, in sourcing-related initiatives. In July 2022, Gala Capital Partners acquired Dunn Brothers Coffee. Gala Capital Partners also owns Cicis Pizza and Mooyah, placing Dunn Brothers within a broader portfolio of franchised restaurant concepts. The acquisition was followed by an increased emphasis on franchise development. Scott Harvey became president in July 2023 and oversaw efforts to expand the brand in existing Midwest and Great Plains markets while also considering growth beyond those territories. During his tenure, the company introduced a smaller-footprint store prototype with greater emphasis on drive-through service. In June 2025, Benjamin Anderson was named president, bringing experience from coffee, restaurant operations, and multi-state franchise expansion. Dunn Brothers therefore combines a regional identity and store-level roasting tradition with a modern franchise-growth strategy.
History
Dunn Brothers Coffee began in December 1987 when brothers Ed and Dan Dunn opened a coffee shop at 1569 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before establishing the business, the brothers traveled from Portland, Oregon, to Minnesota in an old Dodge van carrying their belongings. They believed the area offered an opportunity for a coffee business in a market that was not yet fully served. The first shop was built around a refurbished 1950s Probat coffee roaster obtained in Cincinnati, Ohio. Using that equipment, the founders developed the operating feature that would become most closely associated with Dunn Brothers: roasting coffee within the café rather than depending solely on a centralized roasting plant. The practice gave customers the opportunity to see or experience the roasting process and enabled stores to offer freshly roasted beans in relatively small batches. A second location opened in Uptown Minneapolis in 1991. That same year, a fire affected the Grand Avenue location, and the Uptown store temporarily became the company's only operating shop while the original site was rebuilt. The Grand Avenue address continued to operate as Dunn Bros Coffee, but it is separate from the Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise network. This distinction is important because the historic founding location and the later franchised brand are related by name and origin but are not identical business entities. The company subsequently developed as a regional franchise system. Its stores became concentrated in Minnesota and other Midwestern and Great Plains states, with locations primarily locally owned and operated. The franchise model allowed the brand to expand while preserving a neighborhood café format. Traditional stores generally roast coffee on site, often daily, and commonly carry a selection of roughly 12 to 15 whole-bean varieties. In addition to coffee beans and brewed coffee, the cafés sell espresso drinks, specialty beverages, pastries, and light breakfast items. Dunn Brothers has also connected its sourcing approach with sustainability and certification organizations, including Fair Trade USA and the Rainforest Alliance. These relationships support the brand's effort to present coffee as both a crafted product and a responsibly sourced agricultural commodity, although the available reference material does not provide a complete account of certification coverage across all products or stores. On July 25, 2022, Gala Capital Partners acquired Dunn Brothers Coffee. Gala's other franchised restaurant holdings include Cicis Pizza and Mooyah. The acquisition placed the coffee chain within a larger multi-brand franchise group and was followed by a renewed focus on franchise development. On July 10, 2023, Scott Harvey became president. His stated responsibilities included expanding the brand's footprint in existing Midwest and Great Plains markets and evaluating growth beyond those regions. The company also introduced a smaller store prototype intended to make drive-through operations more prominent and potentially improve flexibility for new franchise sites. In June 2025, Benjamin Anderson was named president. Anderson brought more than 25 years of food-and-beverage experience, including leadership at Pentex Restaurant Group, operational work at Caribou Coffee, involvement with Caribou's cabin drive-through concept, and management experience with Jamba Juice locations. As of the reference period, Dunn Brothers remained an active private franchise company with locations in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Its strategic challenge is to expand a distinctive in-store-roasting identity while adapting store formats and service channels to the convenience expectations of the contemporary coffee market.
- 2025
Benjamin Anderson becomes president
[1]Benjamin Anderson succeeded Scott Harvey as president, bringing extensive experience in coffee and franchised restaurant operations.
- 2023
Franchise-development and store-format initiative
[1]The company pursued expansion under new president Scott Harvey and implemented a smaller store prototype emphasizing drive-through operations.
- 2022
Acquisition by Gala Capital Partners
[1]Gala Capital Partners acquired Dunn Brothers Coffee and added it to a portfolio that includes Cicis Pizza and Mooyah.
- 1991
Second location opens in Uptown Minneapolis
[1]The brand opened a second location in Uptown Minneapolis. A fire at the Grand Avenue store temporarily made the Uptown shop the company's only operating location.
- 1987
First Dunn Brothers Coffee shop opens in St. Paul
[1]Ed and Dan Dunn opened the first store at 1569 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota, using a refurbished Probat roaster.
Products and positioning
A regional, premium-leaning coffeehouse brand built around freshness, visible in-store roasting, locally operated franchised cafés, and community-oriented neighborhood service.
Coffee beans · 1987
Fresh-roasted whole-bean coffee
Whole-bean coffee is a central Dunn Brothers offering. Traditional locations roast beans in the store, generally in small batches and often daily. Stores commonly offer approximately 12 to 15 varieties, with the exact range varying by location.
Coffee beverage · 1987
Brewed coffee
Brewed coffee forms a core part of the café menu and is made from the brand's roasted coffee selections. The in-store roasting model supports Dunn Brothers' emphasis on freshness and preparation close to the point of sale.
Specialty coffee beverage
Espresso beverages and lattes
Dunn Brothers cafés offer espresso-based drinks, including specialty lattes. These beverages extend the brand beyond whole-bean retail and brewed coffee into the broader coffeehouse beverage category.
Café food
Pastries and breakfast sandwiches
The food menu includes pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and other light café items intended to accompany coffee beverages and support morning and all-day visits.
Brand decisions
2023
Adopt a smaller drive-through-oriented store prototypeStrategyBackground
Under president Scott Harvey, the company sought to expand in existing Midwest and Great Plains markets and potentially enter additional markets.
Action taken
Dunn Brothers implemented a smaller-footprint store design with greater emphasis on drive-through operations.
Aftermath
The format was intended to support franchise growth and adapt the brand to convenience-led coffee purchasing.
2022
Accept acquisition by Gala Capital PartnersM&ABackground
Dunn Brothers Coffee operated as a regional franchised coffee chain with a strong Midwest presence.
Action taken
Gala Capital Partners acquired the company and incorporated it into its multi-brand franchise portfolio.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by a stronger emphasis on franchise development and footprint expansion.
Recent events
- 2025
Benjamin Anderson named president[1]
Leadership change
Dunn Brothers Coffee named Benjamin Anderson president. His background includes coffee and restaurant operations, multi-state expansion, Caribou Coffee, and Jamba Juice.
- 2023
Scott Harvey appointed president[1]
Leadership change
The company appointed Scott Harvey president to lead franchise development and support expansion in its established Midwest and Great Plains markets.
- 2023
Dunn Brothers Coffee introduces a smaller drive-through-oriented store prototype[1]
Other
Under its franchise-development strategy, the brand implemented a newer store format with a smaller footprint and a stronger focus on drive-through operations.
- 2022
Gala Capital Partners acquires Dunn Brothers Coffee[1]
M&A
Dunn Brothers Coffee announced that it had been acquired by Gala Capital Partners, a franchise-focused company whose portfolio also includes Cicis Pizza and Mooyah.
Sources2 sources
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