NC Made: Larry's Coffee in Raleigh enters new era under new ownership
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Tucked away on a dirt road near Raleigh's Five Points neighborhood, it feels like you've stumbled onto something unexpected.
On a hot day, customers sip cold brew in a shaded courtyard beside a pollinator garden. A retrofitted 1973 Winnebago sits nearby. It doesn't look like a typical coffee company - it feels more like a neighbor's backyard.
This is Larry's Coffee.
The micro-roaster has operated at this location for 30 years, quietly becoming a staple of Raleigh's food and beverage scene. Its bags are sold at Lowe's Foods, Sprouts and smaller markets across the region. The company supplies coffee to seven university dining programs, WakeMed hospitals and roughly 250 wholesale hospitality accounts statewide.
Many people recognize the name. Fewer know where it comes from.
A new chapter for a beloved brand
Last July, Jesse Lotrecchiano and her husband, Sandro Niessen, purchased Larry's Coffee from founder Larry Larson, who retired after three decades.
Larson started the business in the early 1990s, bringing a Seattle-style coffee culture to Raleigh before it was widely established. He was among the city's first micro-roasters and a founding member of the cooperative that still supplies Larry's beans today.
Lotrecchiano, a Raleigh native, left the area for Appalachian State and later worked in outdoor education and organic farming. In New York, she met Niessen, a Swiss-born entrepreneur with a background in architectural metalwork. When the couple began looking for a new venture, Larry's Coffee stood out.
"Larry's brought us back to Raleigh," Lotrecchiano said.
Neither had experience in coffee, but Lotrecchiano remembered the brand from childhood, especially the smell of Larson's biodiesel delivery truck as it made its rounds through the city.
The opportunity felt right. The timing felt serendipitous. They moved to Raleigh and closed the deal.
Learning the craft
Taking over a company with a loyal following comes with a learning curve.
"I couldn't have predicted how difficult it was to start over completely," Niessen said with a laugh. "But it's really exciting. Now that I'm getting my feet under me, I'm really enjoying it."
The couple credits much of their transition to the team they inherited -- employees, some of whom grew up drinking Larry's coffee, who helped teach them the business from the ground up.
The roastery operates two machines, producing between six and 30 batches per day. Green coffee beans sourced from countries including Nicaragua, Colombia, Ethiopia and Sumatra are roasted at temperatures above 400 degrees before cooling and moving into production.
Coffee is typically ready to brew within three to five days.
"There are people that stop in weekly for their fresh bag of coffee and look at the roast date," Lotrecchiano said. "It was made last week. They get to take it home and enjoy something that was made just right here."
Larry's sources its beans through a cooperative of 24 roasters in the U.S. and Canada, using shared buying power to support farmers worldwide. About 3 cents per pound purchased goes into an Impact Fund that farming communities use for projects like solar energy, food security and clean water.
Community and sustainability
One of the new owners' first additions was a retrofitted 1973 Winnebago, now used as a mobile coffee shop.
The idea is straightforward: invite Larry's to your event -- a school fundraiser, a teacher appreciation day, a community gathering -- and 50 percent of every cup sold gets donated back to your organization. No minimums required.
"We'd love to come and donate back to whatever you're working on," Lotrecchiano said.
The model builds on a long-standing focus on community support. Larry's also offers "for cause" coffees, with a portion of proceeds supporting specific charities.
At its Five Points location, the company has leaned into creating a welcoming space. The courtyard hosts yoga classes, cycling groups and remote workers, while a small retail shop offers freshly roasted beans and recommendations from staff.
The buildings themselves reflect Larson's sustainability vision, with solar-conscious design and systems to collect and reuse rainwater for irrigation and facilities.
Brewing into the future
Larry's Coffee turns 30 this October, but the transition comes during a difficult time for the industry.
Coffee costs have risen sharply, with one blend increasing from $3.70 per pound in 2024 to $5.87. A 12-ounce bag that once sold for $17.50 now costs about $22.50.
Despite rising prices, Lotrecchiano and Niessen say their focus is on steady growth while preserving the company's identity. Since taking over, they've expanded the team to 15 employees.
When asked where they hope the business will be decades from now, Lotrecchiano pointed to its history.
"Hopefully," Lotrecchiano said, "handing it off to the next Larry."
