UC Davis Library Receives Major Coffee Collections

Donations from industry leaders Gerald Baldwin, Russ Kramer, and the Specialty Coffee Association expand the university's coffee research resources.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:07pm

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The University of California, Davis, has received three significant collections of coffee-related materials from Gerald 'Jerry' Baldwin, co-founder of Starbucks and former president of Peet's Coffee; Russ Kramer, president of Hacienda La Minita and veteran of Green Mountain Coffee; and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). The donations, which include rare books, photographs, business records, and other archival materials, provide a comprehensive record of coffee's evolution from agricultural commodity to global consumer product and will support the research and teaching mission of the UC Davis Coffee Center.

Why it matters

These collections complement and support the research leadership of the UC Davis Coffee Center, the first academic research and teaching facility in the United States dedicated entirely to the study of coffee. The materials document the early days of the specialty coffee movement and the industry's development, providing valuable primary sources for researchers and students.

The details

Baldwin's donation includes archival materials that chronicle the early years of Starbucks after its 1971 founding and the emergence of specialty coffee in the United States, such as a handwritten manifesto, the company's first guest book, early scrapbooks and photographs, and original tasting score sheets. Kramer's contribution reflects decades of work in coffee production, sourcing, and industry leadership, including documents related to coffee markets, international trade, and product development, as well as rare books. The Specialty Coffee Association donation includes over 100 boxes of organizational records, early publications, and industry documents that trace the development of professional standards, shared terminology, and research priorities that helped shape the modern specialty coffee industry.

  • The UC Davis Library received the three collections in 2026.
  • The campus event discussing the coffee culture transformation was held on Wednesday.

The players

Gerald 'Jerry' Baldwin

Co-founder of Starbucks and former president of Peet's Coffee, who donated archival materials chronicling the early years of Starbucks and the emergence of specialty coffee in the United States.

Russ Kramer

President of Hacienda La Minita and veteran of Green Mountain Coffee, who donated an extensive collection of books, correspondence, and records related to coffee's agricultural, economic, and cultural dimensions.

Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)

The industry organization that donated over 100 boxes of records, publications, and documents tracing the development of professional standards, shared terminology, and research priorities in the specialty coffee industry.

William Ristenpart

Director of the UC Davis Coffee Center.

Audrey Russek

Leads the UC Davis Library's strategic initiatives around distinctive collections in food, wine, and other beverages.

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What they’re saying

“The amount of apocrypha that flies around the internet is huge. My hope is people who are interested can turn to these documents as a reference and understand what it was truly like at the beginning.”

— Gerald 'Jerry' Baldwin, Co-founder of Starbucks

“That sense of teaching, training, bringing new people in, is what makes SCA different from other trade organizations. People are open and willing to share within the industry group.”

— Ted Lingle, Co-founder and former executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association

“The UC Davis Library will be the center of the world for coffee research — without a doubt. I'm convinced of that.”

— Russ Kramer, President of Hacienda La Minita

What’s next

The UC Davis Library is processing the collections to make them available for research, study, and instruction.

The takeaway

These three major coffee collections donated to the UC Davis Library will significantly expand the university's resources for interdisciplinary research and teaching on the history, science, and global impact of specialty coffee, cementing UC Davis' position as a leading center for coffee scholarship.