Dunn Brothers Coffee facts for kids
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Dunn Brothers Coffee in Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Industry | |
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| Founded | 1987 in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Founder | Ed and Dan Dunn |
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Number of locations
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48 (2024) |
| Products |
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Dunn Brothers Coffee is a company that runs coffee shops. It was started in St. Paul, Minnesota, in December 1987 by two brothers, Ed and Dan Dunn. As of June 2025, Dunn Brothers Coffee had 47 locations. You can find their shops in states like Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
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The Story of Dunn Brothers
The very first Dunn Brothers coffee shop opened in 1987. It was located on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. The Dunn brothers, Ed and Dan, had traveled from Portland, Oregon, to Minnesota. They were looking for a good place to start their coffee business. They even found an old coffee roaster from the 1950s in Ohio to use in their first shop.
A second location opened in Uptown Minneapolis in 1991. The original Grand Avenue store had to be rebuilt after a fire that same year. Today, the Grand Avenue store is still called "Dunn Bros Coffee." However, it is not part of the main Dunn Brothers Coffee franchise.
In July 2022, a company called Gala Capital Partners bought Dunn Brothers Coffee. This company also owns other well-known food brands.
New Leaders and Growth
In July 2023, Scott Harvey became the new president of Dunn Brothers Coffee. He had a lot of experience from working with other food and franchise companies. Scott Harvey helped the brand grow. He focused on expanding the number of shops in the Midwest and Great Plains areas.
Under his leadership, Dunn Brothers also started using a new store design. These new shops were smaller and often included a drive-thru. This made it easier for customers to grab their coffee quickly.
In June 2025, Benjamin Anderson was named the new president of Dunn Brothers Coffee. He has more than 25 years of experience in the food and drink industry. Benjamin Anderson has worked in leadership roles at other coffee and restaurant companies. He helped expand operations and even launched a drive-thru concept for another coffee chain.
How Dunn Brothers Works (Franchise)
Most Dunn Brothers Coffee shops are located in the American Midwest. Minnesota has more than 20 locations. As of 2025, you can find their stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Dunn Brothers Coffee is a franchise company. This means that most of their stores are owned and run by local people. One special thing about Dunn Brothers is that they roast their coffee beans right in the store. They usually do this every day. This allows customers to buy very fresh, whole coffee beans. Because they roast in small batches, they often have 12 to 15 different types of whole beans available.
Dunn Brothers also works with groups that help make sure coffee is grown in a good way. These groups include Fair Trade USA and Rainforest Alliance. They help make sure the coffee is grown sustainably and fairly.
See also
- List of coffeehouse chains
