“A Natural Fit,” Joe Van Gogh Coffee Joins Growing Collective

Kansas City, MO, February 2, 2026 —

Joe Van Gogh, a 31-year-old legacy coffee brand in Chapel Hill and Durham, announced today that they are joining FairWave Collective, a network of specialty coffee brands operating together to bring exceptional coffee to their communities.

Founder Robbie Roberts first opened a roasting coffeehouse in Raleigh in 1991. By 1995, he opened his first brick-and-mortar location in Chapel Hill and adopted the name Joe Van Gogh, inspired by Dan Bern’s song by the same name and Roberts’ desire to explore the intersection between art and coffee roasting. Over the past three decades, Roberts and his team have built a beloved, multifaceted coffee brand that is known for its warm and inviting atmosphere and delicious coffee. Joe Van Gogh has maintained its north star since the start: “coffee from every angle, exceptional yet accessible.”

As for his decision to join FairWave, “the word ‘Collective’ drew me in,” shares Roberts, “Joe Van Gogh has always been about collaboration and openness. We’re a team, and everyone here has an innate drive to keep growing, to keep getting better. The team at FairWave are the same way.”

Joe Van Gogh has achieved excellence across every aspect of their brand – from delectable commissary and bakery offerings, to a cutting-edge coffee equipment service program that is renowned across the country. Their cafes are as distinctive as fingerprints, while sharing the common thread that no matter which store you enter, you are welcome. Joe Van Gogh has inspired deep loyalty among their team members and customers, a testament to their enduring legacy as a community gathering space. “Customers who came to Chapel Hill on day one still come in today – over three decades later,” Roberts reflects. “And of course I do too — every morning on the way to our roastery.”

“We are beyond impressed and inspired by the Joe Van Gogh team on so many levels, and we’re really excited to work with them,” shares Isaac Hodges, President of Growth at FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective. “They care about their people and their community above all else. Their team is stacked with experienced industry leaders who hold deep expertise across many disciplines.”

Joe Van Gogh becomes the second Triangle coffee brand to join FairWave, following the addition of Black & White Coffee Roasters in March 2025.