Blue Bottle Acquires LA's Tonx and Handsome Coffee

Oakland-based speciality coffee roaster Blue Bottle Coffee is expanding in Los Angeles in a major way: The coffee company has announced the purchase of subscription coffee service Tonx and LA's Handsome Coffee Roasters. Eater LA spoke with a "source familiar with the deal" who notes that Blue Bottle will acquire Handsome's full roasting operation and retail cafe.

Handsome Coffee which was founded by three ex-Intelligentsia employees and has been a local favorite since it was founded in 2011. Tonx (also founded in 2011) roasts and delivers coffee to subscribers in the US and Canada and made headlines recently for accepting Starbucks gift cards.

In the announcement, Blue Bottle notes that the acquisitions "serve a dual purpose." The buy will "expedite our plans for a retail presence in Los Angeles" to open this Summer and will "improve our digital experience." The Tonx team will be "creating a new department entirely dedicated to software and technology" while Handsome Coffee founder Michael Phillips will be taking on a "development role" in LA.

A move like this isn't surprising considering Blue Bottle's ambitious expansion plans: they recently raised $25.75 million dollars in funding, announced plans for a coffee bar and roastery in Tokyo, and are in the process of opening two other Los Angeles locations in addition to multiple outposts in NYC and the Bay Area. Developing.

· Welcome Aboard, Tonx and Handsome Coffee [Blue Bottle]
· Blue Bottle Seizing Handsome Coffee in Arts District [Eater LA]
· All Blue Bottle Coffee Coverage on Eater [-E-]