Black Gold Coffee Roasters wins 2026 Best of Florida Award

Black Gold Coffee Roasters, a Venice coffee roaster and cafe, was named a 2026 Best of Florida Award winner on Oct. 27, 2026. The honor highlights the company’s ethical sourcing, hands-on roasting and growing regional following as it expands beyond its original location.

Why it matters: - The award puts a local Venice coffee business in statewide recognition for sourcing, roasting and customer loyalty. - The win reinforces consumer interest in coffee brands that emphasize traceability, fair compensation for growers and small-batch production. - The recognition comes as Black Gold Coffee Roasters expands with a second location in Sarasota County.

What happened: - Black Gold Coffee Roasters was named a 2026 Best of Florida Award winner on Oct. 27, 2026. - The company is a small-batch coffee roaster and cafe based in Venice, Florida. - The award recognizes the company’s focus on ethically sourced, carefully roasted coffee and its loyal regional customer base.

The details: - Black Gold Coffee Roasters works directly with growers, including longtime partners in Colombia’s Department of Tolima, to source beans. - The company’s best-known coffee is Colombia Red Condor, described as its most popular offering with a balanced profile and direct ties to the growers who produce it. - The house Organic Espresso is roasted in the Italian style, with each component roasted separately before being mixed by hand. - Customer favorites include the Honey Bee Latte and Liquid Crack, a cold brew steeped for 24 hours. - Founder Gary Lauters II said the award reflects the work of growers, roasters and staff, and the support of the local community. - The company has opened a second location in the second oldest home in Sarasota County, Lord-Higel’s Coffee House. - Black Gold Coffee Roasters says its slogan is “Enriching Lives, From Tree to Cup.” - The company says it will continue prioritizing ethical sourcing, hands-on roasting and quality. - More information is available in the company's announcement.

Between the lines: - The award is as much about business model as product quality, since the release frames sourcing relationships as part of the brand’s identity. - Black Gold Coffee Roasters is positioning growth around craft and ethics rather than rapid scale. - The second location suggests the company is trying to broaden reach while keeping a local, experience-driven identity.

What's next: - Black Gold Coffee Roasters plans to keep emphasizing ethical sourcing, hands-on roasting and repeat customer loyalty. - The company is likely to use the award as a credibility boost as it builds on its Venice base and Sarasota County expansion. - Lord-Higel’s Coffee House gives Black Gold Coffee Roasters another outlet to extend the same brand story across the region.