FairWave Opens Modular Coffee Lab in Kansas City

Howard Bryman | November 12, 2026

The Collective Lab, which shares a building with The Roastery roasting headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. All images courtesy of FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective.

Kansas City, Missouri-based specialty coffee group FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective opened an appointment-only equipment showroom and training center last month called The Collective Lab for coffee professionals within its network and the wider coffee community.

The 1,000-square-foot facility in Kansas City’s West Side neighborhood is designed for cafe, restaurant and hospitality operators to test equipment and train staff in a flexible environment. Four mobile espresso carts configured at different price points can be moved around the room beneath water and electrical connections that descend from the ceiling.

“Rather than fixed zones, it’s designed to be completely modular,” FairWave Director of Education Taylor Murphy-Dyer told Daily Coffee News. “We can move any cart wherever we need it and connect only what we’re using. That flexibility lets us reconfigure the room for whatever’s happening.”

Equipment includes La Marzocco KB90 and Nuova Simonelli Appia espresso machines, as well as a range of grinders, automatic tampers, milk steamers and more provided by GH Grinding & Brewing Solutions.

An Eversys Cameo superautomatic espresso system and batch and cold brew equipment from Fetco round out the equipment lineup, with water running through BWT filtration systems. Monin syrups and Pacific Barista Series milks are also provided.

At the heart of the space is a mural inspired by the coffee farm ecosystem.

“Natural tones mixed with vibrant color accents bring energy to the space, while warm wood and concrete elements create a comfortable, welcoming feel,” FairWave Creative Director Brandon Wilson told DCN. “More than anything, it’s a place for people to connect, share ideas and bring them to life throughout their coffee journey.”

Roasters, wholesale customers and other coffee professionals can also use the Collective Lab for cuppings, tastings, equipment demos, skill-building workshops and social events.

The Collective Lab is located in the same building as the flagship roastery cafe location of The Roasterie, which alongside Messenger Coffee in 2020 became a foundational brand of FairWave.

Through acquisitions and investments over the past six years, FairWave has grown to encompass 14 coffee, tea and bakery brands, six roasteries and approximately 45 cafes. Backed by private equity firm Great Range Capital, FairWave added North Carolina roaster-retailer Joe Van Gogh Coffee in February, the same month Justin Seamonds was named CEO.

“From the start, the goal for this space was never just to showcase and sell equipment. It was to open the doors to the wider coffee community,” Murphy-Dyer said. “That’s why we’ve partnered with some incredible sponsors to host events, workshops and more. We also have free classes in the works for Kansas City baristas. Accessible, low-barrier training has always been a passion of mine, and I’m so excited to bring it to life here.”

The Collective Lab is open by appointment to wholesale customers as well as other coffee professionals and community members, with no fee to visit, according to the company’s FAQ.