TL;DR
FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective opened The Collective Lab, an appointment-only equipment showroom and training center in Kansas City’s West Side neighborhood. The 1,000-square-foot space has movable espresso carts and equipment for demonstrations, staff training, tastings and community events; visits are free, according to the company.
FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective opened The Collective Lab, an appointment-only coffee equipment showroom and training center, in Kansas City last month, giving cafe operators and other coffee professionals a space to test equipment, train staff and hold industry events. The 1,000-square-foot facility is in the city’s West Side neighborhood and is open to wholesale customers, coffee professionals and community members by appointment, with no visit fee, the company says.
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The lab is designed around four mobile espresso carts set up at different price points. Ceiling-mounted water and electrical connections allow users to move carts around the room and connect equipment where needed. FairWave Director of Education Taylor Murphy-Dyer described the setup to Daily Coffee News as modular rather than divided into permanent work areas, saying it can be rearranged for different activities.
The equipment lineup includes La Marzocco KB90 and Nuova Simonelli Appia espresso machines, along with grinders, automatic tampers and milk steamers supplied by GH Grinding & Brewing Solutions. It also includes an Eversys Cameo superautomatic espresso system, Fetco batch and cold brew equipment, and BWT water filtration. Monin syrups and Pacific Barista Series milks are available as well, according to the report.
Beyond equipment demonstrations, FairWave says the lab can host cuppings, tastings, workshops and social events. It is in the same building as The Roasterie’s flagship roastery cafe and roasting headquarters. The company says the space is open by appointment to wholesale customers and the wider coffee community, and that there is no fee to visit.
The lab gives cafe, restaurant and hospitality operators a place to try equipment and practice workflows without being limited to a fixed showroom layout. Its movable carts let users compare configurations and adapt the room for training or demonstrations. That may be useful to businesses weighing equipment choices or preparing staff, though FairWave has not published figures on expected attendance or the lab’s effect on customer operations.
The community access also makes the opening more than a product display. FairWave says it plans to use the space for events and free classes for Kansas City baristas. Murphy-Dyer told Daily Coffee News that accessible training is a personal priority, but the company has not announced a schedule or enrollment details for those classes. The lab’s practical reach will depend on how often it is available and what programming FairWave and its partners provide.
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FairWave’s Kansas City Footprint
The Collective Lab shares a building with The Roasterie, which became one of FairWave’s foundational brands alongside Messenger Coffee in 2020. FairWave has since grown through acquisitions and investments. The source report says the group now includes 14 coffee, tea and bakery brands, six roasteries and approximately 45 cafes.
FairWave is backed by private equity firm Great Range Capital. In February 2026, it added North Carolina roaster-retailer Joe Van Gogh Coffee, the same month Justin Seamonds was named CEO, according to Daily Coffee News. The new lab places a shared training and demonstration facility within the company’s Kansas City operations, while also opening it to coffee professionals beyond its own brands and wholesale network.
“Rather than fixed zones, it’s designed to be completely modular.”
— Taylor Murphy-Dyer, FairWave director of education, speaking to Daily Coffee News
Class Dates and Access Details
FairWave has not provided a public calendar for free barista classes or other events in the source report. It is also unclear how far in advance visitors must book, how many people the lab can accommodate at once, or whether access will be limited during private training and demonstrations. The company describes visits as appointment-only and free, but additional booking procedures are not specified.
The report does not provide operating hours, a public address beyond the West Side neighborhood, or details on whether all listed equipment will be available at every visit. Attendance, future programming and any expansion of the lab’s role have not been reported.
FairWave Plans Training Programs
FairWave says free classes for Kansas City baristas are in the works, alongside events and workshops with equipment and product partners. The company has not announced dates or registration information. Coffee professionals and community members interested in visiting can contact FairWave about an appointment; the company says there is no fee to use the lab.
As programming develops, the next details to watch are the class schedule, booking process and range of events available to people outside FairWave’s wholesale network. For now, the confirmed offering is an appointment-only space for equipment demonstrations, training and community activities.
Key Questions
What is The Collective Lab?
It is FairWave’s appointment-only coffee equipment showroom and training center in Kansas City. The company says it is intended for coffee professionals, wholesale customers and community members.
Where is the lab located?
The 1,000-square-foot facility is in Kansas City’s West Side neighborhood, in the same building as The Roasterie’s flagship roastery cafe and roasting headquarters. The source report does not give a street address.
Does it cost anything to visit?
No. FairWave’s FAQ, as cited in the report, says there is no fee to visit. Visits are by appointment.
What can visitors do at The Collective Lab?
FairWave says visitors can take part in equipment demonstrations, staff training, cuppings, tastings, workshops and social events. The company has also said free classes for Kansas City baristas are in development, but has not announced dates.
What equipment is available?
The reported lineup includes La Marzocco and Nuova Simonelli espresso machines, an Eversys superautomatic system, grinders, automatic tampers, milk steamers, Fetco batch and cold brew equipment, and BWT water filtration. The room has four movable espresso carts configured at different price points.
Source: dailycoffeenews.com
