"Eloquent, affable and self-effacing, James was well-respected by industry colleagues for his phenomenal palate and beloved for his exceptional ability to wax poetically about each cup's artisanal heritage and distinctive flavor profile. His influence on the Southern California coffee scene is undeniable."
"James was a huge part of making me feel welcome and showing everyone the ropes, and the best taco spots. Intelligentsia's L.A. thing wouldn't have happened without James... Everyone knew James and everyone loved him."
James Paul Marcotte, 63, passed away on February 16 after succumbing to multiple infections following a lung transplant in 2020. He co-founded City Bean Roasters near UCLA in 1992 with Sol Salzer, establishing one of Los Angeles's first small-batch specialty coffee roasteries. Marcotte later held leadership positions at Swiss Water Decaffeinated, Cirqua Customized Water, and Intelligentsia Coffee, where he led West Coast expansion beginning in 2005. Recognized throughout the Los Angeles coffee industry for his exceptional palate, eloquent communication about coffee's artisanal qualities, and mentorship abilities, Marcotte profoundly influenced Southern California's coffee scene over three decades. Colleagues and friends remembered him as kind, curious, and uniquely talented at connecting people through coffee.
Read at Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine
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