In 2011, Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman launched Laughing Man Coffee, pledging 100% of profits from its coffee sales to aid Ethiopian farmers.
Two years earlier, Jackman and his wife Deborra‑Lee Furness trekked to Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, where a 27‑year‑old farmer named Dukale showed him how hard coffee cultivation can be.
Inspired, Jackman partnered with entrepreneur David Steingard to create a specialty‑coffee line that would both satisfy connoisseurs and generate revenue for community projects.
The Laughing Man Foundation now reports delivering healthcare kits, building safe homes, awarding scholarships, and training over 500 families in Ethiopia, Peru, and Colombia.
The company plans to expand its retail footprint to U.S. cities by Q4 2026, with a new line of single‑origin beans earmarked to fund additional education grants.