Mariko Grove began with a family conversation in the winter of 2025.
We’re a close family — Sarah, Joseph, and Chris — and like many families, we were thinking seriously about the future. We wanted to build something that could support us economically, but also something that felt true to who we are. Not just a product. Not just a business. Something that brought together our strengths, our heritage, and the place we call home.
That winter, Sarah came back from one of those conversations with a clear idea: mushroom coffee.
It made sense almost immediately. Chris brought years of hands-on experience with mushrooms — hunting, researching, identifying, and understanding fungi in a way that goes far beyond trends or buzzwords. Sarah had the business instinct to look at a market full of hype, shortcuts, and exaggerated claims and see room for something more honest. Joseph brought two decades of experience building technology, ecommerce platforms, and systems that help small ideas grow into real businesses.
Together, those pieces became Mariko Grove.
The name comes from Sarah and Joseph’s Japanese heritage and Chris’s grandmother — a quiet nod to our family roots and the generations before us who shaped who we are. “Grove” reflects where we live and work in Southern Oregon, surrounded by forests, rain, soil, and the natural world that continues to shape how we think about what we make.
We didn’t set out to create another wellness brand.
We set out to make something real: a coffee we would actually drink every morning, made with ingredients we could verify, from a company small enough to care about every batch. We wanted to offer mushroom coffee without the noise — no exaggerated promises, no mystery blends, no filler hiding behind pretty packaging.
Just good coffee, carefully chosen mushrooms, and a family willing to stand behind what we make.
Mariko Grove is our way of building something honest from the ground up — rooted in family, shaped by the forests of Southern Oregon, and made for people who want products they can trust.
Meet the Team
Sarah Williamson — CEO
Sarah is the CEO of Mariko Grove, bringing together a lifelong passion for people, family, and nature with years of business management experience. Raised in Southern Oregon, she draws inspiration from her community and the natural environment that continues to shape the company's mission.
As a mother, Sarah is committed to creating a life centered around wellness, connection, and authenticity. Her leadership reflects a balance of compassion, integrity, and a genuine desire to help others live more fulfilling lives.
She is especially passionate about mushroom coffee and the role it can play in daily routines. Through Mariko Grove, Sarah is dedicated to expanding thoughtfully crafted blends — providing more options for those seeking something different from traditional coffee.
Joseph Williamson — CTO
Joseph Williamson is the CTO of Mariko Grove and the technical foundation behind the brand. With over 20 years of experience as a software engineer — from shipping console games at studios like Shiny Entertainment to leading technology for a high-traffic ecommerce platform — Joseph builds the systems that keep Mariko Grove running smoothly.
A Southern Oregon native, Joseph previously served as Head of Technology for PlainJane.com, where he oversaw platform stability, security, and engineering for a fast-growing online retailer. That ecommerce experience now shapes how Mariko Grove operates — from the website and online store to the tools behind sourcing, testing, and fulfillment.
At Mariko Grove, Joseph handles everything customers don't see but depend on: the store infrastructure, product data integrity, quality documentation, and the technical decisions that keep the brand honest and efficient. He believes good technology should be invisible — it should just work.
Chris Rea — COO
Chris serves as Chief Operations Officer, bringing a steady leadership style and a deep commitment to operational excellence. Based in Southern Oregon, he plays a key role in guiding day-to-day operations and ensuring the team delivers consistent, high-quality results.
With years of experience in mushroom hunting and research, Chris has developed a deep understanding of fungi and their potential benefits. This passion ultimately led him to help found Mariko Grove, with a mission to make mushrooms more accessible to those who can benefit from them.
Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time in nature and staying active through outdoor sports. He is also an avid photographer, often capturing the landscapes and moments that inspire his perspective — bringing the same attention to detail and appreciation for quality into his professional work.