Cafe del Mundo was established in 1975 in Anchorage, Alaska by founder Perry Merkel. Perry was inspired to bring specialty coffee to the last frontier after his travels through Central America exploring coffee farms. Perry began humbly roasting specialty coffee on a small air roaster in a shed behind his home in the midtown neighborhood of Spenard. He soon built relationships with restaurants, grocery stores, and home coffee enthusiasts throughout the state. Once Alaska got a taste for fresh roasted coffee, business exploded. Cafe Del Mundo eventually opened multiple cafe locations throughout Anchorage.