Heart Coffee Roasters

Heart Roasters-2

Barista (Heart Roasters)

Heart Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roasting company based in Portland, Oregon. Founded by Wille Yli-Luoma, a former professional snowboarder, Heart has gained recognition for its focus on quality, transparency, and the pursuit of coffee perfection. The company sources its beans from various parts of the world, including South America, Africa, and Central America, with a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

History[edit | edit source]

Heart Coffee Roasters was established in 2009 by Wille Yli-Luoma, who transitioned from his career in snowboarding to pursue a passion for coffee. With an emphasis on direct trade and close relationships with coffee farmers, Heart quickly distinguished itself in the Portland coffee scene and beyond. The company's approach to roasting aims to highlight the unique characteristics of each coffee bean, reflecting the terroir and the hard work of the farmers.

Philosophy[edit | edit source]

Heart's philosophy centers around transparency, quality, and sustainability. The company is dedicated to sourcing the best quality beans directly from farmers, paying them above-market prices to ensure sustainable practices and a better standard of living for the communities involved. Heart Coffee Roasters employs a light roasting style, which they believe best showcases the coffee's inherent flavors—ranging from floral and fruity to nutty and complex.

Products[edit | edit source]

Heart Coffee Roasters offers a variety of coffee products, including single-origin beans, blends, and limited releases. Their product lineup changes seasonally, depending on the harvest cycles of their partner farms around the world. In addition to coffee beans, Heart also operates several cafés in Portland, where they serve espresso-based drinks, pour-overs, and other coffee beverages, along with a selection of pastries and light fare.

Cafés[edit | edit source]

The company operates multiple café locations in Portland, each designed with a minimalist aesthetic that reflects Heart's focus on the coffee experience. These cafés serve as a hub for coffee enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike, offering a space to enjoy high-quality coffee in a welcoming environment.

Sustainability and Direct Trade[edit | edit source]

Sustainability is a cornerstone of Heart Coffee Roasters' business model. The company engages in direct trade practices, which allows them to work closely with coffee producers and ensure that they are paid fairly for their labor. This direct relationship not only supports the economic stability of coffee-growing communities but also enables Heart to have greater transparency and control over the quality of the coffee they source.

Reception[edit | edit source]

Heart Coffee Roasters has received widespread acclaim for its dedication to quality and sustainability. The company has been featured in various food and beverage publications and is considered a leading figure in the third-wave coffee movement, which emphasizes high-quality coffee, artisanal roasting techniques, and direct trade sourcing.