Stumptown Coffee Roasters
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Stumptown Coffee Roasters is an independent coffee roaster and retailer located in Portland, Oregon, founded by Duane Sorenson. Some factors that contribute to Stumptown's local reputation are the quality of its coffee, the manner in which they purchase their coffee beans, their roasting procedures for organic beans and their active involvement in the Portland music and art scene. Stumptown is also noteworthy for its success as a company despite the economic depression the region experienced during their early days as a company.
The chain's flagship cafe and roastery on SE 45th and Division opened in 1999, and three other cafes, a roastery and a tasting annex have since opened in Portland. The coffee is remarkable for the strength and thickness of its "standard" brew, probably owing to a policy of serving French pressed coffee for its standard brew.
The company is often referred to as simply "Stumptown", which is itself a reference to a nickname for the city of Portland.
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[edit] Notability
The business practices and degree of quality practiced by Stumptown Coffee Roasters has led to them being noted as having "revolutionized the coffee business" and helped "refine coffee drinkers' palates".[1] Sorenson and Stumptown Coffee Roasters have been credited[2] as kick-starting the so-called "Third Wave"[3] of coffee movement.
In pursuit of the best quality coffee, Sorenson spends most of his time visiting farms in person and is willing to pay high prices for coffee he deems worthy -- sometimes three or four times fair trade prices, or even setting the record for highest price ever paid for coffee beans.[4][5][6][7] Sorenson is known for forming lasting relationships with the coffee producers, and giving back to them whenever possible.
In addition to benefits such as no-cost full medical coverage, the owner has offered atypical perks to his employees such as paying for a compilation album to be produced of their various bands[8] and hiring a full-time on-staff massage therapist.[9] He has returned from a business trip when an employee became seriously ill, given $15,000 Christmas parties, and allows employees to go on lengthy leave for pursuits such as band tours.
The in-café roaster which Stumptown started on is a 1919 Probat which was so rare that the Frankfurt-based company tried to obtain it in order to put it in its museum.[10] Recently, Stumptown has opened a rather unique annex location specifically for tasting coffee.[11]
They have received numerous awards, including Roaster of the Year 2006[12]
The bluegrass band Nickel Creek titled one of the songs on its 2005 album Why Should the Fire Die? "Stumptown" in honor of the cafe.
[edit] Locations
Stumptown operates four cafes and two auxiliary facilities in Portland. Stumptown has cafes on SE 45th & Division St., SE 34th & Belmont, and downtown at SW 3rd & Ash St. There is a roasting facility at SE 34th & Division St. and a retail annex two doors down from the Belmont cafe.
Stumptown's beans and coffees are sold wholesale and are available at various restaurants and coffeeshops all over Portland.
[edit] References
- Roaster of the Year. Roast Magazine. Discusses company impact, mission, and more.
- Browning, Ivan. Quite possibly the Holy Grail in the crusade for the perfect cup. Portland CitySearch. Retrieved February 16, 2006.
- Foley, Karen. This Olde Coffee House. Willamette Week. Retrieved February 16, 2006.
- Johns, Sherri. (February 2002). Marketing Made Easy. Fresh Cup. Retrieved February 16, 2006.
- Moss, Matthew. (April 17, 2002). Cafe Ole Ole Ole. Willamette Week. Retrieved February 16, 2006.
- Sloan, Gene. (March 7, 2002). 10 Great Places for Caffeine and Conversation. USA Today. Retrieved February 16, 2006.
- Saelens, E. Stumptown Presses on with Attitude Portland Business Journal
