Portland · United States
Heart Coffee Roasters
Heart Coffee Roasters is one of 6 Portland roasters tracked on day9, in Oregon.
Since 2009 · Wille Yli-Luoma, Rebekah Yli-Luoma
Overview
Founded in October 2009 by Wille and Rebekah Yli-Luoma — Wille a Finnish former professional snowboarder who learned to roast in his Portland basement — Heart pioneered Scandinavian-style light roasting in the US, with a 1953 Probat sourced from the Netherlands installed at the center of its East Burnside cafe as the literal architectural focal point. The cafes are intentionally WiFi-free, and the iconic 'Stereo' espresso/filter blend accounts for roughly 50% of production.
Known for
- 1953 Probat UG15 — vintage Dutch-sourced roaster as cafe centerpiece
- Scandinavian-style light, fruit-forward roast philosophy
- Stereo blend (50% of production)
- Intentional no-WiFi cafe policy for unplugged hospitality
- Direct trade and seasonal/current-crop-only sourcing
- Kees van der Westen Spirit espresso machines
Why it matters
Heart was one of the earliest and most consistent US exponents of the Nordic light-roast aesthetic, and the decision to put a vintage Probat at the center of the cafe — with 'do not disturb the roaster operator' signage — fundamentally shaped how third-wave roasteries chose to perform their craft for customers.
Production
- head roaster
- Josh Hydeman (historical)
- roaster machine
- Vintage 1953 Probat UG15 (original) and restored 60kg Probat G60 (added 2015)
- roastery location
- Portland, Oregon (dedicated warehouse near East Burnside cafe since 2015)
Café
2211 E Burnside St (Eastside, original); 537 SW 12th Ave (Westside, downtown 'Black Box' building)
Recognitions
- Thrillist Top 10 Coffee Roasters in the Nation (2013)
- Thrillist 21 Best Coffee Roasters in the Country (2016)
- Eater 20 of the Best Coffee Shops in Portland (2016)