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Portland · United States

Heart Coffee Roasters

Since 2009 · Wille Yli-Luoma, Rebekah Yli-Luoma

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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)

Sources

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