US Brand Directory
Portland, Oregon · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
Ristretto Coffee Roasters
Ownership unverifiedRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsRistretto Coffee RoastersOregon coffee roastersBrazilNicaraguaGuatemalaColombiaIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
Visit Ristretto Coffee Roasters's site Ristretto Roasters is a Portland-based coffee company that focuses on traditional roasting methods to produce balanced, approachable specialty coffee. Founded in 2005, the company built its reputation on wholesale partnerships and a commitment to direct sourcing. Following a period of controversy and retail contraction, the company announced it would cease all operations in late 2020.
Ownership
Ristretto Roasters is an independent, family-owned business founded by Din Johnson. It has historically operated without outside investors.
Founded
2005
Roasting
Roasts its own coffee.
What it's known for
Ristretto Roasters is known for its traditional roasting techniques and its role as an early specialty coffee pioneer in Portland. The brand gained significant public attention in 2019 due to a controversy involving the owner's wife and the subsequent closure of its cafe locations.
Sourcing countries
Brazil · Nicaragua · Guatemala · Colombia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand states that it works directly with farmers in various countries to source its coffee. While they emphasize direct relationships and paying above-market prices, they generally do not publish specific farm or producer names for their offerings.
Sources used in this deep dive
- https://ristrettoroasters.com
- https://oregonbusiness.com/12555-ristretto-roasters-makes-its-mark
- https://pdx.eater.com/2020/12/7/22159607/ristretto-roasters-closing-company
- https://linkedin.com/company/ristretto-roasters
- https://www.oregonlive.com/food/2019/02/ristretto-roasters-in-northwest-portland-closes-as-meneither-controversy-simmers.html
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-09-30. It is not a review: we have not tasted this brand's coffee. Ownership, roasting and sourcing claims belong to the brand and its published materials. While the company announced it would cease all operations in December 2020, the website remains active, and it is unclear if any residual wholesale or mail-order business continues to function.