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Portland, Oregon · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Upper Left Roasters

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Upper Left Roasters; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsUpper Left RoastersOregon coffee roastersEthiopiaGuatemalaPeruColombiaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-house
Visit Upper Left Roasters's site

Upper Left Roasters is a Portland-based specialty coffee roaster and café that focuses on community-driven experiences and high-quality, seasonally sourced beans. Founded in 2015, the brand operates out of a historic space in Ladd's Addition, combining a roasting facility with a kitchen that serves a curated food menu. They are dedicated to showcasing the authentic characteristics of their coffees through careful, small-batch roasting.

Ownership
Upper Left Roasters is an independent, family-owned business founded by Katherine Harris and her father, Jim Harris.
Founded
2015
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
The brand is recognized for its light-roast, single-origin coffees and its vibrant neighborhood café in Portland's historic Ladd's Addition, which also features a popular toast-focused food menu.
Sourcing countries
Ethiopia · Guatemala · Peru · Colombia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources seasonally and highlights specific micro-lots and farms, such as Finca El Platanillo in Guatemala. They emphasize a commitment to representing the authentic flavor and journey of the coffee from seed to cup. Their offerings include both house blends and unique single-origin selections.
Notable coffees
  • — Finca El Platanillo (Pacamara Natural, Guatemala)
  • — Abyssinian (Ethiopia)
  • — Ladd's (Neighborhood Blend)
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Upper Left Roasters

These are examples recorded during editorial research. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.

External customer, cafe, marketplace, and class ratings are not comparable measures of the quality of an individual coffee. We do not convert them into original tasting scores or brand-wide star ratings. Our independent reviews are published separately after a coffee has actually been brewed and evaluated.

Verify original product sources

Retailer information: Upper Left Roasters

Documented physical retailers
Upper Left Roasters
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates a physical cafe and roastery in the Ladd's Addition neighborhood of Portland, Oregon.
Physical
Documented online sources
Upper Left Roasters's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand sells its full range of coffee beans and merchandise directly through its official website.
Website
Seattle Coffee Gear
Historical source note (not live inventory): This online retailer carries a selection of Upper Left Roasters's coffee beans.
Website

I was able to verify the brand's own physical cafe location and its primary online store, as well as one third-party online retailer; no other specific retail partners were confirmed through public documentation.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials. Last checked Oct 26, 2026. They are research links, not proof of current stock or a buying recommendation. Verify availability, price and location directly with the source.
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Upper Left Roasters, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2026-01-16 · What Now Portland
Upper Left Roasters Brewing New Headquarters with Plans for Public Access

Upper Left Roasters announced the development of a new roasting and production facility in Southeast Portland, located in a former Stumptown cold brew space. The expansion will serve as a joint headquarters for the roastery and the sister company True Tea, with future plans to incorporate public access and events.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-07. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand identifies specific farms for some single-origin offerings, it does not consistently publish the names of individual farmers for every lot in its current online catalog.

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