Dapper & Wise

Dapper & Wise is a specialty coffee roasting company headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. The company was established in 2012 by Evan Aldrete and Tyler Geel, who are also the founders of the regional coffee chain Insomnia Coffee Co. The creation of Dapper & Wise served as a strategic expansion for the duo, allowing them to develop a dedicated roasting facility and tasting room that focused on a more specialized, third-wave approach to coffee production compared to their existing retail operations.

The company operates with a stated mission to source high-quality green coffee while maintaining a focus on kindness, education, and accessibility. Their roasting philosophy emphasizes a full spectrum of roast levels intended to highlight the unique characteristics of each origin. The roastery, located in downtown Hillsboro, serves as the central hub for their wholesale, subscription, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce operations.

Sourcing is a core component of the Dapper & Wise business model, characterized by a commitment to long-term relationships with producers. The company documents its sourcing efforts through its digital journal, highlighting partnerships with specific cooperatives and producers. For example, they have maintained a multi-year sourcing relationship with the Café Orígenes cooperative in Peru and have reported sourcing approximately 16% of their green coffee from the state of Nayarit, Mexico.

In practice, the company functions as both a roaster and an educator. By maintaining a tasting room behind their sister company, Insomnia Coffee, they provide a space for customers to engage directly with the roasting process and learn about coffee origins. This focus on "un-pretentious" education is a hallmark of their brand identity, aiming to demystify the complexities of specialty coffee for the average consumer.

Beyond their own retail presence, Dapper & Wise operates as a wholesale partner for cafes, offices, and events. Their business model integrates subscription services and online retail, allowing them to distribute their roasted products nationally. The company has also collaborated with other industry entities, such as featuring coffees from the Yungas roasting brand, which was launched by their long-term partners at Café Orígenes.

The company’s operational history includes the management of various cafe locations in the Portland metropolitan area, including a notable former lounge on SE Division Street. Throughout their growth, the founders have emphasized the importance of treating employees and producers with equity, framing their business practices as a medium for connection and community engagement within the specialty coffee industry.