Ember Coffee Co.

Ember Coffee Co. was established in 2021 in Big Lake, Minnesota, by co-founders Elisa and Matt Berry. The company has positioned itself within the specialty coffee market by emphasizing a specific technical approach to production: air roasting. Unlike conventional drum roasters, where beans tumble against heated metal surfaces, Ember utilizes fluid bed roasters. This method suspends the beans in a stream of hot air, a process the company claims removes chaff during the roast and prevents the scorching or charring often associated with high-heat drum contact. The founders argue that this technique results in a cleaner cup profile that is easier on the digestive system.

The company’s operational philosophy centers on small-batch production and a commitment to transparency regarding their supply chain. Ember sources specialty-grade green coffee through various importers, including De La Finca Coffee Imports, List + Beisler, Atlas Coffee, and Cafe Imports. They maintain a focus on seasonal lots and emphasize the importance of traceability, often highlighting specific producer relationships, such as their work with the Escobar Mesa family at Finca Samaria in Colombia. By maintaining these relationships, the roastery aims to ensure that growers are compensated fairly while providing consumers with information about the origin of their coffee.

Quality control is a significant component of the company's public-facing identity. Ember Coffee Co. reports that they subject their green coffee to laboratory testing at IEH Analytical Laboratories in Seattle, utilizing ISO 17025 accredited methods to screen for ochratoxin A and aflatoxins. This practice is presented as a commitment to food safety and product quality, distinguishing their offerings from commodity-grade coffee. The company maintains that any lots failing to meet their internal quality standards are not roasted for sale.

In the regional market, Ember Coffee Co. has achieved notable recognition, having been voted the best coffee in Minnesota by the Star Tribune’s 'Minnesota's Best' awards for multiple consecutive years, from 2023 through 2026. This accolade has helped solidify their reputation within the local restaurant and coffee shop scene. The business operates primarily through direct-to-consumer sales via their website, offering subscriptions and a variety of single-origin and blended coffees, alongside brewing equipment.

The company’s educational efforts are led by the Berrys, who publish content on their website regarding coffee history, brewing techniques, and industry standards. Their narrative consistently emphasizes the transition of coffee from a commodity to a craft, positioning their roasting methods as a way to highlight the inherent characteristics of the bean rather than masking them with dark, bitter roast profiles. This focus on 'origin-forward' roasting is central to their brand identity.

As of their most recent updates, Ember Coffee Co. continues to operate out of Big Lake, maintaining a focus on the intersection of hospitality and technical roasting. While the coffee industry features other entities with similar names—such as the Portland-based Ember Roast Coffee Co. founded in 2014—the Minnesota-based Ember Coffee Co. remains distinct in its specific branding, air-roasting methodology, and regional award history.