Becky Gross, President of Roseline Coffee
Brett Felchner, Head of Coffee Quality
1. Portland is a city brewing with lots of roasters. What makes Roseline a company you are passionate about?
Becky:
Roseline was born in 2013, a time before the more recent coffee boom of micro-roasters in 2016 that now defines the Portland coffee scene. We pride ourselves in being among the first and helping to set the standard for specialty coffee here in Portland. We've always been driven by our passion for coffee and level of hospitality in our cafes.
Brett:
I feel that Roseline's core beliefs about quality and consistency in their coffee program align with my personal growth and journey in coffee, and it's become a perfect home for me. I'm excited to see this continuation of Portland coffee growing! There's a seriousness and deep appreciation for always highlighting the inherent flavor and sweetness of each coffee that comes from the unique terroir of the land at the farm level. Once roasted, we do everything in our control to brew and extract the coffee with clear attention and focus to ensure that we do justice to all the hard work that was laid out beforehand.
2. Can you share a bit about the history of Roseline? How did Roseline get its name?
Becky:
Roseline was founded in 2013 and quickly grew to become the best new roaster in town, and with Portland having a lot of bigger name roasters in town, we were welcomed with open arms as something new, fresh and exciting. Our wholesale program started to grow consistently, and now we're operating three of our own cafes and about to open a new cafe inside our Roastery/Headquarters this fall.
3. There are a lot of exciting changes at Roseline. What is all the buzz about?
Becky:
We're really excited about the shift in ownership and management. We have recently brought in some new team members whose experience in the coffee world will help Roseline with this next phase of growth. It feels like the family is only growing larger and that we are all bringing a lot of positive insight into this new rendition of Roseline.
4. Roseline was one of the first companies to roast on a Proaster, a new roasting machine from South Korea. Why Proaster?
Brett:
Proaster is a fantastic company, and they've truly built an amazing roaster! It has extremely responsive controls and a large amount of variability when it comes to gas and airflow adjustments. Being able to make those really minute tweaks to a profile is really important and helps us to showcase all of our offerings even more.
5. Tell us about how you source your amazing coffees at Roseline.
Brett:
We work extremely hard to find the best green coffee possible. That process starts with testing numerous sample roasts of fresh crop coffees from a few trusted importers to ensure we are only buying what is fresh and is tasting dynamic, and vibrant. We also go directly to the source, meeting with our producers directly at origin. Getting the chance to tour their farms and meet with their families, tasting their product, and build on direct conversations has only strengthened our relationships and makes for better coffee. It's because of these relationships with individual producers and importers that allows us to source the best product possible. As an added bonus, when all this takes place and is productive, we're then able to see how the coffee develops and improves season over season.
6. What do you love most about the coffee business? And what do you want to change?
Brett:
The coffee industry is one that doesn't have a final bullseye, and that's what is so exciting about it. Every day is a day to do things better and improve our systems and coffees. That is what makes the industry so rewarding, and there isn't much that I would want to see change other than more appreciation for all the hard work and the long journey that the actual green coffee takes. If you're already appreciative of your cup, we salute you!
7. What would you be doing if you were not in coffee?
Becky:
I would be in sales one way or another. I love to partner and provide solutions to people.
Brett:
I love music, especially in its physical form. Owning or operating a record store that also doubled as a listening bar would be something that I'd really enjoy.
8. What do you do on your days off? What are you drinking on a Sunday morning?
Becky:
I love to power walk my neighborhood and enjoy the scenery. Sunday morning is my favorite morning - I put on some vinyl, drink Roseline Coffee, of course, and hang with my cats, Steve and Wyatt.
Brett:
Days off are a chance for me to really experience our product like our customers do. Brewing pour-overs in the kitchen, then moving over to the living room to put on a record and work on a puzzle with a mug beside me. Then I'm most likely hopping on my bike and looking to hit up a record store and then maybe to a local brewery or winery to enjoy some other beverages and take on my girlfriend or buddies in some cribbage.
9. What music do you play in the roastery?
Brett:
The music in the roastery is the second-best thing (after the smell!). On any given day, it could be some jazz, indie, soul, Japanese city pop, or anything in between. Keeping it constantly rotating makes for a fresh feeling every day in the roastery.
Becky:
I always know what type of day it's going to be based on the music selection. It keeps the mood light and a fresh feeling.
10. What coffee are you excited about right now?
Brett:
We’re extremely excited about a few new offerings that just hit the website. We have a beautiful Pink Bourbon lot from Colombia, Two fresh Crop Ethiopians; Ethiopia Mulish, and Ethiopia Reko that are summertime fan-favorites! The blend I’m the most excited about is a new Poolside. It’s the best coffee to make iced and sip outside (preferably next to a pool).
The top coffee brands we feature share a commitment to transparency from farm to cup! Many of the roasters we interview prize organic shade grown coffee for its environmental and flavor benefits.
