Stumptown is a Portland-based coffee company that has played a key role in the rise of the third wave of coffee beans. The company crafts several delicious whole-bean varieties as well as individual bottles of cold brew.
Hair Bender is Stumptown’s most popular blend, with a flavor that’s cherry-sweet and rich, like fudge. Other popular choices include Holler Mountain, House Blend, and decaffeinated Trapper Creek.
Although Stumptown Coffee is pricier than some brands sold in supermarkets, not outrageously. What’s more, when you taste the quality in every sip, you’ll understand why the price is worth it.
History of Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Stumptown was founded in Portland in 1999 by Duane Sorenson. But he sold it in 2011 after opening additional locations across town and across the country.
They brew their cold brew with a Filtron. Baristas at each cafe start the overnight cold brew process by adding ten pounds of coffee and several gallons of water to a bucket. A paper filter, thick wool filter, and mesh filter were added to strain the grounds.
Moreover, the coffee was left to brew all night long, and they would drain out the concentrate in the morning.
Operations
Starbucks has over 31,000 stores globally, while Stumptown Coffee had fewer than 15 cafes nationally before the pandemic hit. Those cafes were in Portland (four), New York City (three), Los Angeles (two), and Chicago, Seattle, or New Orleans (one each).
Furthermore, the company sells its coffee in 4,000 supermarkets nationwide, including Whole Foods, Kroger’s, and specialty stores. It also sells to over 2,000 independent coffee shops.
Best Coffee Products by Stumptown Coffee Roasters
1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee – Hair Bender
Hair Bender is their most celebrated blend. Interestingly, it’s made from coffees grown in various regions that create a sweet and balanced flavor profile with notes of citrus, dark chocolate, and raisin. They are 100% Arabica coffee.
Stumptown Hair Bender was the first blend Duane Sorenson ever made. Additionally, it is an exotic blend of coffee beans from three major growing regions: Central and South America, East Africa, and Indonesia. The different blends of beans create a harmonious flavor profile of sweet citrus, milk chocolate, and caramel.
2. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee – French Roast
Stumptown’s French Roast is a classic dark cup, bringing incredibly layered flavors with its deep roast. Furthermore, this blend of organic Central and South American coffees is roasted to bring out the beans’ sweetness.
If you’re a fan of French Roast, you should try adding a splash of cream. Although it tastes great black, the coffee is equally delicious when served with cream.
3. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee – Holler Mountain
Rounding out our dark-roasted lineup, Stumptown Holler Mountain is a full-bodied blend that combines chocolatey Latin American textures with the brightness of fine east African beans.
Furthermore, like all their coffees, it comes vacuum-packed in a one-way valve bag to lock in freshness.
4. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean Coffee – Founder’s Blend
Stumptown Founder’s Blend is the perfect way to start your day. It’s a full-bodied, balanced coffee that keeps you energized all morning.
Moreover, Founder’s Blend features coffees from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico—this special blend is crafted to rotate throughout the year, so you can always count on its sunshine-like flavor.
Coffee Shop Locations
1. Ace Hotel Portland
Situated in the lobby of the Ace Hotel, Stumptown Ace opened in 2007 to become a Portland staple. With Powell’s Books right down the street and tons of great restaurants and shops nearby, it’s a great starting point for exploring Portland.
Address
1026 SW HARVEY MILK ST, PORTLAND, OR 97205
Timings
- WEEKDAYS 630AM-5PM
- WEEKENDS 7AM-5PM
2. Belmont
Since 2001, the Belmont Cafe has been a quintessential neighborhood spot. Hence on your way to work or grabbing a late-day pick-me-up, you can expect friendly vibes with great coffee, art, music, and locally made treats.
Address
3356 SE BELMONT ST, PORTLAND, OR 97214
Timings
- WEEKDAYS 6:30AM-5PM
- WEEKENDS 7AM-5PM
3. Division
Swing by the original Stumptown roastery on Division Street in Portland, Oregon. Moreover, you may even get to see their in-house roaster hard at work!
Address
4525 SE DIVISION ST, PORTLAND, OR 97206
Timings
- WEEKDAYS 630AM-5PM
- WEEKENDS 730AM-5PM
4. Downtown
Located in the heart of downtown, their flagship cafe is a great place to meet friends or even hang out alone. And every month, they host new art shows courtesy of their Artist Fellowship series.
Address
128 SW 3RD AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97204
Timings
- WEEKDAYS 7AM-3PM
- WEEKENDS 8AM-4PM
5. Stumptown PDX
Located inside the Portland International Airport, Stumptown PDX offers a warm welcome or a spirited send-off to visitors and citizens of our hometown.
Address
7000 NE AIRPORT WAY, PORTLAND, OR 97218
Timings
- WEEKDAYS 5AM-2PM
- WEEKENDS 630AM-2PM
Conclusion
As you may have guessed, the title says it all. Stumptown Coffee Roasters is the best in business…at least according to their loyal customers. What’s interesting to me is that they never wanted to be the best in business. In fact, when they first began selling their product, they had far more modest expectations—but a few things happened along the way.
Unlike most companies who spell out their goals on day one and work hard towards making them a reality, Stumptown Coffee Roasters has taken a different path. This one might interest you. Perhaps it will even strike a chord somewhere inside of you too!
In short, Stumptown goes above and beyond what’s expected.
