Upper Left Roasters: Pacific Northwest Craft Roasting with Global Single-Origin Depth
Upper Left Roasters is a West Coast craft roaster whose CoffeeByMe catalog demonstrates a clear commitment to origin diversity and thoughtful blend construction. With six single-origin coffees and six blends, they deliver a well-rounded offering that runs from delicate washed naturals through medium-dark espresso-forward profiles to a robust dark roast.
The single-origin lineup spans Rwanda, Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala, with two distinct lots sourced from the same Rwandan women's cooperative — one fully washed, showcasing stone fruit, white grape, and honey with a clean profile, and one natural-process expression delivering black cherry, dark chocolate, and wild blackberry with a jammy sweetness. That side-by-side contrast of processing method from a shared cooperative is exactly the kind of discovery that CoffeeByMe's AI recommendation tool is designed to surface for curious drinkers. A natural-processed lot from women producers in Mexico adds cocoa nib, dried cherry, and honeysuckle character, rounding out a single-origin tier where women-led sourcing is a consistent thread.
Their blends are equally deliberate. A floral, fruit-forward Ethiopian-sourced blend — drawing from Sidama and Limmu regions — offers sweet vanilla and golden raspberry for versatile everyday brewing, while an all-Guatemalan blend anchored in Huehuetenango brings milk chocolate, nougat, and apple. For espresso drinkers, a South American and Ethiopian espresso-forward blend delivers chocolate, cherry, and orange zest through a slightly hotter roast that opens up sweetness in the shot.
Single Origins
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Yerba Mujeres, Mexico | Medium | Cocoa NibHoneysuckleDried Cherry | $27.00 |
| Nyampinga, Rwanda Natural | Medium | Wild BlackberryDark ChocolateBlack Cherry | $24.00 |
| Nyampinga, Rwanda Fully Washed | Medium | HoneyGrahamStone FruitWhite Grape | $24.00 |
Blends
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Daze Summer Blend | Medium Light | Stone FruitVanillaMelon | $25.00 |
| Espresso | Medium Dark | Orange ZestCherryChocolate | $23.00 |
| Ladd's | Medium | PearCaramelNavel Orange | $23.00 |
Roast Profile & Flavor Range
Upper Left Roasters concentrates its catalog in the medium-to-medium-dark range (roast levels 3–4), producing coffees with rich sweetness, fruit character, and body without tipping into roast-dominant dark territory — except for the deliberately bold dark roast blend at level 5. Natural-process coffees are a particular strength, showing up in four of six single origins and delivering expressive berry, chocolate, and dried-fruit profiles. Prices are tightly clustered between $22 and $30, making it easy to explore the full lineup without financial strain.
Why Buy Upper Left Roasters
Women producer focus: Two single origins — a lot from women producers in Mexico and both lots from a Rwandan women's cooperative — back quality and equity in the supply chain simultaneously.
Processing-method comparison: The two lots from the same Rwandan women's cooperative — one washed, one natural — offer a rare side-by-side opportunity to taste how processing transforms the same origin; perfect for coffee education and CoffeeByMe's taste-matching tool.
Complete blend range: From the fruit-and-floral Ethiopian-sourced blend to the slow-roasted bold dark roast, every roast preference from medium to dark is addressed without compromise.
Consistent value: With most products between $22 and $24 per 10.1oz, Upper Left delivers specialty-quality craft roasting at accessible prices across the board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Upper Left Roasters located?
Upper Left Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster based in Portland, OR.
What does Upper Left Roasters specialize in?
Upper Left Roasters concentrates its catalog in the medium-to-medium-dark range (roast levels 3–4), producing coffees with rich sweetness, fruit character, and body without tipping into roast-dominant dark territory — except for the deliberately bold dark roast blend at level 5.
Where can I buy Upper Left Roasters coffee?
You can browse Upper Left Roasters's coffees on CoffeeByMe and click through to buy directly from the roaster, or visit Upper Left Roasters's own website.
