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 from the Nyampinga women's cooperative in Rwanda alone—a fully washed Bourbon showcasing stone fruit, white grape, and honey, and a natural-process expression of the same cooperative with black cherry, dark chocolate, and wild blackberry. That side-by-side contrast of processing method from a shared origin is exactly the kind of discovery that CoffeeByMe's AI recommendation tool is designed to surface for curious drinkers. The La Yerba Mujeres Mexico is another standout: natural-processed coffees from women producers with cocoa nib, dried cherry, and honeysuckle character.
Their blends are equally deliberate. Abyssinian draws from Ethiopia's Sidama and Limmu regions for a sweet, floral, and fruit-forward versatile cup, while the Chapina is an all-Guatemalan blend anchored in Huehuetenango with milk chocolate, nougat, and apple. For espresso drinkers, the aptly named Espresso blend from South America and Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Platanillo, Pura Fruta | Medium | MolassesFigBrown Sugar FinishJuicy Pomegranate | $26.00 |
| Highland Select Reserva, Natural | Medium Dark | Dark ChocolateCandy StrawberryChilled Red | $30.00 |
| 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 |
| Andino, Peru | Medium Dark | Stone FruitDark ChocolateHazelnut | $23.00 |
Blends
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | Medium Dark | Orange ZestCherryChocolate | $23.00 |
| Ladd's | Medium | PearCaramelNavel Orange | $23.00 |
| Decaf | Medium | Baked OrangeMaltyHazelnut Brittle | $23.00 |
| Industrial Dark Roast | Dark | CompoteMolassesBaker's Chocolate | $22.00 |
| Chapina, Guatemala | Medium | AppleMilk ChocolateNougat | $23.00 |
| Abyssinian, Ethiopia | Medium | VanillaFloralGolden Raspberry | $24.00 |
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 Industrial Dark Roast. Natural-process coffees are a particular strength, showing up in three 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 featured single origins—La Yerba Mujeres from Mexico and both Nyampinga lots from Rwanda—come directly from women-led cooperatives, backing both quality and equity in the supply chain.
Processing-method comparison: The Nyampinga washed vs. natural pair is a rare opportunity to taste the same cooperative's beans side by side under different processes—perfect for coffee education and CoffeeByMe's taste-matching tool.
Complete blend range: From the fruit-and-floral Abyssinian to the slow-roasted Industrial Dark, 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.
