ZBEANZ History
Stanley and Doreen Zemble, Coffee Roasters
Nothing was more legally heady than the smell of rich, freshly roasted coffee wafting through the streets of Philadelphia. Being around great coffee was just something we took for granted when we were growing up. We suspected it even ran in our veins.
Getting to Portland took us a few years and was prefaced by several moves around the country. But upon our arrival we were immediately drawn to the rich strongly-brewed coffee so prevalent here, so different from the ones in Philly. We made it a point to frequent the many cafes and restaurants which served it, soon developing very discriminating palates for the savory nuances each coffee displayed. The Northwest, with its rain-washed air and dedication to environmental preservation, fit perfectly with our own ethics, and we made it our home.
From time to time we had toyed with the idea of roasting and selling our own beans. Despite the great flavors already available in the Northwest, we were convinced we could do it even better—with more consistency and smoothness, and without the bitterness that is so easily created by just the slightest over-roasting. But we always let the idea drop in favor of continuing our full-time jobs as elementary school teacher and textile designer. We wanted the chance to work a little longer in jobs we loved, as well as to ensure our daughter, Robin, was out of college and on her way to becoming her own success.
But a sobering illness intervened, reminding us how quickly life can change and rob us of our options. One cold, stormy night after some long conversations while vacationing in Canada, we agreed the time was right to take a risk and follow what was becoming our true passion—coffee roasting. We’d start by doing it in our off-hours, growing it slowly to maintain an even consistency as our reputation spread and business increased.
We traveled to visit other roasters and studied their processes, then stayed up late to read everything else we could find on the subject. Soon we were experimenting with tiny batches of different beans and various techniques, developing the characteristics of our own special roasts. We held coffee tastings with groups of friends, who often said our coffees were the best they’ve ever had.
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Today coffee roasting has become a true labor of love for both of us. We use a 3-kilo Diedrich roaster to process a variety of blends and roasts that speak with depth and richness to complement the Northwest lifestyle. We carefully purchase only top-grade Arabica beans grown in the highlands surrounding the Equator, blending them to create pure, clean flavors. Then we roast them perfectly in small batches to ensure the aromatic oils remain at their peak, before packaging them in environmentally friendly bags and delivering them straight to you!
In keeping with our own ethics, as well as those in the Portland community, ZBEANZ makes sure our processes and our materials are all ecologically sound. We hope you, too, will honor the fabulous lifestyle we have available to us while you enjoy our vibrant coffees.