Portland, Oregon – Pastime Coffee, a Portland-based specialty coffee roaster, has officially transitioned into full-scale production with the grand opening of its dedicated 1,000-square-foot roastery. Situated in a former flower shop in Northeast Portland, this strategic expansion signifies a significant leap for the company, enabling enhanced efficiency and capacity to better serve its growing wholesale and retail clientele. The new facility is poised to become a hub for quality coffee production, embodying Pastime Coffee’s commitment to consistency, producer relationships, and community engagement.
A New Era of Production: The Roastery Unveiled
At the heart of the new Pastime Coffee roastery is a state-of-the-art Sivetz SRM-15 fluid-bed roaster, boasting a 15-kilogram capacity. This advanced piece of equipment is complemented by a VortX EcoFilter, an innovative emissions control system that utilizes atomized water for exhaust treatment, offering an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional gas-powered afterburners. This choice underscores Pastime Coffee’s dedication to sustainable operational practices.
The roastery’s design prioritizes day-to-day operational efficiency. Founder Justin Dedini emphasized this approach, stating, "Everyone likes to overestimate how much space they need, because what if you need more? And it’s really at the sacrifice of day-to-day efficiency in production, so we did the opposite. We were like, what’s the smallest space we can get away with so we can be efficient but also have the tools and the back stock of coffee and things that we need to operate day-to-day without any friction?" This philosophy has resulted in a thoughtfully designed space where every element is geared towards seamless workflow.
Logistical considerations have also been meticulously addressed. A forklift facilitates the movement of green coffee beans through a convenient garage door at the front of the facility, and a dedicated parking spot in the paved backyard ensures smooth deliveries and pickups. This practical approach to space utilization is a hallmark of Pastime Coffee’s operational strategy.
Roots in Portland’s Coffee Scene: A Foundation of Expertise
Justin Dedini’s journey to establishing Pastime Coffee is deeply intertwined with Portland’s vibrant coffee culture. Before launching his own venture, Dedini honed his roasting skills at renowned Portland institutions such as Heart Coffee and Roseline Coffee. His early experiences also included managing a now-defunct cafe in Northwest Portland, where he became an early adopter and client of Buckman Coffee Factory, a shared roastery space. He returned to Buckman in 2024 to launch Pastime Coffee, leveraging the supportive environment and community he had come to know.
"I know the Buckman people really well, and when I decided to start Pastime they were so enthusiastically accepting of the project," Dedini shared. "The community there is so great. The biggest thing that I miss about being in Buckman is the community aspect of it, but [Pastime] has grown to a point where it’s starting to get a little bit uncomfortable in the shared space." This sentiment highlights the natural progression of a growing business seeking dedicated space to meet its evolving needs.
Expanding the Team and Vision: Erica Schwager Joins Pastime Coffee
Erica Schwager, Co-Owner of Pastime Coffee, brought a wealth of experience to the company, joining just over a year after Dedini founded it. Previously a colleague at Roseline Coffee, Schwager’s background includes extensive work in management and training at Gimme! Coffee in New York. Upon moving to Portland, she further enriched her expertise at local coffee leaders such as Nossa Familia, Roseline Coffee, and Coava Coffee, holding key training and administrative positions.
Currently, Schwager plays a pivotal role in Pastime Coffee’s production roasting and wholesale sales. Simultaneously, she leads operations at Thatcher’s Coffee, a cafe located across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington, which Pastime Coffee acquired in 2025. The acquisition of Thatcher’s marked a significant expansion for Pastime, extending its reach into a new market and integrating an established local business into its portfolio. The former owner of Thatcher’s had previously engaged with Dedini and Schwager as a wholesale customer of Roseline Coffee, establishing a foundational relationship that facilitated the acquisition.
A Commitment to Continuity: The Thatcher’s Coffee Acquisition
The acquisition of Thatcher’s Coffee occurred concurrently with the cafe’s 15th anniversary, a testament to its enduring presence in the Vancouver community. Pastime Coffee has demonstrated a thoughtful approach to integrating Thatcher’s, intentionally preserving its distinct identity and operational integrity.
"It’s not ever going to be a Pastime cafe. It’s a great shop with its own built-in community, its own built-in vibe. It’s really dialed, high volume," Dedini explained. "We really didn’t want to mess with that equation, and we wanted to continue to serve the people that like going to that shop for what it is." This commitment to maintaining the unique character of Thatcher’s Coffee reflects Pastime’s understanding of community-driven businesses and its respect for established customer bases. The acquisition is expected to bolster Pastime’s overall capacity and market presence, allowing for cross-promotional opportunities and shared operational efficiencies.
Ethical Sourcing and Producer Partnerships: A Cornerstone of Pastime Coffee
The dedication to continuity extends to Pastime Coffee’s green coffee sourcing philosophy. The company places a strong emphasis on fostering long-term relationships with producers, prioritizing repeat purchases and price stability for farmers. This commitment is a direct reflection of Dedini’s vision for a more equitable and sustainable coffee supply chain.
"We’re working toward partnering with communities and single producers to provide some stability with good pricing and buying a whole lot," Dedini stated. "The more we can buy a single producer’s entire harvest, the more we can have price stability for them and be a consistent buyer year over year." This approach aims to create a more predictable income stream for coffee farmers, mitigating the volatility often associated with commodity markets and empowering producers to invest in their farms and communities.
To facilitate these direct relationships and ensure logistical efficiency, Pastime Coffee collaborates with reputable importers such as Shared Source, Atlantic Specialty Coffee, and ICT Coffee. These partnerships provide crucial support for sourcing and logistics, including the shipment of meticulously selected coffees that Dedini procures directly from producers.
"We go to great lengths to make sure all of our relationships have consistency," Dedini affirmed. "We try to be a reliable partner for everyone along the supply chain." This holistic approach to supply chain management underscores Pastime Coffee’s dedication to transparency and mutual benefit.
Future Outlook: Expansion and Community Engagement
With its new production roastery now fully operational, Pastime Coffee is looking towards the future with a clear strategic vision. The company plans to offer cuppings by appointment, providing an opportunity for industry professionals and coffee enthusiasts to engage directly with their product and expertise. Furthermore, Pastime is exploring the possibility of a limited-hours pop-up coffee cart in the roastery’s open garage bay, creating a unique and accessible point of connection with the local community.
However, the primary focus remains on the continued growth of the roasting business and serving its partners with unparalleled consistency and quality. "Our goal with having our own production space is to serve our wholesale and retail partners better, more consistently and more predictably," Dedini concluded. "This space will allow us to do that more effectively, and we want to just keep doing what we’re doing and doing it the best we can."
The establishment of this new roastery marks a pivotal moment for Pastime Coffee. It signifies not just an expansion of physical space and equipment, but a deeper commitment to its core values: quality, sustainability, ethical sourcing, and strong community partnerships. As Pastime Coffee continues to grow, its Portland roastery stands as a testament to its ambition and dedication to shaping a more robust and responsible future for specialty coffee. The company’s strategic expansion, coupled with its unwavering focus on producer relationships and operational excellence, positions it for continued success in the competitive coffee landscape. The integration of Thatcher’s Coffee further solidifies its presence and reach, creating new avenues for growth and customer engagement across the Pacific Northwest.
