ABOUT OUR APPROACH
Our Story
All great things take time to cultivate no matter the inherent talent, the passion, or time spent studying.
Still Vibrato is no different and has been numerous years in the making. In some ways the process is akin to building a splendid wooden ship. All the hours spent making espresso for others was in essence building a foundation. Years of roasting, visiting coffee shops, and attending workshops was simply filling the toolbox for all to come. In 2016 after relocating from Portland’s coffee mecca to Bend’s high desert we raised the sails, opening our coffee roastery and eventually an espresso bar.
It is through sourcing and roasting that we seek to understand the science, unravel the mystery, and strive for excellence.
Sourcing
Sourcing is the process of purchasing coffees throughout the year. It is ongoing and includes sample roasting, cupping, and building an understanding of harvest cycles and shipping logistics. Living in Portland and being surrounded by import companies truly helped facilitate our entry into the sourcing realm. By being involved in the city and getting to know other coffee professionals, we were able to build alliances that we’re still cultivating today.
Our approach has been to work with importers who have similar values and who specialize in specific coffee regions. We strive to purchase coffees when they are in season and fresh. It’s relatable to buying specific fruits and vegetables because they are in season. Being connected to the cycle of harvests around the world keeps coffee interesting and tasting the same coffees from one year to the next is incredible to experience.
Roasting
The roasting process perfectly encapsulates our namesake: the merging of stillness and motion. Our roasters alternate between periods of placid observation and precise adjustments as they guide the journey of the green beans towards their unique profiles. Miniscule shifts in airflow and conductive heat have profound effects on the final cup. With each tasting we learn, feeding a continuous feedback loop that brings us closer and closer to the ever elusive “perfect roast”.
The flavor of a coffee is the product of its origin, varietal, and processing method. Through roasting, we are able to curate a glorious balance of all the latent magic within each bean. If a coffee has an inherent chocolatey tone, we may adjust our roasting to produce a syrupy rich body to better align with the cocoa note. Likewise, with a fruitier coffee, we may choose to present it as jammy in the wintertime or juicy in the summer months. It is a truly engaging process with limitless possibility.
