About SteffenMarkkus Coffee Roasters
SteffenMarkkus is a specialty roaster, driven by curiosity, knowledge sharing, and the enjoyment of extraordinary coffees.
Our Story
Honestly, we never thought we would find ourselves roasting coffee—the journey started because we were having trouble finding really good coffee that we could depend on to be consistent. The marketing and hype of some sources left us feeling woefully disappointed. As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention,” so we decided to explore roasting for ourselves. Sharing it with family and friends and getting feedback from them helped us fine-tune our sourcing and roasts. Along the way we discovered some really great coffees and learned how to source and consistently roast only the best specialty coffees. These discoveries also led to an awakening: that the dominant brands have trained our palates (over decades) to prefer uniformly, “over-roasted” coffees that lack the unique flavors embodied by the best coffees around the world.
Looking to break the mold around mass-produced, ho-hum coffee, our mission is to not only provide you with an exceptional experience through specialty coffee beans, but also to share what we learned to help you nurture and expand your own interest in coffee.
We thank you for joining us on this journey and hope you enjoy the ride!
At a Glance
- Founded: 2022 by Steve and Marcus
- Location: San Pedro, California (Los Angeles)
- What we roast: Specialty-grade single origins and blends, plus brewing cacao
- Freshness: Roasted after you order and shipped the day after roasting
- Memberships: Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Roasters Guild
- Ownership: Veteran- and minority-owned small business
How We Roast
Every coffee is roasted after you order it. To keep each roast consistent, we combine orders for the same coffee and roast level into batches of a consistent size, since batch size has a direct effect on how a roast develops.
Steve's background in engineering and science led him to build our roaster himself. It gives us precise control of drum speed and of the balance between conductive heat through the drum and convective heat from the airflow, with independent control of the heat applied to each. The result is highly consistent roasts from batch to batch.
Every roast is measured and logged. Steve is using that roast data to develop predictive control for drum roasters, so our consistency keeps improving.
We offer most coffees in light, medium and dark roasts because roast level changes the cup, and we'd rather help you choose than choose for you. Each product page explains how that coffee changes across roast levels and which brew methods suit each one.
How We Source
We buy specialty-grade green coffee through established importers, with a focus on smallholder producers and traceable origins. Our single origins change throughout the year as harvests come and go. We rarely offer the same lot two years running, so when a single origin sells out, it's usually gone for good and something new takes its place. Our blends, Vista del Oro and Espresso, stay on the menu year-round, and we adjust their components as needed to maintain the same flavors.
Our Promise
No stale shelf coffee and no hype. Just carefully sourced coffee, roasted for you, with the information you need to brew it well. If something isn't right with your order, contact us and we'll make it right.
