The Story
In 2012, after working in coffee in Boston, Martha’s Vineyard, San Francisco, and New York, Will and Kathleen Pratt found a home for Tandem Coffee Roasters in Portland, Maine.
The couple, who met as baristas at Espresso Royale and both put time in at Blue Bottle , were charmed by Portland after a tandem cycle around the coastal city charmed their socks off . The bicycle ride became more than just inspiration— after getting charmed by a tandem bicycle, the concept of “tandem” became the roastery’s official logo .
They built a cozy cafe and roastery in a 1930s brick building near their home in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland.
The roastery and shop fits into what was once the office of a Portland metal yard. Out back, in the former scrapyard, is Bunker Brewing Company. By 2014, the operation expanded with a second location in the West End: Tandem Coffee + Bakery , co-owned with Vien Dobui, a scratch bakery housed in an old gas station .
The bakery addition brought in Briana Holt, a born baker who has baked all over the island of Martha’s Vineyard and also learned a thing or 2 in NYC from her time at M. Wells and Pies and Thighs. Briana is also a recent James Beard nominee.
Will, Kathleen and Briana have been friends for almost 20 years. A bakery is something they had been scheming about doing together since they all lived in NYC back in 2011.
Sourcing & Relationships
Tandem feels passionate about sourcing at origin and working in partnership with small growers and specialty importers.
Their coffee sourcing process places a strong emphasis on sustainable farming, harvest, and labor practices. While their coffees do not carry the Fairtrade certification, they have meticulously crafted their approach to green buying to go above and beyond Fairtrade standards , consistently exceeding the Fairtrade minimum price of $1.80 per pound for green coffee by an average of 2-3 times .
Tandem Coffee sources beans from various regions, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Each region offers unique flavor profiles, and Tandem Coffee takes great care to highlight these differences in their roasts. They carefully select beans based on factors such as altitude, soil quality, and processing methods, ensuring that each batch of coffee meets their high standards.
Tandem sources directly from small growers and specialty importers, with seasonal single-origin offerings that highlight the inherent qualities of each bean.
The roastery demonstrates long-term commitment through environmental action. As a 1% For The Planet member, 1% of their annual sales are donated to environmental non-profits doing what they can to protect the future of our planet.
Tandem Coffee is also climate neutral certified, which means they offset their 2021 footprint by purchasing carbon credits to fund climate change solutions like smarter energy and happier forests.
Roasting Philosophy
Part of their coffee philosophy is recognizing that coffee, like all agricultural products, is seasonal. They roast small lots from talented growers when they’re available and buy them from year to year whenever possible.
Tandem is known for its meticulously roasted single-origin coffees and seasonal blends, each designed to highlight the inherent qualities of the bean. Whether it’s a washed Ethiopian bursting with floral notes or a smooth Colombian with caramel undertones, Tandem’s roast profiles are dialed in for balance, complexity, and drinkability.
At Tandem’s snug first location, Will and roaster Emily Pappo craft coffees for both cafés and a long list of wholesale accounts on a new Loring S15 Falcon roaster.
Roasting is a critical step in the coffee-making process, and Tandem Coffee takes it very seriously. They use a custom-built Probat roaster, which allows them to have precise control over the roasting process. This ensures that each batch of coffee is roasted to perfection, bringing out the unique flavors and aromas of the beans. Tandem Coffee roasts their beans in small batches, which allows them to closely monitor the roasting process and make adjustments as needed.
Their approach emphasizes showcasing rather than masking origin characteristics. They use a combination of traditional and modern roasting techniques, ensuring that each batch of coffee has a consistent and balanced flavor profile. The result is a cup of coffee that is rich, complex, and full of flavor.
What to Try
Effervescent, electric, and just plain cool, Time and Temperature is Tandem’s signature espresso blend. Perfect for dancing alone or with friends, it doubles as a delightful drip coffee.
Time and Temperature is Tandem’s signature espresso blend with crisp acidity and punchy sweetness, embodying “Spreading Joy” in every cup.
The Time and Temperature Blend is constantly changing components with fresh, seasonal coffees. It is currently comprised of coffees from Ethiopia and Colombia. Pulled as espresso, this coffee is rich and pillowy with notes of butterscotch, white chocolate, and red berries.
Beyond Time & Temperature, their year-round offerings include West End Blues (Traditional Espresso), Stoker (Kinda Dark), and La Piramide (Inzá, Colombia) . Tandem offers a rotating list of single-origin coffees and seasonal blends , with particular strength in Ethiopian offerings. Coffee enthusiasts consistently praise their Ethiopian selections for their outstanding fruit character that’s super smooth, with black tea as the prevailing platform, with hints of floral honey, red grape, and peach .
The bakery program adds another dimension to the experience. Their pastries range from cheddar-jalapeño biscuits to house-made focaccia sandwiches, and sweet and savory scones. And then there are the pies: peach-lime-tequila with salted crust, black pepper-plum with cornmeal crust, blueberry with almond crumb crust, and a coconut-almond cream pie.
What sets Tandem apart from other Portland coffee roasters is its brilliant pairing of coffee and scratch-made baked goods. Their Bakery location, housed in a converted 1960s gas station, is a cozy spot where you can sip an espresso alongside a legendary biscuit or gooey cinnamon bun. Every pastry is made in-house, using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The result is a genuinely elevated café experience where both the coffee and the food shine.