Micro-Roastery Coffee Headquarters

Micro-Roastery Coffee Headquarters

After two decades of building a local coffee roasting business, Coffee By Design had outgrown their humble facility. The company is founded on handcrafted, micro-roasting of farmer cooperative, sustainably grown coffees from around the world. Another important company goal is nurturing a strong relationship with the local community. With clientele in Maine and New England, they were ready to grow.

The program included 25,000 square feet, with the roastery, packaging and shipping designed for rapid roast-to-order production. It also included a public space, with a coffee bar and retail that connects to production, allowing the roasters to interact with the public. The roasters also train wholesale customers on a full range of new coffee equipment in the training room.

An existing 44,000 square foot warehouse in the Portland Bayside Industrial Zone was purchased and renovated, with the remaining space leased. The existing street elevation was unwelcoming, with twelve truck bays and a brick addition. Two truck bays were dedicated to shipping, one with a new ramp access for small vans. Bike racks are provided for employees. The existing brick addition with light on 3 sides was the natural location for the offices. Renovations with new insulation, windows, metal siding and lighting provides an industrial aesthetic and welcoming entrance.

The sky lit warehouse was designed for a flexible flow of coffee processing with the roasters as its centerpiece.  Racks of imported beans are adjacent to two state-of-the art coffee roasters, with precise controls that use 80% less fuel. Mixing, packaging and shipping are sequenced through the space.

The south facing Coffee Bar was transformed with insulated glass garage doors in two bays and a new storefront entrance into a gorgeous day-lighted room. A glass garage door provides a full view to the warehouse and roastery operation, connecting the public with the coffee process. The existing concrete floor was stained and polished by a local artesian. The triangular shaped coffee bar in the middle of the room by Prospect Design, has a vast array of ‘state of the art’ coffee grinding, dripping and brewing equipment.   Salvaged pine was used for the paneling of the coffee bar and the retail shelves. Bright colors enliven the walls and new LED lighting with motion sensors were used. Custom sconce lights and a floating ‘zeppelin’ illuminating the ordering counter, were designed and fabricated by the architect.