Adam McGovern and Aric Miller founded Sterling Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon in 2010, building the brand around a strong emphasis on design and meticulous attention to detail. They roast on a Giesen with a six kilo capacity, keeping batches small and hand roasted, and maintain a San Franciscan sample roaster for decaf and experimental work. The team includes Coffee Quality Institute Q Graders, and the roastery holds itself to a standard where baristas will toss a shot if the ristretto or foam does not meet expectations. Sterling sources ethically, working closely with farmers for both flavor and sustainability.