Torrance, Calif., 13 Oct - Farmer Bros. Co. announced that Coffee Bean Intl. (CBI), a wholly owned subsidiary, has opened its new 125,000-foot coffee roasting and office facility in Portland, Ore.
“The new facility will enable Coffee Bean to meet growing demand and to improve our operating efficiencies and productivity without compromising our commitment to hand-crafted coffees,” said Patrick Criteser, President & CEO of Coffee Bean Intl. The Northeast Portland facility replaces the building in Northwest Portland that CBI had occupied for more than 30 years.
CBI is well known for its traditional artisan approach to roasting. The new facility is designed to enable CBI to continue roasting and air cooling small batches of its unique blends of green coffee beans.
CBI will be the first coffee roaster in the Pacific Northwest to be headquartered in a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building. The new location is a repurposed building that incorporates environmentally-friendly features, including high energy efficiency, a bio-swale for rain collection, and recycled and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) materials.
Portland Mayor-elect Sam Adams presided over the grand opening of the facility. The event included the ceremonial cutting of a coffee bag burlap ribbon and was attended by more than 100 people.