The Epic Story
Farmers Union
We’re a small batch coffee roastery located in Eugene, Oregon and we roast great coffee with love for the common good.
152 W. 5th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401 6am-5pm Weekdays 7am-5pm Weekends
Good coffee makes the world a better place
Our mission is as much about helping you find your perfect cup as it is about making sure that every day, we're giving back in some way or another.
We're not just a coffee shop. Or a coffee roaster. We're your neighbors, We're a place to come together, build community and inspire each other. We believe that good coffee impacts so much and so many.
We believe good coffee changes everything. It changes you, the person drinking it. Because finding the right beans, developing the skill and appreciation to brew them just right, makes you a happier person. And we believe that when you're genuinely happy, you can do amazing things. Good coffee changes farmers. It's true! When you think about it, harvesting the finest coffee doesn't just happen—it takes great care and ingenuity from entire families and communities for generations. We think that's pretty cool. And we want to support them to live out their passion. We think coffee roasting is a meticulous art that brings people joy, and our job is to make you proud to call Eugene home.
We like to think of every aspect of our business as sustainable.
We've been lucky enough to see our work through the lens of the impact it can have. And, we're excited to share with you some of the things we do to reduce, reuse and recycle—and the impact they can have.
We think that doing small things with a lot of love can have a lot of impact on people and the world around us.
We believe that clean, renewable energy is the future.
Our rooftop solar array is our way of doing right by the environment and our customers. It heats our water and generates electrical power for EWEB in Eugene. This saves water and reduces our carbon footprint.
We're proud to say that we compost pretty much everything in our cafe.
We're proud to say that we're committed to using every bit of our coffee: from the grounds to the chaff. We compost all of our spent coffee grounds—which go on to make their way into local gardens—and we compost all of our food waste through the city of Eugene's "Love Food Not Waste" program.
We deliver coffee with an electric vehicle, in reusable containers
Food grade plastics are designed with an additive that prevents them from leaching into your coffee beans or other products. By using these bins, we're reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. We think it's worth it! And with our electric delivery vehicle, that's less CO2 going into the air. We're going the distance for sustainability.
We use fully compostable bags for 12oz retail coffee sales
Simply remove the tin tie, and label, and feed the rest to your pet worms.
If you bring your own cup, we'll give you a discount!
It's true! We're trying to get away from single-use plastics, and we want to make it easier for you to do the same. So if you bring your own cup, we'll give you a discount on your coffee!
Meet the Farmers Union Coffee Roasters Team.
We think that doing small things with a lot of love can have a lot of impact on people and the world around us.
We're a group of passionate coffee lovers who share a commitment to making the world a better place. We endeavor to continue to build relationships with coffee farmers who are using regenerative agricultural and permacultural techniques, zero input, growing their own compost material, etc... and pay them directly and well for their excellent, high quality coffee. We'd love to tell you more about how we do this—and how you can join us in making an impact on the world around us!
Joe Harrison, Co-founder & head roaster
Growing up in wine country, Joe knew many farmers and winemakers. His Dad loved to taste local wine, so they went on many tastings frequently.
Joe learned quickly that a lot of people who attended these events were not just there to sample the wine—they were there to make friends, too! They'd talk about their families, their hobbies, and all sorts of other things as they sipped their glasses.
Later in his life, he discovered that there was something else that people enjoyed doing together: drinking coffee!
Joe first fell in love with coffee while working at Alpen Sierra Coffee Company in South Lake Tahoe, where he began roasting on a break from college. They cupped a natural Ethiopian one day, and it changed his life.
After that, he moved to Portola Coffee Lab as a barista and then advanced to roasting with Portola. While there, he coached and competed in regional and national coffee competitions including the US Barista Championship and the US Brewers Cup. It was during this time that Scott Rao taught him an incredible amount about roasting and tasting coffee—and eventually they won Roast Magazine's Roaster of the Year award in 2015 at Portola Coffee Lab.
Mark Sheppard
I grew up in Oregon's Willamette Valley, surrounded by an abundance of agriculture. As a kid, I spent many days working in orchards picking apples, pears, peaches, and cherries.
I learned about growing and working with food—and as a result, I've always had a deep appreciation for the land and its bounty.
After studying permaculture, I became deeply interested in permacultural practices and how they relate to growing coffee. I've also been interested in the future of farming generally: what does it look like? How can we make it sustainable? What new technologies will be helpful? I've been in the business of coffee for over twenty years.
I started out working with some of the great early pioneers of specialty coffee—Blue Bottle and Stumptown. After two decades working with small, independently owned food businesses, helping open cafes, markets and event spaces, I eventually opened a successful coffee shop and bar in downtown Eugene called The Barn Light with my partner Thomas.
Thomas Pettus-Czar
Meet Thomas Pettus-Czar, a native Texan who found his new home in Eugene, Oregon. After studying art history at the University of Kansas, he landed here and promptly dropped out of school to pursue his dream of opening The Barn Light, a coffee shop and bar in downtown Eugene.
Thomas believes that small business owners have an obligation to do more than just run their businesses—they also have an obligation to work hard to improve their communities. He currently serves on several boards and committees in Eugene toward this end, and is a director at Northwest Community Credit Union.
Learn About Coffee
View all-
Why Single Origin Coffee is Worth It
When it comes to coffee, there’s a lot more to consider than just the price tag. You know that the sourcing and roasting of the beans play a huge role...
Why Single Origin Coffee is Worth It
When it comes to coffee, there’s a lot more to consider than just the price tag. You know that the sourcing and roasting of the beans play a huge role...
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The Chemistry of Flavor
Coffee is known for its rich and complex flavor, but did you know that coffee has more flavor compounds than even wine? That’s right, coffee is one of the most...
The Chemistry of Flavor
Coffee is known for its rich and complex flavor, but did you know that coffee has more flavor compounds than even wine? That’s right, coffee is one of the most...
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Lida Rivas and Her Wonderful Coffee Farm.
We’re excited to introduce our newest addition to Farmers Union Coffee Roasters.This single-origin specialty coffee comes from Narino Colombia. For the past 3 years, we have been actively sourcing direct-trade...
Lida Rivas and Her Wonderful Coffee Farm.
We’re excited to introduce our newest addition to Farmers Union Coffee Roasters.This single-origin specialty coffee comes from Narino Colombia. For the past 3 years, we have been actively sourcing direct-trade...
Group Cuppings