About Open Seas Coffee Roasters
Here at Open Seas Coffee we define ourselves by our three core values; intentional, interconnected, and quality driven. From sourcing and roasting to training and product delivery, we filter everything we do through these values.
We were dreamt up in 2014 by Bryce & Erica Roszell while they were living in Laos picking coffee cherries with friends, and after hearing about the struggles of coffee farming families it sparked an idea. After returning to the States in 2015, Bryce opened Open Seas Coffee and committed to sourcing coffees with the care and intentionality the farmers deserve.
The name gives homage to the desire to do business a little differently, to chart our own path, and when you’re on the open seas you can do just that.
Photos by Jose Tello | Roasting coffee
The Crew
Since 2015, we have grown from Bryce, a team of one, to a team of four and growing! Get to know our management team below.
Bryce Roszell, Owner & Coffee Director
Hannah Wilson, Chief Operating Officer
Andrew Wackett, Head Roaster & Production Manager
From left to right; Bryce, Andrew, Hannah
Awards
We have the pleasure of roasting some truly brilliant coffees that are delivered to us from origin pre-loaded with potential. These awards may have our name on them, but we consider them shared with the producers who make it possible.
America’s Best Espresso; Baltimore 2018 (Bronze), National 2019 (Top 12)
Golden Bean; 2019 (Bronze x 2), 2022 (Bronze), 2024 (Bronze x 4)
Photo by Jose Tello | Sourcing coffees through the cupping process
Values
Looking for Fair Trade, Organic, and other such certifications? We source a little differently at Open Seas so we came up with our own set of definitions to best communicate the values attached to our coffees. You can find these icons and values in the details section of applicable coffees!
10-4 Farmers
For every 12oz bag of Open Seas Coffee you purchase, we invest 10% of the profits back into sustainable coffee farming projects and communities. For more information and the latest data, visit the 10-4 Farmers Initiative page on our website.
Direct Relationship
We at Open Seas Coffee have a direct relationship and line of connection with the person or people responsible for creating the coffee we receive. It may be the people milling and creating the specific lots from smallholder producers or even directly to the farm owner. If we aren't directly in contact with these people ourselves, it's not considered a direct relationship.
Farmed Organic
Coffee that is farmed naturally, without any chemical involvement and has certifications to show it. These certifications are quite expensive so we typically only see them in larger cooperative groups where the producers band together to afford it. It's worth noting that almost all of our producing partners are farming this way, but not all have the certifications.
Environmental Action
Coffee from producing partners who go above and beyond common practices specifically to reduce their impact on surrounding ecosystems. We're working with producers who practice water reduction and filtering, to manual pruning and regenerative farming, to buying rainforests and turning them back into public reserves, and more.
Social Enterprise
These are coffees that not only pay livable wages, but go above and beyond to aid in their community's well-being. We're working with producers who are building wells, running water lines into remote communities, facilitating low-interest loans, building schools and education programs, supporting women empowerment efforts, and even clothing and caring for their surrounding communities.
