In this third episode of The Standard Fare, we’re talking with Joe Harrison, co-owner of Farmer’s Union Coffee Roasters in Eugene. Joe discusses the pros and cons of owning a local business, and the challenges and rewards of providing the best cup of coffee in town.

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.