About Ohori’s Coffee Roasters

Ohori’s Coffee Roasters is a pioneering small-batch roastery founded in Santa Fe in 1984 by Susan Ohori, who trained in the tradition of Alfred Peet. For over four decades, we’ve roasted by hand in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, becoming New Mexico’s longest-serving specialty coffee roaster. We remain deeply rooted in Santa Fe — devoted to this work and committed to mastery. Dark roasting, done right.

Who We Are

For more than 40 years, Ohori’s has refined the craft of high-altitude roasting at 7,000 feet above sea level. Our coffees are known for bold, expressive dark roasts and balanced medium roasts — developed with concentration, patience, and care.We roast more than 30 distinctive coffees: single origins, organic offerings, cultivated blends, and decafs — yes, we truly value a good decaf — each selected for character and integrity. Every batch is matched to a roast profile that honors the bean’s natural strengths rather than forcing it into trends. Consistency is our signature. Not fashion. Not flash.Just coffee, roasted attentively and with purpose.

Small-Batch, Seasoned

We roast 20–30 pounds at a time in our vintage Probat UG15 drum roaster — the same seasoned machine that has shaped our coffee for decades. No other roaster in Santa Fe can claim a drum with this history.That seasoning matters. It allows our team to craft distinct roast levels across 30+ coffees with precision and repeatability. Each batch is guided by sensory awareness: aroma, color, sound, temperature. Our roasters rely on experience — not automation — to finish every roast at its peak.Coffee by sight. By scent. By ear. By taste.

Roasting at 7,000 Feet

Santa Fe’s elevation shapes how we roast. Lower air pressure changes heat transfer and airflow, allowing careful control as the beans develop.The result is clarity and structure in the cup — whether you prefer fruit-forward brightness or chocolate-rich depth. Roasting here requires attention and care. The result is the coffee in your cup.

Our Approach to Roast

Drawing on Alfred Peet’s fully developed roasting tradition, we specialize in dark and medium roasts. Some coffees reach their sweet spot just before second crack, carrying fruit and caramel notes. Others deepen into layers of molasses, cocoa, and toasted sugar. We roast with intention — not to follow fashion, but to reveal character. Customers regularly tell us they’ve searched widely and still return to Ohori’s for something they can’t quite find elsewhere.

Our Story

From Berkeley to Santa Fe

In the early 1970s, Susan Ohori trained in North Berkeley under Alfred Peet, one of the founders of the American specialty coffee movement. Peet helped define second-wave coffee: small-batch roasting, single origins, and fully developed flavor. In 1984, Susan brought that philosophy to Santa Fe, opening a small drive-through coffee shop near the State Capitol. Freshly roasted beans. Strong black coffee. A creative city ready for something new. Ohori’s became part of Santa Fe’s cultural fabric — rooted in the arts, conversation, and the shared spirit that defines this place.

The Ayers and Brinegar Years

In 2001, the Ayers family became caretakers of Ohori’s, preserving its commitment to ethical sourcing and craft roasting. In 2017, Tai and Sam Brinegar became active owners. Tai, who has managed Ohori’s since 2001, leads with care for quality, service, and the community that surrounds our shops. Sam serves as lead roaster, guiding every batch with a masterful and concentrated hand. Together, they continue the work — protecting what makes Ohori’s distinct while extending its reach with intention.

Sourcing

We source our green coffee through a trusted, family-owned specialty importer with longstanding global relationships. Our selections come from the Americas, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Indonesia, and the Pacific Rim. We prioritize integrity, traceability, and enduring partnerships over commodity trends.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: To roast exceptional coffee with care, serve it with integrity, and remain a meaningful presence in Santa Fe — while sharing our craft beyond it. We believe coffee is both daily ritual and cultural connector. It deserves attention. It deserves consistency. It deserves respect. And so do the people who drink it.

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