Bjorn Celebrates 25 years at DCR
“My number one priority is to get great coffee to our customers with quality and consistency.”
Bjorn started in 1999 by packaging coffee.
Dillanos was only in its seventh year of business in 1999, the future that was to unfold in the decades to come still unknown.
Just a teen and a new member of the packaging team, Bjorn’s potential was undiscovered. Though, it wouldn’t take long for him to become an instrumental force in driving the caliber of coffee for which Dillanos is known. And become DCR’s longest running employee.
Only months into his packaging role, Bjorn jumped at the opportunity to join the roaster apprenticeship program. There, he would spend the next 12 months learning the industry standards for professional coffee roasting as well as the proprietary techniques and blends DCR had already crafted in its early years.
Dillanos was gaining traction around the Puget Sound area and Bjorn was inspired to further that momentum.
From Roasting to Buying to Quality Control
As Dillanos was rapidly expanding in the early 2000’s, Bjorn’s passion for coffee followed in-step. Soon he was diving into the world of coffee — engaging a truly global market from the small town of Sumner, Washington.
While producing freshly roasted coffee at scale demands expertise, the secret to a successful coffee roastery is dependent upon the relationships formed with farming communities worldwide. Bjorn’s genuine kindness and natural ability to work alongside anyone made this seemingly daunting task look easy. Despite language barriers and accessibility challenges, friendships were formed and speciality coffees of all varietals and processes were offered. Dillanos had a true professional working on their behalf to source the world’s most competitive green coffees.
Fast forward 25 years, Bjorn now partners with the Director of Coffee to both select which coffees Dillanos will purchase and to oversee quality control for the millions of pounds of coffee roasted each year.
Quality control at Dillanos Coffee Roasters means ensuring highly rated flavor markers and coffee characteristics are present and meet consistency standards for all new coffees under consideration as well as the coffees available seasonally and year-round.
The best way to test a coffee’s quality remains the same: by tasting it. This is a core component of Bjorn’s role with Dillanos. Often sampling between seven to twenty different coffees each week, Bjorn spends hours roasting small batches of green coffee beans, grinding, brewing, and professionally tasting the results in a process known as “cupping”. After a full assessment, Bjorn offers his feedback to the producer or farmer and makes a decision to onboard the beans for a new limited edition coffee or perhaps as a new standard, year-round option.
Between evaluating prospective coffees and testing the hundreds of DCR branded and privately labeled coffees proudly served by our wholesale customers, Bjorn wouldn’t be surprised if they test around 10,000 cups of coffee per year.
Dillanos serves thousands of wholesale and retail customers across the nation by offering a broad spectrum of single origins, custom blends, and limited edition coffees sourced from farms large and small from every growing region on the planet.
Core Value #9: Protect Our Commitment to Quality
What’s it like to be a Green Coffee Buyer?
Seasonality plays a role in the average day of a Green Coffee Buyer. “What’s ready in Papua New Guinea will not be ready at the same time in Guatemala” Bjorn says. On average, peak harvesting seasons tend to occur in late spring to early summer and then again in early-to-mid fall.
When Bjorn’s not roasting small samples of green coffee sent to Dillanos from farms and producers across the globe, he keeps an eye on various operational departments and processes at DCR headquarters. He verifies grind selections remain accurate and consistent for his original stomping grounds, the packaging department. He monitors the organic logs, ensuring that we meet every standard for certification. And he lends a hand at any staff event, celebration, or meeting.
Bjorn lives and breathes coffee, and he reinvests back into the teams that continue to make Dillanos a beloved and trusted brand.
What’s Bjorn’s Favorite DCR Coffee?
As you might imagine, this is a tough question for Bjorn to answer. It tends to change a lot. He says that his favorite will be whatever is tasting great at the time.
With coffee preferences being about as subjective as it gets, Bjorn shares that he personally prefers the fruit-forward flavor notes found in washed and naturally processed coffees particularly from Ethiopia–the birthplace of coffee.
He also loves well-balanced Central American coffees, such as Rio Azul.
Reflecting on 25 years
Help People. Make Friends. Have Fun!
That’s the Dillanos Coffee Roasters mission statement.
When asked which resonates the most with him, Bjorn answers “Help People, first. The other two are tied for second.”
Bjorn wants to be to regarded as someone willing to help, big or small. And for those who are fortunate enough to work alongside him, a resounding “YOU ARE!” is unanimous.
After 25 years, it’s the work environment that still means the most to him. “It’s a unique, special place.” He appreciates the continued industry and business evolution that DCR presses into while still keeping the family-oriented atmosphere in tact.
“DCR is a company that focuses on community, family, and staff. They encourage you through the good stuff and support you through the bad.”
Phil Beattie, Director of Coffee, shares “I’ve known Bjorn since we were both attending Sumner High School! I’ve always said that Bjorn is the “spirit animal” of Dillanos. He has high moral character, an absolute commitment to quality, and he is always the first to lend a hand. Just a solid guy who has always lived the DCR mission to Help People, Make Friends, and Have Fun!”
Living the Dillanos mission to Have Fun!
Dillanos offers special benefits tiered to reflect the length of service, regardless of the position held.
At 25 years, Bjorn is awarded a significant amount of bonus paid time off. When asked how he hoped to use that bonus time this year, it was no surprise that his plans involved creating special moments with family.
From Disneyland to extended camping trips at his favorite places in Washington State, there are no shortage of ideas in mind.
The idea he is gravitating toward the most will take him and his family back to a special place: Neah Bay, Washington.
Bjorn’s father once participated in an archeological dig in the area, researching a major mudslide that wiped out an entire village, preserving it in exceptional condition in the process. His father identified an artifact from this dig while he was in college, and it remains on display in a museum to this day.
He wants to share this important experience with his wife and kids, ages 9 and 12. No doubt, the Mission Statement he has ascribed to for the last 25 years not far from his mind.
Help people. Make Friends. Have Fun!
Dillanos Coffee Roasters employs over 100 employees and was recently named the 5th best place to work in Washington State. As of September 2024, 22% of Dillanos staff have been employed for ten years or more. Bjorn is DCR’s longest running employee.
To view our open positions, please visit our Work Here page.