Our Story

Bluestem Coffee Roasting Company is a small-batch specialty coffee roaster founded in 2024, built on decades of experience and a deep respect for the craft.

Coffee, roasted with intention.

Founder and master roaster Matt Knott began his journey in the late 1990s, learning the art of coffee roasting at North Pole Coffee in Alaska. He later founded Minnesota Coffee Roasting Company in 2006, continuing to refine a disciplined approach to sourcing and roasting exceptional coffees.

In 2008, Matt moved to Iowa as a single father, determined to build a life for his daughter—where he would eventually meet his wife, Casey. A poet at heart, Casey believes that the best work in life comes from recognizing your craft and committing to it fully.

Together, they built Bluestem Coffee Roasting Company with intention: to roast coffees that are not only exceptional in quality, but expressive in character.

Our approach is deliberate. We roast in small batches with careful control of heat and airflow, shaping each phase of the roast to bring out clarity, sweetness, and structure in every cup. Rather than forcing a profile, we listen to the coffee—allowing each origin to reveal its own character.

We believe coffee is both science and art—precision and intuition working side by side. Our goal is simple: to create coffees that speak clearly in the cup, whether you're discovering specialty coffee for the first time or have spent years chasing the perfect brew.