About Us: the heart behind it

We are family-owned and operated coffee roasters from Portland, Oregon. It takes the whole team to create our one-of-a-kind, Cunningham Coffee. As a family, we share all the ins and outs of what it’s like to build a business from the ground up; hard work, motivation, and perseverance.

Melisa handles the sales, design, and marketing. Sean sources and roasts the coffee. Jaeden and Hudson color the promotional 2lb bags and do most of the doorstep deliveries!

As a family we have always wanted to give back to the community and make a difference. And now we have a way to do it! We continue to seek community-building organizations and institutions that have a need for coffee. Each month we partner with an local nonprofits dedicated to helping families and children.

We love the idea of using coffee as a form of philanthropy: "Coffee itself is energizing. We want to send out this energy to our community. The idea that our product is motivating is a powerful concept. We hope that people see what we are doing, and are motivated and energized to make a positive impact however they can. We all have something we can give".

So please join us as we support local brands and charities; it takes a village!

 
Melisa’s first barista job was in 2004 while earning her Family Science degree from Oregon State University. After graduation, Melisa completed an additional year of breastfeeding education with the goal of becoming a lactation consultant. The coffee shop she was working for at the time was expanding and she was given the opportunity to direct operations for the company. Fast forward ten years later: Cafes Unlimited operates 9 locations in the Pacific Northwest! Melisa loves to volunteer and serve her community; she is the lead teacher of a classroom at her church every Sunday, a volunteer mentor through Great Life Mentoring since 2007, and serves as an Office Parent at DHS through Embrace Oregon.

Melisa’s first barista job was in 2004 while earning her Family Science degree from Oregon State University. After graduation, Melisa completed an additional year of breastfeeding education with the goal of becoming a lactation consultant. The coffee shop she was working for at the time was expanding and she was given the opportunity to direct operations for the company.

Fast forward ten years later: Cafes Unlimited operates 9 locations in the Pacific Northwest! Melisa loves to volunteer and serve her community; she is the lead teacher of a classroom at her church every Sunday, a volunteer mentor through Great Life Mentoring since 2007, and serves as an Office Parent at DHS through Embrace Oregon.

As the cofounder and head roaster, Sean began his career in food, retail, and customer service over 20 years ago and is still just as passionate about service, quality, and customer satisfaction. Sean loves crabbing, cribbage, golf, and is a high-ranked league pool player competing in tournaments including Las Vegas and Hawaii! Sean admittedly doesn't drink coffee, which he believes is helpful in the process of blends and roasting as he has “an objective palate and [is] not partial to any one origin or roast level".

As the cofounder and head roaster, Sean began his career in food, retail, and customer service over 20 years ago and is still just as passionate about service, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Sean loves crabbing, cribbage, golf, and is a high-ranked league pool player competing in tournaments including Las Vegas and Hawaii! Sean admittedly doesn't drink coffee, which he believes is helpful in the process of blends and roasting as he has “an objective palate and [is] not partial to any one origin or roast level".