Ember & Bean Offers More Than Just Good Coffee

by Hailey Almsted | Mar 2025

Jessica Pressley. Photos: Chris Emeott

For Jessica and Jonathan Pressley, a cup of coffee is more than just a morning ritual—it’s the foundation for their business rooted in passion, sustainability and a sense of community. And what started as a shared love of coffee between high school sweethearts grew into a bustling independent coffee shop, Ember & Bean.

“John and I met when we were 17 through some mutual friends,” Jessica says. Their connection was immediate, and just a few years later, they were married at ages 19 and 20. Now, with two children, Aunatalia (13) and Atticus (11), the Pressleys are serving up coffee one cup at a time on their next life adventure.

Pour-over coffee from its Poursteady coffee machine. Each mug and dish is handmade by a Wisconsin potter.

Their journey into the coffee world took a defining turn during a backpacking trip to Peru. While there, they visited a modest coffee farm run by a producer who left a lasting impression. “What stood out to us was how proud this producer was of his farm,” Jessica says. “It was a really tiny, modest farm, but he took a lot of pride in his work. We shared a connection—even with a language barrier—but we had the connection of coffee.” This experience sparked a desire in Jessica to dive deeper into the world of coffee roasting when they returned home.

Jessica’s early experiments in roasting were more challenging than rewarding. “I tried roasting on a stove and that was a disaster. Don’t ever do that; there will be smoke everywhere,” she says with a laugh. She then moved on to a popcorn popper as her roaster. “I roasted on that, and I was pretty dedicated for six months,” she says. Despite her challenges, her determination paid off, and Jonathan surprised her with a starter 1-lb. roaster. “It’s amazing how much you learn about roasting coffee when you’re doing it one pound at a time,” she says.

The interior of Ember & Bean is just as thoughtful as its menu.

What began as a hobby quickly turned into something much bigger, as Jessica recalls taking over their home with coffee roasting. “At that point, it was like, ‘OK. We are either extreme home enthusiasts or a very small business,’” she says. As Jessica kept roasting and word spread, their community grew and the dream of a small roastery evolved into Ember & Bean, a space in Hudson, Wisconsin, designed to bring people together over a shared love of coffee.

From the start, the Pressleys have prioritized thoughtful sourcing. Much of their coffee comes from direct trade relationships with producers in Costa Rica, Colombia and Honduras, allowing them to build meaningful connections with the farmers who grow the coffee beans. “We’re able to give them something stable that they can count on, and they can then invest back into their own farms and communities,” Jessica says. When direct trade isn’t possible, they rely on importers, such as Cafe Imports, to ensure their coffee is responsibly sourced and traceable.

Classic latte art is a mainstay.

Ember & Bean’s menu is as intentional as its sourcing. Seasonal specialty drinks rotate every two months, with each one being inspired by unique flavor combinations. “I take a lot of inspiration from cocktails,” Jessica says. “Our seasonal syrups are made from scratch … Everything is made with real ingredients. We put a big focus on quality.” Moreover, inclusivity is another hallmark of its approach, reflected in its partnerships with local bakeries, such as Sift, to provide gluten-free baked goods. “It was really important to us to be able to have those offerings for everyone, no matter what their diet is,” she says, noting the menu has recently expanded to include breakfast burritos, spicy cheddar biscuit sandwiches and seasonal toasts.

Avocado Toast

Opening a second location was a natural next step, and the decision was driven by a desire to bring something unique to the area. “When we opened our Hudson, location, we always thought, ‘If we do a second one, it will be in the Woodbury area,’ mostly because there’s not anything independently owned and not anywhere that’s doing crafted specialty coffee like we are,” Jessica says. “You can get a decent coffee at so many different places but we felt that [we could offer] not only an elevated coffee experience, but also that experience of bringing the community together … That’s something we get so much joy out of.” While the Woodbury and Oakdale area is a new market, the mission remains the same: to offer more than just good coffee. “We can absolutely whip out drinks in a timely fashion, but we also want this to be a place where you can come and slow down, build that connection and enjoy the experience,” she says.

For the Pressleys, coffee is just as much about people as it is about the product. “It goes back to the community. It is so beautiful to be able to work with our coffee producers directly, to be able to have that relationship,” Jessica says. “We’re able to share those experiences with our community and tell them, ‘These are some really incredible things happening, and this is where your cup of coffee this morning is coming from.’ And I can tell you, ‘Evelyn made this coffee, this is what her farm is like and these are her kids’ names.’ Building those connections and finding ways we can support our own community, all through coffee—it’s a really unique thing to be able to do.”