Sisters Coffee Co. has been recognized as one of the top family owned businesses in Oregon.

The 30-year-old coffee operation is a winner of the 2019 Oregon State University College of Business’ Excellence in Family Business Awards.

It won the category of “best business renewal.”

“We are just continuing to build on mom and dad’s legacy,” said Justin Durham, the CEO of Sisters Coffee.

Sisters Coffee was founded by Winfield and Joy Durham in 1989 inside a 600-square-foot cabin.

For the first half of its existence, the business was primarily small-batch wholesale.

The company began expanding in 2005 and now roasts 235,000 pounds of coffee beans each year.

Today it operates a 6,000-square-foot cafe and roastery in Sisters, and opened a cafe in the Pearl District of Portland.

Winfield and Joy ran Sisters Coffee Co. until 2012.

Their adult children returned to Sisters to make the generational transition in leadership.

In 2017, mom and dad officially handed-off the business to the trio.

Justin is CEO; Jared oversees retail sales, and Jesse handles operations as well as trips to coffee farmers around the world where the company’s beans are grown.

James Coakley, interim dean of OSU’s College of Business said in a statement that the awards recognize a “cornerstone of Oregon’s economy.”

“We’re delighted to celebrate the achievements of these family-owned businesses,” Coakley said.

The university founded the Austin Family Business Program in 1985 to encourage and support family businesses in Oregon.

The awards recognize family businesses regardless of industry, size or revenue.

Other 2019 award winners are Heritage Specialty Foods of Portland and CRB Manufacturing of Clackamas.

The winners will be honored at a ceremony Nov. 21 at The Nines Hotel in Portland.

Justin Durham says the plan is for the family’s next generation to take over Sisters Coffee Co. some day.

“It’s about creating a legacy for future generations,” he said.

— Reporter: gwarner@bendbulletin.com or 541-383-0350