Some spots serve coffee. Lionheart serves something more.
Founded in 2015 by Beaverton locals Ben and Lauren Reese, Lionheart Coffee Company began with a vision: create a welcoming space where great coffee and community connection could thrive together. What started as a shared dream between two longtime locals quickly evolved into something even bigger, a neighborhood anchor, a safe haven, and a hub of generosity.
In November 2019, just a few months before the world turned upside down, Lionheart opened its downtown Beaverton location in the historic Dr. Mason building at 1st and Watson. Then came the pandemic. Instead of stepping back, Lionheart leaned in.
They transformed their café into a food resource center, distributing more than 12,000 free meals to students, families, and neighbors in need. Old staff members returned, unpaid, to help prep sandwiches. Donations came in. Meals went out. And the team never stopped showing up.
But they didn’t stop there. With the support of the City of Beaverton and the Beaverton Downtown Association, Lionheart helped launch the 1st Street Dining Commons, a bold move that turned a stretch of road into a shared outdoor space for dining, gathering, and staying connected (while staying safe). Lauren Reese personally spent over 600 hours helping make it happen. The team added another 1,200+ hours cleaning, maintaining, and caring for the space because when Lionheart commits to something, they show up all the way.
Beyond that, they’ve backed efforts like Hannah’s Heroes (a neighborhood cleanup project started by an 11-year-old), helped distribute meal kits to out-of-work baristas, and provided mental wellness resources for local kids.
In 2021, Lionheart was named the Oregon Business Hero a recognition that, honestly, feels more like a formality than a surprise. They earned it with every sandwich made, every Commons cleanup, and every generous gesture that helped keep their community not only going but growing stronger.
Lionheart Coffee Company is a place to gather, to recharge, and to be reminded of what’s possible when business is rooted in care, not just commerce. You come for the caffeine, but you leave feeling seen, supported, and maybe even a little more hopeful.
Visit Lionheart Coffee Company and experience it for yourself. Supporting local means supporting stories like this rooted in care, community, and connection.