The internets are burning up with the rumor that Stumptown was sold to a private equity firm a private equity firm bought a stake in Stumptown. Earlier today Todd Carmichael, the man behind la Colombe, wrote in a blog post for Esiqure.com titled “The End of Stumptown, America’s Hippest Coffee Brand,” that Duane Sorenson, Stumptown’s founder, “sold his life’s work to the highest bidder.”

Then Ben Waterhouse of the Wilamette Week blogged Carmichael’s story, and added some sleuthing of his own. He writes: “On April 28, Stumptown Coffee Corp., a foreign business corporation (that is, a business based outside of the state of Oregon), filed an “application for authority.” Stumptown Coffee Corp is a distinct entity from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the Oregon corporation registered to the company’s founder, Duane Sorenson, since 2000. It lists as its president and secretary Alexander S Panos, with the address of Stumptown’s headquarters on Southeast Division Street.”

He notes that Panos is a part of “TSG Consumer Partners, a private equity firm with investments in Vitamin Water and Voss of Norway, among many other companies.”

Now Eater.com PDX is aggregating, ditto Grub Street NY, while Sprudge.com tries to get to the bottom of it.

So far nothing has been confirmed or denied by Stumptown.

Stay tuned…

- Oliver Strand