Our Story

"We exist to improve the quality of life of our farmers and staff by providing quality service to our community."

Olympia Coffee's success is grounded in our quality-of-life mission, which has lead us to create direct trade partnerships with coffee farmers worldwide in eight countries spanning 3 continents. Our company wasn’t born into success; it has been built that way from the ground up. Olympia Coffee’s humble beginnings started 2005 in an unmarked warehouse in downtown Olympia. The story continues.

About

Olympia Coffee is an independent, small-batch roaster dedicated to sourcing and roasting some of the world’s finest coffees. From our home in the Pacific Northwest, we partner directly with coffee farmers across nine countries in East Africa, South America, and Central America—building lasting relationships rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect.

Every coffee we roast is made to order, daily, in our downtown Olympia roastery. From there, our coffees make their way to cafés, bakeries, restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores throughout the Pacific Northwest, across the U.S., and to select international partners who share our passion for quality and ethics.

We also operate seven cafés and Moonrise Bakery—each one an extension of our craft and community—in Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia.

Mission

We exist to improve the quality of life for our farmers, our staff, and our community through exceptional coffee and genuine service.

Values

• Determination — to keep showing up and doing the work

• Excellence — in every detail, from seed to cup

• Improvement — a commitment to always learn and evolve

• Teamwork — because none of this happens alone

Olympia Coffee Timeline

2005

• Olympia Coffee is founded as a wholesale coffee roaster with a 12-kilo Diedrich roaster.

2007

• Olympia Coffee expands to 108 Cherry St. in downtown Olympia and opens its first retail coffee bar.

2009

• Begins first Direct Trade sourcing projects in Central and South America.

2010

• Opens second location on Olympia’s Westside.
• Awarded 2nd and 5th Place at the United States Brewer’s Cup.

Olympia Coffee's Westside location.

2011

• Awarded 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Place in the Northwest Brewer’s Cup.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee and Best Customer Service.

2012

• Roastery expands to include a Wholesale Training Lab and Cupping Room.
• Releases new packaging featuring hand-letter-pressed labels and 100% compostable components.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.

2013

• Awarded Micro Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine.
• Big Truck Espresso awarded 3rd Place in America’s Best Espresso competition.
• Launches first Direct Trade projects in Africa (Burundi and Kenya).
• Opens third location in Olympia’s South Capitol neighborhood.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.

Third Olympia location in the historic Wildwood building of the South Capitol neighborhood.

2014

• Awarded 1st and 2nd Place in the Northwest Brewer’s Cup.
• Wins Good Food Award for Ethiopia Konga Organic.
• Holiday Blend named 7th Best Coffee of the Year by CoffeeReview.com.
• Receives Historic Preservation Award from the City of Olympia.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.

2015

• Roastery expands to 600 4th Ave., tripling in size. Adds a 23-kilo Gothot roaster.
• Downtown coffee bar relocates to 4th Ave.
• Awarded 1st and 2nd Place in the Northwest Barista Competition.
• Awarded 3rd Place at the United States Barista Competition.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.

New downtown cafe and expanded roasting headquarters.

2016

• Wins Good Food Award for Ethiopia Adame Garbota Organic.
• Awarded 3rd Place in the United States Brewer’s Cup.
• Awarded 6th Place in the United States Barista Competition.

2017

• Wins Good Food Award for Ethiopia Konga Organic.
• Wins Best Coffee in Best of South Sound.
• Barista Rhonda wins Best Barista in Best of South Sound.

2018

• Launches Fair for All and publishes first Transparency Report.
• Opens fourth location in West Seattle (January).
• Opens fifth location in Tacoma (May).
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.
• Becomes a Certified B Corporation.

2019

• Awarded 2nd Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.
• Wins Best of Olympia — Best Coffee.
• Opens sixth location in Columbia City, Seattle.
• Opens Seattle Training Center.
• Named Best Coffee in Washington State by Food & Wine.
  

2020

• Awarded 2nd Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.
• Adds Moonrise Bakery and pastry production.
• Big Truck Blend becomes a Good Food Awards Finalist.

2021

• Awarded 2nd Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.

2022

• Becomes Living Wage Certified.
• Commits to 100% renewable electricity for the roasting facility.

2023

• Awarded 1st Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.
• Represents the United States at the World Coffee in Good Spirits Competition in Taipei, Taiwan.
• Awarded 1st Place in the United States Cup Tasters Competition.
• Represents the United States at the World Cup Tasters Competition in Athens, Greece.

2024

• Awarded 1st Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.
• Represents the United States at the World Coffee in Good Spirits Competition in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Wins two Good Food Awards for Little Buddy Blend and Amparo Pajoy Micro Lot.
• Opens seventh location in downtown Seattle.Installs an energy-efficient 70-kilo Loring roaster, increasing capacity while reducing energy consumption.

2025

• Awarded 2nd Place in the United States Coffee in Good Spirits Competition.
• Little Buddy Blend named a Good Food Awards Anniversary Finalist.
• Seattle AeroPress Champion.