Black Coffee Northwest
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Coffeehouse, coffee roasting |
| Founded | October 2020 |
| Founder | Darnesha Weary, Erwin Weary |
| Headquarters | Seattle metropolitan area , United States |
Area served | Seattle metropolitan region, Washington |
| Products | Coffeehouse services, whole bean coffee roasting |
Number of employees | 14 (2021) |
| Website | www |
Black Coffee Northwest (also known as Black Coffee NW) is a coffee enterprise owned by Black entrepreneurs, operating within the Seattle metropolitan region of Washington state. The company has managed coffeehouse locations in Shoreline and Seattle’s Ballard district and functions as a roaster of whole bean coffee. Plans are underway for a new outlet in Seattle’s Central District slated to open in 2024.
Acting as a community-oriented space, the business offers barista training programs and internship opportunities. According to Eater Seattle, it serves as a venue for "art, mutual aid, and activism," while Seattle Metropolitan highlights its combination of craft coffee with cultural dialogue.
Its menu includes distinctive items such as the "Karen," a white chocolate caffè mocha inspired by the meme sharing that name. Before establishing their own roasting operation, Black Coffee NW sourced beans from Boon Boona Coffee, another Black-owned coffee company based in Washington.
In 2023, Black Coffee Northwest took part in the "Black Black Friday" initiative aimed at promoting Black-owned businesses in Seattle during the holiday shopping period.
Shoreline and North Seattle
Black Coffee Northwest was founded by Darnesha and Erwin Weary in October 2020, launching their first location inside a building leased from Bethany Community Church in Shoreline. The business encountered several adversities including incidents of arson, theft, and vandalism. Prior to opening, an attack involving a Molotov cocktail targeted the premises, resulting in legal action against two suspects. Despite these difficulties, community fundraising efforts enabled the café to open within weeks. In January 2021, racist graffiti was found on the exterior walls, causing a temporary shutdown.
In November 2020, the café organized a voter registration event and provided discounts on Election Day. Throughout 2021, it hosted anniversary celebrations, Halloween-themed events, "Coffee Chats," and tutoring sessions for students. By late 2021, the company employed fourteen individuals, mostly women of color.
The Shoreline venue closed in June 2023 following eviction due to rent arrears exceeding $22,000; the owners attributed this to landlord disputes and gentrification pressures but intend to relaunch in Seattle’s Central District later that year. A second café opened in Ballard in 2022 but had ceased operations by 2023. As of January 2024, Black Coffee NW operates within North Seattle College’s campus at the Lily Pad Café.
Central District
In 2023, Black Coffee Northwest revealed plans to establish a presence in the Central District by occupying a former Starbucks location. This move aligns with Vulcan Real Estate’s efforts to support Black-owned businesses and develop the intersection at 23rd & Jackson into a focal point for Seattle’s Black community. However, as of 2025, the café has yet to open there and its status remains uncertain.
See also
Further reading
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2020 establishments in Washington (state)
- African-American history in Seattle
- American companies established in 2020
- Restaurants in Ballard, Seattle
- Black-owned restaurants in Washington (state)
- Coffee in Seattle
- Coffeehouses and cafés in Washington (state)
- Restaurants established in 2020
- Shoreline, Washington