The local coffee landscape is shifting as Anchorhead Coffee prepares to open its latest location at the prominent corner of SW Alaska and California, moving into the space formerly occupied by Starbucks. This expansion marks a new chapter for the roaster, which has grown from a humble garage startup into a celebrated fixture of the Pacific Northwest coffee scene.

From Soundboards to Coffee Beans

The story of Anchorhead Coffee began in 2013 with Jake Paulson and Mike Steiner, two founders who made an unconventional career pivot from touring audio engineers to coffee roasters. Starting in half of Steiner’s garage, the duo initially made their mark as Seattle’s first bottled cold-brew company, selling their products at local farmers markets.

The company’s reputation for quality was solidified in 2015 when they won America’s Best Espresso at Coffeefest Portland. Following this success, they opened their first brick-and-mortar café in October 2016 in Seattle’s Bell Tower atrium, opting for a design that favored warmth and approachability over the stark minimalism often found in specialty coffee shops.

A Menu of "Instagram-Famous" Favorites

West Seattlites can look forward to Anchorhead’s signature blend of high-quality traditional coffee and inventive, playful creations. One of their most famous offerings is the Quaffle, a hybrid pastry that is part cinnamon roll, part croissant, and part waffle.

The drink menu is equally creative, featuring recurring favorites such as:

• Hey Bae Latte: A fan-favorite vibrant purple drink made with hazelnut and ube (purple yam).
• Honey Bunches of Cold Brew: A creamy, lightly sweet cold brew with a honey and cereal-milk flavor profile.
• The Dude: A White Russian–inspired beverage featuring espresso and sweet cream.
• Goth Latte: A dramatic, charcoal-colored latte that has become "Instagram-famous".
• Cold Brew Specialties: Drawing on their roots as a cold-brew company, they offer original and nitro cold brews, as well as seasonal Cold Brew Shakes.

Growing Regional Footprint

The new West Seattle store joins a growing roster of locations. As of 2022, Anchorhead operated multiple cafés across Seattle, as well as locations in Bellevue and Issaquah. Their operations also include a full roastery in Duvall, Washington, and a café in Nashville, Tennessee.

The opening date has not been announced yet.

They will be open every day from 8am to 3pm.