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Coffee chain in the U.S. state of Washington From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Black Coffee Northwest (sometimes abbreviated Black Coffee NW)[1] is a Black-owned coffee company based in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Washington. The business has operated coffee shops in Shoreline and Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, and is also a whole bean roaster.[2][3] Black Coffee Northwest plans to open a shop in Seattle's Central District in 2024.
| Black Coffee Northwest | |
|---|---|
| |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | October 18, 2020 |
| Owner(s) | Darnesha and Edwin Weary |
| Street address | 2300 S Jackson St |
| City | Seattle |
| State | Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Other locations | Shoreline (former) |
| Website | blackcoffeenw |
Black Coffee Northwest also serves as a community hub,[4] and provides barista training and internships.[5] Eater Seattle has said the business created a space "for art, mutual aid, and activism",[6] and Seattle Metropolitan has said Black Coffee Northwest "blends brews with cultural salon talk".[7]
The menu has included the "Karen", a caffè mocha with white chocolate named after the pejorative term and meme of the same name.[8][9] Before opening their roastery, Black Coffee NW used beans from Boon Boona Coffee, another Black-owned coffee company based in Washington.[10]
The company participated in a "Black Black Friday" campaign organized by Seattle Black-owned businesses in 2023.[11]
Darnesha and Erwin Weary opened Black Coffee Northwest in Shoreline in October 2020.[12][13] The business operated inside a building leased by Bethany Community Church.[14]
Black Coffee Northwest has been subject to arson, theft, and vandalism.[15][16][17] Ahead of the originally planned grand opening, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the building.[18][19] Two brothers were charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device.[20] The business sought financial support from the community following the incident, and opened weeks later.[21][22] In January 2021, a swastika was drawn on the cafe's exterior.[23][24][25]
In November 2020, the cafe hosted a voter registration drive. The business had extended hours on Election Day and, according to Eater Seattle, offered "$0.45 off orders for customers who say that they've voted 45 out".[26] In 2021, the business hosted an anniversary party and various activities leading up to Halloween.[27][28] The business also hosted "Coffee Chats" and tutors for students.[29]
Black Coffee Northwest had 14 employees, as of November 2021, most of whom were women of color.[30]
The shop closed in June 2023, after the shop's landlord evicted them over more than $22,000 in missed rent. Owners cited the landlord and gentrification as reasons for the closure. They confirmed plans to continue operating and intend to open a shop in the Central District in 2023.[9]
The business opened a second café in Ballard in 2022.[31] As of 2023 the Ballard cafe is no longer in operation.[9] As of January 2024, Black Coffee NW operates on the North Seattle College campus. The on campus café is known as Black Coffee Northwest at the Lily Pad Café.[32]
In 2023, Black Coffee Northwest announced plans to re-open in the Central District, in a building which previously was a Starbucks location.[9][33][34]
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