Coffee, a drink ineradicable from many of our morning routines and the subject of satire when it comes to the mood many of us are in before we have that first sip each day, is not only a powerful beverage, but a powerful tool for connection.
According to the National Coffee Association, around 66% of Americans drink coffee every day and collectively drink 517 million cups each day. America’s love of coffee has created small business opportunities for many, who have started their own shops working with local roasters to bring coffee enthusiasts new, unique flavors while cultivating a strong sense of community.
This list focuses on Native American-owned coffee shops specifically, that not only offer customers delicious drinks, but also act as community centers teaching history and culture. There are many amazing spots throughout Washington State, but here are three of my favorites that stand out in what they produce, and in the stories they tell.
The Blvd Coffee Company
In Spokane, Washington, Vanessa Abrahamson (Spokane Tribe) has been working in coffee since she was 18 years old. After spending several years at Deb’s Espresso, Vanessa’s boss announced the place was for sale, and Vanessa knew she wanted to buy it.
“I decided right then that I wanted to be the one,” she shared.
Despite her nervousness and just having a baby, she went for it in 2016, renaming the place BLVD Coffee Company.
For Vanessa, the inspiration behind starting her coffee stand was easy: she didn’t want to work for anybody else. Vanessa also wanted all of her friends and co-workers to stay there and work with her.
While there are many items on their menu that customers enjoy, Vanessa said people love their americanos when it comes to their coffee, which is roasted locally at Waverly’s Coffee. As for their energy drinks, their cantaloupe cooler zipfizz is a popular choice. They serve food as well, with Vanessa saying their breakfast sandwiches are popular among their customers.
“I love making coffee! It’s that simple,” she shared. “The act of making a drink and interacting with the customer is my favorite part.”
Even though she hates doing paperwork and being in office settings, Vanessa said being inside the shop is where she loves to be. “Everyone says to hire a bookkeeper but I still want to be totally involved as much as I can,” she said. “But the true highlight of my job is being in the shop making drinks.”
Vanessa may be the owner, but she is also an employee who works alongside her fellow baristas who love what they do and the people they meet. Some of the employees have been working at the shop since it was Deb’s Espresso.
“I’m just a coffee girl at heart and love the idea that I have a job making coffee for people,” she said. “Seems wild, but it’s amazing, and I’m glad that this business kind of fell into my hands.”
News about the coffee shop can be found on BLVD’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Beaver Tales Coffee
Coffee shops are more than just a place where people can get a good cup of coffee, they are also community centers. In La Conner, Washington, Beaver Tales Coffee, LLC is just that.
Michelle Cladusbid (Adopted Tlingit) started the business back in 2019 with her previous partner before he chose to leave and develop the current mission and vision. Tony Cladusbid (Swinomish Tribe) didn’t come into the picture until he was hired to “fix the sink” at the shop and stayed on after recognizing that he and Michelle were doing the same work in different venues and thought they would make a fantastic team.
“He wasn’t wrong,” Michelle said. “We are so closely aligned with our mission and vision of bridging the gap between our Native and non-Native communities, dispelling negative stereotypes and supporting local businesses (both Native and non-Native).”
Tony became one of the coffee shop’s owners and Michelle’s business partner in October 2022, and the two eventually married in March of this year. Their coffee is roasted with love and served fresh in the area of the Swinomish Tribal Community. They roast on site and ship to customers across the U.S. and Canada.
“People love that our coffee is fresh and flavorful,” Michelle shared. “They love the smooth and strong taste of our coffee while enjoying the history and stories that come with it. Coffee is what brings people in, the stories and engagement is what encourages them to stay.”
Not only is the shop a place to get a good cup of coffee, but it is also a place to learn about Indigenous culture and history. When it comes to their shop, they say “coffee is the conduit, people are the glue” because their focus is on building lasting relationships and giving back to their community. They do this through educational opportunities, community outreach and their focus on workforce development.
“We have created an environment where we are able to speak to our patrons about some very tough topics and history,” Michelle shared. “We incorporate stories into everything we do. Even our name ‘Cladusbid’ has a significant and meaningful story attached to it. People are hungry for information about our Indigenous history and culture. We prominently display the ‘10 Rules of the Canoe’ at each of our locations and conduct our business accordingly.” (The 10 Rules of the Canoe can be found on their website.)
Michelle said they promote the history of the region and tell stories to help raise awareness in an effort to change people’s perspective and they found the best way to do that is one-on-one, with coffee being a great tool for it. “We do not presume to speak for our tribes or any other persons,” Michelle said. “For us, this is about bringing people together, bridging a gap of understanding and creating an inclusive space.”
Michelle and Tony recently opened a location in Coupeville after they came across a little cafe out on the wharf and learned it was for sale. The two agreed it was the perfect location for their sʷədəbš Cultural Center. The success of their new location, Michelle said, will help to establish a mechanism to support the non-profit they are working to create to help with the cultural center.
As someone who was adopted into her Tribe, Michelle said she realized how much she didn’t know or understand and was flabbergasted by the comments and questions she heard about her community. She said there were so many assumptions and misrepresentations based on stereotypes.
“I wanted to create a space where my family felt welcome and comfortable, that also allowed the general population an opportunity to experience the beauty and rich history of our original peoples,” she shared. “These spaces also allow us to show who we are today: a rich and vibrant culture.”
Some people have come up to them and asked them if “there are still Indians.” “Yes, we are still here. Thriving and successful,” Michelle said.
Right now, Michelle and Tony are raising money for the project and for general operating funds. Their goal is to open seven locations, representing each of the tribes that make up the Swinomish Tribal Community. The two have also opened a shop in Oak Harbor.
Native Grounds Espresso Coffee Shop
On the Makah Reservation in the northwest corner of Washington state, there is a place called Neah Bay. Its population is less than 1,000 and it’s two hours away from the nearest Costco, but there are plenty of small businesses there run by members of the Tribe.
One of these businesses is Native Grounds Espresso, a family-run coffee shop owned by LeAnn Tyler (Makah Tribe) that was described by The Seattle Times back in 2009 as the most northwestern espresso shop in the U.S. LeAnn brought the shop to life after she took over the location from her brother-in-law. He had some of the equipment needed to open it, but the business sat vacant for about a year.
“It was pretty much just an espresso machine and a till,” she shared. LeAnn has a lot of experience in the food industry. She went to culinary school at Central Oregon Community College in 2000 and previously ran a pizza shop for a couple of years, giving her a taste of entrepreneurship.
Some of the popular items at Native Grounds include their lotus drinks (plant-based energy drinks with flavored syrup and club soda) and several items on their breakfast menu like their Scooby Snacks Burrito, which would make Scooby and Shaggy go ‘Scooby Dooby Doo!’ Tyler describes it as a giant burrito filled with hashbrowns, sausage, cheese and house-made sausage gravy. (Yum!) Also, with the exception of croissants and cheesecake, they bake everything that is in their refrigerated pastry case. This include their brownies, cookies and muffins.
The fact that Neah Bay is in a remote location means locals are far away from many restaurants. LeAnn’s shop seeks to provide them with good, cooked-to-order food that would usually require over an hour-drive to get. The shop is more than a business though, it is a part of her family. When LeAnn opened it, she raised her children alongside her at work and brought them to the shop every day. Out of her 10 children, she employs four of them there.
“Owning your own business allows you the time and space you need to be able to do doctor’s appointments, and sporting events,” she said. “I can put the ‘closed’ sign up and say ‘You know, I’ve got more important things. My family needs me right now.'”
Because her kids are grown up now, the shop has been open seven days a week for the last three years. Two months ago, they were in a mobile location that was small but had a drive-through service. Now that they are in their new location, they don’t have a drive-through anymore but they have increased business. Not only is the shop family-operated, it is also kid-friendly, everything is cooked to order and they care about providing quality customer service. LeAnn said they make alterations to drinks or foods to fit their customers’ dietary restrictions.
“We’re definitely a small business, but small doesn’t mean we’re restricted too,” she shared. When it comes to running the shop with her kids, LeAnn said it sets the bar for them on what they can accomplish, how hard work pays off and they get to reap the rewards later on.
“Being able to teach that to my kids that they’re not cookie-cutter stuck in anything… that they can build on their own,” she said.