Anchorhead Coffee is preparing to open its fourth Seattle cafe at 4233 SW Alaska St. in West Seattle, founder and owner Jake Paulson told What Now Seattle. The new location, announced on the company’s social media pages, is expected to open in late August or early September.
Founded in 2013 after Paulson transitioned from a career as a touring audio engineer into specialty coffee, Anchorhead has grown into one of Seattle’s best-known independent coffee roasters, earning honors such as America’s Best Espresso and StarChefs’ Roaster of the Year.
Today, the company roasts its own coffee and operates cafés across Downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, and Pike Place Market.
For Paulson, the expansion came down to finding the right opportunity. “Most of these shops are kind of just the right place at the right time,” he said. “We got offered the spot, which used to be a Starbucks.”
He explained that the former coffee shop already had much of the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical infrastructure in place, which helped streamline construction and speed up the opening process.
The neighborhood also carries personal significance for Paulson, who lived in West Seattle for about seven years after moving to Seattle.
The West Seattle cafe will offer the same experience customers have come to expect from the brand, including multiple espresso options, premium coffees, automated pour-over brewing, and espresso equipment from Seattle-based manufacturer Mavam.
Looking ahead, Paulson said the company hopes to continue growing, though future expansion will depend on finding the right opportunities.
“We would like to expand. It just depends on if the right locations become available.”
In the meantime, the company has been sharing construction progress and opening updates for the West Seattle cafe on its Instagram page.
