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Seattle, Washington · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Kuma Coffee

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Kuma Coffee; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Farm level
TagsKuma CoffeeWashington coffee roastersColombiaGuatemalaHondurasEthiopiaIndependentFarm levelRoasts in-house
Visit Kuma Coffee's site

Kuma Coffee is a Seattle-based micro-roaster that maintains a singular focus on sourcing and roasting high-scoring, seasonal single-origin coffees. Operating with a small team, the company prioritizes direct-trade relationships and precision roasting to highlight the unique terroir of each bean. They are highly regarded by specialty coffee enthusiasts for their clean, light-roast style and commitment to paying premiums well above fair trade standards.

Ownership
Kuma Coffee is an independently owned and operated business founded by Peter Mark Ingalls.
Founded
2008
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
Kuma is widely recognized for its light-roast profile that emphasizes clarity, sweetness, and fruit-forward characteristics. They are known for a minimalist, quality-focused approach that eschews traditional marketing in favor of direct-trade relationships and high-scoring microlots.
Sourcing countries
Colombia · Guatemala · Honduras · Ethiopia
Farm-level sourcing
Kuma Coffee focuses on direct trade, frequently naming the specific farms or washing stations behind their single-origin offerings. They work with partners like Azahar and Trabocca to facilitate sourcing and quality control at the origin level. Their catalog consists almost exclusively of seasonal single-origin coffees rather than traditional blends.
Notable coffees
  • — Bella Vista (Guatemala)
  • — Various Colombian microlots via Azahar
Documented coffee offerings

Coffees researched from Kuma Coffee

These are examples recorded during editorial research. They are not a live product feed. The coffee, lot, price, and availability may have changed. We have not necessarily brewed these coffees ourselves.

Costa Rica Black Honey Don Mayo

Costa Rica · Black Honey

The roaster describes this coffee with notes of stone fruit, honey, and a syrupy body.

Original roaster or listing source

External customer, cafe, marketplace, and class ratings are not comparable measures of the quality of an individual coffee. We do not convert them into original tasting scores or brand-wide star ratings. Our independent reviews are published separately after a coffee has actually been brewed and evaluated.

Verify original product sources

Retailer information: Kuma Coffee

Documented physical retailers
Kuma Coffee Roastery
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand operates a warehouse location in Seattle that offers local pickup for coffee orders.
Physical
Documented online sources
Kuma Coffee's online shop
Historical source note (not live inventory): The brand sells its full range of whole bean coffees and subscriptions directly through its website.
Website
Bean Box
Historical source note (not live inventory): This online coffee marketplace carries a selection of Kuma Coffee's roasts and offers subscription options.
Website

I was able to verify the brand's own e-commerce platform and its local pickup facility in Seattle, as well as its presence on the Bean Box marketplace; no other third-party retail partners were confirmed through public documentation.

These references come from public store locators, retailer listings and brand materials. Last checked Oct 26, 2026. They are research links, not proof of current stock or a buying recommendation. Verify availability, price and location directly with the source.
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Kuma Coffee, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

2025-09-22 · Chattanooga Times Free Press
Seattle, a coffee haven, is watching java prices spike. Why?

Kuma Coffee owner Peter Mark Ingalls discussed the challenges of navigating rising coffee costs and tariffs, noting that the roastery has had to adjust prices to remain agile. Ingalls emphasized the company's commitment to paying small farms premium prices for high-quality crops despite broader market volatility.

2025-06-18 · Eater Seattle
Nudibranch Wants to Be Seattle’s First Thai Coffee Shop

The newly opened Nudibranch Coffee in Seattle announced that its coffee program will feature beans roasted by Kuma Coffee. The partnership highlights Kuma's ongoing role as a wholesale supplier for specialized local cafe concepts.

2025-04-07 · Seattle Refined
How Kuma Coffee went from a 1 person operation to roasting 100,000 pounds a year

This profile details the growth of Kuma Coffee from a one-person garage operation to a four-person team roasting 100,000 pounds of coffee annually. The article highlights the company's focus on direct sourcing, high cup scores, and a commitment to paying farmers significantly above fair trade prices.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-07. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand frequently names farms and regions, I could not verify a comprehensive, static list of every current farm partner due to the seasonal nature of their rotating inventory.

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