Seattle Coffee Gear was established just north of its namesake city, in suburban Lynnwood, Washington, in 2005. Founder Victor Gehlen sought simply to equip consumers with tools to make superb coffee at home. Doing so turned his business into a leading regional source of grinders, scales, pour-over devices, espresso machines, and countless accessories. There are now three locations, offering very helpful staff, expert repair services, free shipping, and more. In the “more” category, Seattle Coffee Gear (SCG) revealed a new fixture at its flagship store on this rainy autumn weekend. Labeled The Wall, it’s an attractive array of 35 different coffees from top specialty roasters. Brands range from local stars like Slate and Olympia to well-known national names like Intelligentsia and La Colombe. Beneath the shelves displaying bags for retail sale, each featured coffee has a batch of freshly roasted beans in its own dedicated burr grinder. Customers are encouraged grab tiny Kalita pour-over brewers, press a button to grind small (10g) samples of any coffees that catch their interest, and a member of store staff will make complimentary three-ounce pour-over cups for them to sip on site. It’s a wonderful way for consumers to discover new roasters; and it’s further confirmation that SCG is a truly great resource for craft coffee enthusiasts in America’s Pacific Northwest.
