Spotted this nice piece about how well Kaladi Brothers is doing in its first location outside Alaska. They have been here for three years now. I had to admit that I had my doubts that Capitol Hill would embrace Stumptown much less Kaladi the way that we have. Kaladi’s biggest concern and expense is roasting the coffee in Alaska and then flying it down – they have had a difficult time finding a roaster. I guess it’s difficult for them to find a roaster that they do not compete with?
Kaladi moved in back when this site was focused on a much smaller area of the Hill. We spend a lot of time in a small town in Alaska (family!) where Kaladi rules the town. It’s basically the hub of society there and has AK’s version of the crunchy, organic mixed with people who hang out in 10-degree-below-zero weather. I dumbly expected the Cap Hill location to be a replication of this. Instead, it’s more urban and Seattle. Which is good. I was just expecting baristas with forget-me-not tattoos pulling the shots.
Glad to read the piece. Thanks. BTW, I think the reference to having a ‘local roaster’ is about not being able to roast their own beans down here like they do way up north, not that they want somebody else’s beans.
I am a Kaladi Regular and am glad to see it on here! Its a lot less pretentious than some places on the hill and the coffee kicks ass.