Palouse Coffee Club
At a glance
- Roasts inBellingham, WA
- Founded1996
- Founded byJeff Babcock
- CafesSeattle and Kirkland
- VisitorsOpen to the public
Zoka Coffee is one of the beloved local roasters we follow in Washington: an independent roaster based in Bellingham, founded in 1996. Here is what their own pages and public sources say about them, in our words.
Their story
Jeff Babcock roasted Zoka's first batch in the fall of 1996, and four months later, on January 7, 1997, the Greenlake coffeehouse opened in Seattle's Tangletown neighborhood. Babcock is still the CEO and makes the day to day decisions. The name comes from Colombia, where Zoka describes a coffee tree that has been pruned hard and grows back productive again.
Zoka buys many of its single origins directly from farmers, visits the farms and often works with the same growers year after year, paying the higher prices quality coffee needs. It calls this Family Direct Trade. Its baristas won the National Barista Championship in 2002 and 2005, and Roast Magazine named Zoka Macro Roaster of the Year in 2008. It was a Good Food Awards finalist in 2022. A four person team roasts in small batches every weekday at Zoka's own roastery in Bellingham on a 1963 German Probat, and each bag is packed by hand.
Zoka has grown to four cafes, mail order and a large wholesale business. The Kirkland cafe opened in 2009.
What they roast
Roast levels run dark. House blends include Tangletown, Hidden City, Tuscan, Tatoosh, Fitzroy, Espresso Paladino, Espresso Cuatro and Autumn Blend 2026. Single origins on the list when we checked: Ethiopia Nguisse Nare Natural, Costa Rica Sumava Gesha, Costa Rica Don Joel and Peru Felipe Estela El Roble Washed. Espresso Paladino and Espresso Cuatro blends, both also sold as decaf. Decaf versions of Hidden City, Tangletown, Espresso Paladino and Espresso Cuatro. Offerings change with the seasons, so this is what their own pages listed on 2026-09-27.
Where to drink it
Zoka roasts at its own roastery in Bellingham, which is not listed as open to visitors. Its four cafes are in Seattle and Kirkland.
- Greenlake (Tangletown): 2200 N 56th St, Seattle
- University (near University Village): 2901 NE Blakeley Street, Seattle
- Kirkland: 129 Central Way, Kirkland
- South Lake Union: 351 Boren Avenue N, Seattle
Address
2200 N 56th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Original Greenlake cafe (the Bellingham roastery address is not published).
Why buying from Zoka Coffee matters here
Its first cafe has served the Tangletown part of Green Lake since January 1997 and hosts many local groups. Roasts in Bellingham with a four person roasting team. Sells a Redhawk Blend that benefits Sammamish High School. Takes donation requests from community groups through its site.
Every bag bought from a Bellingham roaster pays roasting and cafe wages in Washington, and the coffee reaches you days after roasting instead of months. That is the reason the club exists. Why local roasters matter.
About this listing
Listed as a local favorite. A listing does not mean Zoka Coffee is part of the club.
Are you Zoka Coffee? Email roasters@palousecoffeeclub.com to correct or remove this page.
More Washington roasters
- Camber Coffee, Bellingham
- Lighthouse Roasters, Seattle
- Espresso Vivace, Seattle