coffeesterTHE COFFEE ENCYCLOPEDIA

Roaster · United States

Kuma Coffee

Kuma Coffee is a small Seattle-based specialty roaster founded in 2008, focused singularly on sourcing and carefully roasting high-quality coffee.

Kuma Coffee
Image: courtesy of Kuma Coffee

Kuma Coffee, whose name means 'bear' in Japanese, was founded in Seattle, Washington in 2008 by Peter Mark Ingalls, who began roasting coffee in his garage with a straightforward mission: find excellent coffee, roast it with care, and deliver it to customers. From the start, the emphasis was placed entirely on the quality and flavor of the coffee itself rather than on packaging or branding. Over the years, that focus has helped Kuma build a reputation that extends nationwide. Today, Kuma remains a small, four-person operation still roasting in Seattle. The roaster offers a range of current and espresso-specific offerings, various brew guides, and subscription options. The company's guiding philosophy—prioritizing what is inside the bag over how the bag looks—continues to define its approach to specialty coffee.

specialty roastersmall-batchquality-focusedsingle-originSeattle

In the Encyclopedia

Beans from Kuma Coffee

Last updated: June 27, 2026