Let’s play a game of word association. When you think of Seattle, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? Other than “rain,” chances are many of you said “coffee” or “marijuana.”
Now, Cannabis and coffee, two favorite products in one place. It is a combination made famous in Seattle. Origins, a premium Seattle-based marijuana retailer, has blended the two popular mood boosters at its second location in Redmond, about 15 miles east of Seattle. The premier cannabis retail store opened its doors last year, now boasts the opening this week of Origins Coffee Roasters.
The new coffee shop, adjacent to the cannabis store, will brew only a selection of hand-picked beans from the best coffee regions of the world, including Ethiopia, Ecuador and the Hawaiian Islands. The lattes and other specialty drinks will be prepared using natural alternatives not found in many cafes. Infused organic honey simple syrup will be used instead of calorie-dense sugar. Milk options will include organic dairy and alternatives made from hemp, soy and almond. Origins also will feature its flagship macadamia milk, which gives the coffee a sweet, nutty flavor.
“We want our customers to know exactly what goes into their beverage. So much of what is out there is high-glycemic, calorie-laden drinks designed to mask the flavor of over-roasted and low quality coffee,” said Sean Miller, owner of Origins Coffee Roasters. “We believe our customers deserve quality, natural ingredients. Coffee is a wonderfully complex and tasty product. Why mask it with inferior ingredients?”
In addition, Origins Coffee Roasters is partnering with local bakeries and confectionary companies to pair each drink with a tasty treat.  “The goal is to introduce our customers to a new way of thinking about coffee. For us, it’s not just an on-the-go beverage. It’s something meant to sip, experience and enjoy.”
-
Related Story:Â Coffee & Cannabis: 5 Expert Combos To Kickstart Your Morning
Miller is excited to offer patrons at Origins a one-of-a-kind coffee delicacy: Organic and wild Kopi Luwak coffee, a bucket list item everyone needs to try. These rare coffee beans are selected and eaten by Indonesian palm civet cats who have a special sense to select only the best beans. The whole beans are not digested, but instead are enhanced by the digestive enzymes in the animal and then collected by local farmers. Because of the unusual harvesting process, kopi luwak is the rarest – and priciest – coffee in the world.
“It certainly is not an everyday beverage, but we strive to offer the best-tasting coffee drinks coupled with unique experiences. We are also offering a free Kopi Luwak tasting for the first 100 customers on May 11th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Now is your chance to try coffee that sells for $40 a cup for free.”
Origins Coffee Roasters will offer three different beverage mediums: espresso, pour-over and French press. The espresso machines are made in Seattle by Mavam, makers of top-of-the-line devices that promise the first espresso system to consistently serve shots at a precise 200 degrees. The temperature-controlled, patent-pending functionality ensures consistency and perfectly pulls the flavor from the beans.
Why a café in the same building as a cannabis retail store? “Coffee and cannabis are similar in that they both are meant to bring people together,” Miller says. “We want our store to be a hub for the community and a place for people to meet. Our approach with all Origins companies is to focus on education and experiences. We will carry that mission of education and discovery to our café.”
Origins Coffee Roasters is located at 16390 Cleveland St., Redmond. The location is just a few blocks away from the city’s only outdoor mall – the Redmond Town Center – and is on the main bus route that runs through the town.
