Whether you're a cross-town commuter, a parent chauffeuring kids or checking off a list of errands around town, stopping to get your favorite beverage can add a bit of happiness to a busy day. Next time you're on the road, (safely) keep your eyes peeled for these new caffeine outposts in and around Spokane.
BRU COFFEE HAUSE
9803 N. Division St., Instagram: @brucoffeehause
Open Mon-Fri 4:30 am-7 pm; Sat-Sun 5 am-7 pm
Driving along North Division Street just past the Y, you may have noticed a white silo structure popping off. Instead of grain, though, BRU Coffee Hause holds coffee beans, energetic baristas and plenty of good vibes to go around.
Owner and Spokane native Sigrid Houske fulfilled her dream of owning and operating her own coffee shop when BRU (which stands for "Be the Real You") celebrated its grand opening in early August. Houske set the goal of starting BRU five years ago, eventually setting her sights on the empty lot where the drive-thru now stands.
"I want people to be happier. I want to be more positive. I want people to be more positive and more grateful everyday," Houske says.
She says she's fascinated by the psychology of happiness and uses it throughout BRU's branding with an orange color scheme and even the circular shape of its silo-style building.
"Our eyes are more attracted to round objects like circular shapes," Houske says. "When our eyes are focused towards that, we actually become happier."
At BRU, don't be too surprised when the employees ask you what you're grateful for that day.
To boot, BRU roasts their own beans. Its most popular drink menu item is the Hause Bru ($5-$6.50), a mouth-watering amalgamation of white chocolate, caramel, shortbread, vanilla bean and cinnamon powder. Houske perfected the recipe over the last 10 years she's been working in the coffee industry.
With an abundance of coffee shops and stands in the area, entering a saturated market as a small business owner is no easy feat. However, Houske highlights how BRU has been warmly welcomed by the community.
"There's just been these coffee stands that have really come together and it's kind of nice to have a coffee community," she says.
THE HUMAN BEAN
2503 W. Northwest Blvd., thehumanbean.com
Open 5 am-8 pm daily
The Human Bean made its acquaintance with the community by dropping off free beverages to businesses and organizations in Spokane ahead of its Sept. 26 grand opening.
Local owners Jim and Bridgett Gibson chose to open under the nationwide franchise after learning more about the brand's coffee, food and customer service model.
Jim Gibson has lived in Northwest Spokane for over 36 years and said in a press release about Human Bean's grand opening that he's thrilled to be able to serve the neighborhood.
The drive-thru coffee shop's location at the corner of Northwest Boulevard and T. J. Meenach Drive resembles a coffee bean with dark brown paint and a lighter brown stripe down its center. The theme doesn't end there, as customers can expect a sweet surprise — a chocolate-covered coffee bean — placed on top of each drink.
Since opening, the Human Bean's most popular promotional beverage has been the pumpkin java chip ($5.25-$9.25). Customers can also craft their custom dream drink from the stand's large product availability.
If you need something to munch on, try a savory offering like the bacon gouda ciabatta ($5.25).
First established in Southern Oregon, the Human Bean holds quarterly fundraisers, including for local initiatives. On Coffee for a Cure Day on Oct. 18, 100% of $2,000 in proceeds at the Spokane stand was donated to Summit Cancer Care.
BREW PEDDLER
802 E. 29th Ave., brewpeddlerpnw.com
Open daily 6 am-4 pm
Local coffee connoisseurs may already recognize the Brew Peddler name thanks to its unique coffee cart, which has catered local events of all sorts since 2022.
Now, you can more easily satisfy cravings for Andrew and Elizabeth Tye's craft coffee as Brew Peddler opened a sit-down shop on the South Hill which celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 25.
"We started as a mobile coffee business with our coffee cart as a more affordable way of getting into a brick and mortar, and a way to get that track record of doing business, too," Andrew Tye says.
Andrew attended the Culinary Institute of America and has worked at a number of fine-dining restaurants. His choice to delve into the coffee industry was partially influenced by his wife, who formerly worked for Ritual Coffee Roasters, a third-wave coffee shop in California's Napa Valley.
The new storefront has allowed the Tyes to expand Brew Peddler's food and drink menu. Though they've always roasted their own beans, the couple is utilizing connections they made with other local food purveyors while slinging drinks at area farmers markets. For instance, all Brew Peddler's syrups and flavorings are made in-house, like the popular fall flavor featuring kabocha pumpkins from 11 Acres Farm.
Coffee and spices aren't the only aromas that greets the senses when walking through Brew Peddler's doors. Your stomach may start growling when you smell a house-made quiche ($11) heating up.
Brew Peddler's pastry selection, meanwhile, is largely thanks to Elizabeth.
"[Elizabeth's] experience in the bakery world and the fine patisserie is definitely a crucial part in our menu program," Andrew says.
He highlights the scones ($4.50), and fruit galette ($6), the latter of which often features local produce like plums from Spring Water Farm in Deer Park.
1902 COFFEE CO.
11515 W. Sunset Hwy., Airway Heights, 1902coffeeco.com
Open daily 5 am-7 pm
1902 Coffee Co. in Airway Heights may be new to the coffee scene as of October, but the brand is rooted in history.
Owner Gracelynn Stimson pays homage to her great-grandmother Grace by using her birth year as the coffee shop's name.
"I admire everything that I have heard about my hardworking, passionate, kindhearted and supportive great-grandmother and want to recognize her through my new business," Stimson says on the business's website. "I've had coffee jobs throughout high school, and I just kind of fell in love with coffee, and I thought it would kind of be a good opportunity to do it myself."
The beans used at 1902 Coffee Co. are freshly roasted each week at Cravens Coffee Co., which Stimson visited to create a custom blend for her stand. Its top-selling drink is called Tank's Toddy ($4-$5.75), a cold brew with salted caramel and cold foam, named after Stimson's dog.
1902 Coffee Co. also has an extensive food menu that's loaded with healthier options like protein balls ($6) and overnight oats ($6.50). Or, satisfy your sweet tooth with their baked goods like the cinnamon rolls or muffins.
"I wanted to have a variety just because a lot of coffee stands you go to they only have a few things on the menu for food," Stimson says, adding that 1902 also has a kids menu.
1902 Coffee Co. has been a three-year dream in the making for Stimson. "It has just been so amazing all the help I've gotten from my family and the support and backing I've gotten from everyone in the community," she says.
