Coffee, energy drinks, sandwiches and more are packed into this new Tacoma cafe
More than two years ago, Dustin Kraft took over a little 450-square-foot building perched above downtown Tacoma on Pacific Avenue. It would become the second location of his coffee-shop business that started in his hometown Forks on the Olympic Peninsula.
Now it’s both the flagship and the only NW Coffee Bros.
Not long after securing the Tacoma storefront, which at one point was a barber shop and then a day spa, the original drive-thru in the Olympic Peninsula suffered an electrical fire. Kraft, who is also a paramedic and had since moved to Bonney Lake, decided to let it go. His sister had lived in Tacoma for years, and he wanted to focus his attention here.
Following delays related to the health department, the city, permits and, yes, the grease interceptor, the Tacoma shop finally opened July 12.
Everything inside the petite shop is new, and the layout lets in lots of natural light and feels bigger than you’d think from the external footprint. A few images of the Olympics hang on the walls, as well as a Forks High School Spartans plaque. Snag a seat on the outdoor patio, too, where Kraft will soon install a pergola of sorts for cover.
Caffe d’Arte coffee serves as the foundation for espresso drinks of the usual variety: Americanos, lattes, breves, mochas, etc. — both hot and cold. Signature drinks include the Peppermint Paddy, the horchata-inspired Brochata and Yeti Storm, a white coffee option with white chocolate and toasted marshmallow. Look for daily specials, when a 20-ounce, hot or cold, of a select drink goes for $4.99. This week featured Snickerdoodle and Almond Joy.
A range of freshly brewed teas, mostly organic varieties, range from matcha and Darjeeling to Earl Grey and jasmine.
Given the shop’s drive-thru roots, the menu also reaches into the energy-drink world. NW Coffee Bros. has Red Bull for spritzers (or just the can, if that’s your thing) and Lotus, the plant-based energy concentrate made from green coffee beans, cascara (the fruit of the coffee tree), green tea, ashwagandha, elderberry and prebiotics. It’s not common to find those drinks at local sit-down coffee shops, despite their popularity at so many of the region’s on-the-go caffeine huts. The owners of Curran Coffee in Old Town also came from the drive-thru universe before opening their brick-and-mortar in 2022, where Lotus drinks also play a star role.
Caffeine-free choices include apple cider, Italian sodas with customizable flavors, lemonades, milk steamers and smoothies. There’s a kids menu with cocoa and house sodas.
The cafe also sells cookies, scones, muffins and bagels, plus a surprising array of “breaky” and lunch sandwiches. Kraft currently sources them from Artisan Premades in Tukwila, which delivers them fresh — so they’re never frozen. Options include a turkey-bacon croissant, a pesto-mozzarella-egg and Cuban-style melt, as well as a few wraps and salads.
NW COFFEE BROS
▪ 3317 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-533-1836, nwcoffeebros.com
▪ Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
▪ Details: new coffee shop with full espresso menu, energy drinks and tea, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches, salads, and pastries
This story was originally published July 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.