I’m a coffee nerd. I make all the kinds… espresso, french press, moka, pour over, turkish, you name it. I also roasted coffee for over 15 years. But I recently decided to hang it up rather than buy a new roaster. So I’ve been enjoying my stops on the way to work to treat myself to a cortado or pour over at Civic Roasters Coffee on 11th and Fawcett.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked the owner, Benita, if I could come back with my camera and take some photos for my project “Faces of Grit City,” and she was very welcoming.

Bonita drew these in her sketch book, and her artist friend made this wall hanging

A friend created these fantastic hangings.

Art is important to the vibe at Civic Roasters

Me: Tell me about Civic Roasters

Benita: Civic Roasters started in 2018, roasting coffee for family and friends. We did pop-ups, online sales, and wholesale for years. Then, I signed the lease in January 2025, with a soft opening during the 2025 holidays, and a grand opening in January, 2026.

Me: It’s been 10 months in the cafe, and 9 years overall – how’s the outlook?

Benita: It’s October, 2026, and food prices have skyrocketed. The current puzzle is continuing to source quality coffee that is sustainably produced, pays the producers fair wages, and stays affordable for the average consumer.

Me: Speaking of sourcing, what are the long-term prospects?

There continue to be some excellent coffees that we want to highlight, from small farmers producing incredible beans. And yet, as evidenced by our own odd climate patterns here in Tacoma, the global ever-changing extreme weather patterns are a growing threat to specialty coffee. As that looms, all I have is the pallet I already purchased, the bags I continue to fill, and the cup I brew today. The reality is, with so much unknown in our world, owning a small food business is precarious, very risky, and uncertain.

With all these existential thoughts swirling around me, I find joy in creating space for community now – a place where folks can stop in for a short break from work, or meet a friend, or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.

The daily ritual of coffee can be as ordinary as a hot cup of drip on the way to work, or as special as a little treat after a doctor’s appointment. It’s an honor to share our space with vendors who pop up in our cafe, to amplify important causes or events in our community, and to be a gathering place where people can meet old and new friends.

Whether we are open for a long or short time, Civic is built on a passion for coffee and for the people who make up our city.

Stop by and spend a few minutes at Civic Roasters. They usually have a variety of baked goods – savory and sweet. I’m cutting down on caffeine, so Benita made me a pour over of the Colombian decaf, which was fantastic! I’ve been drinking it all day and will be keeping it in stock.