Zoka Coffee

What Zoka Coffee does

Zoka Coffee is a Seattle-based specialty coffee roaster and retailer founded in 1996 by Jeff Babcock, who remains the day-to-day CEO. The company roasts on a 1963 German PROBAT cast-iron drum roaster at a dedicated four-person roastery in Bellingham, Washington, with most coffees shipping same-day or next-day via a roast-to-order model. The product portfolio centers on seven signature blends (Espresso Paladino, the #1 seller for 29 years, plus Fitzroy, Tatoosh, Tangletown, Espresso Cuatro, Tuscan, and Hidden City), four decaf variants using natural water-process decaffeination, and rotating seasonal single origins.

Zoka operates a hybrid distribution model: four company-owned cafés in the Seattle/Kirkland area (Greenlake, University Village, Kirkland, South Lake Union — the last inside Amazon's campus), a national D2C e-commerce store, a B2B wholesale channel serving independent cafés, restaurants, hotels, and offices, and DoorDash delivery from three of its cafés. The customer base is bifurcated between coffee enthusiasts who subscribe to recurring delivery (four subscription tiers with reported 95% six-month retention) and B2B wholesale accounts with relationships spanning 18–25+ years. Pricing on coffee runs $20–27 per 12oz bag for core blends and up to $49 for premium limited series, with subscriptions offering a 10% discount and wholesale free shipping above $350.

The company is privately held, founder-owned with no disclosed venture or private equity backing. Differentiation is sourced from Babcock's 38+ years in coffee and 12 years as a Cup of Excellence judge, proprietary direct-trade farmer relationships built over decades, the long-standing Espresso Paladino recipe, and historical credentials including two National Barista Championship wins and the 2008 Roast Magazine Macro Roaster of the Year award. The technology layer is largely off-the-shelf e-commerce tooling (ReBuy for recommendations, Recharge for subscriptions, Okendo for reviews) rather than proprietary systems.

Name

Zoka Coffee

Legal name

Zoka Coffee Company

Website

https://zokacoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zoka Coffee is a Seattle-based specialty coffee roaster and café operator founded in 1996, offering seven signature blends, seasonal single origins, and decaf variants to D2C subscribers, B2B wholesale customers, and customers across four Pacific Northwest cafés.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFADAE

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Cafes & Coffee Shops

SECONDARYTHAFADAA

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Cafes & Coffee Shops

SECONDARYCRAHAGAI

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories)

Consumer Products & Retail/Grocery & Food Retail/Specialty Food Stores (Deli, Cheese, Gourmet, Bakery)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Coffee blend products
• Single origin coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales (Online): Direct-to-consumer online sales of whole bean and ground coffee through ZokaCoffee.com. Products include blends, single origins, and decaf options in various sizes (4oz, 12oz, 2lb, 5lb). Roast-to-order model - most coffees ship same day or next day after roasting.
2. Café Sales: In-person café sales at 4 locations in Seattle/Kirkland area. Offer hand-brewed single origin coffees, espresso drinks, pastries. Free WiFi, indoor/outdoor seating.
3. Wholesale/B2B: Wholesale coffee supply to independent cafes, restaurants, hotels, offices, and organizations. Long-term relationships with customers ranging from small independent cafes to large accounts. Competitive wholesale pricing with bulk discounts and free shipping on orders over $350.
4. Coffee Subscriptions: Subscription programs including Blends Subscription (10% savings), Single Origins Subscription, Roaster's Choice Subscription, and Dark Roast Subscription. Flexible delivery schedules from weekly to every 9 weeks. 95% subscriber retention after 6 months reported.
5. Gear and Merchandise: Sales of coffee brewing equipment (Fellow kettles, AeroPress, Hario V60, Chemex, Baratza grinders) and branded merchandise (mugs, tumblers, hats, apparel).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zoka Coffee is a Seattle-based artisanal coffee roaster that roasts, blends, and retails specialty coffee through direct-to-consumer e-commerce (ZokaCoffee.com), four company-owned cafés in the Seattle/Kirkland area, and a wholesale business serving independent cafés, restaurants, hotels, and offices. The portfolio includes seven signature blends, single origin coffees, decaf options, subscription programs, brewing equipment, and branded merchandise, all roasted to order on a 1963 German PROBAT cast-iron roaster.

Product overview

Zoka Coffee is a Seattle-based artisanal coffee roaster and retailer offering a portfolio of blended coffees, single origin coffees, and decaf options, complemented by coffee equipment gear and gift items. The core product lineup includes 7 signature blends (Espresso Paladino, Fitzroy, Tatoosh, Tangletown, Espresso Cuatro, Tuscan, Hidden City) and 4 seasonal single origins, plus 4 decaf variants. The company operates four subscription programs (Blends, Single Origins, Roaster's Choice, Dark Roast) and two prepaid gift subscriptions, allowing customers to receive freshly roasted coffee on recurring schedules. Additionally, Zoka offers brewing equipment through its Gear collection (Fellow kettles, Hario V60 drippers, Chemex, Baratza grinders) and branded merchandise (MiiR tumblers, notNeutral mugs, apparel). Four café locations serve as both retail outlets and community hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Espresso Paladino Award-winning signature medium roast espresso blend with citrus and chocolate flavors; Zoka's #1 selling coffee for 29 years, versatile for espresso, drip, or milk drinks.
• Fitzroy Zoka's #2 best-selling blend and lightest dark roast; medium-dark profile with milk chocolate and sweet molasses notes for daily drinking, drip, cold brew, and French press.
• Tatoosh Dark roast blend named after the Tatoosh Mountain Range in Mount Rainier National Park, with strawberry, black cherry, and chocolate overtones; Zoka's #3 top seller.
• Tangletown Zoka's first blend from 1997 and best-selling light roast, named after the Tangletown neighborhood where the original café opened; sweet and crisp with natural citrus flavors.
• Espresso Cuatro Medium roast espresso blend combining Central American sweet tangy flavors with South American buttery smoothness; chocolate overtones with a sweet, tangy finish.
• Tuscan Medium-dark roast blend of Colombian and Central American washed coffees; subtle, smooth, with chocolate and strawberry overtones and full body without being overbearing.
• Hidden City Zoka's darkest roast with notes of dark chocolate, caramel, molasses, and pecan; medium-full bodied with low-medium acidity, vibrant and sweet despite the dark roast level.
• Kenya Little Swamps Estate Washed Single origin coffee from Kenya featuring the Batian varietal, washed process; notes of mango, apple and peach with a Zoka Cupping Score of 88.
• Colombia Jorge Rajas Natural Single origin coffee from Colombia featuring Natural Red Bourbon; notes of blackberry, cherry and lemon zest; Zoka Cupping Score of 87.
• Costa Rica Helsar de Zarcero Dark roast single origin from Costa Rica featuring Caturra varietal; rustic sweetness with notes of hazelnut and ripe black cherry; Zoka Cupping Score of 87.
• Costa Rica Sumava Gesha Limited Series single origin featuring the Gesha varietal from Finca Sumava; washed process with exceptional notes of mango, pear, kiwi, and white chocolate; Zoka Cupping Score of 89.
• Decaf Espresso Paladino Decaf version of the flagship Espresso Paladino; medium roast using natural water-process decaffeination with Ethyl Acetate from sugar cane to retain original flavors and sweetness.
• Decaf Tangletown Decaf version of the original 1997 Tangletown blend; medium roast with sweet cocoa, caramel, and citrus notes and a clean finish; Colombian origin.
• Decaf Espresso Cuatro Decaf version of the Espresso Cuatro; medium roast with sweet notes and medium body, suitable for any time of day without caffeine.
• Decaf Hidden City Decaf version of Zoka's darkest roast; suitable to start the day or settle into evening without caffeine.
• Summer Blend Annual limited-release medium-dark roast blend of El Salvador and Costa Rica coffees with notes of bright orange, rich cacao, and a touch of honey; available hot or over ice; seasonally available only.
• Zoka's Blends Subscription Subscribe-and-save program offering 10% off favorite blends (Paladino, Cuatro, Fitzroy, Hidden City, Tangletown, Tatoosh, Tuscan, decaf options) with flexible delivery from weekly to every 8 weeks.
• Single Origins Subscription Rotating selection of single origin coffees curated by Founder Jeff Babcock; 12oz or 2lb bags selected by the Head Roaster, lightly roasted to order in the PROBAT roaster and shipped to doorstep.
• Roaster's Choice Subscription Subscription delivering two 12oz or 2lb bags per period — one single origin and one Zoka blend — selected by the Head Roaster each cycle, featuring both regular and Limited Series single origins; $42 for two 12oz bags.
• Dark Roast Subscription Roaster's Choice subscription focused on dark roast coffees; freshly roasted 12oz or 2lb bag selected by the roasting team from signature dark roasts and seasonal offerings, with pause, skip, or cancel options.
• 3 Month Gift Subscription Prepaid gift subscription delivering one single origin and one blend each month for three months (12oz bags) to recipient's doorstep; $117 upfront.
• 6 Month Gift Subscription Prepaid gift subscription delivering one single origin and one blend monthly for six months (12oz bags); $225 upfront.
• Starter Bundle Two top-selling 12oz coffees — Espresso Paladino (medium roast) and Fitzroy (medium-dark roast) — paired together at 15% off ($34.40) for those starting the Zoka journey.
• Pour Over Brewing Kit Complete pour over brewing set including Hario V60 Brewing Drip Decanter, 12oz Zoka coffee (Fitzroy Blend or Costa Rica Don Joel), notNeutral Zoka mug, 40 Hario V60 filters, and brewing instructions; $60 value.
• Zoka Coffee Cafés Four company-owned café locations in the Seattle/Kirkland area — Greenlake (flagship, opened 1997), University, Kirkland (opened 2009), and South Lake Union — serving hand-brewed single origins, espresso drinks, pastries, with free WiFi and indoor/outdoor seating; DoorDash pickup and delivery available.
• Zoka Wholesale Coffee Supply B2B wholesale roasted coffee supply to independent cafés, restaurants, hotels, offices, and organizations, with competitive pricing, bulk discounts, free shipping on orders over $350, and long-term customer relationships.
• Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle Precision temperature control electric kettle sold through Zoka's Gear collection; available in Matte Black with Walnut finish ($199.95) or Matte White ($179.95).
• Hario V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper 02 Pour over dripper in multiple colors (White, Light Blue, Navy Blue, Pink), $29.00–$33.25; filters sold separately.
• Chemex Classic Coffeemaker Glass canister coffeemaker with wood collar; Six Cup (30 oz) at $47.95 and Eight Cup (40 oz) at $49.95.
• notNeutral ZOKA Mug 12oz ceramic mug featuring ZOKA block text branding; lightweight, durable, dishwasher safe; $25.
• MiiR + Zoka Tumbler Collaboration travel tumblers with Seattle-based MiiR; 16oz Flip Top Tumbler - Astronaut ($34), 23oz Water Bottle - Retro Pop ($36), 23oz Water Bottle - Astronaut, and 12oz 360 Tumbler - Zoka Purple Haze ($30); leak proof and easy to clean.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% subscription retention rate after 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DoorDashcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDoorDash integration for café pickup and delivery from Kirkland, Greenlake, and University café locations. Customers can order online for pickup or delivery through the DoorDash platform.
• MiiRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle-based drinkware company. Collaboration on branded products including Flip Top Tumbler (16 oz Astronaut), Water Bottles (23 oz Retro Pop and Astronaut), and 360 Tumbler (Zoka Purple Haze). Products sold through Zoka's online store and cafés.
• notNeutralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeramic drinkware brand collaboration. notNeutral Probat Tribute Mug featuring Zoka branding and roaster design ($25). notNeutral ZOKA Mug with block text branding. Dishwasher safe, 12 oz capacity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with a national wholesale network, DTC subscriptions, and educational focus. Comparable in direct-trade sourcing model and emphasis on training/cafe partners, though a more wholesale-led model than Zoka's cafe-plus-DTC blend.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with cafes, DTC subscriptions, and national wholesale. Comparable third-wave positioning, founder-led heritage, and emphasis on direct-trade farmer relationships.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneer third-wave specialty coffee roaster with cafes, direct-trade sourcing, and DTC subscriptions. Highly comparable product/market positioning, though larger and more geographically distributed than Zoka.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster operating company-owned cafes, DTC, and a growing wholesale network with an emphasis on RTD coffee. Comparable on multi-channel specialty coffee distribution and cafe-plus-DTC model.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: One of the most recognized third-wave specialty roasters, operating cafes, direct-trade wholesale, and DTC subscriptions nationally. Highly comparable product portfolio and go-to-market, though at a larger scale than Zoka.
• Victrola Coffee Roasters: Seattle-based specialty roaster operating multiple cafes plus a roasting facility and wholesale program. Direct Pacific Northwest peer in size, cafe footprint, and specialty positioning.
• Espresso Vivace: Seattle-based specialty coffee roaster founded in the 1990s operating cafes and a wholesale program in the Pacific Northwest. Directly comparable to Zoka in vintage, geographic footprint, cafe-and-roastery model, and barista competition pedigree (David Schomer is renowned in the specialty scene).
• Caffe Vita Coffee Roasting Co. Seattle-founded (1995) specialty coffee roaster with multiple cafes in the Pacific Northwest and a national wholesale program. Closely comparable to Zoka on vintage, founder-led model, multi-cafe plus wholesale plus DTC distribution, and direct-trade sourcing philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Nestle-owned third-wave coffee company with a large national cafe footprint, DTC subscriptions, and wholesale. Comparable in product category, but operates at significantly greater scale and capital intensity than Zoka.
• Peet's Coffee: Established specialty-adjacent coffee company with widespread retail, wholesale, and DTC operations. Comparable in roasting and wholesale channels, but operates as a broad incumbent across multiple price points versus Zoka's narrow premium positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zokacoffee
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zokacoffeeroasters5565
• Facebookfacebook.com/zokacoffeeroaster
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoka-coffee
• Instagraminstagram.com/zokacoffee
• TikToktiktok.com/@zokacoffeeroasters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zoka Coffee