Seattle’s beloved specialty espresso firm Boon Boona Espresso has opened at Pike Place Market! Doorways swung open earlier this yr, including to the market’s well-known cultural scene (and superior espresso choices). Let’s take a better look.
The 2026 Construct-outs of Espresso is introduced by DONA, Pacific Barista Sequence, and La Marzocco.
As informed to Sprudge by Efrem Fesaha.
For individuals who aren’t acquainted, will you inform us about your organization?
Boon Boona Espresso started with founder Efrem Fesaha’s want to attach two worlds: Seattle’s espresso tradition and the East African espresso traditions he grew up with in an Eritrean household. A 2011 journey to Eritrea, notably the colourful cafe tradition of Asmara, impressed Efrem to depart a profession in finance and construct one thing rooted in espresso’s African origins. He began Boon Boona in 2012 by sourcing and distributing inexperienced espresso earlier than ultimately roasting and opening the primary cafe in Renton in 2019. Immediately, Boon Boona has grown to 5 cafés throughout the larger Seattle space.
Are you able to inform us a bit concerning the new house?
Our Overlook Stroll cafe brings Boon Boona Espresso to one in all Seattle’s most iconic gathering locations, connecting Pike Place Market to the Waterfront and Elliott Bay. It’s an area the place our love for African espresso, tradition, and group comes collectively, welcoming our Seattle neighbors alongside hundreds of thousands of tourists experiencing the town and Boon Boona, for the primary time. Visitors can take pleasure in thoughtfully roasted African coffees, regionally sourced pastries and meals, Métier Brewing, and Washington wines. Most significantly, we needed the normal East African espresso ceremony to have a significant presence within the house, inviting visitors to expertise espresso because it has been shared for generations in Ethiopia and Eritrea—roasted, brewed, and served within the conventional means.
What’s your method to espresso?
Our method to espresso begins with Africa—celebrating the unimaginable range of taste, individuals, and traditions throughout the continent. At Boon Boona, we thoughtfully supply and roast coffees to focus on their pure character, from brilliant, fruit-forward profiles to wealthy, advanced cups. At Overlook, we convey that philosophy on to the visitor via espresso, pour-overs, seasonal drinks, and our conventional East African espresso ceremony—creating an expertise that’s approachable, instructional, and deeply rooted in hospitality.
Any machines, coffees, particular tools lined up?
We’re lucky to be a part of an unimaginable espresso group in Seattle the place a number of the finest tools within the trade is being constructed. With our good mates at Slayer, we selected the Slayer Steam EP three-group because the centerpiece of our espresso program—giving our crew the consistency and management that they’ve come accustomed to throughout our cafes. Our mates at La Marzocco spherical out the bar with the Swan and Jay grinders, that are devoted to decaf and rotating single-origin coffees. We have been additionally lucky to get early entry to the gorgeous Modbar Pour-Over system, permitting us to convey precision to our African coffees.
How is your undertaking contemplating sustainability?
Sustainability at Overlook exhibits up in some ways, from our regionally sourced fir tabletops that convey heat and a way of the Pacific Northwest into the house, to paintings by the extremely proficient Yeggy Michael, who introduced his personal creative lens to the SCA Espresso Taster’s Taste Wheel. Behind the scenes, we’ve constructed considerate compost, recycling, and waste practices into our day by day operations. We additionally deliberately associate with native small companies for our pastries and meals, utilizing Overlook as a chance to introduce hundreds of waterfront guests to the unimaginable makers and entrepreneurs in our group.
Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you simply’d like to say?
Boxwood (Architects), Yeggy Michael (artist), Splinter and Slag (tables), Bryant Garduque (photographer)
Thanks!
The 2026 Construct-outs of Espresso is introduced by DONA, Pacific Barista Sequence, and La Marzocco.
