Experience the vibrant coffee culture that Whatcom County has to offer! Bellingham and Whatcom County are renowned for their thriving local coffee scene, with independent cafes and passionate baristas at nearly every corner. This local promotion coordinated by Sustainable Connections and Visit Bellingham is not just about indulging in delicious brews, it’s about supporting local businesses and contributing to the community’s growth.
By joining us on this crawl, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the enticing aromas, taste expertly crafted coffee, and connect with the friendly faces behind each cup – all at your own pace. Don’t miss out on exploring Whatcom County’s coffee hotspots while supporting local businesses all summer long.
Participate in the Coffee Crawl on the Think Local First digital passport where caffeine lovers all over are invited to visit numerous local java joints around Whatcom County. At each stop, visitors simply check in using their digital passports, collect points, and earn piping–hot prizes. The passport not only lets participants experience the finest brews in Whatcom County, but also encourages latte lovers to shop, dine, and sip at locally owned businesses. By supporting our favorite beaneries and local businesses, we all win!
Signing up is easy! Just click the sign-up button on your phone. Each time you check into a location on the digital passport, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for Think Local First swag. There are no paper passports to keep track of and you don’t have to bug a barista for a stamp! It’s all available on your smartphone.
Earn Points and Win Prizes!
Participants using the digital passport earn a point every time they check in on their mobile phones! Redeem points for prizes such as a Think Local First tee shirt, Sasquatch coffee mug, or a $10 gift card that’s redeemable at over 270 local businesses around Whatcom County. Don’t forget to sign up for our News & Events newsletter and follow us on social media. You can read all about Sasquatch’s Coffe Crawl journey on our blog, too!
Discover other ways you can Drink Local First this summer. From coffee to cocktails to kombucha to craft beer, Bellingham and Whatcom County offer delectable ways to refresh yourself. Experiment with our recipes using local ingredients to Drink Local First at home, too!
Coffee Crawl Locations
All Participating businesses
Avenue Bread
Fairhaven: 1135 11th St Bellingham, WA 98225
Bellingham: 2301 James St Bellingham, WA 98225
Lynden: 444 Front St Lynden, WA 98264
Railroad: 1313 Railroad Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
Brewing Bellingham Coffee Roasters coffee. Hearty, healthy breads are baked daily, many include locally-milled flours. Our soups and delicious treats are made with local veggies when available & in season. We coordinate directly with local farmers and through Growing Washington for produce.
Colophon Cafe
1208 11th St Bellingham, WA 98225
The Colophon Café offers casual, healthful dining in the heart of Historic Fairhaven. We serve a wide variety of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads, quiche, and pot pies, with many gluten-free and vegetarian options. Remember to save room for a decadent dessert fresh from our in-house bakery, or custom order something fabulous for your special occasion. The Colophon Café has been locally owned in Fairhaven for over twenty years. Our business practices support a strong community and a healthy environment!
Evolve Chocolate + Cafe
1200 11th St Bellingham, WA 98225
Deliciously perched on the mezzanine level of Village Books in historic Fairhaven Village, Evolve Chocolate + Cafe serves eggs benedict every day and pours Bellingham Coffee Roasters Torres and decaf roasts. Christy and Shannon Fox, co-owners and founders of Bellingham’s Evolve Truffles (circa 2011-18) are both madly passionate about chocolate, local food, and flavors. With just 30 years of experience, classically trained Chef Christy along with creative muse wife Shannon Fox, and her own catering background, expanded the chocolate menu and opened their flagship cafe in the summer of 2018.
Camber
221 W Holly St Bellingham, WA 98225
Camber is a cafe serving up local, seasonal menus in downtown Bellingham. We roast our coffees locally and source them from the highest-quality, sustainability-driven farms globally. We serve brunch, lunch, snack & dinner plates alongside a full beer & wine menu, with plenty of GF and vegan options.
The Bagelry
1319 Railroad Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
Since 1984, The Bagelry has been a landmark in Bellingham-the place to meet for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and snacks. In-house pastries, locally roasted “Lotus” coffee, and Boar’s Head cold cuts.
Old Town Cafe
316 West Holly St Bellingham, WA 98225
The Old Town Cafe is a family-owned business. We prepare all our dishes in-house using as many local, regional & organic ingredients as possible. We serve local, organic milk & eggs, salad greens, spinach, carrots, bread, and salmon burgers year-round and as many seasonal vegetables as possible. Our cafe offers a backdrop for showcasing local musicians and artists. We strive to achieve a worker-friendly workplace.
Diamond Jims Grill
2400 Meridian St, Suite 1, Bellingham, WA 98225
American-style diner serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Known for generous portions, especially the 10 pancakes and American fried potatoes. Our staff is super friendly and nice. We have a variety of small plates available for low prices, making budget breakfasts easy and variable.
Maple Bar
4252 Cordata Prkwy #101 Bellingham, WA 98226
Maple.bar is a bright, happy, boho-style cafe & shop based in Bellingham, WA. Retro vibes and thoughtful branding are expressed through well crafted start-your-day coffee and energy drinks, classic maple bars, and fresh fun merchandise.
Harris Ave Cafe
1101 Harris Ave Bellingham, Washington 98225
We offer delicious options for both omnivores and vegetarians: omelets, waffles, pancakes, potato specialties, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pastries baked in-house daily. Our menu features locally grown produce, Breadfarm Bread, and Hempler’s meat and sausage. Harris Avenue Café is adjoined with Tony’s Coffee & Espresso where guests can enjoy delicious brewed coffee, lattes, and fresh pastries.
Neko Cat Cafe
1130 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, Wa 98225
We are a unique space where people can come relax and have drinks and snacks in the company of adoptable rescue cats. Through our shelter partnerships, we can give cats a place to find their purrrfect match. Come kick back with the kitties!
Loca Mocha
120 Front St Sumas, WA 98295
Loca Mocha is a coffee stand on the Sumas / Abbotsford border. Loca Mochas menu is a fusion of Mexican American flavors and the traditional PNW coffee favorites. They’re best known for their Signature drinks: The Mexi Mocha & Horchata Latte, and their vibrant and creative Redbull and Lotus drinks. They serve quick but delicious breakfast and lunch items. They are conveniently located within walking distance of the Sumas / Canadian Border, shipping locations, and the Sumas City Park & Rodeo Grounds.
Otherside Bagels
929 N State St, Suite 103 Bellingham, WA 98225
Hand-rolled, organic bagels baked fresh daily! Espresso, cold brew, and other specialty drinks. Locally owned and sourced.
Wake ‘N Bakery
6903 Bourne St Glacier, WA 98244
Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Baker, we offer certified organic and free-trade coffee, handmade baked goods, and a variety of food items to fuel your adventures.
Bar Cicotti
202 Grand Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
Bar Cicotti (chi-koh-ti) is a coffee and wine bar serving cafe umbria a traditional Italian coffee roaster, as well as fun, simple, Italian-style eats located inside the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher building in downtown Bellingham and brought to you by the owner of Storia Cucina, Jonathan Cicotti. Cicotti is Jonathan’s Italian family’s name and many of his recipes and roots come from Cento in Northern Italy. Just as in Italy, Bar Cicotti serves as a coffee bar during the day and a drinking bar at night. Follow Bar Cicotti on Instagram!
The Beach Store Cafe
2200 N Nugent Rd Lummi Island, WA 98262
This historic restaurant on Lummi Island has been providing a place for good food and community for over seventy years! Serving dinner Thursday – Sunday, we proudly serve Tony’s Coffee, and love to showcase local ingredients from Island farmers and fresh local Seafood the menu is thoughtfully prepared with specials changing daily with something to please everyone.
Bellingham Coffee Roasters at the Farmers Market
1100 Railroad Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
We are artisan coffee roasters, located in beautiful Bellingham, WA. 100% Arabica, Fair Trade Certified, and certified by the USDA. You can Find Bellingham Coffee Roasters every Saturday inside the Pavilion at the Bellingham Farmers Market located at 1100 Railroad Avenue from 10am-2pm. We serve hot coffee as well as Nitro-cold brew and New Orleans Style Cold Brew with Chicory.
Hammerhead Coffee – The Coffee Shop
405 E Holly St Bellingham, WA 98225
Hammerhead Coffee Roasters has proudly served Bellingham delicious and thoughtfully roasted coffee, since 2007. A lot of time and love goes into making every coffee a special part of your day. We exclusively source Fair Trade, Organic (FTO) certified green coffee beans and prefer to form relationships with cooperatives of small growers. With our new flagship coffee shop, we are excited to serve you delicious coffee, breakfast, lunch, and, yes, even coffee slushies!
Pure Bliss Desserts
1424 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
We are a from-scratch, all-natural dessert shop focusing on sourcing the highest quality ingredients to present gorgeous Cakes, Cupcakes, Cheesecakes, Tortes, Gourmet Dessert Wedges & Cookies. Pair any of your desserts with our organic espresso & coffee or a broad selection of draft beer, wine, and champagne.
Rifugio’s Country Italian Cuisine
5415 Mt. Baker Hwy Deming, WA 98244
An Italian Caffe featuring fresh in-house baked items daily. We use 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters that buy direct from the Farmers. Panini, Frittata, Breakfast, Lunch, and now open on Fridays & Saturdays until 8pm for Dinners. We have Caffe Gallery showing local artists. To Go Baker Bagged Lunches and Picnic Baskets are available. We also cater to private parties and events.
Shirley Bird Cafe
Fairhaven Location: 1200 Harris Ave, Ste 100 Bellingham, WA 98225
The Nest in Downtown Bellingham: 206 W. Magnolia St Bellingham, WA 98225
Serving our community with locally-roasted, organic coffee, freshly baked pastries, and a full breakfast and lunch menu since 2015. Shirlee Bird Cafe specializes in pastries full of organic fruit and scratch-made fillings, lovingly made by hand each day. Our breakfast and lunch menu items feature local meats and cheese we slice in-house, cage-free eggs, locally baked bread, and WA-made kombucha and ginger beer.
The Union Coffee Shop
114 W Magnolia St, Ste 202 Bellingham, WA 98225
At the Union Coffee Shop, a sister company to the Daisy Cafe, we are continually trying to perfect the tried and true. Our Espresso Bean is Tony’s very best: Sugar Bee roast. A locally roasted bean that not only was awarded 94 points (much like a wine testing high), but was the Winner of the 2013 America’s Best Espresso Competition in Seattle. Our Machines are Nuova Simonelli, pulling beautiful shots of espresso with a footprint right here in Whatcom County, as their USA distribution center is based in Ferndale.
Whatcom County’s Think Local First eGift Card has many of your favorite retailers, restaurants, services and entertainment in one place. Use the Think Local First gift card at any participating location in Whatcom County — there is truly something for everyone!
How does it work? Choose your recipient and send your gift card via email or text message. The recipient can use it to make purchases at participating businesses.
Many Thanks To Our Think Local First Sponsors:
