A big welcome to Chief Barista John, who has started a lovely new espresso venture which serves Lighthouse Coffee out of Halcyon Brewing Company at 8564 Greenwood Avenue North, John will introduce himself and his business in his own words:
My wife and I moved from Denver to PhinneyWood in 2022 to be near our son and his family. We arrived as seasoned espresso drinkers with an affinity for the warmth and flavors of good coffee shops. During our early months we enjoyed our exploration of area coffee shops. Ultimately, we found our “go to” spot – Lighthouse. The espresso is rich, robust, wonderful. The culture is representative and an asset for the best of Seattle.
In October of 2024, I turned seventy-five. Much worse news followed in November. I was desperate for a distraction and a decades-long itch for the coffee shop business had followed me to Seattle.
I had joined a cribbage group which has its roots in the PNA. In 2023 the group began to explore different venues. One was Halcyon Brewery in Greenwood. In addition to its reputation for great beer and food, Halcyon has great, big space – a fairly rare commodity in Seattle. And, of course, the Brewery is only open in the second half of each day. With the coffee shop always in the back of my mind, I regularly took note of location possibilities.
So in early December 2024 I returned to Halcyon. Matt was behind the bar and yes, he was a principal in the Brewery. And yes, he was receptive to the concept of accommodating a coffee shop. They had been in recent discussions with another group with the same concept. Our discussions proceeded quickly as we concluded we were compatible. Halcyon also has a friendly, respectful and inclusive culture. We reached an agreement.
Back to Lighthouse Roasters, which is also a wholesaler. Lighthouse Craig: “Yes, we can support your venture. In addition to providing wholesale roasted beans, we can provide consultation and training.” Craig, the crew, and even the Lighthouse regulars could not have been more supportive.
Halcyon Coffee LLC was officially organized in May 2025 and opened its doors at the end of July. The goal is to serve great espresso and foster a bit of community. The customer respectfulness, generosity and support have been amazing. Seattle and specifically PhinneyWood have a most gratifying culture. My grandson Rowan works with me on Sundays. How cool is that?
Halcyon Coffee is open Monday – Friday from 7:30am to 1:30pm, and Saturday between 8am and 2pm.