Seattle’s Elm Coffee Roasters: Brendan Mullally’s Vision in Every Cup

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TLDR

In 2013, Brendan Mullally founded Elm Coffee Roasters in his hometown of Seattle, it was with a decade of coffee industry experience and a vision for something grounded in excellence and sincerity. Having spent years working in New York City, including at Joe Pro Shop, Brendan was ready to bring his passion for high-quality coffee and warm hospitality back to the Pacific Northwest. That vision became Elm Coffee Roasters, a roastery and cafe that has become a standout name in Seattle's crowded coffee scene.

Located in the heart of Pioneer Square, Elm Coffee Roasters is both a café and a roastery, where all beans are roasted on-site in full view of customers. Its sleek, minimalist design isn’t about style for style’s sake—it reflects the brand's focus on letting the coffee speak for itself. Pastries come from local favorite Seawolf Bakery, and the espresso bar offers teas from Song Tea in San Francisco, complementing the thoughtful selection of drinks on offer.

From Garage Roasting to City Favorite

Brendan’s path to Elm started in the trenches of café life—learning the ropes of front-of-house management, training baristas, and deepening his understanding of what makes a coffee experience memorable. Elm was built not only on a love for drinking coffee, but also on a commitment to sourcing and roasting beans with care. Each bean that makes it into the lineup is selected through trusted importer relationships, with a focus on quality and transparency.

The roastery currently features a rotating menu of exceptional coffees, like the returning favorite from Hugo Melo, a small producer from San Agustin whose crop offers rich chocolate and caramel tones layered with citrus and herbal notes. Another recent highlight is the Peru Luis Vasquez lot, which brings zesty limeade and grape-like acidity to the table, reminiscent of Ethiopian coffees. These offerings reflect Elm’s approach: showcase quality coffee with a clean roast profile and let the unique character of each bean shine.