Campfire Coffee, a Tacoma-based coffee roaster and shop, is redefining the coffee experience. Co-owner and CEO Quincy Henry shared the inspiring journey of their business with Besa Gordon, a coffee enthusiast.

Quincy and his wife Whitney started Campfire Coffee out of necessity when they both found themselves unemployed. "On that whole drive home, 13 hours is where Campfire was dreamt up," Quincy explained. The initial plan didn't include roasting their own beans, but after facing rejection from established roasters, they were inspired to experiment with wood-fired roasting in their backyard. "We didn't really have a choice," Quincy recalled. "We were really like, no roasters want to work with us. What are we going to do?"

Campfire Coffee faced challenges during the pandemic, but they persevered and launched an online store, which quickly gained traction. They eventually opened their physical shop in August 2020 with a strong customer base. Quincy credits their success to Tacoma's strong sense of community and their unique wood-fired roasting process, which sets them apart from other coffee roasters. "People that know that we roast over a fire, they kind of go into it not knowing what to expect," Quincy explained. Campfire Coffee has ambitious plans for the future, including expanding their wholesale business and increasing diversity in the coffee and outdoor industries.