Kuma Coffee

Kuma Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2008 by Peter Mark Ingalls. The name "Kuma" means "bear" in Japanese, and the company began as a one-person operation roasting coffee in a garage. Its founding philosophy was straightforward: source excellent coffee, roast it carefully, and get it into customers' hands, with the taste of the coffee mattering more than packaging. As of the company's own account, Kuma remains a four-person team roasting in Seattle, yet its focus on quality has made the brand known nationwide. The company sells whole-bean coffee, with a product line that includes single-origin offerings from countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Kenya, as well as house blends and espresso. Flagship and recurring products include the Classic blend, Bright Blend, Sun Bear cold-coffee blend, Momma Bear 50/50 decaf-regular blend, and Single Origin Espresso Roasters Choice. Kuma also offers instant coffee in varieties such as Honduras Gerardo Trejo and Guatemala Hunapu. Roast levels range from light to dark, and tasting notes on the website emphasize fruit, chocolate, and floral characteristics. Kuma positions itself around direct partnerships with farmers and careful sourcing. On its homepage, the company highlights working with Louis Pedro Zeleya Zamora and the crew at Bella Vista in Antigua, Guatemala, noting that all beans in that harvest are grown above 1,500 meters, resulting in a slower-growing coffee cherry with a rich, vibrant profile. The brand's marketing leans on approachable, playful product names and descriptions rather than luxury cues. Operating as a private, independent roaster, Kuma sells primarily through its own e-commerce website, with offers such as free shipping on orders of three or more bags. Its product range spans everyday blends priced around $19.50 to single-origin lots priced up to $27.00, alongside instant coffee at $18.00. The company's stated mission remains centered on roasting and delivering excellent coffee, and it continues to operate as a small Seattle-based roaster with a nationwide reputation.

Kuma Coffee was founded in 2008 in Seattle, Washington, by Peter Mark Ingalls. According to the company's About Us page, it "started as a guy roasting coffee in his garage in Seattle, Washington." The founder's stated goal was to find coffee that tasted excellent, roast it very carefully, and get that coffee into people's hands. The brand's early identity was built on the idea that the coffee inside the bag mattered more than the package itself: "It was not about how shiny the package was, it was about how delicious the coffee inside it tasted." The name "Kuma" means "bear" in Japanese, a choice reflected in the company's product naming, which includes the Sun Bear cold coffee blend and the Momma Bear 50/50 decaf-regular blend. The bear theme gives the brand a friendly, approachable character that contrasts with more austere specialty coffee branding. Over the years, Kuma grew from a garage operation into a small but nationally known roaster. The company states that it is "still a 4 person team roasting in Seattle," and that its "singular focus on quality coffee has made our brand become known nationwide." This growth was achieved without outside ownership or a large retail footprint; Kuma sells primarily through its own website and direct-to-consumer channels. Kuma's sourcing has emphasized direct relationships with producers. On its homepage, the company describes working with Louis Pedro Zeleya Zamora and the crew at Bella Vista in Antigua, Guatemala, noting that they are known globally for procuring and processing some of the best Guatemalan coffees available. The company highlights that all beans in that harvest are grown above 1,500 meters, resulting in a slower-growing coffee cherry with a rich, vibrant profile, with notes of cherries, stone fruit, and almond. The product line has expanded over time to include a range of single-origin coffees from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Kenya, alongside house blends such as Classic and Bright Blend, espresso offerings, and instant coffee. The company also offers a decaf option and the Momma Bear blend, which was inspired by the founder's personal experience of preparing a 50/50 decaf and regular blend for his wife during pregnancy. As of the available information, Kuma Coffee remains an independent, private company operating from Seattle and selling nationwide.

• 2008

  Kuma Coffee founded by Peter Mark Ingalls, roasting coffee in a garage in Seattle, Washington.

• Company grows into a four-person roasting team based in Seattle with nationwide brand recognition.

• Kuma partners directly with Louis Pedro Zeleya Zamora and the Bella Vista crew in Antigua, Guatemala, sourcing beans grown above 1,500 meters.

• Launch of the Momma Bear 50/50 Decaf-Regular Blend, inspired by the founder's personal experience during his wife's pregnancy.

Specialty coffee roaster focused on quality, direct farmer partnerships, and carefully roasted single-origin and blended coffees.

• Classic

  House blend with notes of caramel, chocolate, stonefruit, and honey; priced at $19.50.

• Bright Blend

  Blend with notes of berries, florals, citrus, and tropical fruit; priced at $19.50.

• Sun Bear

  Cold coffee blend of Central American and African coffees with notes of chocolate, berries, and grape; 12oz bag, medium light roast, priced at $19.50.

• Momma Bear 50/50 Decaf-Regular Blend

  A 50/50 blend of Decaf Costa Rica Tierras Ticas and Guatemala Hunapu regular, with notes of hot chocolate and marshmallows; priced at $19.50.

• Single Origin Espresso Roasters Choice

  Single-origin espresso selected by the roaster; priced at $22.50.

• Guatemala Finca Rosma

  Single-origin Guatemalan coffee with tasting notes of Rainier cherries, chocolate milkshake, and Coca-Cola; priced at $25.00.

• Ethiopia Natural Bookkisa

  Single-origin Ethiopian coffee with notes of boysenberry, gummy worms, and lilac; priced at $27.00.

• Kenya Gatomboya

  Single-origin Kenyan coffee with notes of Napa Cabernet, blackberries, and heavy cream; priced at $24.50.

• Kuma Instant Coffee Honduras Gerardo Trejo

  Instant coffee with notes of dark chocolate, Medjool dates, and Honey Crisp apple; priced at $18.00.

• Kuma Instant Coffee Guatemala Hunapu

  Instant coffee with notes of dark chocolate, honeycomb, and fruit punch; priced at $18.00.

1. 1Kuma Coffee official websitekumacoffee.com
2. 2About Us – Kuma Coffeekumacoffee.com
3. 3Sun Bear – Kuma Coffeekumacoffee.com
4. 4Momma Bear 50/50 Decaf-Regular Blend – Kuma Coffeekumacoffee.com
5. 5Kong Inc. Donates Open Source Kuma to the Cloud Native Computing Foundationprnewswire.com