Why Watson's?
As an independently-owned micro-roaster, my only allegiance is to honoring the coffee by treating it like the culinary product it is, meticulously roasting it, and finding cool people who can truly appreciate it.
In this rebirth of Watson’s Counter, I have dedicated this coffee company to be one that chooses to be a presence for good. Regardless of wholesale or retail, 10% of every sale will be donated each month to a vetted and worthwhile cause.
Carefully Sourced
All coffees from Watson's Counter are carefully sourced from trusted relationships and not just picked off of a list. Coffees aren't purchased to fulfill needs, they are selected for their excellent qualities.
Meticulously Roasted
Every batch of coffee I roast is meticulously quality controlled and recipes are updated after every session. They are cupped double-blind to ensure that each batch is analyzed by taste alone and that each coffee is continually being optimized.
Community-Centered
Great coffee is built on the foundation of community. Although the brick and mortar is no more, this is still a community that I love and want to always be a part of. Sharing my passion for a delicious cup of coffee is my excuse to stay connected with you all. So thank you for letting me into your home.
"I still think (and maybe drool) over that amazing coffee that was great hot and then surprisingly tasted like blueberries when it got cold!"
-Kaley
About Watson's Counter:
Hi, I'm James.
As a Seattle coffee professional since 2014 I have fallen in love with everything coffee, become completely jaded about everything coffee, and now am at a stage where the only thing I truly care about is roasting coffee for my own personal enjoyment. That is to say, my goal as a roaster is to find coffees that I selfishly purchase and share them with you.
My favorite aspect of coffee is our ability to take a beautiful agricultural product and unlock the potential within it. Through roasting and brewing we take the meticulous work done at the farm level and bring to life interesting and complex expressions of flavor in an ephemeral experience. The caffeine is cool too.
We should fully acknowledge that we are in an extremely privileged position to be able to drink the top 5% of coffees the world has to offer. Through the recognition of our fortunate allotments in life, 10% of my total gross sales (wholesale and retail) will be donated to different causes every month with the mission of being a good steward to the earth and all those who inhabit it.
I hope you join me on my journey to experience the breadth of what specialty coffee has to offer.
...Then Who's Watson?
He was the goodest boy.
Watson was my best friend. He loved his Whimzee Alligator treats, laying on the back of sofas like a cat, and all the car rides in my lap. The 11lb Maltese-Yorkie was a master hiker and conquered several 5+ mile hikes without being carried once. He honestly wasn't really a good boy... He was kind of an asshole, but that made him the best boy.
Although he crossed the rainbow bridge in 2025, Watson continues to lives on as the mascot of our micro-roastery.
For Seattle-Area Coffee Enthusiasts:
Come learn to make your best cup of coffee. I have created a 4-part curriculum that focuses on coffee brewing theory and palate training. The Coffee 101 class alone is enough to equip you with the knowledge and skills to brew just as well as any barista. All concepts are applicable to all brew methods and roast profiles. Zero experience necessary.
The classes are cumulative and therefore must be taken sequentially. The deeper you dive with me the more you will be able to find what you enjoy in coffee, even if it doesn’t agree with me. The goal is to train you to learn and really experience everything coffee has to offer within Seattle and beyond.
All classes are interactive and the later classes will reward you for your hard work. The 4-part series is formatted as an academic lab setting, which means each class has limited spots. Each class runs for about 2 hours which is split into lecture, exercises, Q&A, then homework with a bag of coffee that is provided to you.
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120 US dollars
Already completed 101?
Click the button below to book advanced classes:
[Reminder: classes must be taken sequentially. If you book out of order, your reservation will be cancelled.]
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