Sequim cafe opens its doors to coffee lovers

SEQUIM — “Someday” has come for Don Batcheller, the man behind Rainshadow Coffee Roasting Co.

Batcheller, who’s been roasting coffee beans for 15 years, celebrated the opening of his cafe at 157 W. Cedar St. last week with much pouring of java, ginger and oatmeal cookies and a klatch of local business people.

The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Ken Hays welcomed Rainshadow, supplier of 10 coffees from around the planet, to the downtown cafe lineup with a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon.

Batcheller has been roasting and selling his coffees here since 2009; he’d wanted to open a shop “someday.”

And Rainshadow looks lively, as befits a caffeinated spot: Comedic paintings by local artist Jeff Tocher adorn the walls through September, and Skip Kratzer’s “auto art” will appear next month.

In a former life, Batcheller was a mechanic in Santa Barbara, Calif.

His mission

Now, his mission is to provide fine, fierce coffees for the North Olympic Peninsula.

He joins a few other North Olympic Peninsula roasters, such as Sunrise Coffee Co. in Port Townsend and Princess Valiant in Port Angeles, in that endeavor.

At The Bushwhacker in Port Angeles, one of the restaurants pouring Rainshadow coffees, owner Bob Grattan said Rainshadow coffee is more expensive than the average cup — and worth it.

People notice the freshness, Grattan said.

“We’re about serving a good cup of coffee after dinner,” he added, “and supp­orting local businesses.”

The new Rainshadow cafe in Sequim hosts free coffee-tastings every Friday from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m., so “people can come in and taste any or all,” Batcheller said, adding that he buys beans from the coffee lands of Costa Rica, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala and Sumatra.

Batcheller opens Rainshadow’s doors seven days a week: from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sundays.

The roaster can be reached at 360-681-0650, while his website is at www.RainshadowCoffee.com.

________

Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Life

From left, Mercedes Sunshine Shimko and Hudson Soelter.
Club grows local scholarships

The Port Angeles Garden Club awarded five area students… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: Be the brightest bulb in the box with holiday lighting

NOW THAT IT is the beginning of November and darkness has truly… Continue reading

A bellwether is traditionally the leading sheep of a flock, which has a bell to lead the others.
BACK WHEN: Is Olympic Peninsula the bellwether?

HERE WE ARE. Just days away from another Presidential election. There is… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: The invitation to feast belongs to everyone

WHILE YOU MIGHT be reading this today, I needed to write it… Continue reading

Prayer gathering scheduled Tuesday

There will be a Election Day prayer gathering at… Continue reading

Prayer vigil set for Sequim election eve

An Election Eve prayer vigil is set for 5 p.m.… Continue reading

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith.
Unity in Port Townsend planning for Sunday services

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith will present “Grace and Gratitude”… Continue reading

A line of colorful witches hats is strung between autumn trees in the 300 block of west 10th street in west Port Angeles.  dlogan
Autumn magic in Port Angeles

A line of colorful witch hats is strung between autumn trees in… Continue reading

Photo by Emily Bishop

Cutline: Suzanna Bishop’s horse Dru happily walks away after head butting the scary “Giant Chicken Monster” at a fun-filled obstacle course hosted by JeffCo’s 4-H Horse Club.
HORSEPLAY: Scaring is caring. Halloween is for horses, too.

HIGH WINDS BLOWING debris wildly through the air on an overcast day… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: Grow vendor relationships for greater gardening

AS NOVEMBER DESCENDS upon us and the days are now far shorter,… Continue reading

Preschool celebration slated at Holy Trinity Lutheran on Sunday

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will bid a Fun Farewell… Continue reading

 Christina Baldwin
Unity in Port Townsend planning for Sunday services

Christina Baldwin will present “Spiritual Practices for These Times”… Continue reading