Downtown Tacoma is about to smell a lot more like freshly roasted beans. Outer Dark Coffee Co. is shifting its roasting operation into the city’s core and hinting that a second cafe could be close behind, a move that underscores just how caffeinated Tacoma’s coffee scene has become. Owner Mike Murphy is steering the expansion, relocating production from a shared Auburn facility into a dedicated space near City Hall.
According to WhatNow, the company shared on Facebook that it plans to build out a production roastery on Court C in the Rhodes Center. “We’re beyond excited to finally have our own dedicated roasting space, AND to have the opportunity to set up shop in the heart of Downtown Tacoma,” the post read. The report notes that no opening date has been announced.
Murphy opened Outer Dark’s flagship cafe in July 2024 at 750 Market St., after launching the brand earlier that year. He had been roasting at the shared RoasterWorks facility in Auburn while building both wholesale and retail business, according to Daily Coffee News. Murphy’s background in craft beer helped him lock in wholesale relationships and collaborations around the region as the roastery expanded its footprint. Having a downtown roastery where bags can be roasted, packed, and shipped straight from Tacoma’s center is the logical next phase.
Local industry reporting compiled by TNT Diner (The News Tribune) and syndicated outlets pins the new production site at 950 Broadway, inside the Rhodes Center and accessed via the Court C entrance, and notes that a second downtown cafe could follow this spring. The breakdown of the address and possible follow-up cafe appeared in a Tacoma openings and permit roundup from TNT Diner. For now, Outer Dark has not committed to a timeline.
What They'll Roast and Sell
Outer Dark’s coffee program centers on two main pillars: a natural and honey-process lineup and a washed-coffee selection, with both single-origin coffees and blends highlighted in its materials. WhatNow points to offerings such as “Guji,” “El Puente Natural,” “Nario,” “Senior Abraham Morales,” and “Pink Bourbon Anaerobic,” a set of coffees that leans into fruity, experimental profiles. The shop also keeps a stable of year-round blends on deck for espresso and everyday brews.
What This Means for Downtown
Putting a working roastery in the Rhodes Center would add production jobs and a wholesale hub to downtown Tacoma’s steadily growing specialty-beverage scene, alongside other roasters that already roast or retail in the city. Neighborhood outfits like Naomi Joe Coffee and Valhalla Coffee have already broadened the choices for both retail drinkers and wholesale buyers across Pierce County. The move also fits neatly into Tacoma’s pattern of coffee-beer collaborations and pop-ups. Outer Dark has previously teamed up with local breweries, as noted by the Washington Beer Blog, a strategy that keeps smaller roasters front-of-mind while they scale up.
Outer Dark has yet to announce an opening date for the downtown roastery, and the company is steering customers to its website and social channels for the latest word. Check Outer Dark's website for updates and to order its beans online.
