A new café concept blending Thai coffee culture with community-building aims to open its doors in the neighborhood this fall.
Nudibranch Coffee—a Thai-inspired café and gathering space—has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its October 2025 opening. The team behind the project is seeking to raise $30,000 to finalize the buildout and secure a long-term lease for the space. So far, it’s raised $9,865 from 50 backers.
Nudibranch will feature Thai coffee beans from the Chiang Rai region, roasted locally and brewed using traditional Southeast Asian methods rarely found in the U.S. The drink menu will feature creative offerings, including Butterfly Pea Matcha and Milo Mocha, paired with local pastries and Thai-inspired snacks.
The café’s name and design are inspired by the nudibranch, a brightly colored sea slug known for its boldness and adaptability. Nudibranch Coffee is meant to reflect the café’s playful, unexpected identity—something a little weird, a little familiar, and deeply rooted in connection.
Founder Emily Sirisup, a first-generation Thai American, says the idea for Nudibranch Coffee came from a desire to connect people through coffee and culture.
“As a first-generation American, distanced from most of my family in Thailand, seeing the connections people make at my workplace left me feeling displaced from my culture,” Sirisup said in a statement about the opening.
“I want to support people’s curiosity for Southeast Asian culture by offering an authentic experience from my background for the Seattle community to explore.”
The café is designed to serve as a “third place”—a social space outside of work and home. Plans include over 30 community events such as latte art classes, candle-making workshops, and art showcases.
The Nudibranch team—which includes operations lead Alex Lewis and marketing strategist Cole Arnesen—has already sourced its first shipment of green Thai coffee beans, developed through direct relationships with producers in Thailand during a recent trip.
The Kickstarter campaign runs through June 26. Rewards for backers include branded merchandise, exclusive coffee deliveries, event access, and a spot on the café’s Founders Wall, which will sit next to a mural illustrating the supply chain from Thai farm to Seattle storefront.
The location hasn’t been released yet, but we’ll update you when we learn more.
Photo courtesy Cole Anderson
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