There’s a new coffee shop/wine bar in town. Black Fern is located in the Granary Building, in easy reach of downtown, Waypoint Park, and the new Wednesday Bellingham Farmers Market.
The new cafe/bar is right next to Artivem Mead Co. and is brought to you by the same owners, Carlos Bassetti and Micah Mailand. Joining them in the venture are Christopher Erdmann, owner of blue.ink Real Estate, and Sarah Palmer, who boasts more than 15 years of experience in coffee. Together, they aim to bring high-quality coffee and natural wines and beers to the Bellingham Waterfront.
“We want to serve high end products, but make it approachable and not pretentious,” says Palmer.
Black Fern sources its beans from Stamp Act, a small-batch roaster in Seattle that fosters direct relationships with farmers and brings in fun, nontraditional coffees. To get a taste of different beans from different origins, you can order a flight of coffee, or keep it simple with one of the shop’s approachable but high-end espresso offerings.
There’s also a bean-to-cup brewer machine, typically only found in high-end restaurants or convenience stores. It’ll brew a fresh cup of coffee in 10 seconds flat, meaning you don’t have to wait for a pour-over or drink drip coffee that’s been warming on a burner.
Black Fern also offers vegan treats from nearby SconeGrown; if you’re standing in line when the train goes by, you’ll receive a free chocolate chip cookie.
The space itself is bright, fun, and approachable, perfect for meeting up with friends or working remotely. A cozy nook in the back corner is lit with a one-of-a-kind, photo-worthy French-press chandelier crafted by Bassetti.
While the front half of Black Fern is all about coffee and tea, the bar at the back of the shop serves natural beer and wines. The shop also plans to make and sell their own cider.
Black Fern will eventually host events, including tutorials on how to brew backcountry coffee when backpacking and skiing. There are also plans for trailhead coffee lessons, in which hikers and bikers can learn about and sample Black Fern coffee before setting off into the mountains. 1211 Granary Ave., Bellingham, @blackfernbham
