A typical day at Peaceful Valley Coffee is low-key, but filled with joy and purpose. Bryn Garrehy, Peaceful Valley Coffee’s Founder and Roaster, is often processing several orders, roasting coffee and delivering coffee across Spokane, Washington. “I cup three times a week and brew constantly,” says Bryn. “When I’m not roasting, I’m planning—more wholesale, pop-ups, admin work. As a solo operator still holding a second job, the hustle is real.”
Bryn Garrehy, Founder and Roaster at Peaceful Valley Coffee
Spokane, Specialty, and Serving Everyone
Bryn reports that Spokane has a robust coffee community – it’s the Pacific Northwest, after all. However, he believe that the coffee market is still about 10–15 years behind the Bay Area. “No one here is seriously pushing livable wages or health benefits for baristas, which is something I deeply want to change”.
The good news? Spokane locals care about Spokane. They support local businesses, they want exceptional coffees, and they value connection. “With Peaceful Valley Coffee, I’m working to bridge those desires with honest, intentional service”.
Peaceful Valley Spokane WA
A Philosophy Rooted in Precision and Intention
“My time with Blue Bottle taught me that great products don’t happen overnight,” Bryn recalls. “I learned how to take a rigorous approach to evaluating coffees, while imbuing everything with intention. “Sugar bomb” coffees were always the goal—whether light or dark roast.”
“By cupping every week with a handful of Q Graders and legend-level roasters, I learned to speak the language of roasting through cupping,” Bryn notes. “My strength was using those data points to educate and drive results in the retail sector, where I served as a global barista trainer.”
Learning to Source with Context
“When it came to green coffee buying, I learned from Charlie H. (now at Royal) to think beyond scores and samples. Instead, we focused on context and place”:
- Is this coffee exemplary or emblematic for the region?
- Are its flavors exotic and outlying?
- What moments in my journey are peripheral—but meaningful—to this acquisition?
“These are the same questions I ask when sourcing and roasting for Peaceful Valley.”
Crafting Coffee with Pen & Paper
“At Seattle Coffee Works (SCW), I learned a very important lesson: roast with pen and paper,” Bryn added. “SCW intentionally avoided using software like Artisan or Cropster. At Peaceful Valley Coffee, I’ve maintained this discipline. Roasting manually demands full attention—and that’s where innovation thrives. Your senses are forced to be inspired.”
Moving to Fluid Bed Roasting
“I’ve roasted many Genuine Origin coffees at this point,” says Bryn. Thus far, Bryn has GO green coffees roasted from Brazils, Colombia, Nicaragua, Tanzania, Sidama, and Veracruz Mountain Water Decaf.”
“Roasting on a fluid bed system like the Artisan 3e by Coffee Crafters requires a different mindset”, notes Bryn. “Drying and heat transfer happen quickly. Some drum-roast principles are turned upside down, and everything must be manually steered in real time. Still, the results are striking: juicy expression, clean finishes, and cup profiles that stimulate and surprise.”
Peaceful Valley Coffee Co Bags
Looking Ahead: Coffee for All
What does the future look like for Peaceful Valley Coffee in the midterm? Bryn told us that he’s working towards, opening a brick-and-mortar location in Peaceful Valley and expanding roasted throughput to serve more places—cafes, offices, hotels, schools, even gas stations!
“Right now, there’s no commercial zoning in Peaceful Valley. That means no local economic power”, notes Bryn. However, he’s working to change that, one cup and one conversation at a time. “Peaceful Valley has always been about gathering. A coffeehouse would be a natural extension of that ethos.”
GO Boxes stacked with La Bastilla bag at the Peaceful Valley Roastery
The Current Lineup
Peaceful Valley Coffee’s roasting menu currently includes:
- Brazil Guaxupé Semi-Washed
- Colombia El Tiple Supremo
- Ethiopia Sidama Natural
- Tanzania Isaiso Peaberry Plus
- Mexico Veracruz Mountain Water Decaf
“I blend with these origins as well, building classic profiles like Mocha Java. Each coffee has its own fanbase, but standouts include the Sidama—hand-sorted and fruit-forward—and the beloved Veracruz decaf.
Why I Source from Genuine Origin
Naturally, we wanted to know what attracted Bryn to GO. “I love telling people how I source coffee because I believe deeply in what Genuine Origin is doing,” says Bryn. “I chose GO because I had already worked with the product, knew the Volcafe network, and met the team at Expo 2023.” Bryn went on to explain that Genuine Origin facilitates a global marketplace that gives everyone access to high-quality coffees. “I dip into that supply chain to find the most special and functional coffees I can.”
A Commitment to Sustainability and Access
Sustainability at Peaceful Valley is comprehensive—from sourcing and packaging to roasting and growth. “It’s slow, steady, intentional,” says Bryn. “My goal is to eliminate obstacles between people and coffee, while adding value back into the supply chain wherever possible. Because coffee—done right—can connect people, empower communities, and taste extraordinary doing it.”
