Vantage Coffee Co.: A Must-Stop Coffee Shop in Eastern Washington
A beloved Local café in the Heart of Washington state, near the Columbia river and gorge amphitheatre
If you’ve traveled through Eastern Washington and stopped by Vantage Coffee Co. over the past year, you’ve likely noticed some new faces—and a whole lot of heart behind the counter. Meet Jake and Rachele, the new owners of the beloved local coffee shop in Vantage, WA, who bring not only espresso expertise and hand-crafted pastries to the town but also a story rooted in adventure, connection, and a deep love for Vantage.
Meet the New Owners of Vantage Coffee Co.
Rachele’s roots in Vantage run deep. She grew up here, commuting to school in Ellensburg. “This place was my sanctuary,” she says. “I loved growing up here with the space and freedom to enjoy the outdoors and play. It was the best part of childhood.”
After graduating from Seattle Pacific University (SPU), she spent years working in cancer research at Fred Hutch, coordinating clinical trials for leukemia patients. It was meaningful work, but also long hours and emotionally intense. After starting a family—Rachele and Jake now have a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son—her priorities shifted towards being home with them and giving them the best childhood possible. “I always knew I would end up back Vantage and I wanted to make sure my kids could experience all the freedom and adventure growing up in Vantage has to offer.”
Jake, who grew up in Ballard, never pictured himself leaving Seattle. But everything changed when he met Rachele at SPU. The two dated all four years and married shortly after graduation. “She brought me out here during college, and I fell in love with it too,” Jake says. After several years living in lower Queen Anne, in 2017, they both quit their jobs and took off on a four-month backpacking trip through Europe. “We were trying to decide between the sensible thing of buying a house and chasing a dream of traveling through Europe. In hindsight, financially we should have bought the house,” said Jake laughing. “But the memories we created together are priceless.” The couple then moved to Indiana where Jake pursued his MBA at Notre Dame.
Eventually, they returned to Washington and settled back near family. Jake worked at Amazon for several years as a product manager before recently transitioning to another company, while Rachele was able to enjoy focusing on raising their children. Then, something unexpected happened—the local coffee shop became available.
A dream begins to brew
Many of Jake’s childhood memories revolve around vacation and food. “I grew up going to Roche Harbor in the San Juan Islands,” he says. “And my favorite part about Roche was going to get a donut with pink frosting and sprinkles every morning at the cafe. We get so many families stopping in while on vacation and my hope is that our coffee, ice cream, and overall atmosphere will help other families make memories that will last a lifetime.”
The idea of opening a coffee shop had been a longtime dream. Rachele is a self-proclaimed coffee lover—whenever they travel, she’s always hunting down the best local spots. “To get a coffee shop in Vantage, and then lose it again, just felt so sad—for both locals and travelers,” she says.
When the former owners moved away, the opportunity felt like fate. With the encouragement of family and a lot of prayer, they officially opened Vantage Coffee Co. on May 9th 2025. The name is simple and timeless, but it’s the dual logo that tells the deeper story. The primary logo is an anchor (for the Columbia River as well as Jake’s childhood spent sailing) that incorporates the Cross of Camargue symbol, inspired by their trips to Europe, and a V for Vantage. The secondary logo is an apricot tree.
“Along the Old Vantage Highway there is a solitary apricot tree that grows out of the rock,” Rachele says. “It’s been there at least 60 years, and it still produces fruit. Only local people know about it and it’s special to us. It’s about blooming where you are planted. In a dry desert. Where other people may not see there is abundance.”
More Than Just Coffee: A Community Gathering Place in Central Washington
Jake and Rachele have a clear vision for the café. “We want it to be a place of rest, refuge, community, and caffeine,” Rachele says. “Vantage is the center of the state, so a lot of people come and meet up here. Just the other day, a family that lives across all different areas of the state, came in and met up for coffee.” Jake and Rachele want this to be the place that people to come in and create those connections and memories.
They’ve put care into every detail—from the European-style espresso machine (which they were trained on how to use by their Wenatchee roaster, Mela) to sourcing ice cream from Winegar’s in Ellensburg, and serving locally grown fruit, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches.
Though summer has brought busier weekends—especially on Gorge Amphitheatre concert dates—Jake and Rachele say the slower spring helped them find their rhythm. “We started in the shoulder season which was a blessing to get everything figured out. We have amazing employees—some who came with barista experience and some that we trained.”
As for the building, it was the old gas station, and for a short while after that it ran as a fruit stand, until it was closed and sat empty for 20 or 30 years. Rachele’s brother, Benjamin, who is an engineer, did the remodel a few years back turning the old gas station into a coffee shop. He even created the wood feature wall and the beautiful large wood table.
Vantage Coffee Co. is currently open most days from 8 a.m.–2 p.m., Tuesdays 8am-noon, Sundays 8am-3pm, and closed on Wednesdays. Stop by, grab a coffee or a Lotus (a current favorite), and say hello to Jake, Rachele, and their friendly team.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or a weekend wanderer, you are part of the story they’re creating—one cup and one memory at a time.
