Nudibranch is a brand new Thai-inspired coffee shop located at 1400 12th Avenue in Capitol Hill.
The space is filled with natural light and tasteful decorations. Whimsical but elegant thin white sheets line the ceilings in a wave-like pattern. The furniture and the space represent the spirit of the shop and owner Emily Sirisup: vibrant and ruminative.
In fact, each table, chair, couch, and painting was hand-picked by owner Sirisup and her team. “I spent a lot of late nights on Facebook Marketplace,” Sirisup said.
Sirsuip knows and loves coffee. Born and raised in the Seattle area, she started her career in coffee as a barista at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Capitol Hill. At only 24 she made a shift: embracing her love for coffee and following her long time dream, she opened her own cafe. Nudibranch is influenced by Thai coffee shops, which Sirsuip frequented on her trips to Thailand, the home country of her parents.
She was also inspired by the concept of ‘Third Places.’ A term coined by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg, a Third Place is a space outside of work and home, where people can connect, be inspired, and try something new. These third places are integral to the uniquely and wonderfully human need for connection and inspiration.
When she opened Nudibranch, Sirisup was committed to bringing this kind of space to Seattle, by showcasing local artists, running latte art-making events, and simply by the special Thai coffee and drinks they offer. This kind earnest commitment to people and coffee is apparent in Nudibranch.
Nudibranch (pronounced “noo-duh-brank”) is named after a very special kind of sea slug. Nudibranchs can be found all over the world, often display a plethora of beautiful colored patterns, and some can even photosynthesize. “I’m a Seattle kid though and though,” explained Sirisup, “and when growing up I loved tide pooling, and I grew a fascination for these creatures.” For the Nudibranch Coffee Shop logo, Sirisup contacted an artist she found through Pinterest. “I didn’t expect anything to come of reaching out, but they responded and said they would love to make a logo for us!” Now this marvelous creature is featured on every cup.
Of course the most important part of a coffee shop is the coffee itself! At Nudibranch the coffee is all sustainably sourced. “We built a relationship with our farmer in Thailand, this was very important for me,” said Sirisup.
The year before she opened the shop, Sirisup went to Thailand to meet with farmers and ensure the quality of the product. The coffee at Nudibranch reflects this cross-cultural collaboration, with Thai-inspired drinks like the Tangerine Americano and the Coconut Cloud—two drinks everyone must try! Coconuts are abundant in Thailand and integral to Thai cuisine. The Coconut Cloud at Nudibranch has a base of coconut water at the bottom, followed by espresso, and coconut sweet cream to top it off. The drink is like a getaway to Thailand in a cup, where coconut vendors line the streets and nothing feels better than ice cold fresh coconut water on a hot day. Coffee is seemingly endless in its pairings and deliciousness, and Nudibranch is committed to creativity even in its drink creation. Sirisup encourages her baristas to innovate and take risks, and this love for coffee comes through in the menu.
Of course, Thailand is well-known for its Thai tea—so what makes Thai coffee special? Sirisup explained that Thailand is actually one of the largest coffee suppliers in the world, and the largest in Asia. The shift towards coffee production took place in 1970, as a part of the Royal Project Foundation. This was an effort by King Bhumibol Adulyadej to replace the widespread cultivation of opium in Thailand with other crops, including coffee. Today Thailand is a major player in the coffee industry, especially in specialty, high quality, coffee.
Sirisup and team are so excited to bring Thai coffee to Capitol Hill. “I love living in Capital Hill,” said Sirisup. “I’ve been keeping up with other new coffee shops like Mintish, which just opened, and is a Palestinian coffee shop, or Offline Coffee, a Cantonese-inspired coffee shop”. Sirisup considers Nudibranch part of a community with these new shops. Collectively, they represent the Capital Hill community, a neighborhood unafraid to push boundaries and be an epicenter of cultural collaboration.
Dani Madan is a storyteller, painter, writer, and aspiring journalist from Seattle,Washington. She believes strongly in connecting, exploring truths through narrative, and the role of writing in shaping the world. She loves to write, get creative, and spend time outside when not doing the other two things.
