1504 Coffee Bar: First Organic Espresso on the Island, and it is worth coming back for!

Above: Jessica, owner of 1504, chats with a customer

Above: the storefront in Freeland by the Shortstop gas station (across from the Island Athletic Club---that's right you can get an organic latte after your workout)

1504 Coffeebar is definitely worth checking out. You could almost miss it nestled in a development in Freeland next to a Coldwell Banker Real Estate Office and The Short Stop Gas Station, but you wouldn't want to! The store has been under new ownership for 2 years and happily still carries organic espresso, the first on the island, and still resides in its original location (see below for address).

The store was established in 1989 and was one of the first places to sell espresso on the island, pioneering organic espresso before it was popular. Although the shop looks modest from the outside, you enter into a unique setting, even amid the numerous coffee stands and shops that now cover South Whidbey. The shop offers a complete espresso menu with your choice of organic or regular milk, soup of the day, handmade local food (like Dorcas' samoosas) and local products like scarves, jewelry, tea cups, and art. It is one of the unique South Whidbey stores that has withstood the test of time.

Meet Jessica Leon, the owner of 1504. Jessica came to the island because of the local monastery. She was living in a monastery in Japan before moving to Whidbey. After living at the Whidbey Island monastery she and her husband Simon bought a home in Clinton and she worked as a home office organizer and at US Bank before deciding that she wanted to do something entirely new. When a friend told her about a coffee shop for sale in Freeland, she knew it was what she was looking for and she bought it within 3 weeks. She then began learning about how to run a business and how to make espresso.

Jessica has created a local meeting place that offers friendly service, a comfortable and aesthetic environment, and great coffee. When I visited the shop last Saturday I was happy to see that it fulfilled all of those needs and more. Jessica embodies the Whidbey Island ideal of being a successful business owner and offering islanders a unique service. Since buying the shop Jessica has created a new seating area with couches, new lighting, organic milk as an option with your espresso, and offers local crafts and art on the walls.

Go by the shop and try the organic espresso, it is lovely.

The hardware

Jessica Leon, owner of 1504 Coffeebar

Above: Kids and adults will enjoy the store's funny mascot barista

new cozy seating

Soup menu

Some gift ideas. . .

P.S. you were probably wondering about the "1504". It was originally the store's address, and they paid to have it be the phone number as well, but when the 525 Highway addresses changed so did coffee shop's address (see below).
Here is the contact information for Jessica's coffee shop:

1504 Coffeebar
18205 State Route 525 #7
Freeland WA 98249
360.331.1504