Our History

In 1988, before the Pacific Northwest became home to the coffeehouse boom, Larry and Cherie Challain opened the first Dancing Goats^® Coffee Bar in Olympia, WA. A passion for serving great coffee grew into a passion for roasting the world’s finest coffees when they became the owners of Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters, one of the most well-regarded specialty coffee companies in America. In order to ensure the delivery of fresh roasted coffee to customers across the country, Batdorf & Bronson^® opened its Atlanta roastery in 1994. Our coffees are now being served in cafes and fine restaurants around the country in addition to our own locations where the excellent quality of Dancing Goats^® Coffee combines with knowledge and skilled baristas in delightful settings.

Where We Began - The 80's

1986	Dick Batdorf & Shannon Bronson open the doors at 513 Capitol Way, being the first specialty coffee roaster in Olympia, WA. Gardner's Seafood & Pasta Restaurant is Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters first wholesale account.
1988	Larry & Cherie Challain open Dancing Goats Espresso Company, a coffeehouse on 4th Ave in downtown Olympia, featuring Batdorf & Bronson^® coffees. The first overseas Mail Order is shipped to a customer in Somalia.

The 90's

1990	Larry & Cherie purchase Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters. With a rapidly expanding business on their hands, the Challain’s realized the need to augment the retail space and moved the roasting operations to a neighboring 5,000 square foot roastery.
1994	New logo is created for Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters. In order to fulfill the company mandate to guarantee freshness, Batdorf & Bronson^® opens a second roasting facility in Atlanta, Georgia in order to retain the levels of quality for East Coast Accounts.
1998	Outgrowing the downtown Olympia location, Batdorf & Bronson^® builds a new roastery that can accommodate a larger production operation. The Roastery also houses a Tasting Room where the public can sample coffees from each of the major growing regions and learn about coffee history and production methods.

2000 - 2010

2000	Commissions local artist, Nikki McClure, to create the dancing goat icon.
2001	A new retail location opens in Olympia, The Dancing Goats^® Espresso Bar, emphasizing artisan espresso drinks in an Italian-style setting.
2004	The original store on Capitol Way moves across the street to a roomier location.
2007	First stand-alone retail operation opens in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, the Dancing Goats Coffee^® Bar.
2010	New logo and branding are introduced.

2011-Present

2011	Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters celebrate 25 years in the specialty coffee industry.
2012	The Dancing Goats^® Coffee Bar at Ponce City Market is the first business to open at the amazing restoration of the famous old Sears Building on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta.
2015	The Atlanta Roastery gets an expansion with an updated renovated cupping lab and training facility. Batdorf & Bronson^® named Corporate Employer of the Year by the Economic Development Council of Thurston County.
2016	Batdorf & Bronson^® celebrates 30 years with a Limited 30th Anniversary Blend and festivities throughout the year.
2017	The third Dancing Goats^® Coffee Bar opens in Midtown Atlanta. Batdorf & Bronson^® Coffee Roasters receives the 2017 Leadership in Business Philanthropy Award by the South Puget Sound Partners for Philanthropy.
2018	Batdorf & Bronson^® Training Lab opens in St. Petersburg, Florida. Opened in the Spring of 2018, Dancing Goats^® Coffee Bar @ The Exchange is located in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta.
2019	Dave Wasson, President/COO named Boss of the Year by Thurston County Chamber. Release of a new sustainable single-serve coffee product in partnership with Steeped Coffee^®.
2020	Construction begins on new Dancing Goats^® at Point Ruston Market in Ruston, WA. Dancing Goats^®at Point Ruston Market opens December 2020.
2021	New website launched. www.dancinggoats.com
2022	Dancing Goats^® Coffee opens new location at the Brewery Blocks in Tacoma, WA Two Names No More: Batdorf & Bronson^® Becomes Dancing Goats Coffee^® In Company Rebrand Honoree of the Distinguished Leader Award by Leadership Thurston County
2023	Dancing Goats^® Coffee and Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co. announce merger, and Atlanta-area cafes begin offering coffee in Kaldi's Coffee packaging