On October 20, 2025, Roast magazine named Kafiex Roasters its 2026 Micro Roaster of the Year. For our independent coffee business in Vancouver, Washington, it was a moment to celebrate the producers, team, partners, and customers who have helped shape Kafiex since we began in 2018.
Nearly a year later, we are proud of the recognition and grateful for what has followed: national competition milestones, new collaborations, more opportunities to teach, and new ways to share our coffee with people beyond our hometown.
If you are discovering Kafiex for the first time, welcome. Here is a look at what we have accomplished since winning, and how that work connects to the coffee in your cup.
What Micro Roaster of the Year means to us
Roast magazine's award considers coffee quality alongside a company's mission, sustainability, education, inclusion, and involvement in the industry. It recognizes the work behind the cup as well as what is in it.
Those values continue to guide us. We want coffee to spark curiosity, connect people to its producers, and feel welcoming whether you are ordering your usual espresso or tasting a new coffee for the first time.
Returning to the national competition stage
Most recently, co-founder and head roaster Matthew Selivanow placed third at the West Coast qualifier for the U.S. Coffee Roasting Championship, earning his place on the national stage for the fifth consecutive year.
That consistency matters to us. Each season is another opportunity to test our roasting decisions, keep learning, and bring that attention back to the coffees we roast for our customers.
Co-founder Seidy Selivanow also reached a new competition milestone in 2026, advancing to the U.S. Barista Championship final and finishing sixth in the nation. She was named to the Sprudge Twenty Class of 2026, recognizing her impact as a competitor, educator, mentor, and co-founder.
The results are meaningful, but so is the daily work they represent: thoughtful roasting, careful brewing, and a willingness to keep improving.
Sharing coffee education across the industry
Seidy teaches at every Coffee Fest event, at the Women-Powered Coffee Summit and Level Up events, and is also an instructor for the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). Her teaching and mentoring in English and Spanish help make coffee knowledge more accessible.
In August 2026, Seidy taught at Camp Coffee Shop, presented by Barista Magazine in Napa Valley. She led a session on how coffee quality is evaluated from farm to café and co-taught plant-based latte art with Selina Viguera. The educator lineup also included Andrea Allen, and Trish Rothgeb, bringing together experienced voices from across specialty coffee to share their knowledge with café owners and coffee professionals.
At Coffee Fest New York, Matthew and Seidy joined Driftaway Coffee’s founders and Roast magazine founder Connie Blumhardt for the 2026 Roaster of the Year Forum, sharing lessons about sourcing, growing a coffee business, and staying true to our values.
That exchange of knowledge also shapes Kafiex at home. Education is part of how we train our team, support wholesale partners, and help guests explore flavor and brewing without feeling intimidated.
Recognition for our Vancouver café experience
Kafiex Gastro Café was recognized at No. 37 in The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking for North, Central America and the Caribbean.
We are proud to see our waterfront café included in that regional list. It celebrates an experience that brings together coffee, food, hospitality, and community. Alongside our downtown Coffee Lab, Gastro Café gives us a place to share the coffees we roast and the stories behind them.
New ways to experience Kafiex at home
In 2026, we joined xBloom's roasting partners, introducing our Jhoan Vergara Thermal Shock Pink Bourbon to its home-brewing community. The collaboration brought our coffee and a producer's work to another audience of curious coffee drinkers.
We also launched a redesigned online store, making it easier to explore our Traditional, Modern, and Reserve collections and order coffee for delivery nationwide.
New offerings include the 2026 Micro Roaster of the Year Coffee Discovery Box, with four full-size coffees, and The Kafiex Pairing, with two curated 10 oz coffees each month. They offer different ways to discover our range, whether you want a one-time tasting journey or coffee selected for your regular brewing routine.
Stronger partnerships behind the cup
Our Bluewater partnership is now solidified, and we have joined its brand ambassador program. It reflects our attention to water quality as an essential part of brewing coffee well, from the café espresso bar to the cup you make at home.
Seidy has also secured a brand ambassador partnership with Pacific Barista Series. This partnership builds on her work teaching baristas about plant-based milk steaming and latte art, helping coffee professionals develop the skills to prepare consistent, thoughtfully crafted drinks.
We have also expanded our equipment support as an authorized La Marzocco reseller and continued developing our wholesale program. For business owners, that means a separate path to work with us through coffee, equipment guidance, hands-on training, and practical support for their teams.
These relationships support the same goal that guides our retail coffee: helping people get more enjoyment and confidence from the coffee they brew.
Still rooted in our local community
We shared our story on KGW's Hello Rose City in May and welcomed KOIN's Kohr Harlan for National Coffee Day coverage on September 29. Each opportunity has introduced more people to Kafiex while reminding us how much our story belongs to Vancouver.
We are grateful to the producers whose coffees we roast, the team bringing care to every service, and the customers and partners who keep supporting this work.
Discover the coffee behind the recognition
You do not need a competition background or a special brewing setup to explore Kafiex. Start with the kind of cup you enjoy:
- A connection to the award: Vancouver Filter Blend was part of our winning submission. Its light-medium roast offers caramel apple, chocolate, and sweet tangerine notes.
- A range to explore: Our Coffee Discovery Box includes four 10 oz coffees spanning comforting sweetness, full-bodied blends, a dark roast, and fruit-forward character.
- Your own flavor preference: Browse Traditional for familiar richness, Modern for brighter, expressive cups, or Reserve for rare and limited coffees.
- A cup with us: Visit our cafés in Vancouver, Washington, and let our team help you find something you love.
Whether you start with one bag, a monthly pairing, or a visit to the café, we are glad you are here.
Explore Kafiex coffee, roasted in Vancouver and shipped nationwide.
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