Originally founded in 1994 as a small espresso cart, Highliner Coffee Co. is now a beloved local institution. The original owners passed the torch to current owner, Sherri Blankenship, in September 2024, and Sherri is proud to continue its legacy, honoring Highliner’ s roots while ushering in a new era of growth and creativity.
In the large warehouse connected to the cafe is a stateof-the-art fluid bed air roaster. This type of roaster is widely regarded as the cleanest and most precise method of roasting coffee. It comes across in Highliner’ s coffee blends, with their clean and smooth flavors. In addition to drinking their in-house roast while ordering in the shop, they have 12-ounce and 1-pound bags of their whole beans available for purchase, meaning you can take some of Highliner home with you after leaving Sitka.
Sherri has some big plans for Highliner going into the future, like increasing their brand recognition as a 30-year Alaska business that continues to thrive. Most importantly, perhaps, is her vision of Highliner becoming more than a coffee shop, but a hub of community gathering— a place where ideas are shared, friendships grow, and Sitka’ s creative and entrepreneurial spirit shines.
Looking around, you spy a group of teenagers laughing and sipping their energy drinks, an elderly couple sharing the daily special prepared by Highliner ' s chef Terry Cargain, and a small family gathering up their coats, heading out for their morning adventure. Highliner’ s community-driven legacy doesn’ t seem that far out of reach, in fact, it already seems to be a place of connection, anchoring Sitkans and visitors alike.
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