View Our Latest
Exploring Pullman one cup at a time—behind the scenes at local cafés and the stories that make them unique.
A New Morning Ritual: One Year Of Knead Cafe & Patisserie
Pullman’s coffee scene has a new heartbeat.
4 minute listen
By Bella Godinez and Molly Zimmerman
Knead Cafe & Patisserie, located right next to University Crossing Apartments, opened its doors on August 22, 2024. The cafe’s popularity grew throughout the year and now with its first year of business being a success, owner Grant Schoenlein reminisces on the start and looks towards the future.
Schoenlein has spent years building toward this moment. He entered the coffee industry in 2018 when he opened Kamiak Coffee Company. A coffee roasting company located in Moscow, Idaho. Yet the goal was always to open a high quality cafe, but he needed something more than coffee. That is when he partnered with Regina Konigsberg, a professionally french trained pastry chef, in 2022.
“I've always had an interest in coffee. And I love creating things. I love the building…the planning, the thinking…” Schoenlein said.
Schoenlein wanted a cafe that feels modern and comforting, a simple menu and high quality coffee. Like something you’d find tucked away in Portland or Seattle, but instead right here in Pullman.
Knead Cafe and Patisserie also aims to bring a “worldly” atmosphere to Pullman by combining European technique with bringing in elements of the Pacific Northwest coffee culture. This shows in the menu which features Greek iced beverages, Latin American espresso, French pastries, English sausage rolls and Italian focaccia.
“We try to make everything we serve in house,” Schoenlein said. “Like all the syrups, sauces, and all the pastries.”
Knead Cafe and Patisserie front counter and pastry case on October 13, 2025. Barista, Lily McNanny, is seen preparing a cappuccino for a customer. Molly Zimmerman/Grounds For Gathering
After the grand opening, and for the first year, the customer base was constantly shifting between working professionals, students, and retired members of the community. All groups that welcomed Knead Cafe and Patisserie to the area and it even earned the 2025 Pullman’s best coffee shop award.
“I did have a brand beforehand [Kamiak Coffee Company] that I could tap into a little bit, but we definitely outperformed what I projected.” Schoenlein stated, “I enjoy seeing familiar faces, it shows that you have a good product that people come back for.”
Additionally a frequent customer of the cafe and WSU student Stephen Demack said, “I come here [Knead Cafe and Patisserie] at least twice a week…I really like its modern feel, it really differentiates itself from a lot of the other coffee shops around town.
Every small business comes with its own set of challenges, such as not
having much data to start, but Schoenlein is dedicated to keeping Knead Cafe and Patisserie friendly and inviting to all. Since opening, the cafe hasn’t raised its prices, because they wanted to ensure a quality product at a reasonable price.
“The coffee industry alone is outrageously high…so just weathering those storms without trying to affect the customer, its a balance.”
As Knead Cafe and Patisserie moves into its second year in business, Schoenlein isn’t planning any major changes to the coffee shop. He wants to focus on the things that are important to him like continuing to deliver great coffee, fresh pastries, and the welcoming environment that's making Knead Cafe & Patisserie into one of Pullman’s beloved cafes.