Wayfarer Coffee Roasters

Co-founder Karen Bassett, born and raised in Seattle, moved to New Hampshire in 2008. She couldn’t find the coffee she loved, so she started roasting it herself. She began selling her home-roasted coffee at the Laconia Farmers Market and to friends and family. In 2015, she and her husband, Reuben, joined forces with their friend and Laconia native, Ben Bullerwell, to open the flagship Wayfarer cafe and roastery in downtown Laconia (626 Main Street) with the mission to bring coffee and community to the area. In 2020, we opened the second Wayfarer cafe on the other side of town in the recently restored historic Lakeport Opera House (781 Union Ave). In addition to our classic Wayfarer coffee offerings, this location serves wild sourdough toasts and sandwiches loaded with local produce as well as incredible pastries. Our commitment to supporting local farmers and makers evolved from weekly pop up shops featuring local makers to a more permanent option. In May of 2021, we expanded our downtown location (626 Main St.) and opened the Wayfarer Marketplace. Here you will find local beer and wine, products from local farms, an expanded Wayfarer merch line, and an entire Local Makers section featuring a rotating selection of artisans.