Business Spotlight: Bug and Buf's Espresso

Bug and Buf's Espresso is a beloved local gem in Forks, enticing both residents and tourists alike with its friendly service, exceptional coffee, and unique energy drinks. The drive-thru coffee stand sits right off Hwy 101 on the north side of town, offering a convenient caffeine stop whether you’re passing through or staying a while.  

Bug and Buf's was born out of the passion and dedication of founders Shauna Peters and Hailey Horton, two Forks natives who share a common love for coffee and community. The pair are affectionately known by friends and family as Bug and Buf, which is how the name of their coffee shop was chosen. While they have added several members to their team, you can still find them serving up their bespoke coffee and energy drinks daily.

“We were both born and raised in Forks, so the town is special to us,” said Peters. “We have a community here where everyone looks out for and takes care of each other.” 

This holds true even among competing coffee stands in Forks, where the owners are friendly enough to reach out to one another if they need things like extra cups or sugar packets. The two owners started out working together at a different coffee shop, where they fell in love with the coffee business.  

“Eventually we wanted to branch out and open our own coffee shop so we could put our unique touch on it,” said Peters. “We learned so much, but we also discovered areas we wanted to do differently.” 

One of the things they knew they wanted to change was their merchant services provider, after experiencing frequent issues with the Square system used by the other shop.  

“While we were banking at First Fed, their team introduced us to Clover, an alternative merchant services system,” recalled Peters. “They helped us set up the new system that not only solved our processing and payroll issues, but also added easy inventory, daily sales, and labor cost tracking.” 

Clover merchant services are loved by many small businesses because of all the features the point-of-sale system provides in an easy-to-use interface. In addition to credit card processing for customers, the tracking of sales, costs, and inventory, as well as projected sales and cost analysis, are assets to many business owners. The system even has an option for capital advance requests.  

“We love to help businesses solve problems,” said John Textor, Treasury Management Officer at First Fed. “Clover is a great solution for small businesses who need more out of their point-of-sale system, and sometimes it’s even less expensive than their prior service.” 

“The system is so simple and user friendly,” added Peters. “First Fed helped us get everything up and running smoothly. We even use it for clocking employees in and out.” 

“We are so happy to support a local, women-owned business with our business banking services,” said Kelly McConnell, First Fed Branch Manager in Forks. “Our team loves seeing Shauna and Hailey at our branch and dropping by Bug and Buf’s for caffeine pick-me-ups.” 

Their pick-me-ups are available in more than just coffee flavors. With a monthly menu of specials, you’ll find lots of creative fruit and berry flavored energy drink creations, fusions, and juice toppers. Kid’s drinks come with cold foam and candy toppings, but adults enjoy the fun toppers too! The shop also offers breakfast sandwiches and baked treats to pair with the drinks. 

Whether they are serving tourists or locals, customer service is a top priority at Bug and Buf’s. 

“It’s the little things that can make a difference in someone’s day,” said Peters. “We love interacting with our customers. In the future we hope to build an outdoor area where people can hang out and socialize with their coffee.” 

Learn more about Bug and Buf’s Espresso, including their monthly specials, on their Facebook page. 

Have a business? Check out our Clover merchant services or contact our First Fed Treasury Management Team.