Seattle is known best known for four things: Coffee, Airplanes, the Space Needle, and Software. Generally, it's coffee that people associate with the city. When people ask where I'm from, I usually respond with "Do you know Starbucks?" and they instantly recognize the city unless I'm in Japan, in which case, "Ichiro!" is enough to get instant smiles. While Starbucks is the biggest coffee name in Seattle, it's certainly not the only name and here's my top 5 list of coffee shops in Seattle. You cannot get better coffee than you can at these places and almost all of these places are distinctly Seattle.
1. Espresso Vivace
Vivace is a quintessential Seattle coffee shop. Started in 1988, this is the shop that I remember introducing me to espresso, latte art, and the Seattle coffee house atmosphere. In fact, the hearts and leafs that are ubiquitous on top of all good espresso drinks started at the original Espresso Vivace location (which, sadly, was forced to close when the building was demolished). I remember that location as being this wonderful place, hidden behind a Godfather's Pizza, where high ceilings and exposed brick met the best coffee I have ever had.
Fortunately for you, there are now three locations. The most authentic and original is the sidewalk bar on Broadway, but the location a few blocks north provides a better experience and the location in South Lake Union in the Alley 24 building is also a great cafe. These two locations are new, fresh, and even provide separate spaces for either quiet study or meeting to talk with friends. Espresso Vivace buys and roasts there own beans to ensure quality.
Any espresso drink here will be perfect, although the baristas have a reputation for taking coffee a little too seriously. However, one drink stands out and is unique to Vivace: The Caffe Nico. It's a rich combination of two shots of espresso, steamed half-and-half (not exactly diet friendly), orange, and cinnamon. It's simply fantastic.
2. Trabant
Trabant is another favorite of mine. There are two locations: one located next to the Smith Tower and another in the University district with the former being the one most easily accessible to visitors. The coffee here is top notch and in addition to their standard espresso blend, they also offer up premium single origin micro-plantation coffees that are brewed on a per cup basis.
"Single source micro-whatha?", you ask? It's a Seattle thing, or at least it really started taking off here. Single source coffees are coffee beans that come from just one farmer or small area and are often purchased directly from the farmer at higher than market prices on the basis that quality should be properly compensated. Most beans that you buy in the store are purchased through middle men who mix all the beans together (the good and the bad) and then sell that at bulk prices, which results in coffee tasting like.. well.. bland airplane coffee. Direct trade single origin coffee, in contrast, tastes shockingly different. At Trabant, they have a selection of coffees which promise coffees with "[t]ropical fruit aromas, soft texture and raspberry acidity, with flavours of peaches, vanilla, and dark chocolate" which are brewed to order in their clover machine.
"Clover machine?", you ask? Again, it's a Seattle thing, or at least it started here. A clover machine brews cups of coffee with fresh grounds on a per cup basis. It was created by a Seattle company, which was then bought up by another little known Seattle company, Starbucks. The coffee that comes out of a clover is perfect, every time, and Trabant was an early adopter of the technology.
Besides the single origin coffee selection, they serve up a mean espresso drink, including another one of my favorites: The Mexican Chocolate Mocha. The chocolate used here is imported from Mexico and gives the drink an extra kick of cinnamon. It's well worth a visit, and both locations have great atmosphere (although I prefer the University location for the traffic and mix of customers).
3. Bauhaus
Bauhaus provides another insight into what Seattle used to be like, and today it's still one of the most popular and most urban cafes we have. Located in the Pike/Pine Corridor heading towards Capitol Hill, this cafe is well worth a visit but not with a car. The parking in the neighborhood is difficult (and expensive) but with the shop so close to downtown and in one of the densest neighborhoods on the west coast, no one complains. You walk, bus, or bike here just like everyone else.
The interior feels like a library and you can feel the age of the building, which adds to the ambiance. Unlike some other cafes which have high design and try to evoke past eras, everything here feels authentic as it if it had always been there from the start. Two sides of the shop are nearly floor to ceiling windows, which gives a connection with the activities outside. Inside, you'll find a combination of younger adults who are new to the Hill and hip regulars who grew up there, usually either talking or working on their laptop. The feel of the coffee shop is half library, half bauhaus coffee shop which is exceedingly appropriate given the name.
The espresso bar offers the standard assortment of espresso drinks served up by talented baristas and a selection of pastries, including foil wrapped ding-dongs for a buck. Again, the coffee you get here will be impeccable.
4. Victrola Coffee
Victrola Coffee has a couple locations, but my favorite is the one on 15th Ave. This area is a small neighborhood "main street", which geared towards locals with a quiet setting and a collection of restaurants and shops that maintain a fairly low profile. Unless you live nearby, odds are you won't come here, except to pass through. Tourists might drive past it on their way to Volunteer park, but otherwise it's not likely to make it on to any must-see list. That said, the neighborhood and this coffee shop in particular deserve more attention. This particular location is billed as a local art house, and there's a chance that you'll see an opening here or perhaps some live music in addition to the art hanging on the wall.
5. Cupcake Royale
The Cupcake Royale is actually one of my favorites and the cafe I frequent most. There are several locations, but in my opinion the West Seattle shop is the best of all. The coffee here is crafted by friendly and excellent baristas, and almost all of the regulars are on first name basis with them. Especially at the West Seattle location, your cup of coffee will come out perfectly every time, but the real reason the Cupcake Royale is so high on this list is actually for the complete package. They offer great cupcakes baked with local ingredients when possible, the music is usually spot on, and at this location there is ample room to sit down with a laptop. Many people use the cafe as a place to study, meet with clients, and of course to socialize. To give you an idea, I have seen architects working on schematics, web developers writing code, among film makers pitching movies to investors among much more. The walls are also adorned with local artists that rotate once a month or two.
The Cupcake Royale earns mention on this list because of how successful they've been in placemaking: In some other places I've been in the world, cafes are seen as a means to change numbers on a spreadsheet. You are expected to drink and leave once you're done, but here in Seattle they seem to start with the premise that if you can create a place where people want to be they'll naturally need coffee (and cupcakes). The cafe becomes a facilitator for social activity and work. Plus, in the case of the Cupcake Royale, the owners have been very proactive in giving back to both the community and their employees. Employer paid health and dental is the standard and they are open to sponsoring non-profits and community events with a dozen or two cupcakes just 'cause. Basically, it's a great place to be, no matter what side of the counter you're on, and the coffee is some of the best here.
6. Top Pot Doughnut
Top Pot Doughnut earns high marks for their coffee, their treats, and the fantastic design of their shops. The star shop in their collection of locations is without a doubt, the downtown location. This is right under the monorail, a couple blocks from Westlake Center, and it's a real gem. The shop is designed with a 1940s sensibility and is housed in a fantastic building. Facing the street, the entire front is two stories of floor to ceiling glass. On entering, to your left and right both walls are floor to ceiling bookshelves and in front is the espresso and doughnut bar.
The doughnuts are high-quality traditional doughnuts with virtually all of the classics. They phased out my favorite, chocolate peanut, awhile ago due to allergy concerns, but a chocolate-cake maple doughnut is just as good. Coffee is served up in standard Seattle style, with the addition of a malt mocha on the menu.
7. Caffe Fiore
Caffe Fiore is a relatively new, but their coffee is top notch and their coffee houses are high design with a little bit of an 1930s vibe to them. In some cases, the choice of decor has echos of art nouveau and even a hint of steam punk. The West Seattle store is the newest and it's a two level coffee shop loft, which has started to attract a following.
8. Milstead & Co.
Milstead & Co. is brand new and really made an impression when I discovered them a month or two after they opened. They're located in Fremont, which is (was?) known for being a little bit eccentric and the coffee shop itself is easy to miss. There are no big banners or advertisements. People come here for the coffee by word of mouth.
9. Stumptown
So, Stumptown isn't actually from Seattle. They're from Portland, Oregon, which in itself today reminds me of Seattle in the early 1990s. All the cool kids love Portland these days, but despite regional rivalry Stumptown is a great cup of coffee and since their roaster for the Seattle area is located on 12th and Madison, I feel like they deserve a mention.
Stumptown has become a popular roaster in the region, and their big thing is that not only do they sell beans, but they provide strong support for getting the most out of those beans. They provide barista training at the 12th and Madison location to make sure that their shots come out perfect on any type of espresso machine (business customers only, sorry) and if you drop by at 3pm, they have coffee cuppings that are open to the public for free. You can geek out and learn to appreciate the differences in flavors that come from different coffee growing regions along with the locals.
10. Pegasus Coffee
Pegasus coffee is another great small shop. There are two stores downtown which are good, but they are geared towards the office lunch/rush crowd which means that while the coffee is still good the cafes don't have the charm, so, to really get the best experience you need to take "the boat" to Bainbridge Island and visit the original shop. Here the shop is tucked in an old ivy covered brick building and has been serving coffee since 1980, making it one of the longest running shops on this list.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Uptown Espresso
Uptown Espresso is another classic Seattle coffee shop that I couldn't resist adding. They deserve a spot here due to their history and contribution to Seattle style coffee, which is what they refer to as "The Velvet Foam" which is what makes latte art possible. Much of the work perfecting "Velvet Foam", or microfoam as it's more commonly referred to as, was done in the 1980s here at Uptown Espresso.
2. Cafe Vita
3. Zoka Coffee
Zoka Coffee is another Seattle roaster/coffee shop that serves up a great cup of coffee in an attractive setting. The University location draws students looking for a place to study.
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