Ghost Note Coffee

Name: Ghost Note Coffee 

Description on Ghost Note Coffee website: A Modern, Progressive Take On The Café Experience 

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill 

Address: 1623 Bellevue Ave, Seattle, WA 98122  

Music playing:  None 

What we ate/drank:  Double Espresso of Colombia Narino Samaniego(?) 

Comments:  The first thing you’ll notice different about Ghost Note Coffee is their brewed coffee is made to order, so you don’t have to worry about when the last batch was brewed. And it’s not by pour-over, which you all know can take awhile. It’s done through a special machine specifically made for Ghost Note that makes it within 90 seconds.  

Their specialty drinks seem interesting, but most are cold(I think 6 out of 7) and I wanted something hot.   I wouldn’t mind trying some in the summer, though. Here’s some examples: 

• Lush Life -Espresso, almond milk, orange blossom honey syrup.  
• Cold Sun Ship -Espresso, smoked grapefruit rosemary syrup, coconut water, sparkling water, lime.  
• Cold Equipoise -African espresso, tonic water, juniper sage concentrate, cucumber.

I decided on a double espresso of which I had two choices. I ended up getting the Colombian. It came in a fancy whiskey-looking glass more suited for a craft cocktail.  If I had to guess, the shape of the glass most likely traps the smell/aroma of the shot for drinkers enjoyment.  I can appreciate the attempt to be different from the sea of coffee shops in Seattle, especially in Capitol Hill, which is café central. I’ll definitely remember Ghost Note Coffee because of the glass and specialty drinks. Coffee beans for sale are from Broadcast Roasters, pastries from Salmon Berry, toast from Colombia City Bakery and sandwiches from Bread and Bone. 

Don’t look for a tip jar like I did, because they have a no tipping policy, but there is a 10% gratuity included. I can live with that(see below) 

This is the old Capitol Hill location for Broadcast Coffee and the layout is exactly the same, but there are some differences that make it feel completely different. I would say when it was Broadcast it was sorta like their current Roosevelt location. No nonsense, very sparse, more minimal. The new space under Ghost Note is a lot more “fancy”-the food display, the stools, the chairs(see pic below). The main parts of it are exactly the same though-the industrial look of exposed concrete walls and pillar, bar seating along the front window, the long high tables that fit six. It’s a small space, but does not feel cramped.  And Because it’s not on the main drag of Pike/Pine or Broadway it probably won’t be as crowded as the other Cap Hill cafes.  

Ghost Note has free public cuppings occasionally, although it appears the last few have been during the weekday mid-morning.  Damn you, work!!  

Ratings(1-5) 

Favorite Thing: The craft cocktail style glass the espresso comes in.

Atmosphere: 4 

Service:  5 

Food Options:  4.25

Overall:  4.50

Eavedropping Convo: Since I was the only one there, there was no eavesdropping conversations to overhear.   

Seattleunexplored Coffee Shop Tipping Question: We’ve had this discussion with a lot of people and there doesn’t really seem to be a consensus. The no tipping policy at Ghost Note just reminded me about the subject. When we go out to coffee shops regardless if we order to go or stay, we always tip. It’s just second nature to us. I think it’s second nature to everybody. Normally, tipping is done at the end of the service-in restaurants, bell hops, concierge, taxi driver/Uber drivers, bartenders, etc. Although it’s standard to tip, you have the ability to tip more or less depending on how you feel the service(or product) was. This is not so in a coffee shop, you tip ahead of time when paying, not knowing how well the service or drink quality will be. What if, after ordering my drink, paying and giving a tip, the cashier says, “What are you still doing here? Don’t you see there’s a line? Hurry up and move so I can take the next order, idiot. Your drink can be picked up over there, you dumbass.” And then you get your drink and it’s horrible. Can you go over to the tip jar and pull your tip out? No. Can you ask the barista to remake your drink? Yes. But it will take some extra time and if I had to guess many people order their drink to go. It’s one of the few situations where you tip prior to any service/product. I understand that most people who work in coffee shops rely on tips to supplement their wages(is this still the case with the new min wage of $15/hr?- that’s a topic for a whole nother converstion), but it’s just strange tipping for services/products not yet rendered with the hope that everything goes right. In looking at the ordering, paying upfront process, I guess it’s the most efficiently appropriate time to tip.   What say you?