Our Favorite Cozy Coffee Shop – Cloud City Coffee

Cloud City Coffee 

Description on their web: At Cloud City Coffee, you will find locally roasted, specialty coffee, freshly baked pastries, and delicious breakfast and lunch items prepared in-house by a top-notch culinary team. We offer free Wi-Fi, comfy couches, a lending library, newspapers, games and a kid’s play area, all in accord with a staff that is sincerely happy you’re here. Cloud City Coffee is not simply a café, it’s a community.  

Neighborhood: Maple Leaf 

Address: 8801 Roosevelt Ave, Seattle WA 98115 

Music playing: Gone For Good by The Shins 

What we ate/drank:   #1 muffin(cheddar, bacon, egg),  Double espresso, Mexican Mocha. Oatmeal w/fruit toppings

Comments:  In Our Seattle Coffee Shop Thoughts post we named Cloud City Coffee our Favorite Cozy Coffee Shop in Seattle. Unlike modern or minimalistic coffee shops like Broadcast Coffee, Revolutions Coffee or Elm Coffee Roasters, where I tend to get work done, Cloud City Coffee is more of a place to relax and meet up with friends and family. Their motto is “Community and Café” and there are a lot of things going on at Cloud City Coffee that fosters a community feel like a community library, a dedicated kids area with toys, and pay-on-your-honor section for brewed coffee($2) and day old bagels/pastries($1).  

This is the type of place where we’d choose to meet up with friends or families that we’d hadn’t seen in awhile. They have something for everybody with their food options from pastries, to sandwiches, salads, soups and even quiche.  I believe everything is made in house, which is pretty impressive. They also have multiple drink options in addition to coffee drinks with tea and smoothies available.  The coffee they use is from Tony’s Coffee up in Bellingham. The last few times I’ve been, my doppio has been Ganesha Espresso and brew was Café Camelita and Sophia’s Blend.  

A warning, this place is always packed, which means their small parking lot is always packed. There are multiple tables that seat six, but you’ll most likely be sharing. They have a small outdoor seating area and when weather permits they have garage style doors that are opened facing south and east that let’s in a lot of light.  

In Our Seattle Bar Thoughts post we wrote about our love of neighborhood bars because they tend to be relaxing, chill and have a good cross section of the folks from the community.  This is the same reason we enjoy Cloud City Coffee. I wouldn’t say their coffee is the best, nor would I say their food is the best, but there’s an intangible value on how a place makes you feel. These types of neighborhood coffee shops make you feel like you’re in your living room, but away from the distractions of home. It’s a place to escape for awhile and feel comfortable.  When I think of a neighborhood coffee shop, this is what I picture.    

I see a lot of people working and studying there. In this environment I’d be too tempted to just relax and enjoy my coffee. I’d recommend Cloud City as a place to meet up with friends/family to talk and relax. Or if you are headed to Maple Leaf Reservoir Park a block away take a to go coffee and meal and have a picnic. Or take visitors from out of town who can experience a one-of-a-kind true neighborhood spot with lots of drink and food options.  

Ratings(1-5) 

Favorite Thing:  The on-your-honor section really feels like a trust factor that can only exist in a community coffee shop. 

Atmosphere: 5  

Service: 4 

Food Options: 5 

Overall:  4.75 

Eavesdropping Convos:   My one yr old daugther was eating a muffin and staring at woman with her family(husband and daughter?) at a community table. The woman notices and smiles back at my daughter. My wife notices the woman smiling. 

My wife- Sorry, she’s in the staring phase. 

Woman- She’s probably staring, thinking who’s that weird looking person. 

My wife- No.…. She likes staring at beautiful things. 

Woman- Aww…… thank you.  

Woman’s teenage daughter- Yeah, right. 

Her daughter’s delivery was kinda like this: