Lighthouse Roasters
Description on Lighthouse Roaster’s website : One of Seattle’s original roaster cafes, Lighthouse has spent more than twenty years creating a loyal following of coffee lovers by treating the coffee buying, roasting and drink-making as a noble calling.
Neighborhood: Fremont
Address: 400 N 43rd St, Seattle, WA 98103
Music Playing: Lady by D’Angelo
What we ate/drank: Espresso and Cinnamon Apple Roll
Comments: When I first moved to Seattle I lived exactly one block away from Lighthouse Roasters right on the same street, Phinney Ave.
There were many a time where I missed my bus(5 going into downtown), so I would walk to Lighthouse Roasters for a cup of coffee and wait for the next one. Who wants to wait outside in the cold winter when you can see the bus stop from Lighthouse Roasters window? This was back in the day where there was no app to monitor the buses arrival. I’d get my coffee and listen for the bus coming down the street and then run out the door to catch it.
The layout of Lighthouse Roasters has changed since then, but there is one thing that has not-the old time general store feel. You ever see the movie, Doc Hollywood, where a big time doctor gets stuck in a small town where everybody knows everybody. Go into Lighthouse Roasters on any given morning. Rarely do you see anybody drive up and get a cup of coffee. Most of the people who go there walk from the surrounding neighborhood and they come every single day like it’s a part of their daily routine. Just sit there and watch. People talk to the baristas like old friends. Patrons recognize other patrons and small talk.
The last time I was there, I counted. There were six separate people reading newspapers! Not there looking at their phone, but actually reading a newspaper. That’s what makes it feel like a small town general store where the locals gather and hang out. For me that’s the allure of real neighborhood style coffee shops like Seven Coffee Roasters and Analog Coffee. You’re going through a neighborhood and they are right in the middle of it, like it shouldn’t be there. There are no other businesses near Lighthouse Roasters, only houses. Preserve and Gather and El Diablo Coffee(RIP) also have that neighborhood feel, but those are on main thoroughfares.
It’s really hard to explain why I like it so much. It’s the hustle and bustle of patrons ordering and talking, neighbors constantly walking in coming and going, the sound of the roasting process going on in the background, even the music -Lady by D’Angelo fit in with the vibe of the coffee shop. You add in their smooth and rich espresso and an apple cinnamon muffin and it’s perfect.
It’s one of the few places that I can recall that regularly has the coffee roasting process going on and is a part of the environment. There are places that have the roasting process on site but in a separate room(Café Allegro, Victrola Coffee,), or the roasting process is done on premises in the coffee shop(Elm Coffee Roasters), or some places have small roasters, which don’t make much noise due to it’s size(Armistice). I think having the roasting process right there and having the noise in the background adds something to the atmosphere.
And even if you’ve never been to Lighthouse Roasters, chances are you’ve had their coffee. Off the top of my head I know Bauhaus, Eastern Café and Voxx uses their beans.
The space is not big, but there are probably about 25 normal seats, 6 stools at the counter(my favorite so you can watch the baristas) and the standing counter looking out on the street that has room for about 5 standing patrons. This was my spot when watching for the bus. And I’ve said in posts before, I’m partial to coffee shops on corners due to the light in brings in from two directions.
They have a small selection of pastries, but that’s about it.
Writing this really brought back some memories when I lived down the block. Those were the good ole days when I was younger and dumber.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The small town feel and hustle and bustle of making coffee, but also roasting beans.
Atmosphere: 5.00
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.25
Overall: 4.75
Eavesdropping Convo: See above
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