Capitol Coffee Works

Capitol Coffee Works

Description on  Capitol Coffee Works website :   Capitol Coffee Works takes coffee in a new direction, delving into facets of coffee we’ve always dreamed of offering. It was conceived as a studio for Specialty Coffee, with a bright, clean, plant-filled interior that beckons to those interested in exploring lighter-roasted, fruity coffees. The space feels like an art gallery with coffee at center stage. A sleek ModBar undercounter espresso machine invites authentic interaction between baristas and customers. Our expert team provides start-to-finish table service on cozy lounge seating, elevating coffee drinking into a refined experience. They serve super-premium quality coffees – some of the best coffees in the world – made in the most exacting brewing devices available.

Neighborhood:  Capitol Hill

Address:  907 E. Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122

Music playing:  This Land is Your Land by Chicano Batman

What we ate/drank:  Macchiato, Mt Bakon breakfast taco from Sunrise Tacos

Comments:  

Capitol Coffee Works is the 3^rd iteration of Seattle Coffee Works. The 2^nd being Ballard Coffee Works and the 4^th being Cascade Coffee Works.  This location has more similarities to the Cascade Coffee Works than Seattle Coffee Works. Although all the branches have a no tipping policy and a slow bar, the Capitol Coffee Works is similar to Cascade Coffee Works in the modern look and brightness due to large front windows. A unique feature of Cascade Coffee Works is the 2^nd floor area that allows you to see over the front portion of the café and the barista.  It makes you feel like a cat observing everything from the highest point. They also have table service, which I don’t believe the other locations provide.

The location is located in Capitol Hill at the centrally located Pike & Broadway. You can’t be more centrally located in Capitol Hill than here. Although the store front faces north it still provides a ton of light. There are a few tables and chairs outside. The front portion on the inside has a long wood bench along the front window with 4 small tables. Above the barista station is a giant photograph of a bee and directly across on the other wall is another giant photograph of a coffee bean.  Right in front of the barista is are a few more small tables and towards the back is a large table that seats about 6 and a few more smaller tables with leather stools.  The back wall is painted with a mountain landscape. It reminds me of a painting you might see in a 70’s arcade. There’s also a seat that’s suspended from the ceiling.

Near the spiral staircase that leads to the upstairs portion is a leather sofa with a small table. On the second floor are just a few tables and chairs, but the partition is made of glass which allows a lot of light up there.  Although I love being perched up there on the 2^nd floor to watch the customers coming in and the baristas making the drinks, while I was up there it did get a little hot.

I really enjoyed Capital Coffee Works.  I like the aesthetics here more than Seattle Coffee Works. and it’s more relaxing than the hustle and bustle of Cascade Coffee Works.

And again, I want to point you in the direction of their website, which I explained in more detail on our Seattle Coffee Works post. It’s a great resource for where their beans are sourced and the huge effort they take in making costs transparent to the customer and fair to the farmers.

Ratings(1-5)Favorite Thing: The second floor area with glass partitions that give an unobstructed view of the first floor.

Atmosphere:  4.75

Service:  5.00

Food Options:   4.25

 Overall:  4.65

Eavedropping  Convo: Guy having an informal coffee with a gal before her first day on the job.

Guy-They probably won’t expect lot out of you on your first day. It’s basically getting to know you, meeting everybody, getting logins set up, badges, etc

Gal-Have you been with the company long?

Guy-Yeah, I’ve been here a little over a year.  <<That’s long?  For all intents and purposes Gary is your boss, but if you are uncomfortable or think this is not what I signed up for, having personal issues with colleagues, then you come to me. Since you’re a contractor you’ll be here only until the project ends, but you can contact me at any time if there’s an issue. Sometimes, it’s not a good fit for all personalities.

Gal- For sure, it’s like dating. You need to be compatible with the company and the people you work with. The last job I was at, I knew with the first few days. This is not gonna work out.