It’s been about two years since we published our original “Seattle Coffee Shop Thoughts” post. Things change a lot in two years. New coffee shops open, we revisit shops and gain new perspectives, our own tastes change, so we’d thought we’d update this post.
One thing has not changed. Per our earlier post, according to Bustle, Seattle was ranked #1 for The Best City for Coffee Fanatics. And just earlier this year Wallet Hub ranked Seattle the #1 Coffee City in America.
So we can once again confirm that Seattlites having the stereotype of being coffee drinking fools is no stereotype, we take our coffee seriously. We can also confirm as before, if you ask 20 different locals what their favorite coffee place is, you’ll most likely get 20 different answers.
When it comes to price there’s not much differentiation between cafes. We would also say that the places we’ve decided to review all have quality coffee. Although we did visit some cafes where the coffee was subpar(and we choose not to review for that reason), we don’t think a coffee shop can survive for very long in Seattle with the abundance of quality choices.
In our previous post we pointed out there were two types of coffee shops, the cozy and the modern minimalist, but we’ve refined it to 3 types of coffee shops:
1. The Neighborhood /Community Coffee Shop – We’re not saying the quality of the coffee is not a priority in these shops, but there really is an effort to make you feel comfortable(warm lighting and colors, comfy seating) and creating an environment that makes you want to stay awhile and come back. There’s a steady stream of regulars and interacting/small talk with the baristas who know your name and drink before you even walk in the door is common. Locals meet up here to talk and catch up, read a paper or book or just relax.
Examples: Analog Coffee, Lighthouse Roasters, Seven Coffee Roasters , El Diablo Coffee(RIP), Preserve and Gather, Cloud City Coffee, Café Allegro, Zeitgeist Coffee, Anchored Ship Coffee, Bauhaus, Venture Coffee, Mabel Coffee, Eastern Cafe, Fuel, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Realfine Coffee, Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt, Santo Coffee, Ada’s Technical Books Cafe, Vif Wine | Coffee
Our Favorite: Analog Coffee
2.The Coffee-Centric Shops – It’s all about the coffee first and foremost. Sparse walls, minimal and simple décor and knowledegable baristas are the norm. The baristas want to engage with the customer about the beans and it’s origin. They’ve got options-Chemex, Moka Pot, French Press, Aeropress, Hario V60, Pour Over. They’ll have their own theories on perfect espresso extraction. This is a craft, a way of life and they are serious. You’ll be assured of a very nuanced espresso tasting.
Examples: Slate Coffee Roasters, Elm Coffee Roasters , Broadcast Coffee, Milstead & Co., Ghost Note Coffee
Our Favorite: Broadcast Coffee,
3. The Seattle-Based Roasters – They all have multiple locations around Seattle and no matter what neighborhood you’re in, you’re likely to find one of their branches. When searching for coffee, there’s a sense of relief when spotting one of these roasters due to our familiarity with them. We know we’re getting fresh batch beans and it’s nice to support our local roasters.
Examples: Espresso Vivace , Caffé Vita, Caffe Ladro, Caffe Umbria, Herkimer Coffee, Storyville Coffee Co , Victrola Coffee Roasters, Coffee Works(Seattle Coffee Works, Capitol Coffee Works, Cascade Coffee Works, Ballard Coffee Works), Zoka Coffee Roasters , Cherry Street Coffee.
Our Favorite: Caffe Ladro
The Outliers – They don’t fit in any of the categories, but are still quality coffee shops. Most are not in neighborhood areas and located in places like downtown/Belltown/Pioneer Square.
Examples: Mr West Café Bar, Pegasus Coffee, Caffe Senso Unico, Tempesta Coffee (RIP),Street Bean Coffee Roasters – Belltown, Evoke Coffee, La Marzocco Café & Showroom, Convoy Coffee.
Our Favorite: Mr West Café Bar
Our favorite coffee shops by neighborhood:
Ballard-Anchored Ship Coffee, Bauhaus, Venture Coffee, Mabel Coffee
Belltown-Tempesta Coffee.
Capitol Hill-Victrola Coffee, Ghost Note Coffee, Analog Coffee, Capitol Coffee Works, Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Realfine Coffee, Ada’s Technical Books Cafe
Downtown-Mr West Café Bar, Anchorhead Coffee Co, Pegasus Coffee, Caffe Senso Unico, Café Magliore, Cafe Hitchcock, Victrola Coffee Roasters – Downtown , Seattle Coffee Works **New Location**
Pike Place-Storyville Coffee Co
Eastlake- Armistice Coffee
Fremont-Milstead & Co., Lighthouse Roasters
Georgetown – Brother Joe
Green Lake-Kitanda Espresso, Revolutions Coffee
Greenwood-Preserve and Gather
International District – Eastern Cafe
Maple Leaf-Cloud City Coffee
Pioneer Square-Convoy Coffee, Cherry Street Public House, Caffé Vita, Slate Coffee Roasters, Elm Coffee Roasters, Zeitgeist Coffee , Caffe Umbria
Queen Anne- La Marzocco Café & Showroom, El Diablo Coffee
Ravenna- Seven Coffee Roasters
Roosevelt-Broadcast Coffee, Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt, Santo Coffee, Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt
South Lake Union-Espresso Vivace , Evoke Coffee, Cascade Coffee Works
Tangletown-Zoka Coffee Roasters
University-Café Allegro(Seattle’s oldest coffee shop), Herkimer Coffee
Wallingford-Fuel
Westlake-Caffe Umbria
Related:
- Part 1 – Best Coffee Neighborhood, Most Popular, Most Underrated
- Part 2 – Best Coffee Shops for Groups or You Want To Be Alone.
- Part 3 – Best Seattle Coffee Drink Sets, Best Views
- Part 4 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops to Impress Visitors, Impress Visiting Coffee Snobs, Make Visitors Feel Like Locals.
- Part 5 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops for Food Options, Friendliest Service
- Part 6 – Seattle Coffee With Most Character, Best Seattle Coffee Shops Overall.
Since bestowing our various Coffee Shop Awards on a variety of coffee shops earlier this year(see below), we’ve discovered 15 more coffee shops that were not up for consideration for these awards.
- Part 1 – Best Coffee Neighborhood, Most Popular, Most Underrated
- Part 2 – Best Coffee Shops for Groups or You Want To Be Alone.
- Part 3 – Best Seattle Coffee Drink Sets, Best Views
- Part 4 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops to Impress Visitors, Impress Visiting Coffee Snobs, Make Visitors Feel Like Locals.
- Part 5 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops for Food Options, Friendliest Service
- Part 6 – Seattle Coffee With Most Character, Best Seattle Coffee Shops Overall.
These are the newly discovered coffee shops we were most impressed with and try to determine if they would have cracked the rankings in any of the categories.
Mabel Coffee – This travel themed cafe in Ballard is deceivingly large and perfect for group coffee meet ups and even has a separate room that you can reserve. Mabel Coffee definitely has a community feel to it – the community travel journal, the large community board, the unpretentious nature of their mish mosh of tables and seatings, doggy treats, dedicated kids area.
Coffee Award Consideration: Best Coffee Shops for Groups, Best Coffee Shop to Make Visitors Feel Like a Local
Venture Coffee – Is actually right down the street from Mabel Coffee and was formerly a place called, Java Bean. Venture Coffee definitely has that neighborhood hangout vibe. While we were there, it seems most of the patrons are regulars and on a first name basis with the workers. There were people reading on their kindles, people reading newspapers, two people having a business meeting and two fellows conversing in sign language. The word that comes to mind is comfort. They also have great food options. The Hot Mama is one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had. We never hear anybody talk about Venture Coffee, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
Coffee Award Consideration: Most Underrated, Best Coffee Shop to Make Visitors Feel Like a Local. Best Coffee Shop For Food Options.
Armistice Coffee- Roosevelt – has a wide variety of seating areas -fire pit patio, another more secluded patio area, community table and lots of indoor seating. The space is in the running for most stunning in the city. Armistice also sells alcoholic drinks- wine, beer, sipping tequilla, whiskeys and a few simple mixed drinks. They also have croissants, muffins, scones, quiches, and a few pre-made sandwiches and salads from White Knuckle.
Coffee Award Consideration: Best Coffee Shops for Groups, Best Coffee Shops for Food Options, Best Overall
Santo Coffee – You can tell great care and meticulous detail was put into the design of the shop. The place is beautiful and has such a high end feel that we felt a little guilty bringing our little ones here. They serve Devocion Coffee, which is unique in that they roast their beans from Colombia, harvest to cup in the range of 10 to 30 days versus the industry standard of 6 months. You can read more about them here. Having this unique roast definitely gives Santo Coffee a something no other coffee shop in Seattle has.
Coffee Award Consideration: Best Coffee Shop to Impress Visiting Coffee Snob
Mr West Cafe – University Village – Mr West Cafe in downtown is our #1 overall favorite coffee shop in Seattle, so when we heard that they were opening a 2nd location in University Village, which only had 3 Starbucks for coffee options, we were giddy. This has the same feel, but much bigger than the downtown branch. It hasn’t been open long, but the place is always packed with shoppers taking a break.
Coffee Award Consideration: For the same reason as the downtown location -Most Popular, Best Coffee Shop to Impress Visitors.
The Roosevelt Neighborhood has Broadcast Coffee, Armistice Coffee-Roosevelt, Santo Coffee, Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt in a half mile radius. Not to mention a Starbucks, Wayward Coffeehouse, Bus Stop Espresso, Urban Luxe Cafe and a Whole Foods where you can get Bulletproof Coffee. The neighborhood has seemingly become a hot spot for cafes in anticipation of the new Link Light rail station due to open in 2021. Armistice, Santo and Ladro all just opened up just this year.
Coffee Award Consideration: Best Coffee Neighborhood
Find out about Seattle coffee shops here.
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seattle Coffee Shops
- Best Seattle Coffee Shops For Each Stage of Dating
Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt
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 calli
Description on Caffe Ladro’s website : Caffe Ladro Ravenna joins a thriving neighborhood; it is situated on the corner of 65th Street and Brooklyn Avenue. Stop in for the modern vibe and enjoy amazing coffee at one of the windows, or outside in one of the Adirondack chairs. If you’re seeking excellent Ravenna coffee, sample any of Ladro’s signature drinks (Medici, Gibraltar, or Shakerato), try one of their house-baked pastries, or take some beans to brew at home.
Address:1222 NE 65th St Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98115
What we ate/drank: Gibraltar, Mocha, Bacon & Caramelized Onion Quiche, Ham and Cheese Croissant, Medici
Comments: They call it Caffe Ladro – Ravenna on their website but it’s actually located in Roosevelt. Like other new additions to the Roosevelt neighborhood, Santo Coffee and Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt, this Caffe Ladro is located on the ground floor of a brand new apartment building. This one being Brooklyn 65th.
Caffe Ladro is probably our favorite coffee purveyor in Seattle, so we were thrilled when one opened in our neighborhood. They are now up to 16 locations in the greater Seattle area, so it’s easy to get the benefits of their coffee card program where you get two free drinks for every 10 you purchase.
They have a limited amount of pastries that become half price after 4:00pm.
Here are reviews of some of the other Caffe Ladro locations:
- Caffe Ladro – Union St
- Caffe Ladro -The Jetsons Ladro
- Caffe Ladro – Fremont, The Library Ladro
- Caffe Ladro- 1800, The Amazon Ladro
The Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt location is on par with some of the smaller Ladro locations like Union Street, Lower Queen Anne and Pine Street. Although it’s small in size, it still manages to have a little living room area, an L shape counter and one 4 seat table in the middle
More than any other Caffe Ladro, the Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt location really emphasizes the use of it’s outdoor space. There’s gotta be at least 20 Adirondack chairs in front of the store as well as a bench seating. The Adirondack chair is a staple of many of the Caffe Ladro in the area -Fremont, Upper Queen Anne, Lower Queen Anne locations have them, but only a few.
The Caffe Ladro – Roosevelt is a good grab-and-go spot. It opens early at 6:00am. It’s not a place I’d stay and do work on a laptop. The way most of their seating is arranged your back is exposed and people can see what you’re working on. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but I like having my back against a wall for some privacy. They say this is why dogs often sleep against big objects or prefer enclosed places-too protect their back. I guess I’m the same way.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The over 20 adirondack chairs and outdoor space
Atmosphere: 4.00
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.00
Overall: 4.25
Eavesdropping Convo: None
Related:
Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt
Description on Armistice Coffee’s website:Her dream was big but the journey was long, pulling hundreds of thousands of shots and waking up earlier than the rooster for years, she pushed on and overcame. Now in the role of head roaster, manager, and basically everything else Rebecca Smith has been running Armistice Coffee for 1 year and has two locations in Seattle.
Neighborhood:Roosevelt
Address: 6717 Roosevelt Way NE UNIT A, Seattle, WA 98115
Music Playing: Poison by Brent Faiyaz
What we ate/drank: Cortado, 12 oz Americano, blueberry scone, ham & Swiss croissant, mocha, mighty o sprinkle doughnut
Comments: This is the 2ndlocation for Armistice Coffee in addition to their other location in Eastlake. Some of the observations we made in our review of the Eastlake locations was that we felt it wasn’t really conducive to working on a laptop due to the limited work style seating. The Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt has no such restrictions.
It has a multitude of seating areas and types of seating areas. It has counter seating near the serving area, counter seating looking out on Roosevelt, individual tables, a community table with two separate outdoor seating area, one that includes a fire pit.
Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt is located on the ground floor of the brand new Lucille on Roosevelt apartments, so they probably had complete control of the design, which we really like. We’ve already mentioned the variety of seating, but take a look at our photos and you can see the details. Chic modern lighting, outdoor lighting that from a distance look like fireflies, being surrounded on all four sides by windows, the coffee roasting equipment on display.
My understanding is that as of now, the roaster is not being used. The cashier mentioned that an alteration may need to be made for exhaust purposes but she wasn’t really sure. I think it’s a real treat when you get to witness the roasting process at places like Herkimer Coffee, Elm Coffee Roasters, Lighthouse Coffee Roasters and Victrola Coffee Roasters. I think it’s really a great “Seattle”experience for visitors who come form areas that don’t have local coffee roasters like we do in coffee-centric Seattle.
Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt also sells alcoholic drinks- wine, beer, sipping tequilla, whiskeys(Basil Hayden, Jameson, Glenlivet 12 yr) and a few simple mixed drinks such as gin and tonic, vodka and soda and Irish coffee.
They also have croissants, muffins, scones, quiches, and a few pre-made sandwiches and salads from White Knuckle. Sign say Mon-Fri 6-10 and Sat and Sun 7-10, so open pretty late.
The music they’ve played during our visits are pretty soothing music. Examples – Escape by Kehlani,Tainted by Alina Baraz, Apple Juice by Jessie Reyez.
On a few of my visits the wifi has been a little inconsistent, so take note if you intend to work there and need to Facetime/Skype.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The various seating areas both inside and out.
Atmosphere: 4.75
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.75
Overall: 4.75
Eavedropping Convo: Two guys sitting next to each other on separate tables with their laptops. Seems like they might be acquaintances who see each other at Armistice Coffee – Roosevelt a lot and might recognize each other and make small talk. Both made business calls while we were there, so this might be one of their working spaces.
Guy 1(G1) – Check out this thing I just got on Amazon.
Guy2(G2) – Looks over. Whoa, that’s pretty cool! And wow, it’s a pretty reasonable price.
G1 – Oh, man. It’s not reasonable. This is cheap!
G2 – The next time my mom orders something on Amazon, I’ll ask her to add one to her cart for me. I don’t have an account, so I just use hers and pay her back.
G1- Dude, you gotta get on that! Prime is so cheap and they deliver to your doorstep in one day! Don’t put your poor mom through that – ordering, paying and handing the packages. C’mon.
Related:
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seattle Coffee Shops
- Best Seattle Coffee Shops For Each Stage of Dating
- Part 4 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops to Impress Visitors, Impress Visiting Coffee Snobs, Make Visitors Feel Like Locals.
- Part 5 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops for Food Options, Friendliest Service
Seattle Coffee Works
Description on Seattle Coffee Works website : Seattle Coffee Works is a place to experience and experiment with coffee in its richly diverse forms and varieties. Wine connoisseurs have tasting rooms; beer aficionados have brewery tap rooms; fine dining enthusiasts have five-star restaurants. Our goal is to create a dedicated tasting space for specialty coffee. All of our locations commit unrelentingly to making coffee better and providing resources to help our customers make and explore better coffee.
Neighborhood:Downtown
Address: 108 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
What we ate/drank: Macchiato
Comments: Seattle Coffee Works has moved one block away from Pike St to Pine St. Some things haven’t changed. The Drinking Man neon sign is still outside, it’s still close to Pike Place Market, they still have a slow bar area.
There are some things that are very different about the new Seattle Coffee Works location. The main thing is that it’s not as dark as the previously location. Their new location is really bright and where the old location felt a bit cramped, this location feels spacious and airy. White walls, big front windows letting in tons of light also help with the open feel. I also notice there are many more electrical outlets in case you need to work or study.
Check out our old Seattle Coffee Works post that talks about their website that has Authenticity Reports that shows transparency of how much they paid and how much they ordered from each of their farms.
The new Seattle Coffee Works puts it much closer to the decor and atmosphere of it’s sister locations, Capitol Coffee Works, and Cascade Coffee Works.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The above mentioned Authenticy Reports and Second Pay policy.
Atmosphere: 4.25
Service: 4.50
Food Options: 3.75
Extra Credit: +1.25 for Authenticity Report and Second Pay
Overall:4.50
**********4/23/20- Oh No! Unfortunately, This Cafe Has Closed Down**********
Description on Caffe Vita’s website: We are pioneers of the Farm Direct movement, meticulously sourcing the best coffee available while developing long-term, mutually fruitful relationships with coffee growers in more than 11 countries. We work with and invest in farmers who are committed to sustainable practices. By creating an environment where the customer can see, touch, and taste the coffee they purchase, we provide a unique learning opportunity that allows our coffee to speak for itself. Caffe Vita is always fresh, imported directly from the farm and roasted on-site.
Neighborhood: Phinney Ridge / Greenwood
Address: 7402 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Music Playing: Yernin by Sevyn Streeter
What we ate/drank: Macchiato and Apple Fritter from Mighty O Doughnuts
Comments:
We’ve already reviewed our favorite Caffe Vita location in Pioneer Square where I made a fool of myself. We’ve also reviewed their Fremont location. We’ve also noted some of the most popular restaurants (Wandering Goose(RIP 2020), Portage Bay Cafe) in Seattle who serve Caffe Vita coffee. This is a review of their Caffe Vita – Phinney Ridge location. They also have Seattle locations in Queen Anne, Capitol Hill and Seward Park as well as locations in New York(Brooklynn and Lower East Side), Portland and Los Angeles.
If you are interested in the history of Caffe Vita and it’s owner, I encourage you to read this fascinating article from the Seattle Met Magazine. I had no idea the owner was also a restaurateur and behind Via Tribulani. It also references the relationship between he and the owner of Herkimer Coffee(a co owner of Caffe Vita at one time) and the owner of Espresso Vivace (a mentor).
The Caffe Vita – Phinney Ridge location leans more towards the smaller Fremont location than the huge double level location in Pioneer Square. It’s configuration is like many Seattle business with a long narrow set up that’s very bright in the front, but very dark in the back. It’s really dark from the mid-point of the space to the back, so much so that’s difficult to read any books or periodicals. If you bring a laptop you’re fine. They also have a patio in the back that might actually have more seating than the inside.
There’s also a small front outdoor seating area and a garage style door opening which does make the small indoor space feel a bit roomier. Like the other Caffe Vita locations, they serve a few pastries including Mighty O Doughnuts and their coffee is consistently good as always.
I had my coffee here, but in observing the clientele that came in while I was there, it’s more of a grab and go location, than a sit down and relax one.
Ratings(1-5)
Atmosphere: 4.25
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 3
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: Guy and a gal sitting near me. The Beatles, “Blackbird” starts playing.
Gal: Ohhhhh, I looooove this song.
Guy: You know John Lennon wrote this song and people say he’s the best songwriter of all time, but I think he’s overrated. I just don’t believe it. Then he starts singing along – “…..Blackbird fly, blackbird fly. Into the light of a dark black night….”
Gal: If he’s so overrated, why are you singing along to the song? She starts laughing.
Guy: Just because I’m singing it, doesn’t mean I like it and it doesn’t mean I think John Lennon’s the best songwriter. I’m just singing because it’s catchy. I’ll probably have it stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Dammit.
For the record, I did some research. Paul McCartney actually wrote the song even though Lennon-McCartney are given credit. So Lennon didn’t write it or co-write it. Also McCartney is the only one that appears on the song. There are no other Beatles on the song. Also when it comes to the best songwriters of all time, according to Rolling Stone Magazine, the writing duo of Lennon-McCartney is ranked #2, John Lennon as solo artist is ranked #3 and Paul McCartney as a solo artist is ranked #5. Pretty damn good.
Related:
Caffe Umbria – Ballard
Description on Caffe Umbria Coffee’s website: Caffè Umbria is a full-service, wholesale coffee roaster based in Seattle, Washington. But the family’s roots in roasting go back to the 1940’s, when Ornello Bizzarri built his roastery in Perugia, Italy. The Arco Etrusco in our logo is a landmark of the Umbrian city.Caffè Umbria is currently served in hundreds of cafés and fine dining establishments throughout North America, from the Bellagio Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas to the Culinary Institute of America in Napa. To each of our customers, we guarantee unmatched quality, freshness and professional service.
Neighborhood: Ballard
Address: 5407 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
What we ate/drank: Doppio Macchiato
Comments: This is the last of the Seattle Caffe Umbria locations that we’ve written about. We wrote about Caffe Umbria in Pioneer Square that made it to our Seattle Coffee Awards for Best Coffee Shops For Big Groups and Best View. We also visited the smaller Caffe Umbria in Westlake. They do also have two locations in Portland and two in Chicago.
The Caffe Umbria – Ballard location is right in the middle, size-wise to the huge Pioneer Square location and the small Westlake location. Located right on Ballard Ave in the old part of Ballard, the ceilings are much higher here, than in normal Seattle buildings, so the floor to ceiling windows let in much more light than normal height spaces. The height of the windows even make the back of the space quite bright.
They have a few pastries available, but not a full menu. Some of the stand out features of the space are the chandeliers and the huge exposed brick wall. There’s various types of seating- a few outdoor seats, counter seating at the front window that look out on Ballard life, counter seating where the drinks are made, bench seating with single tables and a “living room” type seating area.
Like Anchored Ship Coffee, try not to come here during the Sunday Farmers Market if you can help it. It’ll be packed and drinks may take awhile.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: A modern space with some vintage touches in old Ballard.
Atmosphere: 4.75
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.00
Overall: 4.50
Eavedropping Convo: Two ladies talking at the table next to us. At first they were talking as if they were friends, but it became clear they were conducting a job interview.
Interviewer: So what is you ideal work environment?
Interviewee: Well traveling is my jam, so anything involving travel, especially overseas travel I’m on board with. Comment: Yes, she really did say that “traveling was her jam” on an interview.
Interviewer: Ok. Well, you know this position doesn’t involve any travel with the exception of conferences domestically. With video conferencing and screen sharing there really is no need for face to face for the job.
Interviewee: My belief is that so much more can be gained by face to face conversations. Trust and bonding with the client for instance.
Interviewer: Agreed, but there is a cost involved with travel, especially if it’s absolutely not required.
Interviewee: Truthfully, if a company doesn’t see the value you in it, I can live with it. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’d be hesitant to work for a company that couldn’t afford for their employees to travel.
Comment: At this point the interview was for all intents and purposes over. The interviewer just went through the motions of asking the remaining questions with no follow up questions. We would have loved to know what industry and position this was for.
Related:
Santo Coffee – Roosevelt
Description on Santo Coffee’s website: We are a startup shop formed by a family of driven people with a passion for the craft, palates for quality, and love for community. We have worked to create an experience for our guests where every detail is thoughtfully and intentionally considered.
Neighborhood:Roosevelt
Address: 1325 NE 65th St, Seattle, WA 98115
What we ate/drank: Cortado, Raspberry Brioche from Sémillon Bakery, Devocion espresso
Comments: Finally, Santo Coffee is open!
We’ve honestly been waiting to write this review for close to a year. We go to Rising Sun Produce, located down the street, quite often. One day when walking past the newly built Mio Apartments on the way to Rising Sun, we saw a sign that Santo Coffee was opening in the Fall of 2018. We were happy to have another coffee shop in walking distance to our house. I think the first time we saw the sign was June or July of 2018.
The Fall came, then Winter, then Spring and no sign of any opening. Meanwhile Caffe Ladro moved in right across the street and Armistice Coffee Roasters opened up down the street, but no sign of Santo Coffee.
Santo Coffee is now open and you can tell great care and meticulous detail was put into the design of the shop. The place is beautiful and has such a high end feel that we felt a little guilty bringing our little ones here.
One of the owners of Santo Coffee is former Seattle Sounders star, Fredy Montero. I believe we spoke to one of the other owners of Santo Coffee, Jessica. We made some small talk and she mentioned their pastries are made by Sémillon Bakery & Café in Capitol Hill and their coffee is from Devocion, a roaster based in New York.
Devocion Coffee is unique in that they roast their beans from Colombia, harvest to cup in the range of 10 to 30 days versus the industry standard of 6 months. You can read more about them here. Having this unique roast definitely gives Santo Coffee a something no other coffee shop in Seattle has.
As mentioned it seems like no detail was missed. Santo Coffee is easily the “fanciest” space in Seattle. Check out the green sectional, the floor to ceiling windows all the way around, the glass doors that open up to the outside, black marble counter and the most unique feature, a bar that runs along the window that becomes a bench.
We love having Santo Coffee in the neighborhood and we’ll be frequent visitors. It’s a perfect place to bring our out-of-town visitors who enjoy “the finer things”. Santo Coffee feels a bit out of place in our quaint little neighborhood. It feels like it should be in hipper neighborhood Capitol Hill or Belltown, but we’re glad they’re finally here.
Ratings(1-5)
Atmosphere: 4.75
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.00
Overall: 4.50
Eavesdropping Convo: A guy and a gal talking next to us. They were talking about the Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen video .
Guy: You know that Dancing in the Dark video has Courtney Cox in it.
Gal: says nothing
Guy: Yeah, they want you to believe that she was a regular fan and that she was randomly picked by Bruce Springsteen to come up on stage and dance. You can toooootally tell by the camera angles that it was not random. It was planned for the video. It’s Courtney Cox for God’s sake. It’s totally staged
Girl: says nothing
Guy: It’s soooo obvious. But yeah, that’s Courtney Cox in that video. Little known fact most people don’t know. This is before Friends, so she wasn’t famous. But yeah, that’s her.
I thought it was common knowledge that Courtney Cox was in that video and never thought it wasn’t staged as part of the video.
Related:
Venture Coffee
Description on Venture Coffee’s website: After taking over a small coffee shop called Java Bean in 2016, Maria Beck spent years honing her vision for the perfect neighborhood cafe that would bring together the unique personality of the Pacific Northwest and her culture of Danish Hygge. With the innovative mind of an engineer, a body supported by a dedicated team, and a soul driven by a passion for people, Venture Coffee Company was finally born in 2019.
Neighborhood: Ballard
Address:5819 24th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Music Playing: Put A Light On – The Generationals
What we ate/drank: Cortado, Hot Mamas breakfast sandwich on a jalapeño cheddar bagel.
Comments: The last time we visited this location it was called, Java Bean. We had a friend in town who was staying at an Airbnb close by. She asked to meet up and catch up at Cafe Besalu, but it was closed, so she saw and suggested a cafe next door that was open, Java Bean.
It was the one and only time we went to Java Bean. My recollection was that it was dark and felt dated-massive chalkboard menu, refrigerator display case, a huge hand painted mural of Mt Rainier(?), carpeted floors. It also had some quirky details like a stove in the middle of the space that was on a stone platform, a greeting card stand and the type of sofa you might find in your great grandma’s house. Let’s just say, you knew it had a very eccentric owner.
I can’t recall how Venture Coffee was brought to our attention, but it took awhile to put 2 and 2 together and figured out it was the old Java Bean location.
The transformation feels like the previous owner was a older person who liked the way Java Bean looked and didn’t care what anybody thought. That’s how they liked it and if people didn’t like a stove in the middle of the space and blue carpet, tough, they can go somewhere else. It feels at some point, the previous owner said, “I had enough with this business! I’m turning Java Bean over to my hip granddaughter.” And the new owner made some minor tweaks and made into a totally transformed space.
Venture Coffee is now bright and airy. Natural wood counter/tables. Garage style doors that open during warmer weather. No more carpet. The antlers on the wall stayed from Java Bean, but it feels like it fits in with the framed photos of elk(their logo) and wilderness. I believe the brown leather couch is also something from Java Bean, but it fits in with the rest of the decor. There are nice touches such as the ice tub full of bottle and canned drinks instead of the normal fridge, the old fashioned water jug, antlers, the steel orb hanging lights. Just the right amount of plants /succulents.
The place probably fits about 35 people inside but some areas are pretty tight. There are also a few outdoor seats in front and on the side.
They appear to have their own beans. They have a small amount of pastries and breakfast sandwiches. I had the Cortado along with a Hot Mama sandwich which had bacon, cheese, spinach, egg and Mama Lil’s peppers. And you know I’m a sucker for Mama Lil’s-I’ve mentioned it as an ingredient in my blog posts-Toulouse Petit, Porkchop & Co., Il Corvo – Best Pasta in Seattle, Morsel vs Biscuit & Bean – The Battle of Seattle’s Best Biscuit Sandwich. You have the choice of getting this on brioche or bagel. I chose a jalapeño cheddar bagel.
Venture Coffee definitely has that neighborhood hangout vibe. While we were there, it seems most of the patrons are regulars and on a first name basis with the workers. There were people reading on their kindles, people reading newspapers, two people having business meeting and two fellows conversing in sign language. The word that comes to mind is comfort. Reminds me a lot of Lighthouse Roasters , Preserve and Gather and Cloud City Coffee in that respect
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The Hot Mama sandwich
Atmosphere: 4.75
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 4.75
Overall: 4.75
Eavedropping Convo:Two guys talking. One was complaining about his wife/girlfriend(?)
It’s ridiculous she doesn’t want to put food in microwave because she thinks it kills nutrients. Seriously when it’s 3:00 in the morning who cares about nutrients being zapped from god damned frozen French fries! I told her, “I’m drunk! I’m starving! I want fucking fries right the fuck now!
Related:
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seattle Coffee Shops
- Best Seattle Coffee Shops For Each Stage of Dating
- Part 4 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops to Impress Visitors, Impress Visiting Coffee Snobs, Make Visitors Feel Like Locals.
- Part 5 – Best Seattle Coffee Shops for Food Options, Friendliest Service
Brother Joe – Georgetown
Recommended by: Nobody. We mentioned our tradition of stopping by in Georgetown whenever we have a trip out of the Seatac Airport in our Square Knot Diner post. We thought we’d try Brother Joe down the street as a change of pace.
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 call
Description on Brother Joe’s website : What we do. Truly Great Coffee and Teas, Weekday Breakfast and Lunch, Weekend Brunch.
Address:5629 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
What we ate/drank: CHILE VERDE Hatch chile and tomato braised pork over cornbread with a fried egg, cotija cheese, crema, and cilantro. $13, KALUA PORK ‘LOCO MOCO’ Braised pork with bacon, jasmine rice, miso slaw, sunny side up egg, and aloha gravy. Herkimer – Oh Miso Coffee, Mocha
Comments: We mentioned our tradition of stopping by in Georgetown whenever we have a trip out of the Seatac Airport in our Square Knot Diner post. This time around we made a detour to another Georgetown establishment. We went to Brother Joe for the first time, which is right down the street. Upon entering it appears to be a coffee-centric café with its huge visual infographic coffee menu(We’ll get back to this a little later), but they actually have a kitchen and have a pretty big selection of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, wraps and salads.
You order your drinks and food at the counter, take a seat and they’ll bring it out to you. The counter area has an old weathered vintage – vintage fridge, weathered wall, exposed bricks. There’s a pretty big dining area that serves close to maybe 30+ people. This area has a rhino theme with huge gold rhino trophy head, rhino painting and book ends. The rest of the wall space is filled with different animal portraits dressed in human clothes. Our two year old daughter was both amused and confused to see a cat in a cowboy outfit.
We ended up sitting in their little “living room” section, which basically looks like a mid century modern sitting area with a leather couch, coffee table, shelves, a floor lamp, seating nooks in the window and a couple of chairs. My understanding that this is normally used as a waiting area on the weekends when it gets crowded, but we ended up going on a Friday morning, so they told us it was fine sitting there.
The coffee used here is Herkimer Coffee and as mentioned above there’s a huge visual menu of their coffee drinks, which is definitely needed due to some of the one of a kind specialty drinks, such as:
- You Know Chata? -Cold brew with rice, vanilla and cinnamon
- Black Rhino – Espresso affogato with a cardamom and chocolate fudge ice cream
- Holy Mole Mocha – Espresso with Mexican chocolate, chiles, orange zest
- Oh, Miso Honey – Espresso with orange blossom honey-miso caramel
- Off-White Velour – Espresso with salted caramel, white chocolate
- Egg Coffee – Drip coffee with egg yolk and condensed milk
My wife got a regular mocha, but I tried the Oh, Miso Honey. To be honest, I was expecting a little more flavor, but it was fine. We also ordered food and this is where we were pleasantly surprised.
Unfairly, we had low expectations since our mindset was a coffee shop that happens to serve food as an afterthought, but the meals stand on their own. All sauces and syrups are made in house. We had the Chile Verde and the Kalua Pork Loco Moco. As mentioned in our Watson’s Counter post, we’ve had a lot of Loco Mocos in Seattle and although not as good as Watson’s Counter’s, it was just a small notch below, but still very delicious. Brother Joe’s take on the dish uses braised pork instead of a beef patty, but we really liked their variation it. The addition of the miso slaw and bacon along with the standard Loco Moco ingredients of a sunny side up egg, rice and gravy gives it a one of a kind twist.
KALUA PORK ‘LOCO MOCO’ Braised pork with bacon, jasmine rice, miso slaw, sunny side up egg, and aloha gravy. Score: (4.75/ 5.0)
The Chile Verde was a closer to a traditional dish, but delicious none the less. The menu says the pork is over cornbread, but ours came with fried potatoes, which to be honest we prefer. To have tortilla and cornbread seems a bit redundant. Glad they gave us potatoes instead.
Square Knot Diner has been our defacto Georgetown breakfast destination ever since Carmela at Roxy’s Diner suggested it, but after visiting Brother Joe, it’s given us options now. We will for sure be back after our enjoyable experience here.
Ratings:
Atmosphere: 5.00
Service: 4.75
Food/Drinks: 4.75
Bang for the Buck: 4.50
Overall: 4.75
Locals Only Factor: “Locals Only” grading-We’ll assign a grading as to how “local” a place is.
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- Well known or Touristy. Most locals don’t go there unless they have business dinners or visitors in town.
- Most locals know about it
- Locals “in the know” know about it
- Only those who live close by know about it.
- You’re in on the secret. Don’t tell anybody!
Servers recommendations to visit in the future: We met a young lady outside who had a dog. She was waiting for her coffee to be made. Our daughter wanted to see her dog. We told her it was our first time at Brother Joe and if she could recommend any of her other favorite places to eat. She suggested The Hangar Café a few blocks away.
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