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Elm Coffee Roasters -South Lake Union (SLU)
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Description on Elm Coffee Roaster’s website : The world is full of incredible coffee. And we love that it’s our job to roast and share our favorites with you. Working with amazing producers and importers, we bring you vibrant coffees from all around the world.
Neighborhood: South Lake Union
Address: 230 9th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Music Playing: Cath by Death Cab For Cutie
What we ate/drank: Cortado
Comments: I’ve enjoyed the coffee at Elm Coffee Roasters in Pioneer Square, so when I found out that they opened a branch nearer to my work, I had to check it out. Little did I know that it was in the lobby of an Amazon.com building, so it’s actually more of a coffee stand then an actual cafe.
There is some seating dedicated to for Elm Coffee Roasters to the left of the coffee stands that has individual tables and a high counter, but because it’s located in the lobby of the building you can make use of the comfy chairs and sofas to enjoy your drinks. Just a bit of a warning for the seats located near the stand, I saw only one outlet in case you are thinking of working there.
I was planning on ordering one of their combos- The One & One, which is a macchiato and an espresso, but it didn’t appear to be an option here. At least it wasn’t listed.
While I was sitting there enjoying my Cortado, it dawned on me. I don’t know if this is common knowledge amongst locals and I’m just behind the times, but it appears Amazon picks local coffee purveyors to inhabit their new buildings, which explains why these places exist – Caffe Ladro (1800 9th Building)-Mystery Solved!, Cascade Coffee Works, Victrola Coffee Roasters-The Most Heavily Guarded Cafe in Seattle. I also know there’s Fonte, Zoka, Caffe Vita and Rise(Farestart) in Amazon buildings. I definitely applaud Amazon for getting local companies in their branches and not the typical Starbucks that’s in my building lobby.
Going forward, I’ll keep these coffee shop reviews within a building lobby to a minimum unless they really are stand alone cafe such as the Cascade Coffee Works and the Victrola Coffee Roaster on 3rd and Pine. It’s not really fair to grade against stand alone cafe. I mean it’s a lobby so you can’t expect a whole lot in terms of atmosphere, but in this particular case, it’s Elm Coffee Roasters, so I’m sure I’ll be coming here regularly since it’s way more convenient for me than the Pioneer Square location.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Having the option of enjoying a coffee while sitting in some luxurious chairs/sofa.
Atmosphere: 3.50
Service: 4.50
Food Options: 2.50
Overall: 3.75
Eavedropping Convo: Two guys sitting have a coffee inside when a guy passes the window rolling down the sidewalk on a Solowheel.
Guy 1(G1)- Dude, that same asshole almost ran my ass over last week.
Guy 2(G2) -Really?
G1) Yeah, by Whole Foods. There’s like a million fucking people on the sidewalk during lunch and this asshole is going full speed weaving in and out of people. Stupid fuck.
G2) This guy who used to work in my office had one. One day he came in on crutches because he munched it trying to avoid a dog.
Related:
Cafe Hitchcock & the CBD Latte Drama
Description on Cafe Hitchcock’s website : There’s really no info on their website besides minimum address, menu, email/contact info.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address:818 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Music Playing: Feel It All Around by Washed Out
What we ate/drank: Cinnamon Roll($3.50) ‘and Caffe Vita Doppio Espresso($2.75)
Comments: Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island was opened in 2010. We always called it “that really nice restaurant on Bainbridge Island at the end of the main street”. Although it was located on Bainbridge Island, it always seemed to pop up on various Best Seattle Restaurants lists regularly. Then there was an expansion of a Hitchcock deli in Georgetown. Then last summer Café Hitchcock opened in downtown.
The one thing Café Hitchcock is known for among Seattlites is the serving of CBD(cannabidiol) Lattes, which are cannabis infused lattes and the subsequent Seattle & King County Public Health issuing of a cease and desist to stop serving the lattes. And the owner of Cafe Hitchcock comparing the cease and desist on CBD-infused drinks to that of the dance ban in the movie “Footloose” Drama, yo! Hand me my popcorn! I regret not trying theses CBD Lattes prior to the cease and desist to see for myself. Because these drinks are available in other cities without issue, I’m hoping I’ll get to try CBD-infused lattes in the near future.
I’m reviewing as a coffee space but I’ve been here for lunch and they have really good sandwiches . They also serve beer on tap. At the time I visited, they had Fremont Brewing’s Lush IPA and Summer Ale, two of my faves. And the happy hour from 3-7 (props for not ending happy hour at 6 like most places) definitely looks interesting and we’ll have to remember it as a downtown happy hour option for the future.
Café Hitchcock is located on the bottom floor of the Exchange Building, which has a historic landmark designation. I actually used to work in this building many years ago and back then it was like walking back in time with it’s art deco feel. It’s actually exactly the same, but Café Hitchcock has replaced the nondescript diner that used to be in the space. Despite the diner’s convenient location when I worked in the building, I never ate there. The Exchange Building is on 1st and Marion, which is directly in the path of all the ferry commuters, so if you time your visit to Café Hitchcock right when the ferry has arrived, you might be waiting in line awhile behind said ferry commuters.
Off Topic: Visiting Cafe Hitchcock actually brought back memories when I worked in this building. Whenever a ferry came in, there were a massive amount of ferry commuters who were too lazy to walk up the block between 1st and 2nd Ave, so they would come into the building and use the elevators to go from 1st Ave to 2nd Ave. Now you can imagine for those of us who actually worked in the building, how frustrating it was to see these people clogging up the elevators and causing massive lines to form, so they could avoid walking one block from 1st to 2nd Ave. What made it more frustrating is the building next door, the Norton Building, had an escalator from 1st to 2nd Ave so there was no waiting necessary, but nooooo….. these lazy ferry commuters could not even take the escalator, they want to take the elevator!!! It boils my blood to this day. Truthfully it was only a small percentage of ferry commuters that did this, but it was enough for it to be a running joke for all of us who actually worked in the building.
Anyways, back to Café Hitchcock. It’s a huge improvement from the diner that used to be here. There’s subway tile throughout, concrete floors and exposed vents and pipes, which give it an industrial feel. The touch that gives it character are the ornate gold frame mirrors that hang on the south wall. Below the mirrors is a long wooden benches that runs along the entire wall with corresponding tables for four people and two people. Each of these tables has an individual spotlight, which makes each table really bright.
When you enter, there are 4 high counter stools looking out on 1st Ave. The left section of the space has an unfinished look with exposed brick and concrete and has 7 high counter stools looking out on the entrance way to the building. In the center are 4 wooden booths that seat two.
I ordered cinnamon roll and the cashier confirmed that all pastries are baked in-house, which I appreciate since it ensures freshness. The coffee is sourced by Caffe Vita. I ordered both for here, but gave both to-go, which is fine, but there is something missing when drinking an espresso in a paper cup.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Baked in-house pastries
Atmosphere: 4.25
Service: 4.00
Food Options: 5.00
Overall: 4.35
Eavedropping Convo:
Guy 1(G1) – I just got through with a biography about Michael Collins. It was really interesting.
Guy 2(G2) – The Irish dude?
G1-Yeah. What was the last biography you read? I’m trying to get ideas for the next one to read.
G2- uhhhh….
G1-I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.
G2- Ooh!! A few months ago I finished a biography on this lady who used to work with Ted Bundy at a suicide hot line in Seattle. She talks about their conversations, how he interacted with people.
G1 – The serial killer?
G2- Yeah, she said he was really normal, but in looking back at the way he spoke to people, his mannerisms she could see how he had some traits of a psychopath, but wouldn’t be able to see it in real time, only after the fact. It was fascinating. Did you know he went to Udub?
G1 –What? No way! laughs
Related:
Fuel Coffee
Breaking News-5/21/20: Ada’s Technical Books Cafe has acquired the three Fuel Coffee branches including the one reviewed below. You can read about the details here.
Description on Fuel Coffee’s website : We are committed to perfectly caffeinating each customer with the highest quality coffee and to redefine the standards of customer service in a unique, friendly, and comfortable atmosphere.
Neighborhood: Wallingford
Address: 1705 N 45th St 98103
Music playing: Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure
What we ate/drank: Doppio espresso, mocha, macchiato.
Comments: People often call coffee fuel for the body, especially for us non-morning folks. So I guess it’s an appropriate name for this local vintage road trip-themed coffee shop with locations in Wallingford, Montlake and Capitol Hill. This location on the main street of N 45th Ave is right in the middle of the Wallingford neighborhood. 
We had birthing classes a few years ago in Wallingford, so this was our go-to coffee place during this time. Because these classes were in the morning, we normally had no problems finding parking right on N. 45th Ave, but these do have a small parking lot in the back.
When entering you’ll notice about 5 high counter stools facing out to the main street. There are also a few tables/chairs in the front area, which is where all the sunlight is. You’ll notice the first of their vintage décor, an old fashioned gas pump, which is right next the refrigerator of cold drinks. In the middle is the barista station/cashier with pastries and a few savory foods, such as quiche. The pasties are locally sourced from Standard Bakery, Macrina and La Toscanella. There are times when there is one person manning both the cash register and making the drinks, which could make for a longer wait. When there are two people working, it goes much more quickly.
The vintage road trip-theme continues with a shelf displaying old tire rims, travel books, old Rand McNally road maps vintage coffee cans, soda bottles, spark plug boxes and drinking water. The largest part of the location is in the back, which has a combination of regular tables, coffee tables and high counters with stools. This area can easily seat 20+ people. Although we really dig the painted brick wall with the giant coffee mug and the vintage signage for pies, this area is really dark and has no windows. There are some smaller lamps that provide a bit of light and probably not a big deal during the dark winter months, but not ideal in the sunny summer days. Speaking of signage, we do dig their store front signage, a bright orange circle with “Fuel” and a circular neon arrow pointing to the store.
Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of coffee options in Wallingford with the exception of Starbucks and a few smaller cafes, but Fuel Coffee, in our opinion, is really the only true option in Wallingford when it comes to really good coffee. According to their website they source their coffee from Caffe Vita.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Vintage props and signage, which give it a lot of character
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4.5
Food Options: 4.25
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: None
Related:
Zeitgeist Coffee – Pioneer Square
Description on Zeitgeist Coffee website : Designed different. We work hard to present a warm, pleasing place that is more in keeping with a traditional coffee house—a place for the exchange of ideas and a meeting place for the community.
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
Address: 171 S. Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104
Music playing: Mean Streets by Tennis
What we ate/drank: Macchiato and a Top Pot glazed doughnut
Macchiato & Top Pot Doughnut
Comments: It’s become apparent to us that Pioneer Square has become the epicenter of quality coffee shops. Cherry Street Public House, Caffé Vita, Slate Coffee Roasters, in our opinion, have their best cafes here. Convoy Coffee and Elm Coffee Roasters have their only brick and mortar locations here. Now add Zeitgeist to the list.
I’d been to Zeitgeist before, but because it’s rather far from my work, it’s normally packed and there are so many other choices in the area, I don’t come here often. In talking to the baristas at Pegasus Coffee Bar about their favorite cafes to go to once they are off the clock, one of them mentioned Zeitgeist, so I’d thought I’d stop by.
There are a couple things I noticed right off the bat when ordering. This is the first cafe I’ve seen that offers both Mighty O and Top Pot(see Fun Fact below) doughnuts. The doughnuts are showcased side by side! Most places offer up one or the other and in most cases it’s Mighty O. You notice I never really talk about prices when doing these cafe reviews, but the second thing I noticed is that their drinks are on average about $.75 -1.00 cheaper than most cafes in Seattle. For non-coffee drinkers they had juice, a large selection of teas(15ish) and even bottled beers. For food options they have breakfast sandwiches, eggs, fruits(bananas,apples) and dedicated menu for sandwiches, soup and salads.
Like many of the Pioneer Square cafes, the location has exposed brick walls and wooden beams. Wow, these are some massive columns! The space has very tall ceilings(25-30 feet high), big windows for lots of natural light. The place is already big for Pioneer Square standards but the ceilings and windows make it seem massive. The natural rich colors of the wood used on the walls, counters and furniture add to the brightness of the space.
The space is divided by the front door and counter into two seating sections. There are two L-shaped high counters with stools that seat about 8 people each that look upon Jackson Street. Every few minutes you can watch the First Hill Street Car go by. The rest of the cafe has individual tables and chairs.
I’d say 1/4 of the people who come Zeitgeist Coffee have come from the King Street Station getting a cup of coffee while they wait to board their train. The other 3/4 are locals/regulars. There always seems to be a line as I mentioned up above, which is one of the reasons I don’t often come here, but I have to say the line moved pretty quickly considering most people are not ordering a quick brewed coffee, but an espresso based drink.
It reminds me of the Pioneer Square Caffé Vita in that there are lots of “things to look at”. As mentioned in a previous blog post, people call me a “Looker”. I don’t mean that as in, “wow, that guy’s a looker!” but more like “wow, that guy likes to look at things a lot.” The things at Zeitgeist I really enjoyed looking at:
- Their collection of old percolators that line their back wall from one end to the other. The way they have them displayed make it almost invisible. They’re all about the same size and all silver, so they almost all blend together, but it’s such a cool collection. At least, I think so.
- The old features/décor
- The art deco clock above the cashier/barista
- The old fan hanging from the wall
- The vintage percolator signage right behind the cashier
- The massive hanging lights
- The old school newspaper/magazine stand
- The ornate steel partition above the magazine stand. Remnants of a bank teller?
- The dictionary displayed above a map drawer that contain all sorts of little goodies.
- The small little counter in the middle of the space that has a banker’s lamp on it. It’s so out of place, but it’s not.
- Even the toaster near the coffee station is an older model.
Zeitgeist also closes relatively late at 7:00pm. Even though Zeigeist has gotten one of our highest scores, I’m still not sure how frequently we’ll come due to it’s location and that it’s always packed(for good reason). We will probably come if we are waiting to pick up somebody from the train station, First Thursday Art Walk or any other instance where we are in the area either super early in the morning or in the evening, when it’s more likely to be less crowded.
Fun Fact: One of the original founders of Zeitgeist, Michael Klebeck, went on to become the founder of Top Pot Doughnuts.
Fun Fact #2: Where did the name Zeitgeist come from? According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer(RIP), Founder Brian Yeck put the focus of the shop on art. “We always strive to show interesting, challenging and thought-provoking works,” he said. Zeitgeist means “spirit of the times,” and Yeck felt it fit.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: All the little “things to look at” mentioned above.
Atmosphere: 5.00
Service: 4.75
Food Options: 5.00
Overall: 4.85
Eavedropping Convo: Guy ordered his 16 oz Americano and waited at the hand off for the barista to make it. Gal after him also ordered a 16 oz Americano, but with 4 shots instead of 2. Barista calls out, “16 oz Americano”! Guy goes to grab it and is about to put in cream.
Gal calls out to the guy: Hey, I think that’s mine. I ordered a 16 oz American with 4 shots. Did you order 4 shots or a regular? I think you grabbed my drink.
Guy: Oh… sorry. I just ordered a regular Americano.
Gal: Yeah, I think that’s mine.
Guy: She just called out 16 oz Americano and I was next so I assumed it was mine. Sorry.
Gal: Yeah, no that’s mine. Goes to grab the drink from the guy.
Barista calls out: 16 oz Americano, 4 shots!!
Gal: Oh, There’s mine. Hands back the drink she just grabbed from the guy back to the guy. Grabs her drink and heads straight for the door. Didn’t even say, “Sorry for the mix up”. Really surprised how rude people are. The guy just took in stride.
Herkimer Coffee
Description on Herkimer Coffee website : At Herkimer Coffee our purpose is to create a coffee experience of the highest possible quality. Whether it’s your double espresso, latte to go, or the bag of beans you brew at home, we want your experience to be the best it can be.
Neighborhood: Ravenna / University District
Address: 5611 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98105
Music playing: Didn’t I -Darondo
What we ate/drank: Macchiato
Comments: Herkimer Coffee is our go-to spot when our family walks over to Cowen Park or going to the Saturday University Farmer’s Market. We normally get our coffee to go and can only recollect one time where we met up with friends and actually stayed to enjoy our coffees. On this particular day, I decided to stay and enjoy.
Plus points for having “Didn’t I” by Darondo playing when I walked in. One of my favorites. Then some Vampire Weekend. Then some Shins. I asked the barista if this was his playlist and was about to compliment him, but alas, it was Spotify.
I got a Macchiato. Because it was late afternoon, their pastry selection at that point was pretty bare, but there pasties are from Café Besalu in Ballard. Note: As I delved deeper, I found out that Herkimer now owns Café Besalu as of last year! I had no idea.
One thing you’ll notice for some of their drinks is the strange pricing. For example, the Macchiato and Cortado are both $2.72. You may ask, why? That’s because with the tax, it comes out to an even $3.00, which I appreaciate. Keep it simple
The space is small like most places on The Ave, but I feel it maximizes the space with a long wooden bench that runs the entirety of the inside with 7 small tables . There are 4 stools running along the front of the space with a counter and one community table for 8. There are two tables out side on the side walk to look out on the northern part of The Ave. In the front it’s nice and bright, but towards the back it’s warm and dark with soft lighting
They had about some 3 tea selections. There’s local art on the wall for sale. And they got AC, yo!
Surprisingly, Herkimer only has 3 locations-Dexter, Ravenna and the flagship Greenwood location. It seems like there’s more locations, but I guess I drive down Greenwood and The Ave a lot. I don’t drive on Dexter much.
Like some other Seattle coffee roasters(Elm, Slate, Vita, Ladro), I was curious about where the name “Herkimer” and logo originated. Apparently it’s named after a town in New York, where the founder’s dad was born. Another fun fact: The founder of Herkimer also founded Caffe Vita. The bridge in the logo is an iconic bridge in Herkimer.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: I love the fact that there’s a quality coffee shop very near Cowen/Ravenna Park.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Food Options: 3.75
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: Guy and a gal having a coffee. They seem to be UW students, It was right around end of the first quarter, so they were talking about plans for the summer and when they were leaving campus for home. They’d been there before I got there and were still there for the 45 minutes I was there, so they were there a while.
Gal) If you’re free, I was thinking about going……
Guy) Yes, let’s go!
Gal) You don’t know where I was going to suggest.
Guy) I don’t care. Let’s go!
Gal) It’s a place really close to here…….. Both walk out the door together.
Dude was super eager to hang out more I guess.
Diva Espresso – Greenwood
Description on Diva Espresso website: It was, and continues to be Diva’s belief that the inestimable effect human dignity has on anything produced through heart and sweat is essential to the quality and success of that product. By being involved in the process from inception to resolution, it is Diva’s belief that not only the end product be superb, but that all is right in the world…every step of the way.
Neighborhood: Greenwood
Address: 7916 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Music playing: Fantastic Voyage by Lakeside
What we ate/drank: Double Espresso
Comments: As far back as I can remember since moving to Seattle, Diva Espresso on Greenwood Ave has been a constant on this ever changing street, which is a testament to how well the business is run. We all know there’s a lot of competition out there and to have been around for that long is an achievement.
Diva Espresso has 7 locations in the Seattle area. All their brews are from Highlands Coffee Co, which happens to be their sister company. There is ample parking in the back, which is rare for Greenwood coffee places. If I’m not mistaken Chaco Canyon, Coyle’s Bakeshop, Caffe Vita and Herikimer on Greenwood Ave have little to no dedicated parking.
It’s not that big on the inside, but there is a big patio in the back next to the parking lot and some sidewalk seating in the front on Greenwood Ave. Inside there are 6 square wood tables all the same size each fitting 3 people. There are also 3 stools for counter seating looking near the front counter. There are a some pastry choices and snacks for sale.
The inside is bright due to big windows and they are open relatively late until 8::00(7:00 on Sundays) for you evening drinkers. In the evening the space is filled with warm lighting from the “diva”ish chandeliers. The space does feel a little dated with carpeted flooring, peeling paint on benches on the patio and pink/mauve walls. We all have personal preferences, but I’d come here for a quick to go drink due to the ample parking and good coffee, but the atmosphere is not my cup of tea for working or relaxing. I’m sure others love the décor that some could describe as “comfortable”
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Ample parking, nice big patio for nice days although it needs a new paint job.
Atmosphere: 3.00
Service: 4.5
Food Options: 3.75
Overall: 3.75
Eavedropping Convo: None. There was nothing but people typing away on their computers. Although there was one property manager negotiating a lease with a new tenant with an offer of $3000 in a brand new apartment in Ballard.
Espresso Vivace – Alley 24
Description on Espresso Vivace website: Our charter is to research, develop, and prepare caffe espresso as a new culinary art. “Espresso Vivace” translates loosely as great enthusiasm and excitement for espresso, the new world coffee.
Neighborhood: South Lake Union
Address: 227 Yale Ave, Seattle, WA 98109
Music playing: Paris Latino- Bandolero
What we ate/drank: Americano, Glazed Sprinkle Donut from Mighty O
Comments: One of the surprising things about Espresso Vivace is that it only has two cafes(Capitol Hill and South Lake Union) and a cart(Capitol Hill). You hear so many people talk about Espresso Vivace and how it’s their favorite that you start to think there must be many other branches around town, but there’s not. To learn about the founder and the importance of Espresso Vivace on the Seattle coffee scene read this article:
They were also featured on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations episode when they highlighted Seattle. And Emeril Lagasse of the Food Network said, “Probably the best coffee I ever had in the United States if not close into the world… I gotta tell ‘ta, one of the best coffees I ever had in my life…they kicked coffee up into an art form… To see a place like the quality of Vivace is unbelievable.” So Espresso Vivace definitely has a fan base.
And just like Caffe Umbria and Victrola Coffee Roasters, they have a very robust Education section on their website and like Broadcast Coffee and Caffe Vita they offer training. They take it one step further by offering both professional barista training and home barista training.
This is the South Lake Union(SLU) location that’s right across the street from the Flagship REI store. It’s not quite in the heart of South Lake Union and away from Capitol Hill and Downtown, so it never seems to be crowded. It also might have to do with the place being so big for a café. I believe it easily fits 50+ people with all sorts of seating. I counted at least 5 group seating areas-standard tables, long high top tables, a couple leather couches. It even has a separate room. I noticed they have two stations to make any rush hour move quickly. The café has dark brown wood walls, dark table tops and dark chairs, exposed vents are even painted dark brown and the ceiling appears to be dark granite (brown of course). There’s even ample outside seating for nice days.
The vibe is relaxing and for me a place where I’d order a coffee, find a secluded area and read a book. This is also a candidate to meet up with bigger groups along with Cherry Street Public House in Pioneer Square and La Marzocco Cafe
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Big space for large group meet up.
Atmosphere: 4.5
Service: 4.5
Food Options: 3.75
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: I guy and two gals were talking. I could only hear snippets, but the guy wasn’t whispering and it seemed like they were talking about a lot of sensitive subjects. I’m not a tech person, so a lot of the terms they were using was Latin to me-OEM, Linux, Qualcomm, CDA, GPU inventory,
He was referring to a well-known local CEO by his first name as if they were on a first name basis. Some comments he made:
- I’ve made that guy so much money!
- When we were colleagues coming up through the ranks, I always used to give him advise. Now he’s where he is and all credit to him. <<He didn’t seem jealous of the CEO. I think he was more just name dropping.
Comment made about a colleague either applying for a job or a consultant who’s starting a new project:
- He’s very childish. He’s dealing with Oracle. Larry’s(Ellison) issuing 20 million of company stock to himself.
Another comment:
- She’s a female CEO trying to make it in man’s world. Good luck to her. I got a give her credit she’s tough as nails, but my god, the drama there is off the charts.
Seattle Coffee Places For Each Stage of Dating
We’ve told you about our choices for the Seattle Bars For Each Stage of Dating, but a reader pointed out, “what if you don’t drink?” Valid question. Or what if you are allergic to alcohol, you have to meet up during work hours, have to drive home sober, are on medication or just don’t want to drink alcohol? So as an alternative here are our choices for the best Seattle coffee places for each stage of dating.
First Date Coffee Place-For sure you want somewhere casual while feeling each other out and getting to know each other. Our pick:Revolution Coffee. First order your drinks(to go). You can chill out for awhile and talk a bit. The reason for picking Revolutions Coffee is not due to the space, but the location. It’s right across the street from Green Lake Park. Suggest a nice stroll around the park while sipping your coffee. How much more casual can you get? Walking around the entire lake takes about an hour, so by this time you should know if you want to see your date again. If things don’t click, hey, at least you got in a good walk at one of Seattle’s most picturesque parks.
First Date Coffee Place(What if the Weather Sucks?) – You know sometimes Seattle weather doesn’t cooperate and a walk around Green Lake is out of the question. So if it’s pouring outside, our alternative picks: Slate Coffee Roasters. We have a specific order at Slate for the first date. Order the Deconstructed Latte, which is espresso, milk and a combination of both. It’s perfect for sharing. You can discuss the specific ingredients with the barista before trying and then after trying each ingredient you can discuss and review. We think it encourages discussion and since you are sharing the experience together it makes for a perfect first date.
Impress The Date Coffee Place- You decided you’re interested and want to pursue the relationship. Time to impress. It has to be quiet, chill with some dark lighting to set the mood for romance. Our pick for the Seattle Bar choice for this stage of dating was Suite 410. Our pick for the Impress The Date Coffee Place is Anchorhead Coffee Co for many of the same reasons as Suite 410. It has a dark lighting setting the mood for romance, but it’s also a really impressive beautiful space. I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of seating specifically for two, but there are plenty of spaces that you can feel secluded and whisper those sweet nothings. Awe, yeah, playa! They have a good variety of food options. It’s also a great place as a precursor to the evening as Paramount Theatre, AMC Pacific Place, Regal Meridian Cinemas or Gameworks are all just a few blocks away.
The Test Coffee Place– Now take your date to a coffee place to see if they’ll have a fun time. Do something a little bit more interactive besides just sipping coffee and talking. Bars around town have all kinds of things to do for fun-bocce ball, mini gold, shooting pool, ping pong, pinball, etc. What type of fun thing is there to do at a coffee place? Coffee shops are meant for quiet time, right? Our pick: Caffe Vita. Why? Every month on a Sunday, Caffe Vita’s roasting facility on Capitol Hill has a 2 hour Public Brewing School which focuses on manual brewing methods such as French Press, Chemex, Bonmac Pour Over and Aeropress. And for all you cheapskates out there, it’s free! You two can become experts at various types of coffee making, so you can make each other great coffee each morning. And, hey, if things don’t work out, these skills are portable, so you can impress your next dating partner with your coffee making skills. A win all the way around. The classes do fill up quickly, so plan ahead of time like any good person planning a date should.
Soure:flicker
Seal the Deal Coffee Shop Getting Serious Coffee Shop- To us, there’s no such thing as a “Seal The Deal” coffee place like there is for bars, so we’ve replaced it with a Getting Serious Coffee Shop. It’s getting serious. This one might stick around for awhile. Time to introduce the date to friends. In the future, you might be bringing them around to your game nights, camping trips and as a +1 to weddings, birthday parties and baby showers, so they’d better get along with your friends. Also time to introduce them to family. You may start bringing them to Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas get togethers, babysitting the nieces and nephews.
As you know most of the coffee places in Seattle are pretty small and difficult to have big group outings. You don’t want to introduce your date to each friend and family member one by one. Where should you introduce this perspective marriage material to your loved ones? Our Pick: La Marzocco Cafe. It’s a relatively new space and located in the Seattle Center. You may say to yourself, that only tourists go to the Seattle Center to see the Space Needle, EMP or Chihuly Garden, but there’s gotta be times where you are there sometime throughout the year? What about meeting up during Bumbershoot, events at Key Arena, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Bite of Seattle, International Brewery Festival, Folklife Festival or having a bite out in lower Queen Anne?
The place is huge with tons of seating, which makes it perfect for big groups. They have cool displays of various espresso machines, a record store onsite and the coffee and menu are ever-changing. Why? This is the concept of the cafe-“Each month, a new, renowned coffee roaster or coffee brand from across the US or elsewhere in the world will take over our cafe space, implement a new menu, train our staff on their coffees and drink preparation, and curate a new experience for guests. Join us for something refreshing and new during each visit.”
Introduce the friends and family to meet your date. Get their opinion, see if they approve or don’t. If yes, move forward. If they don’t perhaps take them to the next coffee shop…….
Drive Off the Date Coffee Shop- This is the opposite of the Getting Serious Coffee Shop. You’ve determined that it just ain’t gonna work out .You figured out this date is nothing special, just like the rest, a dime a dozen. That ain’t good enough for you! How do you tell your date it’s over? If you take your date to this place, they probably know what’s coming next. If you’ve been going to all these independent coffee places all over town, your date might think to themselves, “Why the heck are we going here?” What better coffee shop to symbolize to your date they’re just like the rest or a dime a dozen? A coffee shop whose locations are pretty much the same and so commonplace they’re like a dime a dozen. Our Pick: Take your date to Starbucks. Another reason Starbucks is our choice. You know when you’re just not sure about your date it can go one way or the other, but something just suddenly breaks the camel’s back. Maybe you heard her obnoxious laugh one too many times, maybe his last brag after enduring his constant bragging does it, you just found out her main job is a drug mule or he cuts the date short again because he has to meet up with his Xbox playing buddies. Who knows where you’re going to be when you’ve decided-“Nope, not gonna happen”. If you have one of these spur of the moment revelations, no matter where you are, there will be a Starbucks close by. Just say, “Hey, we need to talk. Why don’t we go to that Starbucks across the street”. Be merciful and make it quick. Wham, bam, thank you, Ma’am! And make sure you get your coffee in a to go cup just in case dumping your date has left them in a heaping pile of tears. You can just wish them a happy life and peace out. Ball on, playa!
Pegasus Coffee Bar
Description on Pegasus Coffee website: Pegasus Coffee began roasting arabica coffee beans for Bainbridge Island coffee lovers in 1979. From the beginning, we have focused on using the highest quality coffee beans from each growing region of the world and carefully roasting our coffee one batch at a time.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 1218 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Music playing: None
What we ate/drank: Double Espresso from Pegasus Roaster
Comments: I wanted to get a quick coffee before going to work and just relax. I intended to go to Caffe Migliore, but as I walked up to the door I saw somebody that I knew in there. I really wanted to just relax and I knew if I walked in, I’d have to talk and hang out. I’m anti-social that way prior to getting my coffee. I looked on Google Maps for nearby suggestions and I saw Pegasus Coffee was around the corner. I had always known about it because my bus passes by it everyday on my way to work. Off I went.
Pegasus Coffee Bar is located in the Seattle Tower which at one point was the tallest building in Seattle. The builders decided to make it one floor taller than the more famous Smith Tower, whose bar I mentioned briefly in our Best Seattle Bars For Each Stage of Dating post. The interesting thing is the Smith Tower from top to bottom is actually taller, but the Seattle Tower was built at a higher elevation so looking at the downtown skyline it’s taller. Both buildings are now considered small fries among the newer downtown buildings.
I had no idea the space was this small. There are literally two single seats that look out on 3rd Ave. And they are not together, so if you stay here you’re sitting solo. 3rd Ave in downtown is a main bus lane in the morning, so they probably get a lot of traffic from people getting off the bus before going to their jobs. It’s also right across the street from the University Street Link Light Rail station. For these two reasons, I’d say 98% of the people who come here, get their coffee to go.
They have another location a few blocks away that’s also on 3rd Ave. Although, that location looks like something out of a strip mall. I know it’s not their fault since they probably took over the spot from another business or the building architects just built it that way, but if you have a choice between the two, come to one located in the Seattle Tower. It’s a really charming small shop that according to the baristas used to be a cigar shop. Once they said that you can almost see the cigar shop qualities-the high ceilings, darker lighting and off course the dark mahogany wood. I really don’t think much has been done to this spot since the building opened, so it has a feeling of preserved history. I
I ordered a doppio espresso. $2! You are reading that right, only 2 bucks! I ordered it to drink there and the barista said, “Oh, thank you for drinking it here. It’s always nice to drink espresso out of a proper cup”. Like I said, I don’t think too many people stay there to drink due to its size. There were a small case for pastries and a separate one for bagels. The choices aren’t many. There was a cooler for cold drinks and also multiple canisters of tea. Their roaster is out on Bainbridge Island.
The place is so small you can’t help but make small talk with the two baristas if you decide to stay there to drink. The two gals there were really friendly and you could tell they enjoyed working together and had a passion for café culture. We talked about plans for the weekend and I asked when they weren’t at Pegasus Coffee working, what coffee places do they frequent(See below).
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: The charming historic look of this small place and the two friendly gals working there.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food Options: 2.5
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: Since I was the only one there, there was no eavesdropping conversations to overhear, so I just spoke to the baristas there.
Me-When you’re not drinking coffee here, where do you like to go?
Barista 1(B1)- I really like La Marzocco.
Barista 2(B2)- Oh yeah, La Marzocco. Their history, the café’s ambiance and the fact that there are only 3 La Marzocco cafes in the world…..
B1- I really like Zeitgeist. I’m one of those people you can spend hours on my laptop so I like that place.
B2- yeah, she lives in Pioneer Square so it’s close by.
B1- I like C&P Coffee
Me-C&P? Never heard of it. Where is it?
B1-It’s in West Seattle. It’s like in somebody’s house and it’s been around forever.
Me-I don’t get out to West Seattle much, but I’ll have to check it out.
B1-I like Caffe Vita and Victrola, but I’ve only been to the one on 15th, not the main one.
Couple new places to look into. I’ve passed by Zeitgeist, but have never been. And I’d never heard of C&P Coffee, but in researching the place, it seems like a much beloved place. Just earlier this month they were in danger of losing the place, but the community was able to raise $77,240 on GoFundMe to save the place! We’ll for sure have to see for ourselves.
Mr West Cafe Bar
Description on their web: Easy Drinking. Tasty Fare. Morning, noon, night.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 720 Olive Way, Seattle WA 98101
Music playing: Multi-Love by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
What we ate/drank: Doppio Espresso, Apple Fagotinni, Americano
Comments: As we stated in Our Seattle Coffee Shop Thoughts, this is our favorite coffee place in Seattle. As mentioned it’s just a great combination of cozy and modern with tons of seating options, great food choices and great atmosphere. Honestly, when Mr West Cafe Bar first opened, I wasn’t sure it would survive. At the time, my bus stop was across the street, so I could see if it was full or empty inside and most of the time it was empty. It’s in a weird area right on the outskirts of downtown and South Lake Union, but walking distance from Capitol Hill. I’m glad they persevered, because now the place is always packed. The scummy Greyhound station used to be across the street, but now a brand new Hyatt Regency is replacing it, so I’m sure it will be even more crowded. It goes without saying the coffee is superb, but what separates Mr West Café Bar from the rest is their variety of food options and atmosphere. They have your normal sweet pastries, but they also have sandwiches, salads, toasts with cheese, avocado, cured salmon and cheese/meat boards. If you’re not in the mood for coffee, they also serve wine, cocktails and have beers on tap. There are all types of seating-single seats along the front window, booth seating, long tables for groups, bar seating and patio seating. It feels comfortable whether you are working/studying, catching up with friends or having a group outing. The barista and food prep is located in the middle of the cafe and everybody is seated around them. If you are staying for drink and/or food, they will give you a number on a stand, which you place on your table and they’ll bring out your order when it’s ready.
For me personally, what I really like is their music selection. It feels like I’m constantly Shazam’ing the music they play. They’ve turned me on to The Radio Dept, Whitney, Leisure, Tora, Real Estate, Day Wave, Hazel English, The National, Hooded Fang, Harlem, Skaters,
Ratings:
Favorite Thing: Their music choice and atmosphere
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food Options: 5
Overall: 5
Eavesdropping Convos:
These were two co-workers having a meeting while having some coffee, but I couldn’t tell if it was a boss and subordinate or just two colleagues.
Girl 1: I just wanted to talk to you. It’s really nothing.
Girl 2: Well it’s not nothing, it must be something. I’m a very blunt person so you won’t have to worry about me providing feedback.
1: I get the feeling that you don’t like me and it’s fine if you don’t like me, but I feel it’s getting in the way of working together. I just want to clear the air and find out why.
2: I fully admit I’ve been in a funk lately, but I’m not going to take all the hits. From the very beginning I asked you out to lunch a couple of times and it was never reciprocated. I also asked you to coffee before, I didn’t know if you drink coffee, but again never reciprocated. I’m the type of person where I’m going to try and if I’m ignored, I’m going to stop and not try anymore. Also, you know my cat just died, that was a big deal. I’m still not over it and you’re the only person who didn’t console me. The only person. (long pause)……. As a woman that’s a big deal.
1: I own that, but I feel that you’ve been very cold to me, so it’s hard to talk to you.
2: We haven’t really worked on any projects together, so I don’t hate you. I don’t even know you.
The conversation was getting juicy, but in a way it was uncomfortable and tried to tune them out. They were both rather loud, so it wasn’t like I had to lean my ear in their direction. Girl 2 kept saying over and over again …. I don’t hate you, I don’t even know you.
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