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:
Cascade Coffee Works
Description on Cascade Coffee Works website : From the get-go, we wanted Cascade Coffee Works to feel like an oasis in an otherwise bustling and demanding area. Our signature Slow Bar is still in the picture as well, giving our customers the option to try some of our premiere single origin coffees on paired manual brewing methods.
Neighborhood: South Lake Union
Address: 1130 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109
Music playing: Couldn’t hear due to the morning crowded trying to get their caffiene
What we ate/drank: Macchiato
Comments: We’ve not spent a lot of time here, because it’s out of the way for us and whenever we’ve come, it’s been in the mid morning or early afternoon and by that time it’s normally packed. On this particular day, I went earlier in the morning and able to relax a bit. Maybe it’s unfair to compare this brand new location(opened in 11/17) to the older sister branch Seattle Coffee Works in downtown, but it’s as different as night and day. Cascade Coffee Works is located in the Troy Laundry Building which was built in 1927 and established as a Seattle Landmark in 1996. It’s now been converted into Amazon office space.
The similarity to Seattle Coffee Works is the limited food offerings and a slow bar that had a syphon, Chemex, Hario, Kalita Wave and an Aeropress. The differences are everything else. The space is industrial, bright and modern, it has a garage style door that can be opened for nice weather, white walls, and in the front, counter seating near the slow bar and comfy living room area with 3 leather love seats and a coffee table, In the back there are two hanging swinging chairs. In the middle there’s a community table for 8 and various separate tables for two. There’s also a few chairs/tables outside on the sidewalk and a few tables that you can use in the lobby of the building. There are plants throughout, along the back wall, hanging from high walls, in pots on the shelves.
Being in South Lake Union and in an Amazon building, as you would expect there are a ton of folks with blue badges getting their caffeine fix here. Like Seattle Coffee Works there’s a no tipping policy, although it’s made up with higher than normal prices, which I’m fine with. Unlike Seattle Coffee Works, Cascade Coffee Works is more my style. It’s bright and modern, but comfortable and has enough touches that make it different from other spots. There’s also cold brews and beer on tap.
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. If I worked or lived in the area, I’d definitely frequent this location more. Also, if I’m meeting a friend who works at Amazon, I’ll surely suggest Cascade Coffee Works. Let’s face it, we all know at least one person who works at Amazon.
Ratings(1-5)Favorite Thing: Bright and airy with both modern and cozy touches.
Atmosphere: 4.75
Service: 5
Food Options: 3.75
Overall: 4.50
Eavedropping Convo: Gal and a guy catching up over coffee. I don’t think they worked at Amazon based on the way they were dressed, but I think they had a meeting with Amazon. I think they were killing time before their meeting.
Guy: He’s promised me this bonus and keeps comin’ up with excuses not to fuckin’ give it to me.
Gal: How about going to James?
Guy: I feel like a little bitch, if I go over his head for help. Thinking of just telling him, “Look, if you don’t give me the bonus by the end of next month, I’ll expect I’m not getting it and act accordingly”
Gal: Then what?
Guy: It’s not like I can really quit. I have to stay til next March to get my stock options. Then I’m fuckin done.
Evoke Coffee
Description on Evoke Coffee website : At Evoke, we strive to offer the best in food and drink. We use Heart Coffee to craft the highest quality espresso drinks, infused with a broad selection of our house-made syrups, and utilize fresh ingredients to make stunning dishes to order.
Neighborhood: South Lake Union(SLU)
Address: 235 9th Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Music playing: Hate The Real Me by Future
What we ate/drank: Macchiato
Comments: Evoke Coffee reminds me of a situation we have in our own household. When we host visitors via Couchsurfing, they always mention our dog in our reviews, love to take pictures with her and try to conjole her into sleeping in their room. If we see our Couchsurfers again, they always ask how our dog is doing. Wait a minute?!? We opened up our house to you, gave you shelter, a place to sleep, a clean bathroom, use of our kitchen all for free! Don’t you remember us or want to know how we’re doin? No, it’s all about our dog. I feel that’s the same quandary that Evoke Coffee has. Everybody will remember their Bernese Mountain Dogs, Pablo and Pedro. I’m no different. If somebody asks me about Evoke Coffee, I’ll probably say, “oh yeah, the place with the dogs”. Their dogs are super friendly and well behaved and add to the enjoyment of having coffee there. And if you know anything about Seattleites they go ga-ga over dogs.
Pedro, the shop puppy 
Pablo, the shop dog
The location is in South Lake Union and takes industrial/minimalist to the max. It feels like it’s still under construction with black tarp as a ceiling, concrete floors and white walls with not art or pictures. Their lighting are hanging lamps with multiple Edison bulbs. Their table tops, chairs and stools are all metal and all black with the exception of two couches. The space is big with a high counter with six stools and a long bench with individual tables to the left and the aforementioned couches, a community table(with 6 outlets in the middles and USB jacks), and a high counter with 3 stools on the right. Besides their dogs, they are also known for their sign, “but first, coffee”.
They use Heart Coffee from Portland, OR which I’ve never had before. The macchiato I had had a distinct sweetness. It was quite different. I love that they use Delonghi double walled thermos glasses. Not only does this keep the drink hotter longer, but it also allows you to see the color and texture of the drink that you get in a Gibraltar glass, but not in the normal ceramic cups. For food options – construct-your-own omelettes, pastries and acai bowls. They also have sandwiches.
The weekday morning I went, there was one person taking orders and making drinks, so if you have a bunch of time consuming drinks ordered in a row in front of you, it might take awhile. This is where the two mascots definitely help. People were petting and playing with them while waiting for their drinks and even after getting their drinks, hung around to play with them some more. We enjoy industrial/minimalism, but this was a bit too industrial/minimalism. I loved the coffee, loved the Delonghi glasses and of course, loved the dogs, but it’s out of the way for us and not a “comfy” place to relax. We’d probably take visitors who love dogs and a good cup of coffee.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: Loved the coffee, loved the Delonghi glasses and of course, loved the dogs, Pablo and Pedro
Atmosphere: 3.50
Service: 5
Food Options: 4.35
Overall: 4.25
Eavedropping Convo: No conversations to report here. Just a lot of fawning over the dogs. A guy did come in with his dog and stayed awhile to let his dog play with Pablo and Pedro. Then he and his dog left, but came back 5 minutes later. Apparently, his dog wanted to play more. He let them play a bit more and then said to his dog, “Done with your morning social visit, buddy?” and they left for good.
Caffe Ladro(1800 9th Building)-Mystery Solved!
Description on Caffe Ladro website: At Caffe Ladro, we strive to provide profound service.
We believe that profound service improves the world.
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
Address: 1800 9th Ave , Seattle, WA 98101
Music playing: Wild Horses by The Sundays
What we ate/drank: Latte, Gibraltar
Comments: Debated on whether or not to even review this Caffe Ladro location. I’ve been to many of the other Ladro locations and really this is just a coffee stand in a lobby of the 1800 9th Building. It has no real cafe feel. The lobby area does have nice seating and there are three high top tables against the window right next to the Caffe Ladro counter. And of course you get the Caffe Ladro quality coffee drinks, but the atmosphere is an “eh”.
I can see coming here for a to-go cup, if you were meeting somebody in the building and arrived early or if you worked nearby, but the “Jetsons” Caffe Ladro is only a few blocks away and has a better atmosphere to kick back for awhile. If I worked in this building I’d be super stoked to have a Caffe Ladro in my lobby though. The building I work in has a Starbucks in the lobby, so I’m envious. There were the normal limited bakery goods that are made in their bakery offsite.
Mystery Really Solved: You may remember how I made a fool out of myself at Caffe Vita getting mixed up where I was and asking them about the logo of Caffe Ladro. I was then determined to get the scoop on where the name Caffe Ladro came from. When I went to visit the Jetson’s Caffe Ladro they told me the logo of the silhouetted man represented a cloaked mysterious in-the-shadows thief since Ladro is Italian for thief. Well I got the real scoop now! I don’t know if it’s real but it’s a more clever origin. When the owner of Caffe Ladro decided to open his first cafe, he opened it right next to Starbucks in Queen Anne hoping to steal it’s customers with a better quality coffee and environment, so he picked the name Caffe Ladro or “Coffee Thief”.
Ratings(1-5)
Favorite Thing: How bright the space is due to having windows surrounding on all sides.
Atmosphere: 3.5
Service: 5.0
Food Options: 3.75
Overall: 4.0
Eavedropping Convo: Took place on May the 4th.
Customer(C) – Have you gotten any Star Wars references today? You know, May the 4th? May the Force?
Barista(B)- Ohhh…..so that’s why I’ve seen so many Star Wars themed shirts today.
C-Are you a fan?
B- I mean I’ve seen them all. but I’m not a Star Wars nerd.
C- Yeah, I’m a fan but I couldn’t name every single character.
B- Oooooh..I should come up with a Star Wars theme drink for the day. How about the “Death Star”?
C – How about “Darth Mocha”?
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.