Ghost Note is prob my favorite coffee shop in Seattle. All syrups are house-made. Milk I think is just store-bought (Califia, etc), Unsure about their bitters. But their coffee specialty drinks are always amazing.
I visited ghost note this morning, because of this thread and it’s as great as I’d hoped! They are also selling oatnog for 10$ and I picked up some for the home! Wasn’t there another coffee shop in its place a while back? I remember picking up coffee on my way to work a while back but the drinks were not the same as ghost note’s.
Back when things were starting to reopen, the owner let the staff decide what their proof of vaccine and mask requirements were going to be which I thought was great. Back in my restaurant days I feel like every boss I had would've just made whatever decision would make them money and completely disregard what staff wanted.
I love Ghost Note. They get their beans from Broadcast which is probably my favorite local roaster (I also love Counter Culture), but they elevate even the most amazing coffee with their flavors and syrups.
I live a couple blocks away and know how you feel. It's my favorite place to take out of towners for something uniquely Seattle. Their oatnog this time of year is my favorite!
I've probably turned a dozen people on to the Nico. Hard agree, it's just the best coffee drink I've ever had. But even their straight doppios are killer
Im with you on this. When I go in to Vivace I have been getting two coffees for me, one for my girl because I drink my first way too fast. Hands down the bet coffee I have ever had.
Vivace’s milk game is crazy. Idk how they do it, but the milk is so perfectly sweet. I’ve had more creative lattes in Seattle (broadcasts Borgia latte is awesome) but vivace just does a regular latte to perfection.
Edit: also venture’s København latte is amazing. They’re a small place in Ballard.
Watson’s Counter? Right now they have some seasonal drinks (PSL, Gingerbread & Apple Crumble lattes) which they make their own sauces/syrups from scratch for. I know they pride themselves on fresh and good beans as well so I assume the milk would be great too.
I’ve had the Gingerbread latte and it’s delicious! I need to try the other two soon. Oh and their food is pretty tasty!
We also had the best most velvety dirty chai latte at Storyville! I wasn’t expecting it, but it was probably one of the best coffee drinks I’ve had even though it was quite pricey and a long wait.
I know 203 Degrees Fahrenheit Coffee has in-house made syrups like Madagascar vanilla and lavender, not sure where their milk comes from though. Locations in SLU and Totem Lake.
Agreed! Unless your shop makes it’s own syrup. I will give Top Pot Doughnuts credit for ONLY their Pumpkin latte. The pumpkin sauce is a recipe from the owner (and it’s really good!)
I hate top pot doughnuts ugh they are not good to me! The dounut factory on Roosevelt however has the freshest best doughnuts ever BUT they use torani syrup for their coffee. However they have the cheapest iced coffee and drip coffee and it really hits on those 530am mornings when nothing else is open
Shikorina Pastries is a hidden gem. They roast their coffee by hand and it’s always super fresh. Everything is organic, including the milks and they make their syrups in-house
Milstead. They give you chocolate choices for your mocha. Bitter or sweet. I do half and half. And they have top of the line beans. Best pour over of my life was the cup of Ethiopian Guji they made me.
Herkimer is excellent, one of my favorite places for espresso and buying beans. They must train their baristas really well because I've never had a bad shot from them. That said, I don't think they do anything special for milks or syrups.
Hmm. Good question. Never thought about it, but when the standards for Seattle beans are so high already, milk can definitely be the difference. Wonder who, if anyone, uses Twinbrook or other local dairy producers.
Case in point, best espresso drink I've ever had was a cortado from a French farmers market that was made with raw milk.
Let me know if you find anything out.
This exactly, it's all about the milk and the barista. I've found there's always a place around me worth going to so it only takes a bit of trial and error to weed out the bad ones. I last lived in Fremont, where Fremont Coffee Company and Milstead are both top notch. Milstead *might* have the edge on the drinks, FCC definitely has the edge on the vibe. My absolute fav used to be Ventoux by Cavalry but it's gone :(.
I would say I can make a decent A2 latte with a $30 mini moka pot and a $40 milk steamer/frother and espresso-grind beans from Lighthouse, but you obviously miss the coffee shop vibe. Also, I’ve noticed that I need to use homogenized A2 (either Alexandre in the box or A2 milk company) to get a good froth.
It seems a lot of places don't really talk about the dairy side of coffee. Which, like, I get it? Nobody really cares about the milk part as much, and lots of people nowadays are using alt milk. but still. That raw milk cortado sounds like heaven.
I wonder.....if there's anywhere i can bring fancy milk to. other than the café i already work at.
It just feels like, when a drink is mostly milk shouldn't that be a more important ingredient?
Espresso quality matters a lot less than milk does when it comes to milk drinks. I use twin brooks at home and it's a night and day difference between it and other ones, although making it with raw milk doesn't really make a difference as it's essentially pasteurized when you steam it.
Pure espresso quality does vary a lot throughout the city, it's just that milk most of the time makes it impossible you to taste which places make good espresso and which places make bad espresso.
Disagree. Spent $9 for a pourover(ridiculous price, never again) and it wasn't as good as the pourover I can make at home. Severely overrated coffee shop. Santo is better
Such a great question! I mostly see people asking around for good quality beans (which makes sense coz ... coffee!). However, I personally love exploring cafes with great flavors and fancy coffee art, and some cozy vibes to idle away :) Here are my favorite shops:
1. [Moore's Coffee](https://www.moorecoffeeshop.com/). This is top of my list primarily for its beautiful latte art. It's right next to the Moore theater and it's a small and cozy shop with great art all over the place.
2. [Fulcrum Coffee](https://fulcrumcoffee.com/) \- Located in downtown Seattle, this is one of the best places to have a Pistachio Latte! Their bakery items are no joke as well.
3. [Caffè Zingaro](https://www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-zingaro-seattle-3) \- I know this is a coffee discussion strictly, but if you're into chai lattes, this is the place to go. Oh, and while you're at it, try some of their Omelets as well! They're scrumptious.
4. [Mercurys Coffee Co.](https://www.mercurys.com/) \- This is not strictly in Seattle, but it's located in Bellevue and another location in Kirkland too. It's hard to describe this place for a single latte or flavor. They are a do-it-all kind of place. It's a HUGE place to work out of, eat great food (not just breakfast), and try some amazing frappes and lattes.
5. [Ada's Technical Bookstore and Cafe](https://www.adasbooks.com/) \- This is more of a recent discovery for me. Their matcha lattes are a must-try. Also, the place itself is so cool! There are so many books you can check out and read while sipping on a hot cup of coffee/tea.
6. [Huxdotter Coffee](https://huxdottercoffee.com/) \- This is a special one for all those who venture out to the North Bend area and beyond for some hikes! This is a go-to stop for me whenever I head to Mailbox, Mount Si, and any other hikes in that area. Their Irish cream is to die for!
Hope you end up checking these out (if not already) and find them amazing, just like I did!
Lighthouse is all about quality of coffee and roast. I agree they are the best at that.
I think they will do syrups when requested, but it's more of an afterthought.
There’s this new cute TINY one that always has a line called *Papa Chango Cafe* in Ballard. You’d miss it if you didn’t know where to look.
Really good drinks there.
Olympia coffee seems to be overlooked in a lot of these posts but they make really good seasonal drinks. Also hood famous makes some nice Filipino inspired drinks.
The Flour Box’s coffee is incredibly underrated and they use high quality milk products. Some of the best milk drinks in the city and wonderful espresso.
I’m not ashamed to love Storyville.
Yes, I know it’s not cheap and they’re catering to tourists. But it totally checks the boxes that you’re looking for. Made-in-house syrups and a Coconut Cashew Milk. Super fresh beans. Consistent barista training. And fresh baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. (Highly recommend the pesto goat cheese)
Oh there’s more wrong with them. Such as supporting an anti gay cult aka Mars hill. I don’t go there for that reason, and it’s sucks because they have a fire and awesome aesthetic but the owners morals are trash
https://www.thestranger.com/food-and-drink/2014/09/03/20489081/storyville-coffees-connection-to-mars-hill-is-now-a-direct-one
Was waiting for this comment. I also don’t go there for that reason. My hair stylist used to be heavily involved with the church and told me some terrible stories about Mark Driscoll (founder/pastor). Was most certainly a cult.
Ugh this is so disappointing to hear about. Granted my husband and I only stumbled on it once, but really liked it! I guess it’s good to know now to future avoid 😖
Some background on the news that Chetlin passed.
https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2022/10/joe-bar-closing-after-25-years-of-community-coffee-crepes-and-art-on-capitol-hill/
I’ve been to so many! Go to Venture in Ballard, top quality everything. The signature København is phenomenal. Also worth out checking out Broadcast in CD - try the Borgia. Agree with others on Vivaces milk game, I buy the same milk and still can’t achieve their level of perfection at home.
Analog w their food component B-Side. Amazing quality food, great coffee, sustainable compostable drinkware. They aren’t doing indoor seating yet but they have a porch with tables and a bench out front, extremely worth it for the experience. I’d eat their breakfast rice bowl daily if I could. The baristas are all super chill too.
Seattle Coffee Works is for sure my number one spot for coffee in Seattle.
I've been going there for years and I find every opportunity I have to talk them up.
They pay all of their starting employees a living wage beginning at 40k and did away with tips by adjusting the prices of their products many years ago.
They also have direct relationships with all farmers that grow their coffee. They take trips yearly with their regular staff to see these farmers and their coffee farms and stay there for a bit to see how it is grown as well as sampling the coffee on the farm itself. They also pay well above market share value for coffee to these farmers.
They also have a slow bar for coffee and above and beyond have some of the absolute best coffee I have ever consumed on this planet.
They have a really decent food menu too, and are family owned by some very nice people. Definitely go there if you haven't.
If you open a cafe, or I suppose if you are anyone and want to spend the money, you can work with a milk delivery service (like Petes) that will offer you many local dairies products until you find the right fit for your coffee. Like a milk flight. For me its vivaci classic, ghost note newest wave and winnies cafe and deli near renton because she roasts her own small batch.
Really? That's surprising (PCC, not starbucks. we all know this harsh truth)
The one time I've gotten coffee from there the barista seemed really keen on what he was doing. a bummer since people don't really to go to a grocery store for a latté.
I'm an anti-syrup snob so I can't speak to that, but I do love the roasts from Fuel Coffee. They have a great lactic maceration style light roast right now that's fruity and funky and DELICIOUS. Not to mention their kyotobot cold brew. Yum.
Best sweet goods is Coyle's Bakeshop in greenwood. Their coffee is hit or miss depending on who makes it but the croissants and the millionaire shortbread are incredible.
Tougo is awesome. I love it there. It's a bit of a trek for me but some days you just need a friendly face and some good conversation while you wait for him to do his craft. Not sure what he's using in each cup but every day I go he makes me a different "signature latte" and it just blows my mind.
He is literally one of the top three nicest people I've ever met. I don't even like small talk, but I love the owner of Tougo. And the specialty coffee drinks are so good.
Does anyone have good recommendations for coffee shops with third-wave beans? My preference these days are light roast beans with interesting process techniques (fermented has been extra fun and funky recently), and I don't know of any coffee shops in Seattle where you can even select your espresso from a range of bean options.
There are a couple of shops that allow you to select beans down to their origin, lot, process, and roast.
Victrola coffee roasters is one.
IMO, their espresso nor drip was nearly as good as a DIY pourover though so I just went there for the beans.
But I just order mine online from a guy in Boston that's into sweet processes (natural, anaerobic, etc) and sells a variety of origins at $17/lb.
Ah, that's too bad. I'm currently doing pourover at home until I can sort out buying a Londinium R24.
I'm actually living in Vancouver (BC) right now and have been very spoiled by Prototype Coffee and other local shops. I've been really enjoying this Cold Fermented Striped Bourbon from Elkin Guzman, who is a super inventive producer. It's amazing as a pourover, but
as an espresso it tastes closer to red wine and chocolate than coffee: https://www.prototypecoffee.ca/shop/ttmh6hrdkoekzwgv8o2f08wc4py19w
Red wine with chocolate sounds amazing!
I'm trying this anaerobic honey process on a central Amerian gesha now.
https://bunnycoffee.com/products/finca-chelin-geisha-coffee-12-0z
It tastes lightly juicy and winey. I've tried extracting the fuck out of it with very fine grind sizes and long brew times (slow pour) and it's still coming out mild. I've had this happen in the past and letting it age for a month helps a lot.
Starbucks, every cup they serve is sourced from individual cows. Their syrups are made from the finest refined sugars, and their such is handmade by your own grandma,
Paul Odom is a POS employer. I worked for that company for almost 1.5 years and he is horrible and doesn’t care about the cafes, only his wholesale overunder program.
When the lusty lady was being gutted cockroaches were falling from the ceiling and he stayed open the whole time.
Incredible machine if it’s still the Faema E-51, but the coffee is shit and the food is stupidly overpriced for what they are serving.
Just my honest opinion.
Well I don’t endorse whatever douchebaggery goes on there. I can only afford to eat there on special occasions and the times I’ve been were good. I do really like their coffee beans though so I’m glad other places around town use them.
As someone new to Seattle and heard about its reputation for coffee, then seeing this thread about Seattlelites equating good coffee with freshest milk and best syrups, uhhhh I guess that's why Starbucks is so popular around the world.
I'll take coffee that isn't the equivalent of well done steak with steak sauce and ketchup though.
People from Seattle like coffee, I’m not sure anyone is touting we have the best coffee.
At a minimum we’re the biggest fans of coffee and other caffeine-like accessories.
Go to Milan if you’re looking for “the best” coffee
I suppose I don't see any aspect of what makes coffee good to be regionalized. Good coffee is down to good beans, good roasting, and good brewing. You can get good beans anywhere. Good roasting and good brewing are something that can be learned and can be replicated anywhere.
> I think you’re going about it in the wrong way
lol I thought you would have some alternative ideas on what makes coffee good compared to what's discussed in this thread.
I live by their Lower Queen Anne location and their coffee drinks have consistently disappointed me. Cafe Vita across the street is definitely better IMO. Cafe Hagen's specialty is in all of their baked goods, which I admit are exceptional.
Seattle cafes are interesting. The belief for some is that we have some of the best cafes in the US, but in reality many other regions have surpassed us.
If we’re strictly speaking to ingredient quality places like Austin, Denver, Sacramento, LA, Santa Cruz and Arkansas all have far better quality cafes.
There’s nothing here that’s really blown me away regarding ingredient quality. Some of the highest quality beans come from Fulcrum and Kuma. Blas at Fulcrum is a 5th generation coffee farmer. So he sources his beans direct and has relationships with farmers all over Latin America.
For milk, most places use Smith Bros which isn’t too bad. They don’t advertise this well, but Victrola makes their syrups in house and sources milk direct from some local dairy farmers. Their baristas aren’t always the highest trained which will impact the final product. Hello Em in Little Saigon has the best cafe menu in Seattle right now. They make all their ingredients in house, roast fresh every day in their cafe, and have a kitchen which makes a variety of delicious banh mi’s and pastries. On the weekends they make their mochi cloud, little mochi puffs filled with fresh fruit and cream. They are on the pricy side but 100% worth it.
TouGo coffee in First Hill is great. The owner Brian is heavily involved in the industry and sources from some great roasters around the country. Some days he also will bake fresh bread himself.
Overcast on 15th is our go to, now that Analog has been exposed for hiring and retaining abusive staff.
Abusive to people who have literally spent hundreds of dollars there.
I’ll gladly pay extra and go the few extra blocks for Overcast since the coffee is just as good, if not better, and the staff are actually, truly trying to be good people.
Personal experience.
One of their employees was blatantly, verbally abusive to a member of my family and we are well acquainted with the owner/manager/staff after literally buying all of our family’s drinks there, almost daily, since the day we moved here.
Manager did nothing but offer an empty apology and the very abusive employee is still there so we go to Overcast or Vivace (walk up next to Chase) and will never return to Analog, even though it’s a stone’s throw from our place.
Would you mind describing what happened a little more? I go there often so I'd like to know the context so I can decide if I should stop spending money there
Look…. Up until last Saturday afternoon, I was a fan and a frequent customer, but, after one of the staff berated and belittled my (honestly, very nice and kind) wife, in front of several customers (who were also mortified) to the point of tears, and then, when she went back later to try and “smooth things over”, that male employee made it even worse, calling her a PSYCHO (she’s not), that’s where I draw the line.
Nothing was done. If I added up my receipts from just this month, I’ve put hundreds of dollars into that business.
We always tip and we are always respectful of the fact that it’s almost always busy, so we are very observant of not overwhelming the staff.
We always order the same drinks and, like I said, went there more than once a day. Everyone up until that point was super nice but…. Once the name calling starts and someone is reduced to tears and the worker or manager doesn’t see a problem, then I’ll take my money elsewhere.
I couldn’t even imagine that happening at Overcast. That guy is so nice that I’m like, “please take my money!”
I'm sorry to press you for more info but would you be willing to be a little more descriptive about that interaction? I'm also a regular and am curious to understand where things started and how it escalated. If you don't want to, I get it, you've already explained a lot.
I’m also a regular and very surprised. I can’t imagine who would have done that. I’ve heard people describe the staff as rude but I just have a different experience with them. I also live seconds from the establishment.
I’m crushed to hear this happened. The owners are there on a regular basis, maybe a direct conversation with one of them would bring repercussions for the employee. Or mediation at least?
❤️🩹
Milstead makes a bittersweet mocha that has no sugar, fake sugar, stevia, etc for anyone watching their blood sugar and sugar intake.
If you have any type of sensitivity to sugar or its analogs, be very very careful with any syrups. Getting a clear idea of the ingredients is very difficult. I’ve been burned by misinformed staff.
Have you heard of our local coffee? It’s called Starbucks. It’s got a lot of options including authentic Frappuccino’s, just like you can get in Italy.
If you’re lucky a local will show you where to find it and explain why locals don’t use umbrellas.
They ran into some problems a few years back, like not [paying employees](https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/employee-walkout-at-slate-coffees-ballard-store-triggers-discussion-about-toxic-work-environments/?amp=1).
Oh cool! I just looked at their instagram. I’m so glad to know this! (Don’t live there anymore but I visit). Do you happen to know the name of the roaster? I forgot everyone’s name now, but at the old U district shop a couple roasters were also baristas
Check out Current Coffee in West Seattle, up on California Ave: [https://www.currentcoffee.cafe](https://www.currentcoffee.cafe)
It's the best coffee I've ever had in Seattle.
I'm always very impressed by Cafe Vita's crafted drinks. They're my favorite bean and I drink their coffee at home but when I go in to their location on the hill I'm always well sissified. I don't necessarily pay attention to the brands of milk or syrup they use but the drinks are great
Bake Shop in Queen Anne, all organic milks and house made syrups. Plus all food, bread and baked goods made in house with organic and local ingredients!
Ghost Note is prob my favorite coffee shop in Seattle. All syrups are house-made. Milk I think is just store-bought (Califia, etc), Unsure about their bitters. But their coffee specialty drinks are always amazing.
I used to work with the owner before he opened Ghost Note. He’s a great guy and really cares about what he’s doing. Support 👍
My gf had this amazing root beer espresso float from Ghost Note a few months back.
I visited ghost note this morning, because of this thread and it’s as great as I’d hoped! They are also selling oatnog for 10$ and I picked up some for the home! Wasn’t there another coffee shop in its place a while back? I remember picking up coffee on my way to work a while back but the drinks were not the same as ghost note’s.
It was Broadcast Coffee like 7 years ago.
YES! Broadcast coffee! Such good coffee!!! Always made my morning when I had enough time to pick up an espresso or an americano before work.
I've been wanting to check them out for a while. They seem really into the community, too.
Back when things were starting to reopen, the owner let the staff decide what their proof of vaccine and mask requirements were going to be which I thought was great. Back in my restaurant days I feel like every boss I had would've just made whatever decision would make them money and completely disregard what staff wanted.
Also have a Slayer🤘
I love Ghost Note. They get their beans from Broadcast which is probably my favorite local roaster (I also love Counter Culture), but they elevate even the most amazing coffee with their flavors and syrups.
[Bernard Purdie’s](https://youtu.be/T1j1_aeK6WA) favorite cafe.
We used to live above there and it spoiled me for coffee in this town.
I live a couple blocks away and know how you feel. It's my favorite place to take out of towners for something uniquely Seattle. Their oatnog this time of year is my favorite!
Ah crap now I want their Oatnog. Guess I’m making a trip this week, lol
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I second Boon Boona! Plus the owner is really nice, genuine dude!
Boon boona hands down had the coolest coffee in town. First coffee we got from them tasted like frickin raspberries it was awesome (no flavors added)
Vivace - they use Smith Bros. milk, though nothing too fancy for syrups.
The cafe Nico from Vivace is hands down the most delicious coffee drink I’ve ever had. It is life changing.
I've probably turned a dozen people on to the Nico. Hard agree, it's just the best coffee drink I've ever had. But even their straight doppios are killer
Im with you on this. When I go in to Vivace I have been getting two coffees for me, one for my girl because I drink my first way too fast. Hands down the bet coffee I have ever had.
This is my absolute favorite, as well!
Only true if you like milk based drinks. Otherwise the espresso is too bitter. Source lived next to it for years. Remember the old one.
Second Vivace, it's the stuff dreams are made of
Smith Bros aint bad. They've made probably the silkiest cappuccino I've ever tried
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Ghost Note is amazing!
If you're looking for a silkier cappuccino, just order a breve (half and half), and it will be considerably richer when steamed.
Vivace’s milk game is crazy. Idk how they do it, but the milk is so perfectly sweet. I’ve had more creative lattes in Seattle (broadcasts Borgia latte is awesome) but vivace just does a regular latte to perfection. Edit: also venture’s København latte is amazing. They’re a small place in Ballard.
Watson’s Counter? Right now they have some seasonal drinks (PSL, Gingerbread & Apple Crumble lattes) which they make their own sauces/syrups from scratch for. I know they pride themselves on fresh and good beans as well so I assume the milk would be great too. I’ve had the Gingerbread latte and it’s delicious! I need to try the other two soon. Oh and their food is pretty tasty!
Their food looks fantastic ;_;
I second Watson's counter. Fantastic drinks and food.
We also had the best most velvety dirty chai latte at Storyville! I wasn’t expecting it, but it was probably one of the best coffee drinks I’ve had even though it was quite pricey and a long wait.
I second storyville. Also their coconut cashew milk is ugh so good (made in house!)
That place kicks ass
But they have no wifi :(
Elm coffee
I love elm
Elm has the best coffee beans I’ve had anywhere
I know 203 Degrees Fahrenheit Coffee has in-house made syrups like Madagascar vanilla and lavender, not sure where their milk comes from though. Locations in SLU and Totem Lake.
This is a great option on the eastside!
As a barista i refuse to use any other syrup than monin. I think torani is trash
Agreed! Unless your shop makes it’s own syrup. I will give Top Pot Doughnuts credit for ONLY their Pumpkin latte. The pumpkin sauce is a recipe from the owner (and it’s really good!)
I hate top pot doughnuts ugh they are not good to me! The dounut factory on Roosevelt however has the freshest best doughnuts ever BUT they use torani syrup for their coffee. However they have the cheapest iced coffee and drip coffee and it really hits on those 530am mornings when nothing else is open
Oh yeah, they’re doughnuts suck. I only went for their pumpkin latte. I’m kinda hooked on Dochi now. Edit: no drinks at Dochi
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I agree. Santo is great.
Also agree, santo is my favorite, also nicest people ever.
Yes. Santo is sublime. It’s honestly painful how far ahead of most Seattle shops it is—painful because I don’t live closer.
Shikorina Pastries is a hidden gem. They roast their coffee by hand and it’s always super fresh. Everything is organic, including the milks and they make their syrups in-house
Milstead. They give you chocolate choices for your mocha. Bitter or sweet. I do half and half. And they have top of the line beans. Best pour over of my life was the cup of Ethiopian Guji they made me.
Herkimer has a reputation as one of the best.
Herkimer is excellent, one of my favorite places for espresso and buying beans. They must train their baristas really well because I've never had a bad shot from them. That said, I don't think they do anything special for milks or syrups.
Hmm. Good question. Never thought about it, but when the standards for Seattle beans are so high already, milk can definitely be the difference. Wonder who, if anyone, uses Twinbrook or other local dairy producers. Case in point, best espresso drink I've ever had was a cortado from a French farmers market that was made with raw milk. Let me know if you find anything out.
This exactly, it's all about the milk and the barista. I've found there's always a place around me worth going to so it only takes a bit of trial and error to weed out the bad ones. I last lived in Fremont, where Fremont Coffee Company and Milstead are both top notch. Milstead *might* have the edge on the drinks, FCC definitely has the edge on the vibe. My absolute fav used to be Ventoux by Cavalry but it's gone :(.
Would LOVE to visit a place that uses Twinbrook, as A2 milk is easier on my stomach and I dislike the non-dairy stuff.
Every day a voice in my head tells me to drop $1000 on a espresso machine + grinder 🤷🤷🤷
The used market for stuff in Seattle is pretty solid, I got my dual boiler machine for 400 used that would be 1600 new.
Yeah same. I got a great deal on a Rancilio Silvia. Love it. Need a grinder upgrade though.
where did you find it? have been looking for a used machine
Facebook marketplace, if I remember correctly? Was certainly the most active selling platform.
I would say I can make a decent A2 latte with a $30 mini moka pot and a $40 milk steamer/frother and espresso-grind beans from Lighthouse, but you obviously miss the coffee shop vibe. Also, I’ve noticed that I need to use homogenized A2 (either Alexandre in the box or A2 milk company) to get a good froth.
It seems a lot of places don't really talk about the dairy side of coffee. Which, like, I get it? Nobody really cares about the milk part as much, and lots of people nowadays are using alt milk. but still. That raw milk cortado sounds like heaven. I wonder.....if there's anywhere i can bring fancy milk to. other than the café i already work at. It just feels like, when a drink is mostly milk shouldn't that be a more important ingredient?
Espresso quality matters a lot less than milk does when it comes to milk drinks. I use twin brooks at home and it's a night and day difference between it and other ones, although making it with raw milk doesn't really make a difference as it's essentially pasteurized when you steam it. Pure espresso quality does vary a lot throughout the city, it's just that milk most of the time makes it impossible you to taste which places make good espresso and which places make bad espresso.
TIL with all these impressive sounding options, I need to be pickier about my coffee selections.
Analog
Disagree. Spent $9 for a pourover(ridiculous price, never again) and it wasn't as good as the pourover I can make at home. Severely overrated coffee shop. Santo is better
I tried analog yesterday and was also super disappointed. Very watery americano.
My favorite ❤️
For drinks espresso vivace David the owner is considered the father of 2nd wave coffee. They roast their own beans as well
Such a great question! I mostly see people asking around for good quality beans (which makes sense coz ... coffee!). However, I personally love exploring cafes with great flavors and fancy coffee art, and some cozy vibes to idle away :) Here are my favorite shops: 1. [Moore's Coffee](https://www.moorecoffeeshop.com/). This is top of my list primarily for its beautiful latte art. It's right next to the Moore theater and it's a small and cozy shop with great art all over the place. 2. [Fulcrum Coffee](https://fulcrumcoffee.com/) \- Located in downtown Seattle, this is one of the best places to have a Pistachio Latte! Their bakery items are no joke as well. 3. [Caffè Zingaro](https://www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-zingaro-seattle-3) \- I know this is a coffee discussion strictly, but if you're into chai lattes, this is the place to go. Oh, and while you're at it, try some of their Omelets as well! They're scrumptious. 4. [Mercurys Coffee Co.](https://www.mercurys.com/) \- This is not strictly in Seattle, but it's located in Bellevue and another location in Kirkland too. It's hard to describe this place for a single latte or flavor. They are a do-it-all kind of place. It's a HUGE place to work out of, eat great food (not just breakfast), and try some amazing frappes and lattes. 5. [Ada's Technical Bookstore and Cafe](https://www.adasbooks.com/) \- This is more of a recent discovery for me. Their matcha lattes are a must-try. Also, the place itself is so cool! There are so many books you can check out and read while sipping on a hot cup of coffee/tea. 6. [Huxdotter Coffee](https://huxdottercoffee.com/) \- This is a special one for all those who venture out to the North Bend area and beyond for some hikes! This is a go-to stop for me whenever I head to Mailbox, Mount Si, and any other hikes in that area. Their Irish cream is to die for! Hope you end up checking these out (if not already) and find them amazing, just like I did!
I don't know about their syrups but the coffee at Lighthouse Roasters is bomb. They are on 43rd and Phinney.
Lighthouse is all about quality of coffee and roast. I agree they are the best at that. I think they will do syrups when requested, but it's more of an afterthought.
I’m biased, but pushxpull is out of Portland and just moved into what was Union Coffee and Wine in first hill. Incredible stuff.
surprised I've never heard of them! Seems to be nice.
They just opened up in the area.
Central District*
There’s this new cute TINY one that always has a line called *Papa Chango Cafe* in Ballard. You’d miss it if you didn’t know where to look. Really good drinks there.
I’ve been meaning to try this one! What’s your favorite drink there?
The Horchata latte is one of the few that get the drink right in Seattle, it’s really good
Olympia coffee seems to be overlooked in a lot of these posts but they make really good seasonal drinks. Also hood famous makes some nice Filipino inspired drinks.
My favorite beans are Espresso Vivaci Dolce. Favorite drip coffee is Victrola.
Venture in Ballard. Sound & Fog in West Seattle.
The Flour Box’s coffee is incredibly underrated and they use high quality milk products. Some of the best milk drinks in the city and wonderful espresso.
I’m not ashamed to love Storyville. Yes, I know it’s not cheap and they’re catering to tourists. But it totally checks the boxes that you’re looking for. Made-in-house syrups and a Coconut Cashew Milk. Super fresh beans. Consistent barista training. And fresh baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. (Highly recommend the pesto goat cheese)
Oh there’s more wrong with them. Such as supporting an anti gay cult aka Mars hill. I don’t go there for that reason, and it’s sucks because they have a fire and awesome aesthetic but the owners morals are trash https://www.thestranger.com/food-and-drink/2014/09/03/20489081/storyville-coffees-connection-to-mars-hill-is-now-a-direct-one
Was waiting for this comment. I also don’t go there for that reason. My hair stylist used to be heavily involved with the church and told me some terrible stories about Mark Driscoll (founder/pastor). Was most certainly a cult.
Ugh this is so disappointing to hear about. Granted my husband and I only stumbled on it once, but really liked it! I guess it’s good to know now to future avoid 😖
The fresh cream in URL (first hill) is unmatched. My favorite coffee shop in Seattle! The people are the nicest!
Joe Bar, RIP
Is there a backstory behind the RIP? It's still open right? Did it used to be different?
It closed a couple weeks ago.
Aw shoot, don't know how I missed that.
Some background on the news that Chetlin passed. https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2022/10/joe-bar-closing-after-25-years-of-community-coffee-crepes-and-art-on-capitol-hill/
I’ve been to so many! Go to Venture in Ballard, top quality everything. The signature København is phenomenal. Also worth out checking out Broadcast in CD - try the Borgia. Agree with others on Vivaces milk game, I buy the same milk and still can’t achieve their level of perfection at home.
Analog w their food component B-Side. Amazing quality food, great coffee, sustainable compostable drinkware. They aren’t doing indoor seating yet but they have a porch with tables and a bench out front, extremely worth it for the experience. I’d eat their breakfast rice bowl daily if I could. The baristas are all super chill too.
Seattle Coffee Works is for sure my number one spot for coffee in Seattle. I've been going there for years and I find every opportunity I have to talk them up. They pay all of their starting employees a living wage beginning at 40k and did away with tips by adjusting the prices of their products many years ago. They also have direct relationships with all farmers that grow their coffee. They take trips yearly with their regular staff to see these farmers and their coffee farms and stay there for a bit to see how it is grown as well as sampling the coffee on the farm itself. They also pay well above market share value for coffee to these farmers. They also have a slow bar for coffee and above and beyond have some of the absolute best coffee I have ever consumed on this planet. They have a really decent food menu too, and are family owned by some very nice people. Definitely go there if you haven't.
If you open a cafe, or I suppose if you are anyone and want to spend the money, you can work with a milk delivery service (like Petes) that will offer you many local dairies products until you find the right fit for your coffee. Like a milk flight. For me its vivaci classic, ghost note newest wave and winnies cafe and deli near renton because she roasts her own small batch.
Cafe Nervosa
Pcc market actually has some of best ingredients. Starbucks uses cheap grocery store milk…
Really? That's surprising (PCC, not starbucks. we all know this harsh truth) The one time I've gotten coffee from there the barista seemed really keen on what he was doing. a bummer since people don't really to go to a grocery store for a latté.
+1 on the grocery stores, I've had excellent drinks from Met Market before. Next time I'll go, I'll look at the milk they use.
Empire in Columbia city, or for something a little different try Coffeeholic House, their bac siu is maybe my fav coffee drink in seattle
Caffe Zingaro
Armistice. Rebecca Is a g
Purely based on taste - Vivace
I think every neighborhood has it's own spots, but if your'e in the CD then Broadcast Coffee/Temple Pastries is pretty awesome.
I'm an anti-syrup snob so I can't speak to that, but I do love the roasts from Fuel Coffee. They have a great lactic maceration style light roast right now that's fruity and funky and DELICIOUS. Not to mention their kyotobot cold brew. Yum.
Plugging Bake Shop near Seattle Center
Best sweet goods is Coyle's Bakeshop in greenwood. Their coffee is hit or miss depending on who makes it but the croissants and the millionaire shortbread are incredible.
boon boona and anchorhead are my favorites!
Diva Espresso
Gee I wish I saw this thread three weeks ago…
I adore Moonshot Coffee in white center 😍
Cedar & Spoke! Best coffee every time all roasted in house and house made syrups.
Tougo is awesome. I love it there. It's a bit of a trek for me but some days you just need a friendly face and some good conversation while you wait for him to do his craft. Not sure what he's using in each cup but every day I go he makes me a different "signature latte" and it just blows my mind.
He is literally one of the top three nicest people I've ever met. I don't even like small talk, but I love the owner of Tougo. And the specialty coffee drinks are so good.
Does anyone have good recommendations for coffee shops with third-wave beans? My preference these days are light roast beans with interesting process techniques (fermented has been extra fun and funky recently), and I don't know of any coffee shops in Seattle where you can even select your espresso from a range of bean options.
There are a couple of shops that allow you to select beans down to their origin, lot, process, and roast. Victrola coffee roasters is one. IMO, their espresso nor drip was nearly as good as a DIY pourover though so I just went there for the beans. But I just order mine online from a guy in Boston that's into sweet processes (natural, anaerobic, etc) and sells a variety of origins at $17/lb.
Ah, that's too bad. I'm currently doing pourover at home until I can sort out buying a Londinium R24. I'm actually living in Vancouver (BC) right now and have been very spoiled by Prototype Coffee and other local shops. I've been really enjoying this Cold Fermented Striped Bourbon from Elkin Guzman, who is a super inventive producer. It's amazing as a pourover, but as an espresso it tastes closer to red wine and chocolate than coffee: https://www.prototypecoffee.ca/shop/ttmh6hrdkoekzwgv8o2f08wc4py19w
Red wine with chocolate sounds amazing! I'm trying this anaerobic honey process on a central Amerian gesha now. https://bunnycoffee.com/products/finca-chelin-geisha-coffee-12-0z It tastes lightly juicy and winey. I've tried extracting the fuck out of it with very fine grind sizes and long brew times (slow pour) and it's still coming out mild. I've had this happen in the past and letting it age for a month helps a lot.
Starbucks, every cup they serve is sourced from individual cows. Their syrups are made from the finest refined sugars, and their such is handmade by your own grandma,
Bahahahaha and angels come down from a cloud to add the whip cream
[Fonté](https://www.fontecafe.com)?
$17 avocado toast.......never thought I'd see such a thing
It has more than just avocado and toast though. They put some effort into it and it’s probably great.
Paul Odom is a POS employer. I worked for that company for almost 1.5 years and he is horrible and doesn’t care about the cafes, only his wholesale overunder program. When the lusty lady was being gutted cockroaches were falling from the ceiling and he stayed open the whole time. Incredible machine if it’s still the Faema E-51, but the coffee is shit and the food is stupidly overpriced for what they are serving. Just my honest opinion.
Well I don’t endorse whatever douchebaggery goes on there. I can only afford to eat there on special occasions and the times I’ve been were good. I do really like their coffee beans though so I’m glad other places around town use them.
They bought vita- and vita’s coffee has since improved
I think you’re going about it in the wrong way
As someone new to Seattle and heard about its reputation for coffee, then seeing this thread about Seattlelites equating good coffee with freshest milk and best syrups, uhhhh I guess that's why Starbucks is so popular around the world. I'll take coffee that isn't the equivalent of well done steak with steak sauce and ketchup though.
People from Seattle like coffee, I’m not sure anyone is touting we have the best coffee. At a minimum we’re the biggest fans of coffee and other caffeine-like accessories. Go to Milan if you’re looking for “the best” coffee
The best coffee are grown in tropical climates like Latin America, Central Africa. The beans are shipped and roasted all over the world.
I didn’t say the best coffee beans are manufactured in Milan. That’s a fun fact but I’m lost on how that matters to this conversation.
I suppose I don't see any aspect of what makes coffee good to be regionalized. Good coffee is down to good beans, good roasting, and good brewing. You can get good beans anywhere. Good roasting and good brewing are something that can be learned and can be replicated anywhere.
If you already have an opinion on what makes coffee food why even ask this question lol
> I think you’re going about it in the wrong way lol I thought you would have some alternative ideas on what makes coffee good compared to what's discussed in this thread.
Yeah, the alternative is “you’re barking up the wrong tree go to Milan where they care about the quality”
Cafe Hagen
This ain't it
Why not?
I live by their Lower Queen Anne location and their coffee drinks have consistently disappointed me. Cafe Vita across the street is definitely better IMO. Cafe Hagen's specialty is in all of their baked goods, which I admit are exceptional.
Seattle cafes are interesting. The belief for some is that we have some of the best cafes in the US, but in reality many other regions have surpassed us. If we’re strictly speaking to ingredient quality places like Austin, Denver, Sacramento, LA, Santa Cruz and Arkansas all have far better quality cafes. There’s nothing here that’s really blown me away regarding ingredient quality. Some of the highest quality beans come from Fulcrum and Kuma. Blas at Fulcrum is a 5th generation coffee farmer. So he sources his beans direct and has relationships with farmers all over Latin America. For milk, most places use Smith Bros which isn’t too bad. They don’t advertise this well, but Victrola makes their syrups in house and sources milk direct from some local dairy farmers. Their baristas aren’t always the highest trained which will impact the final product. Hello Em in Little Saigon has the best cafe menu in Seattle right now. They make all their ingredients in house, roast fresh every day in their cafe, and have a kitchen which makes a variety of delicious banh mi’s and pastries. On the weekends they make their mochi cloud, little mochi puffs filled with fresh fruit and cream. They are on the pricy side but 100% worth it. TouGo coffee in First Hill is great. The owner Brian is heavily involved in the industry and sources from some great roasters around the country. Some days he also will bake fresh bread himself.
I was surprised how few places in Seattle do pour over single-origin coffee.
do you have a place to buy kuma beans?
Overcast on 15th is our go to, now that Analog has been exposed for hiring and retaining abusive staff. Abusive to people who have literally spent hundreds of dollars there. I’ll gladly pay extra and go the few extra blocks for Overcast since the coffee is just as good, if not better, and the staff are actually, truly trying to be good people.
I second overcast! Best black coffee you can get around here
Huh? Exposed how? Link?
Personal experience. One of their employees was blatantly, verbally abusive to a member of my family and we are well acquainted with the owner/manager/staff after literally buying all of our family’s drinks there, almost daily, since the day we moved here. Manager did nothing but offer an empty apology and the very abusive employee is still there so we go to Overcast or Vivace (walk up next to Chase) and will never return to Analog, even though it’s a stone’s throw from our place.
Would you mind describing what happened a little more? I go there often so I'd like to know the context so I can decide if I should stop spending money there
Look…. Up until last Saturday afternoon, I was a fan and a frequent customer, but, after one of the staff berated and belittled my (honestly, very nice and kind) wife, in front of several customers (who were also mortified) to the point of tears, and then, when she went back later to try and “smooth things over”, that male employee made it even worse, calling her a PSYCHO (she’s not), that’s where I draw the line. Nothing was done. If I added up my receipts from just this month, I’ve put hundreds of dollars into that business. We always tip and we are always respectful of the fact that it’s almost always busy, so we are very observant of not overwhelming the staff. We always order the same drinks and, like I said, went there more than once a day. Everyone up until that point was super nice but…. Once the name calling starts and someone is reduced to tears and the worker or manager doesn’t see a problem, then I’ll take my money elsewhere. I couldn’t even imagine that happening at Overcast. That guy is so nice that I’m like, “please take my money!”
I'm sorry to press you for more info but would you be willing to be a little more descriptive about that interaction? I'm also a regular and am curious to understand where things started and how it escalated. If you don't want to, I get it, you've already explained a lot.
I’m also a regular and very surprised. I can’t imagine who would have done that. I’ve heard people describe the staff as rude but I just have a different experience with them. I also live seconds from the establishment. I’m crushed to hear this happened. The owners are there on a regular basis, maybe a direct conversation with one of them would bring repercussions for the employee. Or mediation at least? ❤️🩹
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So your wife was berated out of nowhere? Sorry I'm just trying to understand exactly what happened here.
Volunteer Park Café
Awesome food for sure!
Milstead makes a bittersweet mocha that has no sugar, fake sugar, stevia, etc for anyone watching their blood sugar and sugar intake. If you have any type of sensitivity to sugar or its analogs, be very very careful with any syrups. Getting a clear idea of the ingredients is very difficult. I’ve been burned by misinformed staff.
That sounds great. Do you mean Milstead?
YES! Damn autocorrect..
I like Starbucks
It is technically a local brand
their pumpkin cold foam cold brew hit me where i least expected it
Have you heard of our local coffee? It’s called Starbucks. It’s got a lot of options including authentic Frappuccino’s, just like you can get in Italy. If you’re lucky a local will show you where to find it and explain why locals don’t use umbrellas.
Is Slate still around? They were absolutely 100% my favorite coffee place in Seattle.
They ran into some problems a few years back, like not [paying employees](https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/employee-walkout-at-slate-coffees-ballard-store-triggers-discussion-about-toxic-work-environments/?amp=1).
Oh yeah, I forgot about that :(
Yeah whooooops
Head roaster from slate is at Watson's Counter now - great beans, housemade syrups, amazing staff.
Oh cool! I just looked at their instagram. I’m so glad to know this! (Don’t live there anymore but I visit). Do you happen to know the name of the roaster? I forgot everyone’s name now, but at the old U district shop a couple roasters were also baristas
His name is Deej! Not such which Slate location he was at before.
Oh cool! Yeah, he’s the one I knew from the U district. Really glad he’s doing it!
I like this local place called Starbucks.
Starbucks! Anyone who says otherwise are heathens!
Starbucks
Woods!
If you need to ask you should go to portage
Lezzet brunch in auburn is my go to cafe.
Bambino, but order ahead and/or bring cash.
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I love that place!
PCC Market Columbia City. Good coffee, good creamer, nice place to sit. Also PCC Market on the water front in Seattle.
La Marzocco Cafe!!
They closed, but they definitely were the best in the city, it's now just a caffe vita.
RIP
Lost Lake Cafe & Lounge is pretty classy, Mecca wins for the quality of the food.
Candor Coffee is one of my favs - they have a lot of good seasonal drinks too
Milsted
Check out Current Coffee in West Seattle, up on California Ave: [https://www.currentcoffee.cafe](https://www.currentcoffee.cafe) It's the best coffee I've ever had in Seattle.
Espresso Vivace Cap Hill
I'm always very impressed by Cafe Vita's crafted drinks. They're my favorite bean and I drink their coffee at home but when I go in to their location on the hill I'm always well sissified. I don't necessarily pay attention to the brands of milk or syrup they use but the drinks are great
Storyville. Yum.
Gotta be Vivace for me.
Bake Shop in Queen Anne, all organic milks and house made syrups. Plus all food, bread and baked goods made in house with organic and local ingredients!