Seattle Coffee Shops

Seattle is famous for its coffee. It is, of course, the home of Starbucks, but there is a wide range of coffee shops, from the dingy, well-loved, hole-in-the-walls to the elaborate, modern, art gallery / radio station / event space / Italian-imported-coffee shop. And so far, none of them have let me down.

A friend who moved from Seattle to Washington, D.C., said that everyone drinks good coffee because they need a pick-me-up to survive eight months of dreary weather. I have yet to endure that experience since it's been in the 70s and sunny since I moved here in the spring. Nonetheless, I set out to try all the best coffee shops in Seattle so that I'm ready when the rain and clouds descend. Before you go on, please note that I am not a coffee connoisseur by any means, but I appreciate good coffee and have chosen these for the whole experience. Here are my favorites:

UNION COFFEE

Union Coffee is in Seattle's Central District. I wish it were closer to my neighborhood. I live in Wallingford, right on the edge of Fremont, so there are actually several good places near me (below). But this one feels small, like it belongs to the neighbors of this very residential area, but it's still got a cool, minimalist, downtown vibe. I love the double-height ceilings, the pastry display case built into the counter, and the tabletop bar by the window. They make a mean cold brew and I got a delicious chocolate buttercream cupcake to go with it.

CHERRY STREET PUBLIC HOUSE

Cherry Street Public House is in Pioneer Square across the street from where I work, so I go there pretty much every day. It's so big and bright in there, they have internet and good music, and they wear denim on denim on denim uniforms, which I feel like says they are cool enough to decide what kind of coffee I should be drinking. There are ten Cherry Street Coffee House locations throughout the city, but this is one of two with a modern look. The original one on Cherry Street was just relocated and has that old-timey 1920s look with penny-tiles, a brass bar, and wrought iron and marble tables that feels like a fancy bar or deli in New York City.

Miir FLAGSHIP

Miir Flagship is the storefront of a "product to project" retail store that started making water bottles and donates a portion of proceeds to global clean water projects. It's part coffee shop, bar, coworking space, and retail (for water bottles, bikes, and associated merch). And it's right in our neighborhood in Fremont where all the new stuff is like Brooks HQ, Whale Wins, Joule, Manolin, Thackeray, and Fremont Brewing. I'm actually writing this post from MiiR right now. It was a little intimidating at first because it's got the quiet vibe of a coworking space, but on weekends and at happy hour, it's totally relaxed.

LA MARZOCCO SHOWROOM

If I am going to be happy in Seattle, it's because of this kind of mixed-use space. La Marzocco is an Italian coffee shop that makes the commercial espresso machines you see EVERYWHERE IN EVERY COLOR AT EVERY FANCY COFFEE SHOP (my favorite is the hot pink one at General Porpoise Doughnuts). They have a showroom in at the KEXP 90.3 public radio station studio that is a live performance space, art gallery, and coffee shop.

LITTLE ODDFELLOWS

Little Oddfellows is in the back corner of Elliott Bay Books in Capitol Hill. (Fun fact: Elliott Bay Books actually used to occupy my office building in Pioneer Square and the owner's office was my current office.) You would never know Little Oddfellows was there, but I'd seen people walking out with coffee and there's this little sign outside that is confusing because there are three doors when you walk up the steps (one goes to Elliott Bay Books, one is an unmarked employee entrance, and one goes to Totokaelo, my favorite store for clothes). The space is cool and has a long group table and a built in benches and cafe tables along the walls. It feels cozy and studious, like your favorite cafe in college.

DILETTANTE MOCHA CAFE

First of all: Those. Effing. Cobra. Lamps. A whole wall of them was genius. This space is actually the lobby of Westlake Tower downtown. Dilettante Mocha Cafe is the little stand when you walk in and then there is all this beautiful work space. I just couldn't believe it. The never-ending group table with the power outlets and lamps built into the middle, the grasscloth-wallpapered ceilings, the chartreuse velvet wingback chairs, the floor to ceiling windows . . . it's like my dream work setup.

STORYVILLE COFFEE

Storyville is tucked away above Pike Place Market. It is sleek, dark, and cozy, with giant arched windows that overlooks the famous "Public Market Center" sign and pedestrian traffic bustling through the street. It's a great place for a moment of respite, a latte, and a salted, shaved-chocolate, chocolate chip cookie. One of the things I love about Seattle is its grit, but this is an ultramodern escape when you need it. It's this magic hiding place, like the secret entrances in the alleys of New York or L.A. where you think you're going to get murdered, but then the elevators open to a hotel bar playing house music for people draped in Gucci drinking $20 martinis (but to clarify, this a simile, no house music, Gucci, or $20 martinis here). 

BROADCAST COFFEE ROASTERS

Broadcast Coffee Roasters is this cute minimal coffee shop in Ravenna. It would have been our regular spot if we moved there. I love the beveled edge blond wood panels, the windsor chairs, the midcentury globe pendants, and the gentle coffee shop music. It was a very soothing experience and a great place to escape the rain and get some work done.

CAFE HITCHCOCK

Cafe Hitchcock is on 1st Street near my office in Pioneer Square. It's brand-spanking new and I'm really into the woodwork, the mirrors, the sconces, and the bentwood cafe chairs. It all feels very East Coast traditional in a way that I really miss.  I think once it picks up, this will be a really great place to grab coffee in the morning.

STARBUCKS ROASTERY

Starbucks Reserve and Roastery in Pike Place is pretty much the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory of coffee. You walk in and there's a greeter to help you find your way around, a retail space full of Starbucks collab swag, a bar with friendly chambray-and-canvas-clad baristas, and then when you walk downstairs you see the roastery that everyone is looming over to take videos for social media. It smells effing delicious. The lighting is sexy. And everything glitters off the copper pipes. Come here for the experience, not to take conference calls.

OTHER GREAT COFFEE SHOPS:

I wanted to keep this to 10 coffee shops, but here are some others I'm into or want to go to: Elm Coffee Roasters (also in the thumbnail photo), Stone Way Cafe, Milstead and Co., and General Porpoise Doughnuts. Maybe I'll do a second post on coffee shops later. My brother thinks all I do is go to coffee shops anyway. I like to have a third space to do some creative thinking that isn't my apartment or the office. And I Instagram them every time I find one that is stunning (and there are lots in Seattle).