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The Coolest Coffee

by Doug Dosdall in North America , USA , Washington , Food

Seattle may be known as the birthplace of corporate coffee, where Starbucks has it's original outlet and HQ, but it's also the place with the coolest independent coffee shops around. I think that's because the coffee craze in Seattle spawned Starbucks whereas in most places in the rest of North America, Starbucks spawned the coffee craze. Independents have followed but have a tough time fighting the location scouting and buying power of Dr. Evil's favorite caffeine. I'm a former Seattle resident now in Vancouver and it's one of the things I miss about Seattle. Starbucks and other corporate clones have run so roughshod over the Vancouver market that there aren't so many good independents.

I'm not so much a connoisseur of coffee as I am a one of coffee shop atmosphere. My drink is an Americano and it's got to have a rich creamy espresso head but the standards are so high in Seattle that most places do a damn good job of that. I love writing, reading or just people watching in a good coffee shop and so atmosphere will sometimes trump coffee when I choose a coffee shop. Free WiFi internet doesn't hurt either.

And so, the envelope please. The winner of the coolest coffee shop in Seattle is ... Bauhaus Books and Coffee at 301 E. Pine. It's got it all: an old brick building oozing with atmosphere, an open multi-floor space with lots of room for hanging out or plugging in your laptop, books on the wall albeit more for atmosphere than anything else, excellent coffee and sugary treats, a hip young staff and a Capital Hill and First Hill clientele that always seems to be working on their new screenplay, sketching their neighbor or discussing the politics of their band.

Runner up position goes to Top Pot Donuts and Coffee on Summit Ave on Capitol Hill and 2nd Ave in Belltown. The Capitol Hill location has a somewhat similar vibe to Bauhaus although tends more to groups or to young boyfriends on Sunday morning getting their coffee and donuts, sometimes still in pajamas. The décor is more upscale: stone floors, polished wood and more books on the walls. Even the bathroom is gleaming and stylish. Now I don't generally like donuts but Top Pot donuts are a big exception. Even the presentation is stylish, no big baking trays of donuts here, the many choices are arranged on plate towers in a glass display case like the fine pastries they are. My only two complaints are rather limited seating and the coffee itself which is good but not great. For the best coffee in town and artfully prepared lattes with a leaf pattern, head over the Vivace. They have a take out booth on Broadway near Thomas and a larger store a couple of blocks South on Denny just off Broadway. For the best name and neon check out Coffee Messiah on Olive Way. They also have the best slogan: "caffeine saves". The crowd is more alternative here, you'd be more likely to run into a activist with many piercings than a screenwriter here. But it's a cramped dark space inside that's never overly appealed to me. Victrola on 15th Ave has a real community feel and a rather more mature crowd than the others mentioned. There's always an art exhibit on the walls and often a musical event in the evenings. Here the vibe is more seasoned community activist. I sometimes find the coffee quality uneven though when it's on it's excellent. Seattle also has some good independent chains such as Uptown Espresso which are always reliable.

Update 2006: With the opening last year of Fuel Coffee at 610 19th Ave E in Seattle, I may have to revise my rankings. I think I'd still give Bauhaus the overall edge but Fuel is a great new space. Let's call it the runner up! Unfortunately, news is also in that Coffee Messiah has now closed.

 

 

Summary of places mentioned (ratings on a scale from 1-5):

	cool	coffee	snacks	wifi?	comments
Bauhaus	5	4.5	4	free	lots of seating and power outlets
Fuel Coffee	4.5	5	3	free	Great trendy decor and excellent coffee in a quiet community location.
Top Pot	4.5	3	5	free	seating (especially w/power) limited at Cap Hill location, lots of space at Belltown.
Vivace	3	5	3	free	wifi at main Denny location, limited outside seating at Broadway kiosk
Victrola	4	3.5	4	free	lots of seating but often full anyway

What's the coolest coffee shop in your hometown? Here's are some nominations so far, ordered by city: (nominate your own favorite below)

name	city	location	comments
Flightpath	Austin, TX, USA	5011 Duval St, no longer on the flight path since the airport moved	The highest realization of the Austin 'look'. Friendly, comfortable, free wifi.
El Ateneo	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Florida 340	Great café-bookstore. It used to be a theater, the café is on the stage.
Riverwest Cafe	Dawson City, Yukon	Front Street	Being the only coffee shop in town, it hosts an interesting mix of hip transients, old miners and tourists.
Café in the Crypt	London, England	beneath St Martin in the Field at Trafalgar Square	Coffee was excellent and the atmosphere was ... magical.
Café Milagro	Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica	Half way from Quepos to the beach	Great locally produced and roasted coffee in a laid back atmosphere.
Oslo	New York (Brooklyn), NY, USA	133 Roebling St., Williamsburg	Bright, airy. 30-something, loft-dwelling, political Wburg scenesters.
The Mud Truck	New York, NY, USA	Astor Place	Anti-establishment coffee parked between the plethora of Starbucks.
Big Cup	New York, NY, USA	221 8th Ave, Chelsea	Definitely the gayest coffee shop on the planet. Free WiFi, coffee ain't so hot though.
Stumptown	Portland, OR, USA	3 locations	Always popular and full.
Java Love	Seattle, WA, USA	Beacon Hill	Friendly, artsy, neighborhood coffee place. Mexican flavor atmosphere, gay friendly.
Sacred Grounds	Tampa, FL, USA	4819 E. Busch Blvd. (Temple Terrace)	Lots of variety and a great atmosphere. Gay/Bi/Trans oriented but very welcoming to all.
Hilary's	Vancouver, BC, Canada	1184 Denman St near Davie	Free WiFi (ask for the WEP) although not the most reliable connection. Great breakfasts and amazing cinnamon buns!
Melriches	Vancouver, BC, Canada	1243 Davie St, 1043 Mainland	Best music and staff in Vancouver, excellent coffee and the best muffins in Vancouver (they make them themselves).
Prado Café	Vancouver, BC, Canada	1938 Commercial Drive at East 4th Avenue	Finally! A really hip cool coffee space in Vancouver. WiFi too although you need to ask for the password daily and the space is very limited so they ask you to be considerate of that. Snacks are so-so.
Wildfire Bakery	Victoria, BC, Canada	1517 Quadra	Great coffee and food. Fair Trade coffee.

Published 28 Jul 2005 |