In Seattle for the 2015 Specialty Coffee Association of America Event? We’ve got you covered in a series of food, drink, and coffee guides assembled by Sprudge Seattle contributor Sara Billups. All of these recommendations are within walking distance (or a quick Uber) of the Washington State Convention Center. Many more excellent coffee spots can be found elsewhere in the city; see our Seattle Guide Archives at the bottom of this post for more recommendations.
Food || Booze || Coffee
Elm Roasters — 240 2nd Avenue South — Single origins, table service, and London Plane pastries in a pretty new space from a Seattleite who left for NYC, worked at Joe, and returned to launch a roastery in the burgeoning Pioneer Square neighborhood.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery — 1124 Pike Street — Whether you only drink SBUX in the airport or carry a gold card, you’ll want to see the new Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in the flesh. The nearly 16,000-square-foot spectacle’s “Coffee Library,” “Coffee Experience Bar,” and tubes racing beans through the air from silo to grinder is, for better or worse, unlike anything else.
Analog Coffee — 235 Summit Avenue East — Away from retail strips and busy roads, this Capitol Hill cafe is understated and built more for talking or reading than working. Plus, very good cold brew on tap. Go here to hide out and feel like a local.
Street Bean — 2711 3rd Avenue — The nonprofit multi-roaster cafe turned five late last year, so far training more than a dozen street kids and at-risk youth into the barista trade. Grab a donut and try a signature drink.
Barjot — 711 Bellevue Avenue East — Drink espresso and eat tartines and baked eggs in the morning before the place gets more formal for dinner service. Nobody will rush you out of this sunny new cafe in a quiet part of Capitol Hill. Owned by the proprietor of the achingly cute, nearby Joe Bar.
Victrola — 310 East Pike Street — Victrola’s roastery is a best bet if you want good coffee outside of the Convention Center that’s still close. Friendly baristas work the cozy space with a few tables for catching up on email. A bit further up Capitol Hill, the original Victrola on 15th Avenue exudes the best possible version of an aughts vibe, with a well-worked bar and broken-in chairs filled by regulars.
Tougo — 1410 18th Avenue — One of Seattle’s first multi-roaster cafes features coffee from Ritual, Kuma, and others in a light and airy room. The owner recently launched a charcuterie spot next door called Bannister; go after 4 pm for Taylor Shellfish oysters and Tieton cider.
Stumptown — 616 East Pine Street — Stumptown’s Pine Street cafe is better for working and catching up with friends than Stumptown’s other Capitol Hill coffee bar/roastery on 12th Avenue, but both are worth checking out if you’ve never been. Prime people-watching is available at either outpost.
[Ed. note: Perhaps of some mild interest, Sprudge was founded in Stumptown’s Pine location.]
Cherry Street Coffee — 320 East Pine Street — The Seattle chainlet’s latest location opened on Capitol Hill last November with the slickest design of the bunch. Cherry Street is owned by the Ghambari family, of which 2014 US Barista Champ Laila Ghambari is a member.
Porchlight — 1517 14th Avenue — Good coffee via Herkimer and killer music with little pretense—which is hard to pull off in a neighborhood that—between light rail stations and condos—is constantly under construction.
Sara Billups is a Seattle-based food and drinks writer, and has written previously for Tasting Table, Seattle Weekly, and Eater Seattle. Read more Sara Billups on Sprudge.
Need more guidance? Our authoritative coffee guide from 2011 lists the classics, and our 2013 and 2014 Seattle guides have heaps more dining, liquor, and coffee recommendations.
