the hits list: seattle coffee shops
the best of the best from the coffee capital
Dark Matter, AppleTV+. A physicist wakes up in an alternate version of his life, and must figure out what (and who) is responsible as he fights his way back to his family. It’s a quick and intriguing jump into the world of the show, with great performances from Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly and Alice Braga. I’ve already watched all available episodes (and reserved the 2016 novel of the same name at the library )– and I’m at the edge of my seat waiting for the next episodes.
Honey Mama’s Sesame Citrus- I’ve been a fan of Honey Mama’s cocoa truffle bars since I lived in Los Angeles - I find them the perfect after dinner “too full to eat anything else but just need a little something sweet” solution (... just me?). I normally go for the chocolate cake flavor, but have been loving the sesame citrus flavor this spring. It’s a sweet meets savory flavor that feels bright and fresh.
Apotheke Earl Grey Bitters - if there is one thing about me, it’s that I consistently love the same types of fragrances: fresh, earthy, and herbal. I finally burned down all of my nicer candles, and took advantage of a sale on Apotheke to snag two new ones. Standout selection is definitely Earl Grey Bitters, with warm black tea, citrusy bergamot and fresh peony. I’ve been lighting it after dinner and dishes, and it smells like a perfect early summer evening.
One of my favorite things about living in Seattle for the last six years has been getting to know the incredible local coffee scene. While we might be known as home to the original Starbucks, the coffee scene started long before the first location in 1971. Coffee roasters were established in Pike Place Market as early as 1887, with coffee houses popping up in the early 1900s.
The resulting innovations in coffee technology and roasters (and quite frankly, proliferation of deeply talented coffee professionals) is a community that loves coffee more than your average town – so much so that people in Seattle apparently consume more coffee than any other American city. While there certainly are plenty of Starbucks coffees, there are countless small, locally owned coffee shops and roasters that bring a wonderful innovation and community to what they do. Exploring them all is an absolute delight, and something I’ve loved — so much so that I needed to break out this guide from my deeply comprehensive Seattle City Guide to ensure all the different spots got the love they deserve.
Delighted to share the comprehensive hits lists of Seattle coffee, complete with my all time favorites, best for coffee and a bite, and neighborhood specific recs (plus the famous google map list for easy reference), best enjoyed with your coffee of choice, something to dunk in it, and a spot in the sunshine.
Xoxo,
THE BEST OF THE BEST
ROOT COFFEE (&PLANTS)
Obsessed with this hybrid plant store meets coffee shop located in Ballard. It's close enough to my house that I can make a quick run before work in the morning, and is my go to coffee option during Sunday Farmers Markets. Stop in for truly gorgeous house plants (and if you’re anything like me, advice on keeping them thriving), and pick up specialty coffee from a rotating selection of roasters. There are standard coffeeshop offerings, as well as rotating specials. Most recent favorite: a mint mojito sparkling espresso that is just chef’s kiss
SAINT BREAD
From some of the incredible folks behind Seattle greats London Plane and Post Alley Pizza, Saint Bread is a great little spot with food and coffee, close to UW and Portage Bay. I ride or die for the breakfast sandwiches as well as the tahini chocolate chip cookies, but you can’t go wrong with any of the baked goods (and it’s one of Mark’s favorite Burgers in Seattle). They make great coffee, with some of the best in-house syrups I’ve had. Love the miso caramel in a cappuccino, or the yuzu iced team. Not to be hipster about it, but Saint Bread appeared on an early version of this guide in Fall of 2021… before being named one of the most exciting bakeries in the US in 2024.
GHOST NOTE COFFEE
I have given it so much thought, and in my opinion ghost note is some of the most innovative coffee in Seattle. it would be top of my list if it was closer to me, but I can’t resist a stop anytime i’m in capitol hill. I have too many favorites to count, but you can never go wrong with the sun ship (smoked grapefruit and rosemary), the firefly tonic (lemon, lavender and rose) or the mojave tonic (juniper sage, grapefruit and rosemary).
SANTO COFFEE CO.
One of the ~vibey‑est~ locations on this list, Santo is beautiful. Lots of plants, natural light and lush velvet couches. Coffee and tea are both excellent — I personally recommend the Panela Latte, iced.
AROOM
My neighborhood small business favorite! Owned by the folks behind Urban Nail Box, Aroom is a wonderful Vietnamese style coffee shop that makes delicious, strong phin-brewed coffee combos paired with sweetened condensed milk in a gorgeous space. Drinks are sweet, but strong – I personally always get the Saigon Brown, Iced, but the matcha and iced tea options are great as well.
would love to hear from you — where are your favorites?!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
BROADCAST COFFEE
One of my favorites, with excellent seasonal flavors, great roasted coffee and fantastic pastries. There are a number of locations throughout Seattle.
PUSH X PULL on Union
What *don’t* I like about PUSH X PULL? Literally nothing except that it’s so far away from me. An amazing coffee program (and Westman’s bagels, obviously), and some rotating and innovative pop ups. Recommend the Rose Cardamom latte (and the Cold Brew Palmer in the summer!). They also have an amazing wine program, with a great selection to choose from.
FULCRUM
Another shop with gorgeous design, I love Fulcrum’s focus on relationships with the growers and sustainability. Single origin pour-overs are delicious, and the seasonal drinks are always excellent.
MILSTEAD & CO.
One of my favorites for working / coffee dates in the before times, and still a local neighborhood staple. I personally always get the small batch cold brew and harvest bread, and will always dream about the natural light and lake /bridge /mountain views. There is a great selection of PNW coffee for purchase, and I usually pick up a bag or two each month
ANCHORED SHIP COFFEE BAR
My number one stop during the Ballard Farmers Markets on Sundays. All the coffee is great‑ most recently had a salted caramel latte and it was ✨🤘🏼☕️
BEST FOR COFFEE AND A BITE:
BAKE SHOP
One of my favorite new-er spots in Seattle. Bake shop serves excellent coffee, but really shines in the baked goods department. Sourdough breads are killer, as are the sandwiches and cookies (pro tip: there are grab and go freezer bags of espresso chip cookie dough. Run, don’t walk.) Big fan of the soup and bread lunch combo, and have found the wifi and ambiance pleasant enough for a good work session.
OXBOW
The folks behind the Seattle-great Seawolf Bakers opened a standalone bagel spot in Montlake in 2023 and it’s simply fantastic. Bagels, baked goods, sandwiches and sourdough pizza options, in addition to a full coffee program. I love a walk around the Washington Arboretum, followed by bagels and coffee to go.
MAINSTAY PROVISIONS
We’ll blame it on COVID, but I lived extremely close to Mainstay for 2.5 years before I ever stopped in, and I frequently kick myself about it. They serve great coffee, in addition to some killer sandwiches (we love the breakfast sandwich and the curried chicken sandwich – chef’s kiss) and a healthy grab and go selection in the fridge case. Even better, if you’re looking for something in the PM hours they do pizza by the slice and some killer softserve.
CAFÉ HAGEN
Several gorgeous coffee shops in SLU and lower and upper Queen Anne. Offers a more full menu than most spots ( the pastries are excellent, but the sit down brunch foods are as well) and some really fun coffee options including but not limited to coffee flights, and some wonderful seasonal drinks.
TEMPLE PASTRIES
To say that I’m obsessed with Temple Pastries is an understatement. Truly incredible rye and sourdough pastries with incredible flavor combinations (I can’t resist the Caramelized Shallot and Gruyere tart), and serving Broadcast Coffee. My recommendation: the Disco Pony Sparkling Americano. File it under “weird but amazing”.
SEA WOLF BAKERS
I love EVERYTHING about Sea Wolf. Pain au chocolat, rye pretzel rolls and the olive focaccia are staples. For me, Sea Wolf is really about the pastries vs. the coffee, but the iced americano or cold brew are reliably great .
BEN’S BREAD
As with many others in this section, Ben’s falls under the “we’re here for the bread but the coffee happens to also be great, minimizing the need for multiple stops. I frequently grab an iced coffee and a bag of their impeccable english muffins on the way home from the gym on a saturday morning for a perfect brunch lineup.
THE FLORA BAKE HOUSE
Cafe Flora is one of my favorite plant-based restaurants in Seattle, and I was THRILLED when they opened The Flora Bakehouse. Pastries are exceptional (grab the twice baked rose pistachio croissant or the rhubarb ginger scone, and the breakfast sandwich is one of my favorites in the city). While the pastries are the star, the coffee program is also great serving Stumptown roasters. Try the rose cardamom latte, and don’t forget to check out the rooftop patio. (and- if you’re flying in or out of SeaTac, don’t forget to stop in to Floret in Terminal A for a fancy breakfast sandwich and a cold brew).
For the full list saved on a google map that I update regularly, click here.
NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS
FREMONT: LIGHTHOUSE ROASTERS
One of my local neighborhood favorites! Lighthouse is an amazing coffee shop and a roaster - a buy one get one situation is always a good idea. I’m partial to the Ethiopian bean (it makes incredible cold brew) and when in doubt, ALWAYS get the banana bread. There are always cute dogs lined up outside, and they always have treats for your pup.
BALLARD: CARDOON
A wonderful little spot in Ballard with food, baked goods, coffee and drinks. I love the yuzu vanilla espresso tonic after a class at solidcore next door!
SLU, PIONEER SQUARE: ELM COFFEE ROASTERS
The Pioneer Square Location is *so* beautiful. I’d recommend the lattes.
CAP HILL, SLU: SEATTLE COFFEE WORKS
One of my favorite places to work in pre‑Covid times. Consistently good coffee at all locations, 99% chance you see a cute dog.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT: HELLO EM VIỆT COFFEE & ROASTERY
Hello Em is a phenomenal Vietnamese Coffee and Roastery near Seattle’s International District. Grab a classic Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese iced coffee) or an Egg cream coffee, as well as one of fresh made banh mi sandwiches plus the freshest mochi for dessert. While you wait, check out the exhibits in the space detailing Vietnamese history and culture.
NORTH QUEEN ANNE: TWO KICK COFFEE
Local, adorable, and perfect spot to grab coffee before walking along the cut. They have a great nitro cold brew, which is always a favorite.
PIKE PLACE: STORYVILLE COFFEE
This might be against Seattle rules but Storyville Coffee isn’t my favorite (I find it quite acidic!). However, the Pike Place location is GORGEOUS, and I do enjoy the coconut macadamia cortados every so often. Bring your friends and family when they come to visit, as it’s perfect for wow-ing out of towners while you’re touring Pike Place Market.
COLUMBIA CITY & BEACON HILL: THE STATION.
The Sation is a beloved family owned coffee shop and wine bar that also serves incredible food. Every time I have been (to either location) it has been absolutely buzzing with life – a stark contrast to silent, laptop filled cafes. The Station is a black and Latinx owned business that employs LGBTQ and POC people from their community, and played a huge role in feeding community members in need during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COLUMBIA CITY: EMPIRE ROASTERS & RECORDS
One of the cozier options on this list. Enjoy grabbing an espresso-based drink, and then perusing the vinyl collections. Pro tip: don’t skip the nutella waffles.
U DISTRICT: SIP HOUSE
Such a fun spot near UW serving Vietnamese coffee. Really enjoy the Cà Phê Sữa Đá (Vietnamese iced coffee) or the Mint Mojito iced coffee for a sweet, refreshing treat. I like to grab a coffee before checking out the Saturday UW Farmers Market, or meeting a friend to sit in the park across the street.
HILLMAN CITY: THE FLOUR BOX
If you’re paying any attention to the Seattle food scene, you’ve heard about Flour Box. Starting as a pop-up, this artisanal donut shop consistently has a line out the door.They are boutique brioche filled donuts with innovative flavor combinations (matcha cream! everything bagel tiramisu!) that are just as delicious as they are instagrammable. Even if you can’t get one of the donuts, don’t sleep on the coffee program. There are a ton of great options, and I personally loved the Hillman Cinny latte.
MADRONA: MR. WEST COFFEE
Mr. West has a few full-service locations throughout Seattle serving food and cocktails in addition to coffee, but I only recently visited the standalone coffee shop in Madrona. In addition to being absolutely adorable, the coffee was excellent.
WEST SEATTLE: CURRENT COFFEE
I don’t make it out to West Seattle nearly as much as I should, but was thrilled to finally make it to check out Current Coffee - the cutest lil coffee shop that also brings a selection from Sea Wolf and Doce Donut Co on weekends!
RENTON: BOON BOONA COFFEE
I don’t make it down to Renton often, but have gone out of my way to go back to Boon Boona, a locally owned roastery and coffee shop that exclusively sources coffee from Africa, focusing on women-owned growers and building capacity for underserved growing regions. In addition to consistently excellent, rich coffee drinks and beans for sale, Boon Boona is a wonderful community gathering place, with popups from artists, nonprofits and local businesses.
planning a trip to Seattle - don’t forget to check out the full city guide for all my favorites!
Meet the teens making friends with AI Chatbots (and, meet Kevin’s AI friends). AI notwithstanding, digital body language is changing our relationships. Believe it or not - the ring around the toilet is not a moral failing. If you’re not following the potential tiktok ban, there’s talk it could be an “extinction level event” for the creator / influencer economy. I know the Met Gala is over, but loved Nellie Diamond’s homage to Flaming June. Are we talking about mental health too much in schools? Some recent studies say yes. Any chance you’ve been asking if you’re hot enough for a good life? It’s probably the millennial body image curse. A mother’s day read I can’t stop thinking about: the impossible life of equal devotion to art and motherhood
NOM NOM. Wanna book my ticket to Seattle for a coffee tour ASAP!