Seattle Coffee Works: Coffee House, Coffee Tasting, Roastery

The Basics:

206-340-8867
Seattle Coffee Works

Where is it?
107 Pike Street
Seattle, WA
98101


When are they open?
Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Is there parking?
Well, it is right next to Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle, so parking is usually pretty scarce. But, there is downtown garage parking and some street parking.

Is there wi-fi?
Yes, and it's free!

What's the price range?
A short latte is $2.25, but every drink has two shots of espresso! They have a selection of blended drinks that are mostly between $5.00 and $6.00, which seem expensive, but they look delicious!

The Experience:
Not even three years old, Seattle Coffee Works roasts its own coffee in a roastery adjacent to the cafe! The cafe and roastery are located right next to Pike Place Market and serve to present the freshest coffee for sale. Often, the oldest coffee one may purchase from Seattle Coffee Works was actually roasted that very same day! For mail customers, they even roast to order.

They pride themselves not on speed or quantity, but on their quality. Their coffee house has the usual "express lane" where customers may order the usual espresso drinks and coffee made with a press pot. It also, however, presents a "Slow Bar" or "Tasting Room" where coffee tasting is offered as an experience with a variety of coffee-making equipment and a large selection of single-origin coffees. You can even create your own cup of coffee by combining your choice of their single-origin coffees and different blending techniques! If you find yourself curious and interested in tasting a variety of coffee selections, exploring different methods of extracting coffee flavor, or even just discovering the process behind a cup of coffee, visit Seattle Coffee works, and the extraordinarily friendly and knowledgeable baristas will provide you with the coffee experience. No reservations are required for the "Slow Bar" and it is open during all regular hours, but one is encouraged to come outside of the 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. morning rush.
I ordered a tall latte with no flavor added because I wanted to experience their espresso flavor specifically. It was not bitter, and it was not as complex as I expected. It was fairly neutral, as esspresso goes, but definitely satisfies my standards for a latte. My only complaint was the temperature; it was not as hot as I tend to like it or even expect it, but then again, I usually order my hot beverages extra hot.

The indoor seating proposes a fairly wide variety of options. A small section of comfortable chairs encourages group seating or comfy seating for two. A long built-in wood bench that runs along the wall provides seating for many with tables and a chair or two on the other side of the table. This would be a good spot for those coffee drinkers who like to bring a lap top or other work with them to a coffee shop. Also, a few private tables in the corners provide a comfortable spot for a small, quiet meeting. A small fenced patio offers outdoor seating, where one may sit and enjoy observing Seattle's downtown spectacle, Pike Place Market.

The atmosphere at Pike Place Market is usually quite lively and bustly, but the feel within the walls of Seattle Coffee Works was somehow very relaxing and laid-back amidst the many coffee-drinkers who had decided to stay and enjoy their drinks in the cafe. I would certainly consider the music to be background music, as it was fairly quiet amidst the subtle bustle of the Seattle coffee shop. It seems to be the perfect, warm, comfortable nook in the heart of downtown Seattle where coffee lovers may learn much about coffee in a unique experience, come to study, come to converse, or even come for that quick, in-and-out latte.

{Post by Maisie}