Starbucks Coffee Company: Comparing Locations around Seattle

Everybody knows Starbucks; it is the largest coffee company in the world with over 17,000 stores in 49 different countries. Some love it for its consistency, others despise it for its ever-presence. Some enjoy Starbucks coffee, and others do not. But, if you are a Starbucks-lover, or are looking for a Seattle Starbucks location for a particular occasion, this post is for you. I will not review the coffee as much as a few of the locations around Seattle, since Starbucks coffee is remarkably consistent at nearly every location. Also, Starbucks policy for wi-fi is a simple process, but it may not seem so. All you must do is have a Starbucks gift card, register it online, and continue to use it at least once a month. It really is quite simple if you find yourself wanting internet use at their locations and visit it at least every few weeks.

First, the original Starbucks at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle is a destination coffeeshop for many. This location is often if not usually overflowing with people, even though its size and exterior are quote modest. There is no seating provided really, and parking can be quite difficult, as it really is tucked right in the heart of Pike Place Market. Street parking, of course, is available at surrounding blocks. This being said, I do recommend this location for a quick drop-in visit/experience. It is not a place to stick around or socialize; it is definitely a "to go" or "in-and-out" coffee location. There are numerous other Starbucks locations just blocks away for a quieter, less bustly place to socialize, study, or read.

There is a Starbucks location just 5 minutes' drive away in lower Queen Anne at 519 Queen Anne Ave. that I recommend more for a study atmosphere. There is a large long table with four chairs and electric power strips, perfect for connecting personal computer devices, etc. When I study at this Starbucks location, I most often see business interviews, social meetings, or business people getting coffee to go before work or during lunch. Aside from that seating, two large comfy chairs, one larger round table, and several other small tables make up the rest of available seating.

A drive-thru Starbucks is conveniently located in Lake Union at 1200 Westlake Ave. in the AGC office building shared with the restaurant McCormick & Shmicks. It is the only drive-thru Starbucks I have come across in the area.

A larger Starbucks location on the top of Queen Anne at 2135 Queen Anne Ave. boasts a neat friendly atmosphere, perfect for those looking to socialize or study alone or with friends, and it is kid friendly! The music is usually a bit louder, but it could still be considered background music. This location, however, is usually quite crowded, but the service is always exceptionally fast. Numerous tables and chairs and conveniently located power outlets make it an ideal coffeeshop study location. There are also four comfy chairs in the back of the shop, as well as a little table-and-chairs set for children right next to a bookshelf full of children's books! Because of this, this Queen Anne location is the perfect spot for families. Also, it is just a short 15 minute walk from Seattle Pacific University, so often it is filled with studying college students.

Another location at 3415 Fremont Ave. is just a 15 minute walk from Seattle Pacific University in the other direction in Fremont. This location appears more modest from the exterior but is surprisingly large with a fair amount of seating available. During the early afternoon, which would usually be some of the busier hours for the Upper Queen Anne location, this Fremont location is fairly quiet. College students are not as often studying at this location, but I have found it perfect for just that. The music is usually fairly quiet. I highly recommend this location for reading, meetings with friends for coffee, and for studying.

{Review by Maisie}

Zoka Coffee Roasters and Tea Company -- Greenlake

The Basics:

206-545-4277
Zoka Coffee

Where is it?
2200 N. 56th Street
Seattle, WA

When are they open?
Every day: 6:00am - 10:00pm

Is there parking?
On the street for free, no limits! Usually plenty, even when it's busy.

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

What's the price range?
On the more expensive side for coffee; the cheapest drink is $2.50 for an espresso, 8 oz. americano, or a cup of tea. A 12 oz. latte starts at $3.50, but when you add flavor and tax, the total ends up closer to $5.

The Experience:

Zoka has long been one of my favorite coffee shops. Its coffee quality is second-to-none, its baristas are well-trained, and its atmosphere is unbeatable. I had forgotten, however, how expensive it is.

For this review, it is worth noting that I refer only to the Zoka in Greenlake; Zoka has been expanding in previous years and also has locations in the University district, Kirkland, and in (of all places) Japan.

Zoka's strongest point has always been their coffee. On this visit, I ordered a hazelnut latte, and though I was shocked at how expensive it was--it had been a while since I'd visited, and they have raised their prices--the drink itself was worth it. Zoka roasts its own coffee beans, and their espresso roast is dark and fruity, which when mixed with expertly prepared foamed milk (with foam art on the top, none the less), creates perfection in a cup. My one complaint about Zoka's drinks in the past has been temperature, as they tend to be a bit cool for my taste.

When I visited, around noon on a Saturday, Zoka was extremely busy; I was able to snag a seat, but it was not without some quick moving and a watchful eye. This tends to be a problem, especially at the Greenlake location, but it is beatable with a little patience and a little knowledge: by the time I left, around 3, the place had tolerably emptied out and there were plenty of seats to be had.

The atmosphere is split between social gatherings of friends, business associates, and young families, and young adults and college students taking advantage of the free wi-fi. If you're lucky enough to get a seat along one of the edges of the room at Zoka, there are ample plug-ins for a computer cord; in many ways, Zoka is a studier's haven. The music is relatively quiet, but typically has an edge to it, rather than something softer like jazz. However, the 50-50 split of studiers and talkers could be distracting if you really need to focus, so I recommend headphones.

The service was relatively quick considering how busy they were; I got my drink in about 5 minutes.

Zoka is an excellent 'third place' and study area, if you don't need silence and do need wi-fi. It's growing pretty rapidly now, and seems to be modeling itself after Starbucks, which means its original touches are slowly eroding away; when I first visited Zoka they had a signature orange-cinnamon (I think?) drink which has long since disappeared from their menu, as has their erstwhile enormous flavor collection. Expect for more homogenization to follow.

But at this point at least, Zoka still has the feel of a community gathering place that Starbucks has lost, and beyond that a very high quality of coffee, both in their espresso drinks and in their wholesale coffee beans, which are the best I have ever tasted. Zoka is going somewhere big, and it's worth checking out before it gets there, if only so you can tell your kids someday that you tried Zoka when its coffee was still good, and it wasn't on every street corner! Look out, Starbucks: for now, Zoka has you beat.

{Post by Bekah}

The Rumors are True--free Coffee day at Starbucks!

This is not a promotion, but more of a public service announcement--for today only, if you go to a Starbucks with your own mug or tumbler, you can have free brewed coffee or iced coffee! All opinions about Starbucks aside, free coffee is free coffee. Enjoy!