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}

Caffe Ladro -- Espresso Bar & Bakery

The Basics:

206-282-5313
Caffe Ladro

Where is it?
2205 Queen Anne Ave. N.
Seattle, WA

When are they open?
Everyday: 5:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Is there parking?
Yes, there is street parking in the front along Queen Anne Avenue and a few parking spots in the back behind the shop.


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

What's the price range?
At $1.75, tall americano is one of the cheapest options besides a cup of brewed coffee. A 12 oz. latte is $2.25, plus tax.

The Experience:
I ordered a hazelnut latte, hoping it would not be too sweet as a hazelnut latte often is. It was not too sweet, in fact, I could barely taste the hazelnut. The coffee's complex taste was certainly prevalent, but the espresso was quite bitter--too bitter for my liking. Also, a slight hint of burned espresso surprised me. The friendly barista seemed to take pride in her foam art display, and the presentation was wonderful as always.

In 2007, Caffe Ladro was voted Best Coffeehouse in Seattle's Weekly Reader's Poll and has been serving only Fair Trade, Organic & Shade Grown Coffee since 2002. Caffe Ladro's unique, artsy atmosphere gives it a character that not many coffeeshops possess. I visited the upper Queen Anne location, and discovered that it was the original Caffe Ladro location. It boasts a variety of unique art pieces that are available for purchase through an art service, and art may also be displayed or purchased at all other locations.

There were about a half-dozen people seated in the warmly decorated coffeeshop at the unique tables of a conglomerate mix of colorful stones. This particular location is fairly small, providing seating for a maximum of about 20 inside. There are comfortable chairs along the outside front wall that are made of 100% recycled milk cartons, and a small covered deck in the back features two large granite tables with nicely-crafted wood picnic benches for seating right by the backdoor parking.

I visited the coffeeshop early on a Sunday afternoon, and it was not too busy by any means. When I arrived only one person was in front of me. It A few students sat studying with laptops open, and two businessmen enjoyed conversation over a cup of coffee. The music was slightly louder than I would expect from a coffeeshop, perhaps making it difficult for those who have come to work or study, but it could still be considered "background" music as conversation is easily heard over it. The music was also very appropriate for the environment, even perhaps adding to the genuine coffeeshop feel.

Overall, I was I admit unimpressed with the very bitter taste of Caffe Ladro's espresso, but the environment was very warm and welcoming. I enjoyed the music selection, but the ambient noise level was slightly too loud for those who have come for an environment in which they may concentrate on work. However, I definitely recommend this location as an escape from a bustly Seattle day or as a place to meet a friend for conversation.

{Review by Maisie}