Welcome back, coffee crew. I hope everyone is having a lovely last weekend in August—and that you’re caffeinated up.

In Seattle, the weather gods hit us with a blunt reminder that summer is almost over by summoning a torrential downpour this morning. I’ll say it quietly, but I kind of like the rain.

In last week’s edition, I dived deep into the history of the Americano, a unique drink that is often misunderstood. Check it out here if you haven’t already.

This week, I want to tell you about a little coffee shop in Pike Place Market that embodies Seattle coffee culture better than anywhere I’ve been.

Not only do they make the best Cortado I’ve ever had, but after some reflection (which I’m using as the reason this edition is a day later than I usually post), I think it’s my new favorite shop.

Enough small talk—let’s get into it.

📖 A quick backstory…

Last February, when I was a mere Padawan in the world of coffee, I was home for a long weekend and decided to do a self-guided coffee tour of Seattle. As I researched the rich coffee history this city—and downtown in particular—has, the usual suspects like Monorail, the first Starbucks, and Victrola kept coming up. And for good reason, I may add, as they’re integral to the city’s connection with coffee.

But then I stumbled upon a YouTube video titled “Best Coffee in Downtown Seattle, Washington,” which I’ll link below. It’s worth a watch.

With a humble 18,000 views, I decided to watch it—more research won’t hurt, I thought.

The last spot on his list? Ghost Alley Espresso, a small, hole-in-the-wall in Pike Place Market, right below where they throw all the fish, and across from the famed (and, after some reflection, pretty gross) gum wall.

So when I went last February, as one of a few stops on my coffee tour, I thought it was a solid spot on an incredibly caffeinated day.

But back then I simply hadn’t explored enough coffee shops to fully appreciate it, and so it went under the radar in my mind. And while I’m surely no Gandalf in the world of coffee, I can confidently say I’ve got some street cred now and know at least a thing or two about what makes a good shop.

And Ghost Alley is the pick of the bunch.

📍 Location

Nestled in the famous, always crowded, and full of tourists Pike Place Market, just below the “Public Market Sign,” you’ll find Ghost Alley Espresso, a shop that could easily be missed if your eyes are drawn to the gum wall that surrounds it.

But for the few who can avoid the sirens that are the flying fish and gum wall and stay focused on the mission to get good coffee, you’re sure to be rewarded.

🔥 Vibe

When I think about why I love Seattle and its culture, I think of things like the rich grunge music history, the crisp fall weather full of dark, comforting colors, and the incredible coffee scene we have.

Ghost Alley Espresso embodies that exact vibe.

The shop is surrounded by murals, posters, and artwork that highlight the grunge culture of Seattle, and everything from the simplicity of the shop to the fact that it’s tucked away on a little cobble road highlights a laid-back, not-too-uptight vibe that I love about the city.

Like Monorail Espresso, the shop is designed for on-the-go coffee. Getting a coffee “for here” isn’t even an option. It’s simple, with the team fixed on the goal of bringing Pike Place patrons excellent coffee.

Describing this shop, which is quickly becoming so special to me, is challenging, and I hope that my explanation, along with some photos, can do it a sliver of justice.

I’m reminded of a quote from Backrooms, which epitomizes the difficulty.

“Imagine describing a dog to someone who’s never seen one before and then asking them to draw it. They might get some things right, you know, but there is no way they would get everything right, you know? The devil is in the details.”

I hope that my explanation, along with these photos, gives you a sense of why the spot is so cool.

I use this quote simply to say that if you live in Seattle, please check out this place for yourself. It’s sure to do the shop more justice than I ever could in writing.

💵 Price

For a shop in the often overpriced Pike Place Market, they have fairly good prices.

Plus, they sell gum for 50 cents, which I, of course, had to buy so that I could slap some onto the famous wall.

I even got my boss—who, despite growing up in Seattle, has never done the gum wall—to join me. Have most Seattleites never done the gum wall?? I thought it was a rite of passage as a PNWer?

☕️ Taste

My original plan for this week’s edition was to give a deep dive into the Cortado, as it’s my favorite order and what I make most mornings with my home setup (latte art is a hard skill, and I’m open to any and all tips).

But that didn’t feel right, as I don’t want any focus to be taken away from the beauty of this shop. So instead, here’s a very quick tl;dr.

The Cortado is the epitome of a coffee snob’s order. It’s supposed to be equal parts espresso and milk—just enough milk to cut the espresso’s strong taste, but not so much that you can’t taste the coffee’s complex flavors.

Ghost Alley Espresso makes the best Cortado I’ve ever had, and they actually get the ratio right.

Just like how you can tell if an Americano will be good by the size it’s served in, you know that Ghost Alley is going to give you a good Cortado because of the tiny, innocent little paper cup it’s in.

And the taste is even better.

There are rich notes of chocolate and coffee mixed with the sweetness of the milk, making for a drink that will have you savoring each sip.

The only issue is that you’ll have to show some discipline not to finish the small 4oz drink too quickly.

For my non-coffee-snobs, they also have delicious speciality drinks, such as the Toasty Ghosty that my boss got.

❗️ Bottom Line

Writing about Ghost Alley has proven to be a challenge like no other. Why? Writing about a place that means so much to me is difficult, as I struggle to put these thoughts on paper.

I simply encourage everyone to try it out for themselves.

🏅 Best for… If you want to feel the Seattle coffee culture firsthand

Not much else to be said!

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: Thank You

I’ve said a lot already today, so I want to use this section to simply say—if you’re reading this— THANK YOU! Hearing from you all, whether it be by text, a Substack comment, or any other means, makes my week and reminds me why I love writing this column.

Getting to write about something I love and hearing from you all always brightens my day.

As I continue to grow this community, if you know anyone who enjoys coffee, please share it with them!

Share Coffee Chat

I’ve also got some merch in the works… and I’m thinking of giving my founding paid subscribers (shoutout to the mighty few of you who graciously give me your hard-earned dollars) some of the swag first.

So if you want some cool stuff, consider buying me a cup of coffee (yes, I’m going full sell-out mode. Coffee is expensive nowadays).

Subscribe now

Until next week!

From wherever you are, happy Friday, and I hope you are enjoying this truly special day. Why is today special, you may ask? Well, for starters, it’s Friday, which means the weekend is upon us, and the beautiful weather in Seattle means some great outdoor activities are possible.

For me, I’m looking forward to the start of a new Premier League season, which means that over the next nine months, my mood will largely be determined by how well Chelsea is doing.

But I also woke up today with an eagerness to remake the amazing Americano I had at Monorail Espresso yesterday—and I wanted to highlight the shop in this week’s edition.

Monorail, which placed second in The Seattle Times Best of the PNW Award last year, has some serious street cred and history, and you’ll soon see why.

🎉 A New Era

Earlier this summer, I wrote an edition on Anchorhead’s waterfront store, with the goal being to scope out new coffee shops for when I started my job downtown. Well, preseason is over, and the real thing is here.

I just finished my first week, and coffee-wise, I feel like I’m in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The sheer amount of incredible-looking shops, from speciality roasters to little carts made for the finance bro who’s late for a big meeting, is honestly overwhelming. I’m paralyzed by choice.

So as I begin my side quest to find the best coffee around my work—near Westlake Center—I am grateful I’ve already found a shop I can trust: Monorail Espresso.

I’ll get into the quick hits below. But make sure to check out the Extra Caffeine section, because this week I want to give you all a little history lesson on a drink that is misunderstood: The Americano. More on that later.

📍 Location

Monorail Espresso is one of Seattle’s oldest and most famous coffee shops, and for good reason. First opening in 1980, right next to the Seattle Monorail, they were the world’s first—or at least according to their website—espresso cart. The photo below is pretty cool.

They now have five locations downtown, but the one I went to, on 5th and Pike St, right under the Coliseum Theater, is the oldest and most well-known.

🔥 Vibe

If the original goal of Monorail Espresso was to bring delicious Italian coffee to Seattle’s downtown workers, the crew is doing an incredible job of keeping that vibe.

Everything is streamlined, and when I walked up at around 8:45 AM on a Thursday, despite a line of several people, everything moved at lightning speed. In what felt like seconds, I was at the front of the line, ready to order from the two-barista show.

It’s not all business, though, as they have some good jokes, including a fake menu of Seattle questions.

💵 Price

For the heart of downtown—where wildly inflated prices can be all too normal ($20 for pad thai at a pop-up restaurant across the street is criminal)—their prices feel gentle and fair. $5 for a 16oz cold brew is great CPD (caffeine per dollar), and paying $4.25 for an Americano felt fair.

It does always grind my gears when non-dairy milks cost extra—the vegan and lactose-intolerant community needs to stand up against Big Coffee and the inequality we face. Anybody with me? Anyways, I digress.

☕️ Taste

I’m going to go on a deeper dive into the Americano below, but my tl;dr is this: The Americano is a misunderstood drink, and shops often get it wrong. But that’s not the case here. A beautiful layer of crema guarded the gates to a delicious cup of coffee, which was sweet, rich, and everything in between. It made me believe in the drink again.

🏅 Best for… feeling the history of Seattle coffee

They say that Seattle is a coffee city, if not a coffee mecca. If that’s the case, Monorail is a great example of why. The location, history, and vibe of the shop all come together to create a perfect ensemble of coffee excellence.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: A quick history lesson on the Americano, and how to spot a good one

The Americano has a long, interesting history, and it’s a drink that I believe is misunderstood and often made wrong.

The drink was originally made for U.S. soldiers in Italy during the Second World War who craved a cup similar to the filter coffee they would have back home—hence the name “Americano”—and was simply a shot of espresso with a splash of water. The point was to slightly dilute the strong espresso for the American taste buds.

But we’ve come a long way since the end of the war, and so too has the Americano. It’s become a staple of coffee culture and a cherished drink in its own right—it’s no longer simply a quick fix for American soldiers who thought Italian espresso was too strong.

As coffee guru James Hoffemann explains in an excellent YouTube video on the Americano, espresso itself has also radically changed in the last 80 years. Back then, espresso was weaker—it was a rapidly pulled shot of coffee, yes, but the taste was far different than what you would get in a shop today.

The modern Americano is unique in its simplicity and flavor—there’s no milk, meaning you don’t get much dilution in terms of flavor. If done right, you get a distinctive experience and taste that no other drink can offer.

So—and repeat after me—THE AMERICANO IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR DRIP COFFEE! If a barista tells you this, they’re lying. Don’t fall for their tricks.

In the same video, James Hoffemann explains how to make a great Americano, and it largely comes down to one aspect: the ratio of water to espresso. Too much water and you’re left drinking coffee-flavored water. Too little and you’ll be puckering your lips at the bitterness. Like Goldilocks’ porridge, it has to be just right.

And so what is that magic ratio? In my opinion, I think a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio of espresso to water is perfect.

I’ve experimented with my machine at home and found that any more water means that I don’t taste the flavors of the espresso, and any less is just straight espresso in essence.

So what does this mean for you? What should you look for next time you order an Americano?

At most coffee shops, the standard double shot of espresso is 1.5oz. That means the drink should be somewhere between 4.5 oz and 7 oz. I tend to lean towards the stronger side, so I ask for 5 oz-6 oz if possible.

If you want to see if your local shop is truly making good espresso and cares about its craft, get an Americano. And see how it tastes.

I hope this short lesson helped and that you’re inspired to try one of the most unique coffee drinks out there. I’ll be back next week as I continue to explore the great options that Seattle has to offer.

As always, send me your favorite spots—especially in the downtown area.

And lastly, if you want to check out the updated rankings and start an argument about why your favorite shop should be higher, you can find them below.

We’re back! After a brief summer break, which included a five-day rafting trip, I’ve returned to society and am eager to share some more knowledge about the great coffee shops I’ve found. Don’t worry, though, I still had my daily cup of coffee during this break (even though a caffeine tolerance break probably wouldn’t hurt).

Now, you may be thinking: what the heck does Salmon River edition mean? Well, to be honest, this week’s edition is meant more to highlight a specific time and place to drink coffee, rather than a shop.

Allow me to explain.

Since 2022, my friends, my dad, one other dad, and I have made a yearly pilgrimage down the lower fork of the Salmon River—an 80-mile, four-night rafting trip filled with rapids, sandy beaches, cliff-jumping, and, of course, some great morning cups of coffee.

My friend’s dad, who goes by the alias “George” on the river, also happens to be my former sixth-grade science teacher (let me tell you how much of a full-circle moment it is to drink Kraken rum with your middle school teacher), and is a bit of a rafting legend.

My favorite story is when he got stuck in a Costa Rican storm while shooting a commercial with the Camel Cigarette man (I also didn’t believe him the first time he told me).

He has been gracious enough to captain these trips—he has all the gear, including the materials for some delicious river coffee.

And so, after getting back from the river earlier this week, I want to highlight this coffee. It’s a cup of joe that I hope everyone gets to experience someday, in one way or another. Allow me to illustrate this experience.

📍 Location

As far as wilderness trips go, waking up on any river—and especially the Salmon River—has to be up there. The white, sandy beaches nestled between the canyon walls allow you to wake up to the sound of rushing water and birds singing, and the heat of the summer night means that you get to go old-school and cowboy camp.

So when the sun hits your eyes and phase 1 of the day begins (the best part about being on the river is that there are no clocks, so the day is simply split into four “phases”), you’re already eager for a cup of warm coffee to accompany you by the river. And that’s exactly what George prepares.

🔥 Vibe

Like almost everyone, I’ve never been a fan of my alarm clock. Whichever sound you choose will be ingrained into your brain as a rude awakening and signal that it’s time to get up for school, work, or whatever else the day brings. But on the river—where “phase 1” isn’t set to an alarm clock — there’s a different wake-up call.

One that, in all honesty, I quite enjoy.

“HOTTTTTTTTT COFFFFFFFFFFEEEEEEEEEE.”

Like the cry of a battle horn, the scream jolts you awake and magnetizes you towards the delicious cowboy coffee that awaits you.

The best part about the alarm? It’s got a built-in snooze button, a.k.a simply pulling the sleeping bag over your head and trying to get a couple more minutes of sleep.

But, just like at home, if you hit the button, it means you’re in for a second alarm minutes later. And this one has a great variation.

“Boysssssss… It’s time to get up now!”

So once you finally kick the sheets and walk to the kitchen (which is simply just a table in the sand and a camper stove—we’re minimalists here), you can pour yourself a cup of Georgie’s finest, sit by the river, in your chair, or wherever you please, and enjoy a beautiful cup.

💵 Price

Just like how you’re living in a time before the standard clock, you pay for your coffee in a much simpler way: manual labor. I mean, we’ve got to get down the river somehow, right?

In all honesty, there’s no better form of payment, and nothing that is more fulfilling. The river days are long, including miles of rowing, rigging, and other little tasks in between.

But I wouldn’t trade the tasks out there for anything back home. Would you rather have to focus on sending out a bunch of corporate-jargon-filled emails by 5pm, or filling up water buckets, setting up a beautiful groover location, or pumping up a raft?

I know what I’d choose.

And there’s no better way to fuel up for those adventures than with a cup of George’s finest (which, by the way, would be a great name for a coffee shop. I’d go there).

☕️ Taste

Here’s the thing about the river coffee: it probably wouldn’t be your first-choice back home, and it certainly wouldn’t pass a food-safety test at a coffee shop, as I think the river water that’s used to boil the coffee—which includes a fair share or bugs, debris, and some (gut healthy, I hope) bacteria—might raise a few eyeballs back in civilization.

But that doesn’t matter on the river. Out there, it tastes better than any craft pour-over you can get. The grainy bits of coffee at the bottom of your cup aren’t spat out at first sight, but chewed on as a little extra boost of caffeine (just me?).

The vessel itself looks to be at least twice my age, and I can’t begin to imagine the adventures it’s been on. It’s got veteran status, is probably close to retirement age, and has a great Social Security check coming its way.

❗️ Bottom Line

Coffee and camping are an inseparable duo, and the coffee that’s crafted by River George is up there with some of the best I’ve had. Would it be my first choice off the river? Maybe not. But on the river, it’s the part of the day I look forward to the most, and it’s why I’m so eager to fall asleep on the white sandy beaches of the Salmon River.

🏅 Best for… If you’re looking to ditch the typical alarm clock and be on river time, full-time.

One day, I hope to have an alarm clock for the coffee wake-up call.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: too early to talk about the fall?

They say our bodies are like clocks, and if that’s true, mine is all out of whack because I’m used to going back to school in Colorado in early August. I haven’t been in Seattle for the fall in five years, and a lot has changed since then—including the fact that I didn’t actually drink coffee back then.

So while it’s only August, I’m already eagerly looking towards the cool autumn weather, leaves changing colors, and pumpkin-spice lattes to be had. Anyone else?

So as fall quickly comes, I want to help everyone prepare—and I want your help doing so. I’d love to know your go-to spot for fall weather coffee, and I hope to create a list together of great places we can all enjoy.

I’ll be back to a regular schedule next week—you can expect new editions to come out each weekend—but until then, keep sending recs and enjoying some coffee.

I may only be speaking for myself, but August tends to hit me like a slap to the face and a wake-up call that the end of the summer is coming quicker than I want to believe. Growing up, it always marked one last month of summer break—and now, it signals that soon the good weather will turn to crisp, fall air here in Seattle (which I’m not complaining about).

So at the beginning of the month named after Augustus Caesar, I tend to start thinking about packing in as many fun summer adventures as I can. And this week, I want to share with everyone one of those recommendations: Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo.

For those not familiar with the area, Bainbridge Island is one of several islands just across Puget Sound and is just a short 30-minute ferry ride away from downtown. My grandparents moved to the island almost a decade ago, and each time I go—especially in the summer—I’m reminded of how beautiful, quiet, and peaceful the place is.

While the area near the ferry terminal has some incredible coffee shops—Cafe Hitchcock’s owner was a James Beard award finalist—as well as great bakeries, shopping, and activities, I wanted to highlight an area on the other side of the north end of the island: Poulsbo.

Why? Because if you want to feel like you’ve been transported straight into Asgard (or any Nordic town of your choice, to be honest), you have to check this little town out.

And in this town, among a few options for coffee, you’ll find a *quite literally* hole-in-the-wall, one-woman-show shop that serves up delicious, affordable coffee: Byrdie’s Coffee.

Allow me to get straight into it.

📍 Location

Poulsbo is a little town of around 11,000 people located right on the water, and the main “downtown” area is less than a 10-minute walk to get through. But as you venture, you’ll be face-to-face with Viking-themed shops, historic pubs, and even a shop that sells all sorts of European goods and candy (although I was distraught when I found they were sold out of baked beans, rip).

As you walk north, you’ll see a little coffee shop on the corner that perfectly matches the town's aesthetic: Byrdie’s Coffee.

🔥 Vibe

When I first walked up to the shop and saw the menu, I had to pinch myself to make sure I didn’t accidentally take some Viking mushrooms at another shop.

Why? Because they had a Cortado for $3—the cheapest I’ve ever seen, by far. That, coupled with the very Copenhagen-esque aesthetic of the shop, meant that I knew I had picked a solid shop.

But what impressed me the most—and epitomized the Island Time nature of the place—is that the whole operation was run by one barista. And to that, I must give some applause.

The shop itself is smaller than a Mathias single (or for my non-CC readers, just enough space for a twin-XL bed and a desk), which also fits the Nordic vibe of those micro-apartments you see online.

So while the coffee didn’t come out as fast as a place like Anchorhead, I didn’t mind, because when you’re in Poulsbo you’re living—as my friend likes to say—anchors up. You’re on island time.

💵 Price

As I said, seeing a Cortado for $3 nowadays is like seeing gas prices under $1: you think it's a relic of a bygone era, something your grandparents talked about but you thought you’d never witness.

But this place broke free of the matrix and sells delicious coffee for an affordable price. And for that, I commend them.

☕️ Taste

One of my biggest litmus tests for espresso is when the beans were roasted. The coffee science 101 here is that the fresher the beans, the better the roast will taste, as stale beans quickly lose flavor, among other things. Next time you’re in a shop, take a look at the beans they’re using and find the “Roast Date” on the bag. It’ll tell you a lot.

So after seeing the beans were roasted earlier that week, I knew it would be solid, and it did not disappoint.

🏅 Best for… If you’re looking for a fun adventure and want to feel like a Viking.

As we move towards the EndGame of summer, I highly recommend you take a trip out to Bainbridge and experience what the island has to offer. From great shopping and vibes to delicious food and coffee, the whole area is worth checking off your Seattle bucket list.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: Where to go afterwards (or before)

Just around the corner from Byrdie’s is an incredible bakery that I think completes the trip—and that my little cousins went absolutely crazy for. It’s called Sluys Bakery, and you can get anything from donuts bigger than your head to their apparently “world famous” (although who gets to decide that title nowadays?) white bread.

Why do I recommend this place? Of my three little cousins, two of them left with smiles bigger than the donuts themselves—and a 66% success rate is pretty solid.

The third? He was mad at his mom that she only let him have one donut. But hey, a bonus for the coffee shop is that it’s right next to a wall that your six-year-old cousin can put his head into as he learns to “deal with his emotions”!

Until next week!

Happy Friday. TGIF. The weekend is here. However you say it, we’ve made it to another weekend, and that deserves a congrats and pat on the back, no matter what you were up to this week. Allow me to give you a virtual one.

Last week I put a poll at the end of the edition, where everyone could vote on what type of shop I went to next. The winner—with a sad, small number of votes (remember, democracy only works if you participate!)—was to find the best coffee shop for sitting outside.

So while my goal was to venture into Seattle and search for a great outdoor seating area, I’m ashamed to admit that, largely due to not wanting to make the long trek there today, I did not make it across the I-90 bridge.

Many of my friends used to tell me, whenever I asked them to come out to Issaquah, that I lived in another country. And while I largely resent that sentiment, today the thirty-five-minute drive felt a little too deep.

But don’t let that make you think for a second that I didn’t find an incredible coffee shop if you want to sit, or walk outside. Because after going to Snoqualmie to pick up my bib for my first marathon tomorrow (the pre-race jitters are in full swing), I walked around the amazing little town and found a great shop for a coffee—one that you can take on the road as you walk through this fun, sunny area.

So this week we’re giving an ode to simplicity. If you ever find yourself out in the area, maybe after a hike in Snoqualmie National Forest, and want a great, simple place to get a coffee, bite, and walk around, I highly recommend you come here. Let me take you through my journey.

📍 Location

After parking my car near the Front Street area, picking up my bib, and trying way too many free samples of some electrolyte drink, I started walking through the town, passing by amazing little shops full of fun trinkets I immediately wanted to put in the crib.

But I stayed focused, and after a short walk I made it to the end of the road, where a tiny, inconspicuous little drive-through was serving incredible coffee. Like one of those Disney characters levitating in the air as they follow the smell of fresh apple pie, I was magnetized to the smell of freshly-ground beans, and soon found myself up at the counter, face to face with a simple menu and two of the most chill baristas I’ve encountered so far.

The tl; dr of the location is simple: Snoqualmie is a great little town to explore on a warm summer day, and this quick coffee shop is in a perfect spot if you want to grab a drink before you walk around the shops.

🔥 Vibe

This place is the Jamal Crawford of coffee shops: it knows its role as a sixth man, and executes it to perfection. It knows it doesn’t have the flair, pedigree, or talent of some of those speciality roasters, but it’s not trying to do that. It’s doing a great job of serving affordable, delicious coffee.

The two baristas, as well as the menu, match that vibe. There were really only a few options on the menu—none of this fancy, speciality latte stuff with weird-tasting cold foam flavors—there wasn’t even iced coffee. But it doesn’t need that.

The baristas themselves were friendly and efficient—exactly what the patron needs.

💵 Price

This is where Dark Horse Brew shines. $2.70 for a 16-ounce drip coffee (and no extra charge for oat milk!) put a smile on my face, especially after spending almost $8 on a coffee last week. You simply can’t beat those prices.

☕️ Taste

Again, this shop is great at simply doing its job. Was it the best drip coffee I’ve ever had? Could I taste the notes of cherry, dark chocolate, and citrus orange all mixing to create a symphony of flavors? No. But I wasn’t looking for that. I was just looking for a smooth, warm coffee, and this place delivered.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: my recs on what to do after you grab your joe

What really made this shop special is what I did afterwards, and what I recommend you all do as well. Allow me to explain.

After grabbing my cup and getting that caffeine rush, I heard something in the distance. A horn. Followed by more horns. And eventually followed by the rumble of a train coming my way.

But it wasn’t just any old train—my childhood dreams had come to life, and Thomas the Train was barreling towards me.

I soon found out that every Saturday in July this train rolls by Snoqualmie, and you can ride along with it—which explains the line of hundreds of parents and kids waiting by the station for their turn.

So after taking a photo with the conductor, I walked across the street, grabbing two bananas for 99 cents at the corner store (carb loading before a race is key, I’ve been told) I walked through the shops, stopping at some cool places.

There was also an art store that had a coffee painting I would have bought instantly if it was 275 bucks, and a wine and book store (an interesting combo).

I saw some great little lunch spots that, although I didn’t make it inside, could make a great end to your adventure.

And that was that. As I said, this town is small, but that’s what makes it great. It’s a perfect little outing if you find yourself in the area, and one that I highly recommend.

As always, thank you for your continued support, and keep sending me your favorite shops.

Until next week!

Just kidding. Although I was in D.C. and Baltimore this week, the main reason was to visit my extended family—my coffee adventures were a fun solo event that I managed to carve out some time for between playing rounds of “find my charger” with my six-year-old cousin to keep him entertained. Maybe someday I’ll have enough of that sweet sponsorship money to fund a coffee review trip.

But I wasn’t lying about visiting some incredible coffee shops, and this week I wanted to highlight two of them: Black Crown Collective in D.C., and Ceremony Coffee Roasters in Baltimore. Both were incredible for different reasons, and as this column expands, I hope this week’s edition can be a great example of my goal of making sure my readers have great coffee recommendations no matter which city they’re in.

So without further ado, let’s get into the first shop.

🐦‍⬛ Black Crown Collective: the coffee our nation’s lawmakers drink

For those who may not know me very well, I am a huge nerd for all things politics. I enjoy reading, discussing, or just knowing about the political landscape, so when I booked my trip out to D.C. to visit family, I knew that my main side quest would be to wander around the Capitol as much as possible and pretend like I am a U.S. Congressperson.

So as I looked to blend my interests in coffee and politics, it was only natural to try and find the shop that lawmakers themselves drink. While my original idea was to wait for a senator to walk out of their office before asking them what coffee shop they go to, I figured that stalking a U.S. Congressperson could get me in some muddy waters. So to Google I went.

My research took me to Black Crown Collective, a specialty shop inside Canon House, a building across from the Capitol where most of the U.S. Representatives have their offices.

And if my goal was to feel like a busy, rushed U.S. Congressperson, I did a great job at mimicking that by giving myself a comically small amount of time to get my coffee before catching my train up to Baltimore. More on that below, but first, here are my notes.

📍 Location

Having a speciality coffee shop inside this building was pretty sick. Cannon House is directly across the street from the Capitol Building, and after going through a metal detector, you’re met with dozens of long halls filled with U.S. Representatives’ offices, as well as busy lawmakers and aides wandering about. I fully felt I was in House of Cards, and wanted to start pretending to talk politics on the phone to fit in.

The only downside to the location of this place—and it’s the fault of the building’s architects, not the coffee shop—is that it’s incredibly difficult to find. The whole building is a goddamn maze that I’m convinced was done on purpose so that constituents wouldn’t be able to find their Representative and complain to them about a government issue.

This was particularly brutal for me, as I continuously made circles around the maze, knowing that I only had 15 minutes until my train left and that I was a 10-minute walk from the station.

🔥 Vibe

When I did eventually find the shop, I was taken aback by how incredibly cool it was. It had a modern, hip aesthetic that didn’t match the bureaucratic feeling of the building. It was a welcome surprise.

They even had a sit-down, coffee “bar” style seating area, stocked with a coffee bartender who was making a speciality pour-over for a few people. I can’t explain to you how jealous I was, and I now know that my new lifetime goal is to start a coffee bar where I do exactly this.

💵 Price

While I forget the exact price—I was a little too focused on questioning whether I would have enough time to actually make my train—around $4.5 for a cortado felt fairly “middle-of-the-pack” when it comes to coffee prices.

And I can’t tell if I’m glad their coffee is more expensive or not. Part of me wants to stick it to the man and make those U.S. Representatives pay a couple of extra bucks for their coffee. But then I remember it’s my taxes that give them their salary.

☕️ Taste

This was one of the first times I’ve tried an espresso that said it was “sweet,” and I could actually see what they meant. Although, again, I was pretty focused on making sure I didn’t miss my train, so I didn’t have the chance to fully ponder the different notes of coffee.

❗️ Bottom Line

I highly recommend this shop to anybody travelling to D.C., as you’ll get to feel like an important politician while also getting to try some delicious coffee.

💎 Ceremony Coffee Roasters: A gem in the heart of Baltimore

So after sprinting to my train and getting on with a few minutes to spare, I continued my day of role-playing an East Coaster by hopping on the Amtrak for the first time—which was actually a very nice experience, which in large part was due to the fact I chose *on accident* to sit in the quiet car, which meant I didn’t have anybody talking loudly on the phone for the 45 minute train ride up.

After getting to Baltimore, I took a fifteen-minute walk from Penn Station to the Mount Vernon neighborhood—which is near downtown Baltimore- and stumbled upon this incredible coffee shop. Here’s my two cents.

📍 Location

As my uncle explained well, and I agree with after spending a day in the city, Baltimore is a place that—through television and media—has harbored a bad reputation. And while I was able to see firsthand how decades of redlining have exacerbated inequality, I did not see the stereotypes of it being “unsafe and dangerous to walk around in” that many online have perpetuated.

So as I walked around downtown, in the hot, muggy East Coast summer weather, eventually stumbling upon this beautiful-looking shop, I was excited to see what they had to offer.

🔥 Vibe

Walking inside, you’re immediately met with a sense that this shop knows what they’re doing. From the smell of fresh beans to their vast array of coffee tools, they passed the eye test with flying colors.

It’s a very open and spacious room, with the baristas set up on an island in the middle as they work away making incredible espresso.

But what made the vibe so special was the kindness of the baristas—and specifically their owner, who immediately took me on a tour after I told him I love coffee and write reviews on different shops (yes, I’m fully owning my seat at the “coffee expert” table now).

He explained to me the difference between a peaberry coffee bean and a normal bean (I might do a column one day that goes into depth about this, if there’s interest), and even showed me their coffee “work room” where baristas are trained for over a month before they are allowed to start. Pretty sick, if you ask me.

💵 Price

I decided to treat myself and get a freshly made pour-over coffee, and while $7.5 is obviously a lot for a coffee, I’m justifying it as an experience of coffee (let me have this one, ok). And it was absolutely incredible. Getting to see them make the pour-over in front of my very own, coffee-obsessed eyes completed the experience and made it all worth it.

☕️ Taste

As I alluded to above, the pour-over was wonderful. Notes of sweetness engulfed my taste buds, setting my bar for future coffee way too high.

They also have a ton of different seasonal speciality drinks that it took a lot of discipline not to get. Again, maybe one day, when the sponsor money starts rolling in, I’ll be able to buy multiple coffees at a shop and try them all. But for now, one will have to do.

❗️ Bottom Line

Baltimore was an incredible city to experience, and one that I think should be near the top of everyone’s list—and not just for the coffee. There’s a great food and bar scene, history, and exploring to do, and it’s incredibly cheap to get to—my train was $5 each way.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: choose which shop I review this week!

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while as a way to get everyone more involved, so this week I’m creating a poll where you all can help choose which type of shop I review next. I’m leaving it somewhat vague so that I can have some leeway in terms of the actual shop I visit, but below are a few categories that I’ve been interested in trying.

Welcome back, my fellow coffee connoisseurs. After a brief hiatus in the inferior Pacific Northwest state (it’s required to hate Oregon if you’re from Washington), I’m back in the 206, where incredible coffee is in no short supply. And nowhere is this more true than in Seattle’s downtown (queue the “Seattle’s downtown died after COVID and now it’s revived!” comments).

After a lovely lunch and meet-and-greet with my future co-workers (shoutout if you’re reading this) in which I realized just how lively the downtown area is, I decided that this week’s edition would have a simple goal: find the best coffee for my fellow downtown workers.

So armed with my collared shirt, slacks, and backpack, I walked from Westlake towards the waterfront, hoping to give off that rushed businessman on his lunch break vibe. The only thing I was missing was pretending to be on a phone call, screaming corporate jargon.

My travels ended at the famous—or “way too touristy and not fun”, as my roommate calls it—Pike Place Market, where even on a Wednesday it was vibrant with tourists, locals, and fish being thrown in your face.

But keeping in character, I walked right through the market at a pace that told everyone “I’ve got places to be,” and it’s just outside the market that you’ll find the waterfront location of a shop I’ve been wanting to try for weeks: Anchorhead Coffee.

What’s so special about this place, you may ask? Well, rather simply, it’s at the top of almost every online list, and I’ve had many of y’all recommend it to me (shoutout to the Kefflers!). So as I ventured through Seattle’s waterfront area, pretending to be a rushed businessman craving a delicious coffee, I was magnetized to this place.

Here are the quick notes.

📍 Location

The waterfront location is perfect because you get the best of two worlds. You’re close to the busyness of Pike Place and can wander around the market in search of a savory treat from Piroshky Piroshky, but you can also find a moment of calmness and tranquility. You won’t be swarmed and distracted by tourists taking photos in front of the fish market, but you’ll feel the energy of liveliness in the area.

🔥 Vibe

Immediately when I walked in, I could tell these people knew what they were doing. The slick black decor in the shop gives off a minimalist vibe, and the baristas themselves match that energy. It was around 50 seconds after I ordered my Cortado that the slick ceramic cup was in my hand, hot and ready to be drunk. Another reason that if you’re in a rush, it’s the spot to go.

💵 Price

I gotta admit, it’s on the more expensive side. $5.79 for a Cortado is on the higher end, so if you’re a downtown worker and make a trip here, make sure to put it on the corporate card.

☕️ Taste

While the barrier to entry might be high when it comes to cost, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible coffee. They’ve got dozens of options—from incredible cold brew and iced lattes to more pourover choices than your heart could desire—so you’ll always have something to choose from.

I’ve got an unwritten rule that if a shop doesn’t have a Cortado listed on the menu, I won’t get one (I’ve been scarred by shops asking me “what is that?” and then ending up with a latte). But Anchorhead has one listed, so I went simple and wasn’t disappointed.

And a bonus point has to be given here for how quickly it was made, and that with that speed did not come a lack of accuracy. A beautiful latte art design accompanied a beautifully tasting coffee.

🏅 Best For… If you’re at Pike Place Market and want some genuinely good-tasting coffee

To get to this place, you’ll have to show some discipline by ignoring the Sirens that are the original Starbucks in Pike Place. The long line outside the shop might entice you to hop in line and see what the hype is about, but don’t fall for the trap. Keep marching.

It’s less than a two-minute walk from that Starbucks and won’t come with a burnt aftertaste of overpriced coffee.

And remember, if you want to check out the updated rankings list, you can find it here.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: I’m evolving

Something happened when I was at this shop—and it felt like a bit of a turning point in my coffee reviewer career: someone came up to me and asked me if this was a good spot to get coffee.

Maybe it was because my Cortado looked fancy, or I gave off the vibe of a businessman hard at work as I typed away on my computer, but I was entrusted by this stranger, and I’m forever grateful.

I obviously told him—trying to be as confident as I could be—that I’m a coffee reviewer and can vouch for this place. A few minutes later? He told me thank you, and that I was right about the coffee.

And as he held a steamy hot Americano in his hand, he asked me another question that only gave me more confidence that I could someday join the ranks of culinary reviewers in Seattle: “Where can I find good Chinese food?”

While I was honored that he trusted me, I wish I had the Chinese food ball knowledge to tell him where to go. I told him to go to the International District, where there are more than enough excellent options.

Who knows, maybe someday I’ll dive into the realm of food. But right now I’m no Swiss Army knife. I’m early in my coffee career and have one goal in mind: to explore all the great coffee this city has to offer.

One last thing…

I would love to get coffee with one of y’all who reads this newsletter, so if anybody is interested, let me know. At this point, the vast majority of you are friends and family who have my number, so just text me, lol.

Have a great weekend, ya’ll. And as always, send your recs.

Happy semiquincentennial birthday, America. I hope everyone had a fun, safe weekend—and if you did fireworks, I hope the weekend ended with as many fingers as you started with (you know who you are).

I travelled down to the Oregon coast for the holiday weekend, to a little town called Gearhart, where there are seemingly more fireworks lit off than there are grains of sand on the beaches. And in true Coffee Chat fashion, I even got to light off a coffee-themed firework.

But before we dive into this Fourth of July edition, I have a couple of quick updates I wanted to share.

📣 A Quick Word

Earlier this week, I had the chance to talk with Matthew Schniper—a Colorado Springs culinary scene expert and fellow Substacker—who gave me some great advice that I am incredibly thankful for. I highly suggest you check out his work here.

One suggestion? Ditch the whole ranking thing. Now, while my initial reaction was to resist change, I quickly became convinced by the oration of this modern-day Cicero, who had some well-rounded points.

Here’s the thing. While my initial goal for this column was simple—to find the best coffee in Colorado Springs for CC students its purpose has started shifting. Now that I am just an out-of-college old man face to face with the real world, I have a similarly simple, yet slightly different goal: to find the best that the world (and mainly the Pacific Northwest, where home base is) has to offer, and share my thoughts with you all.

A lot of you live in the PNW, and I hope that you try out some of the shops I rank. But this newsletter also serves as my way to do some fun, creative writing, which is why my stupid little analogies are here to stay.

So while the rankings system is still helpful, it is becoming increasingly less useful, and so instead of letting it dwindle away, we’re giving it the send-off it deserves by knowing when it’s time to say goodbye to it. I’ll still have an ongoing rankings tab, which you can find here, and I’ll still give you some quick hits about each category, but this will also allow me to dive deeper into the things that make each coffee shop unique.

And so, speaking of unique places to get a coffee, this week’s review, McMenamins Sand Trap Pub, is the epitome of that. Here are some bits—I’ll dive in deeper after.

📍 Location

For the past several years, I’ve channeled my inner Lewis and Clark and headed down the Oregon Trail to Gearhart, Oregon, a little town on the coast that comes alive during the Fourth of July.

The town itself is very, very small, consisting of a few little shops in the town square. It’s right on the beach, with every house being less than a five-minute walk from some of the most beautiful oceanfront views you’ll ever see. The minuteness of this town is epitomized by the fact that the streets are simply named by letter or number, which I thought was a welcome change in a world where street names can be the most confusing part about getting around a town.

McMenamins—which has dozens of hotels across Oregon—has a location in Gearhart and a seriously beautiful golf course, as well as pretty much the only bar in town. But while it’s serving the typical Oregon microbrewery IPAs at night, during the day they have a great cafe that serves their home roasted coffee.

🔥 Vibe

The Gearhart Hotel McMenamins transports you back to the mid-19th century, making you feel like you should be in the Manifest Destiny painting. It’s a unique vibe that is hard to describe in words—hopefully these photos do it some justice.

💵 Price

As far as prices go for upscale, trying-to-be-a-little-fancy hotels, their prices are actually very reasonable. I splurged on myself and got a bag of their single-origin coffee they roasted just this week for only $12, which is honestly highway robbery in the coffee world.

$5 for a latte is better than at a lot of places I’ve been to. So we’ll take it. And in typical Oregon fashion, they’ve got a THC seltzer.

☕️ Taste

Ok, so up to this point I’ve had very positive things to say about this place. I’ve got great memories here, and it’s in town that I associate with the freedom of summer. But given the fact that this is mainly a bar, I should’ve known that ordering a cortado would not end well. And they just simply can’t make a cup of coffee.

The first sign was that—despite numerous coffee drinks being on their menu with clear prices—the waitress didn’t know how much an Americano and a Cortado would cost.

The second strike was that they were actively trying to figure out how to use their espresso machine.

And the strikeout finally came when my friend’s Americano had more water in it than the Pacific Ocean, and my Cortado had more milk than a Darigold farm.

While my hopes were high when I saw that they roasted their own beans, I was let down hard.

But I believe in second chances. We were at the point in the hero’s journey when all seemed lost, only for an unlikely old ally to show up and reinspire hope across the coffee galaxy. And their good old-fashioned hot drip coffee did just that.

Was it the best drip coffee I’ve ever had? No way. But was it a silver lining to what had been the last 24 hours of dining at McMenemins that was littered with messed-up orders (more on that below)? Yes, yes it was.

🏅 Best For…

My uncle gave me a great suggestion for an aspect this column was missing, and I hope this “best for…” category can resolve that. Each week I’ll add something I believe makes the coffee shop unique, and maybe it can help you in the future if you’re deciding what type of coffee mood you’re in.

For example, if you’re craving great-tasting espresso, Vivace might be the best place. But if you want a place that will have great pastries to accompany your caffeine, maybe Macrina is a better pick. You get the idea.

So what is McMenamins best for? If you want to feel like you’ve been transported back to the 1800s and have just finished a long journey on the Oregon Trail, this is your spot. And I don’t even mean that sarcastically—it is truly a one-of-a-kind vibe that you need to see to believe.

⚡️ Extra Caffeine: A Random Rant

The best part about doing this column is that it’s a full-on monarchy. So this section, which, in sticking with the coffee theme, I’m naming “extra caffeine”, is where I can give extra little titbits. Some weeks, maybe that’ll mean I get a quote from a barista, owner, or another customer. Other weeks, maybe I’ll deep dive into different types of coffee. If anyone has any ideas, I’m happy to hear them.

This week, though, I’m going on a rant.

Let me set the scene. You’ve just completed a four-hour drive, and after checking into the house and dropping off your stuff, you head to the own restaurant in town: McMenamins.

As a plant-powered soldier, you scan the menu, eventually locking eyes with a dish whose vagueness inclines you to order it: the Mystic Burger.

The burger seems simple, yet delicious. A Beyond Burger Patty topped with “Mystic 18 sauce” makes you wonder if there are 17 other variations of the sauce scattered across the cosmos. But you don’t let your imagination distract you. You simply order the burger.

15 minutes later, you’re face-to-face with it. But as you take the first bite, you realize something.

It’s literally a beef patty with a big hunk of American cheese on it.

My vegan spidey-senses knew that something was off, and when I asked our waiter, he was very apologetic. 10 minutes later, a new burger had arrived.

But it was the exact same burger. Trying to avoid the annoying vegan stereotypes, I just asked the waiter if this was indeed the veggie burger—and he instantly knew the kitchen had gone 0/2.

The third time was the charm, and a decent burger came my way. Anyways, I thought that was just a funny situation worth sharing. If you end up coming to get a coffee and a bite here, you’ve got a 33% chance of getting the veggie burger if you order it.

❗️One Last Thing…

Thank you all for your continued support as I venture across the coffee universe🫶🏼. This column will always be free, but if you feel like supporting and buying me a cup of coffee, I went full capitalist and figured out how to turn that feature on.

And as always, send coffee shop recs!

Last night I got to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event: going to a World Cup match in my home city. Through some good luck—also known as my cousin’s girlfriend’s dad getting food poisoning and not being able to go to the match—I was able to get a last-minute invitation to the match between Egypt and Iran, which was easily one of the most incredible atmospheres and endings to a match I have ever seen.

If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you watch the highlights, as Iran was denied a stoppage-time winner because, quite literally, the goalscorer’s pinky toe was offside.

But that was the soccer match, and we’re here to talk coffee. Which may make you wonder, what the heck is this edition about? But don’t call up your doctor and ask if your eyes are ok—you are reading it right. This edition is about the unnamed latte shop that was in section 137 of the Seattle (not Lumen!) stadium at the match last night.

Allow me to briefly set the scene, starting from the top. A bit after 5 pm, I took the light rail into Pioneer Square to meet up with my cousin, stopping at a fully-vegan taco joint, Rojo’s, to get some plant-powered fuel for a long night ahead. Wanting to get into the stadium early to soak up the atmosphere, we headed in a bit before 7 pm to watch the stars warm up.

After a chaotic and thrilling first half, I took a walk around the concessions area, when it hit me: I’m usually in bed by now. Yes, I acknowledge that my grandmother goes to bed later than I do. But I’ve come to accept that I’m an early bird.

So as my circadian rhythm told me it was time to get horizontal, I knew I had no other option than to find some caffeine. Like a man stuck in a desert for days, crawling over a hill to see a beautiful, glistening pond of fresh water, I locked eyes with the coffee shop and was magnetized towards it.

Now that you have a little context, allow me to dive a bit further into the different categories for this establishment (can it technically be called that?).

📍 Location: 17/25

I’m not really sure how to rank this category. On the one hand, it’s pretty inaccessible for the vast majority of people. But… if you do find yourself in the Seattle stadium, for any type of event, it’s actually in a fairly solid spot. It’s tucked away in the corner of the concessions area, so you won’t have to be packed like a can of sardines as you wait in line for your cup of joe. So I’m offsetting the fact that its entrance fee of a ticket to a sporting match with the fact that it’s in a cool spot in the stadium.

🔥 Vibe: 20+5/25

The first thing I noticed when I walked up to this stand was its simplicity. There were literally three things on the menu: a hot latte, an iced latte, or water. I know the whole minimalist thing is in style right now, but this felt a little too extreme. But I was reminded of a classic saying by Bruce Lee: “Fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” So if the lack of options meant a more finely tuned craft, so be it.

But what made the vibe of this place so great—and why it’s getting five bonus points—is the demographic of fellow customers. There’s a very specific, niche group of people who are getting a latte at 9 pm while at a sporting event. While the vast, vast majority of people are deciding between a Budweiser, Truly, or extremely bitter I.P.A that they pretend they enjoy, getting a coffee at twilight brings some interesting characters—for example, some guy who was running a betting scheme for people in Romania.

Yup, I wish I were kidding. Looking to pass the time as my drink was made, I asked the guy next to me a simple question: “Egypt or Iran?” He looked at me, unfazed, and said he didn’t care, and that he was simply here to bet.

Trying to find some connection, I chuckled and told him that my cousin had put $10 on Egypt, which is when he told me in a very cold-blooded, fact-of-the-matter eastern European way: “nah man, I’m running some betting for people back in Romania. I gotta go.”

And that was that. He grabbed his coffee and disappeared into the night. Now, if that interaction doesn’t deserve some bonus points for the vibe category, I don’t know what does.

💵 Price: 17.6/25

So $9.94 for a latte, as first glance, absolutely pierced my soul. How can I justify this?—I thought to myself. I’m used to spending $5 on a drink and feeling like that is already a lot. But then I remembered something: I have witnessed my sister spend over $10 on some fancy schmancy flavored latte dozens of times. So while $9.94 is obviously crazy—and it was not helped by the fact that the tipping options were 20%, 25%, of 30%—I realized that for a latte inside a stadium, where concessions are notoriously highway robbery, that it actually wasn’t horribly priced.

☕️ Taste: 24-2/25

Now for the real question: how did the thing actually taste? And I gotta say, it honestly hit the spot. I went with a soymilk base, which meant that I got some plant-protein as a little bonus. And seeing as it was 9 pm and I didn’t feel the need to pull an all-nighter, I also decided to get one regular shot and one decaf, which they were happy to do.

They happily accommodate my requests, and before I knew it, I was sipping on a delicious latte at my seat, while watching two nations battle it out for a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup.

But despite it being a great-tasting latte, it was around the 87th minute that my stomach began battling the soymilk harder than the two teams on the pitch were. Maybe it’s because I pretty much never get lattes due to this exact reason, but my stomach wanted to give a yellow card to my brain for my decision. Which is why I’m deducting two points.

❗️Bottom Line

The fact that there was even a coffee shop in the stadium, still turning out coffees at a witching hour of coffee-drinking, is honestly impressive in itself and worthy of applause. And while this shop won’t make it high on the rankings, it will surely be one of the most memorable I’ve had. I mean, how often do you get to enjoy a latte while watching the World Cup?

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 95.75/100

2. Caffe Ladro (Issaquah): 95.5/100

3. Espresso Vivace: 94.6/100

4. Misty Mountain Collective: 94.5/100

5. Susie B’s: 91.25/100

6. Subaru Service Cafe: 88.75/100

7. Macrina Bakery (Mercer Island): 88.5/100

8. Issaquah Coffee Company: 87.75/100

9. Switchback Roasters: 87.5/100

10. Story Coffee: 87/100

11. Bird Tree Cafe: 86.25/100

12. Unnamed Latte Shop in Section 137 of the Seattle World Cup Stadium: 81.6/100

13. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 81.5/100

14. Good Neighbors: 80/100

15. Loyal Coffee: 72.5/100

16. Frankly Coffee: 71.25/100

Happy Saturday, everyone. I’ll get it off my chest right away. Throughout my rankings over the last couple of months, there’s a rather important aspect to coffee shops that I feel I’ve been ignoring: the taste of the coffee. Yes, there’s a category for it, and yes, I’ve certainly had better coffee at some places. But while my goal is to find the best coffee shop around town, the first word in that hasn’t gotten its proper time in the limelight.

So I decided to change that this week. Like a student during finals week with a big essay due the next morning, I buried myself in the books, did my research, and found a contender for the best espresso in Seattle—which led me to Espresso Vivace on Broadway. The Infatuation, a reviewer I trust wholeheartedly for new restaurants, put it simply, saying that Vivace “made the best espresso in the city.”

With the excitement of an eight-year-old on Christmas morning, I headed to Capitol Hill, eager to see for myself if it truly was the best espresso the great coffee city of Seattle has to offer. And, slight spoiler, I was not disappointed. Let’s get into it.

OH! Side note before we begin. I decided to change the ranking system slightly, and will now be ranking each category out of 25 instead of ten. Why exactly? A score out of 100 feels easier to comprehend (percentages, people), and this also gives me more wiggle room to separate contenders. The Coffee Chat board of advisors—aka me thinking about this as I was on a run—came to a unanimous decision to make this change, and so that’s what we’ll be going with from now on.

📍 Location: 22.5/25

Capitol Hill is great. It’s buzzing with more types of people than you’d find in a Where’s Waldo poster, and there’s a wide range of restaurants and shops that you could spend hours walking through. Especially on a warm summer day, it’s hard to beat. But the cynical old man in me has one problem with the area: parking is impossible to find. Your options are to pay half your salary for an hour of parking, or to put your car, which feels like three miles down the road, in a residential area. I chose option B.

Some of you might respond that this is a great reason why we need more public transportation. Agreed!! But the problem is that public transport in Seattle, put simply, is horrible. Yes, it’s getting better—I took the link into downtown yesterday and had a surprisingly wonderful experience—but the city has got a lot of room to grow. So while I love Capitol Hill itself, I’m docking off a few points for the lack of parking.

🔥 Vibe: 25/25

You know when you were a kid, and the ultimate dream was to go to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, a place where all your wildest imaginations of a candy-filled life could finally be fulfilled? This place is the coffee enthusiast’s version of that. As I stepped through the doors, I was met with a rush of coffee-filled euphoria—and the caffeine hadn’t even hit yet. The sounds of steamed milk crackling and glass mugs clanking mixed perfectly with friends talking over a cappuccino, all creating a beautiful orchestra that would bring a tear to the eyes of John Williams.

The shop has a perfect amount of seating area, meaning that while you’ll never be out of luck when it comes to finding a spot, you won’t feel isolated from a fellow coffee-goer. I found a coffee campsite at the end of a long, last-supper-esque table that overlooked the street, creating a sense of tranquility as I sipped on the humble Cortado, one that reminded me that everything will be ok.

💵 Price: 22.1/25

What I’ve been starting to notice, especially as I collect new coffee shops like I did Pokémon Go Pokestops back in the good ol days, is that there really isn’t much variation in price between these types of shops. Yes, you can go get a large drip coffee from 7/11 for a buck. But when you go up a few tiers, all the prices are pretty similar. $5.53 for a Cortado is on the more expensive side, but at the end of the day, 50 cents ain’t too big of a swing; let’s be real.

☕️ Taste: 25/25

Ok, so I’ll admit this right away. This is where my lack of formal espresso training might hinder my rankings. I know I went on a big rant last week about how I have coffee ball knowledge (which I do), and I can tell the difference between very crappy espresso and a good shot. Once you get into the little details, it’s hard. But what I can tell you is that it was a damn good Cortado, which I think is validated by the fact that the guy in front of me literally bought four bags of coffee because he was “going back to Canada and needs the best coffee.” I mean, if you’re willing to drop $100 of beans right then and there, that’s gotta be worth something.

And if you’re not convinced yet that these people know what they’re doing, let me add one more thing that I saw as I refilled my water (sadly, they did not have sparkling water, so good old flat will have to do).

Their founder has a business card that reads “Coffee Specialist.” I mean, come on?! My first thought was ok, this is dope; this dude clearly knows his stuff. But then I also thought to myself, how does one get this title? Going back to my rant again, it’s not like universities are offering a degree in, oh, I don’t know, coffee science, right? Well, it turns out there are, which now means I’ve got a whole new life direction that’s going to be hard to tell my family: UC Davis’s Coffee Science research center. I’m not even kidding. Here’s the link if you don’t believe me.

Bottom Line

This week’s coffee chat left me with two big takeaways. First, I’m packing my bags when I get home and taking the first flight to Davis to begin my degree in coffee science (sorry, family, at least you’ll have great coffee for the rest of your lives!), and second, there is some damn good coffee in Seattle. If you find yourself on Capitol Hill and want to feel fully immersed in the world of the humble coffee bean, you’ve got to make a trip here.

And if nothing else can convince you, they sell a glass gallon of cold brew, which will surely make you the hippest Seattle person in your neighborhood. Until next week.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 95.75/100

2. Caffe Ladro (Issaquah): 95.5/100

3. Espresso Vivace: 94.6/100

4. Misty Mountain Collective: 94.5/100

5. Susie B’s: 91.25/100

6. Subaru Service Cafe: 88.75/100

7. Macrina Bakery (Mercer Island): 88.5/100

8. Issaquah Coffee Company: 87.75/100

9. Switchback Roasters: 87.5/100

10. Story Coffee: 87/100

11. Bird Tree Cafe: 86.25/100

12. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 81.5/100

13. Good Neighbors: 80/100

14. Loyal Coffee: 72.5/100

15. Frankly Coffee: 71.25/100

Happy Friday. We made it. I’ll keep things short and sweet here and get straight into business. This week, I’m ranking another favorite of mine in the Quah: Caffe Ladro. But fear not, true Seattleites, because even if you’re reluctant to make the pilgrimage eastward to the 425, Caffe Ladro has several locations around town, including Queen Anne, West Seattle, Capitol Hill, and Bellevue, to name a few. So in a true capitalist, market-optimization fashion, this week’s ranking is killing multiple birds with a single stone. Let’s get straight into it.

📍 Location: 9.3/10

One of the aspects I care most about when ranking coffee shops is their walkability: is it in a good location that people in need of caffeine can get to on foot? When I wrote this column in the Springs, back in my college days (yes, I did graduate less than a month ago, but let me start reminiscing), a good location score meant it was walkable from campus and my house. While the category has expanded its definition now that I am ranking all of the greater Seattle area, I decided to pay homage to my humble roots and make the 1.5-mile walk from my house to Caffe Ladro. Believe it or not, this is actually the closest coffee shop to my house, which, if nothing else, highlights the cookie-cutter, suburban area that I live in. Anyways.

After crossing the rivers and mountains of the Quah, outrunning a black bear and deer, and navigating around fallen trees (that last one is actually true), I emerged out of the woods and in front of the shop. Which is actually in a great location. On the corner of a main street of Grand Ridge Plaza, it’s close by to plenty of shops and apartments, and there was a wide-ranging diaspora of people working, friends and family meeting up for coffee, and, of course, pickleball moms.

The tl:dr? It’s actually in a pretty fun location, even if it requires a bit of a walk if you live deep in the highlands.

🔥 Vibe: 9.4/10

Caffe Ladro is a great example of a philosophy that is seemingly forgotten in today’s busy world: don’t do too much. Ladro keeps it simple, and the reward is a coffee shop that feels streamlined and like Goldilock’s porridge, is justtttt right. There’s not an ADHD-inducing overkill of menu options, and the decor doesn’t fill every last inch of wall space. Like one of those modern paintings you’d see on middle school trips to the art museum that’s literally two black lines and leaves you wondering, “I could have painted that!?” there’s actually something nice about the simplicity that you only later come to appreciate. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating—the Caffe has some character and decor—but it feels simple, compared to other shops, in a very refreshing way.

💵 Price: 8.5/10

Back in my school days (still aware I only graduated three weeks ago, but let me have this one), an 85% was a solid B. Which, as a self-proclaimed professor in coffee, is the grade I would give this shop. $4.95 for a cortado ain’t amazing, but at least it came on an aesthetically looking wooden board with some sparkling water. As for the Avocado Toast Index? Sadly, no entry this week. They’ve got a handful of pastries and small bites, but—in keeping with the less-is-more aesthetic—there’s not an overwhelming amount of options that will leave you paralyzed by thought.

☕️ Taste: 10+1/10

This category is why I love Caffe Ladro. As someone who dabbles in the art of homemade espresso, I’m yet to find better beans to make a morning coffee with than Ladro’s. And the unmatched taste of their freshly roasted beans is reflected in the cortado I had here. If you’re looking for some new beans for your home machine—whether it’s an espresso or a drip set-up—I’m giving my stamp of approval on their beans

Bottom Line

But why should I trust you? What qualifications do you have? It’s a great question, and one I’ve gotten a lot as I’ve plugged this column to my friends and family. To be honest—and I’m ok to say it—there’s none I really have. But I’ll respond with this: What the hell type of qualifications do you need to have? Would I be more trustworthy if I had a certificate in coffee? Is that even a thing? I can make some half-decent latte art, which has to count for something. What I do have, if anything, is experience, which is only rising exponentially. I’ve traversed continents to rank coffee shops, and slowly but surely, I’m building a knowledge bank that, for the most part, is not too useful, but that I can whip out at a party and use to start a conversation. I’ve got coffee ball knowledge. That’s why you can trust me.

Anyways, back to Caffe Ladro. There are so many locations around town that it’s well worth a visit. And if you’re in the market for a new bag of beans, I’m telling you, invest now. I’ll be back next week with another ranking, and please continue to let me know your favorite shop so I can rank it!

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 38.3/40

2. Caffe Ladro (Issaquah): 38.2/40

3. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

4. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

5. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

6. Macrina Bakery (Mercer Island): 35.4/40

7. Issaquah Coffee Company: 35.1/40

8. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

9. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

10. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

11. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 32.6/40

12. Good Neighbors: 32/40

13. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

14. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

June is upon us. Which, as all Seattleites will know, means one thing: 50-degree overcast days with a slight drizzle. But while the melancholy weather might remind one of winter—there’s literally the running joke around Seattle that the month is nicknamed Juneuary—I find it affords one the perfect opportunity to spend a weekend morning bundled up in a cafe. And that’s exactly what I did.

I headed westward to the little island in the middle of Lake Washington that is the go-to for many “island” calls I’ve heard in beer pong: Mercer Island. Located in the island’s downtown area—the term downtown is being used very liberally—Macrina Bakery is a fan favorite for people across the 206. With multiple locations around town, I’ve heard a lot about the place and figured it ticked off a new part of the Seattle coffee map while also being a popular spot worthy of review. Let’s get straight into it.

📍 Location: 6.9/10

Wanting to feel like a busslin-city goer, I parked at the newly minted Mercer Island light rail station and made the 10-minute walk over to Macrina. While the stroll through the downtown area is nice, the bakery—as my uncle who lives on the island concurred—is not in the coolest area. It’s in one of the seemingly millions of outdoor, strip-mall-esque areas that the greater Seattle area has, which is a shame, because it simply does not match the aesthetic and vibe of Macrina.

🔥 Vibe: 9.6+2/10

Going to a coffee shop on a Saturday morning is like eating one of those mushrooms in Super Mario Bros: it’s a power-up for the shop, as you’re bound to see a whole host of characters who contribute positively to the vibe. Today was no different, and as I opened the door, I was met by the aroma of freshly baked pastries, the sound of chatter and hurried baristas calling out orders, and dozens of coffee-goers chatting with friends and family. As I waited eagerly to place my order, I was forced to walk slowly by the beautiful array of breads and pastries—an army of carbohydrates we’re screaming at me to indulge, which I eventually did—which only added to my hunger.

After a smooth ordering process, in which I treated myself to a probably overpriced avocado toast—more on that later—and the classic cortado, I sat down at a small, marble table that made me feel like I was back in Enlightenment-era England. But while the aesthetic of the shop—a perfect blend of marble and oak decor, and a touch of greenery—was solid, fully evolved into my new role as a member of the bourgeois when I indulged in the free sparkling water they had.

Yes, you heard that right. Like the famed nitro-cold-brew at Building Three Coffee, at Macrina Bakery, you can treat yourself to infinite, perfectly temperature-controlled sparkling water. And the place deserves a bonus point or two for that.

💵 Price: 8.1/10

I’m slowly learning to readjust my expectations for this category. $4.75 for a cortado is definitely a little expensive. But that’s just what you get in 2026, I suppose.

But what I really want to talk about is my avocado toast. You’ve heard of the Big Mac Index—an economic tool that compares whether world currencies are over or undervalued based on comparing the price of the Big Mac—but let me introduce you to a tangent of it: the Avocado Toast Index™️. I’ve now had a few shops’ takes on the seemingly simple dish—at its core, it’s just two ingredients—and I can now start to see if a specific shop’s version is overpriced by comparing it to others. Macrina did not pass the test. While it was delicious, $9.75 for a piece of sourdough, some avocado, and microgreens is just robbery. And that’s all I have to say about that.

☕️Taste: 8.8/10

As much as the avocado toast suffers from a bad score on the Avocado Toast Index™️, it was pretty damn tasty. And the free sparkling water gives the place some more credit in this category. But the real question: how does the coffee taste? Fairly good. But that’s about it.

As someone who has now officially learned to make latte art on my $100 home set-up (see below), is it unfair to expect that baristas using set-ups that cost more than a used car be able to produce a better flower than I can? I concede that I’m turning into a coffee snob, but my point still stands.

Bottom Line

As I discover new parts of the coffee map that is the 206, I’m starting to realize a few things. First, coffee here is just more expensive. Second, each place has got its own unique, fun vibe. And lastly, if a shop has free sparkling water, it’s getting bonus points. Macrina has a few locations around Seattle, and the Mercer Island location is worth a visit for the third point alone. But if you’re looking for delicious pastries, it’s also got you covered there. Let me know where I should try next week!

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 38.3/40

2. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

3. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

4. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

5. Macrina Bakery (Mercer Island): 35.4/40

6. Issaquah Coffee Company: 35.1/40

7. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

8. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

9. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

10. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 32.6/40

11. Good Neighbors: 32/40

12. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

13. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

Happy Saturday, all, and welcome back to the second edition of this now Pacific-Northwest-oriented era of coffee chat. I’ll get it off my chest right away: I feel some slight regret, because many of you gave me some incredible recommendations of shops around Seattle, and although I made a valiant effort to get myself across Lake Washington and try them, I wasn’t able to. Have no fear, as a ranking of Anchorhead coffee, Victrola, and many other shops, y’all have graciously suggested, is coming. But don’t let that detract from this week’s edition. Today I’m ranking my home field coffee shop: Issaquah Coffee Company.

What do you think of when someone says “coffee shop”? One might think of the rushed businessman grabbing a black coffee to-go, or a group of weekend warrior moms getting their cappuccinos and gossiping. Nowadays, you’ll probably also see a group of teens ordering an iced vanilla latte with enough pumps of sugar to put a small child into a coma. Whatever it is your imagination can come up with, let me be clear: Issaquah Coffee Company has it.

Maybe the fact that I came at 11 am on a Saturday had something to do with it, but literally every coffee shop stereotype I can think of was present here. Without spoiling too much, let’s get into the rankings.

📍 Location: 9.8/10

Nestled in a beautiful, quiet part of downtown Issaquah, this shop is perfect if you’ve just come back from a weekend hike on the eastside, or just want a fun area to sip on a coffee as you look at the greenery the area has to offer. The shop itself is also a Swiss-Army Knife of sorts, as you have plenty of outdoor seating, as well as tables, couches, and benches inside, where you can discuss your suburban issues. There’s even a little backroom that I have to assume was a greenhouse in a past life, where you’ll find college students and remote workers more wired in than that one guy from The Social Network.

🔥 Vibe: 10/10

Where do I even begin? When I walked up, I was greeted by a line out the door that featured more bikers than a Tour De France peloton, which made me realize immediately that I was indeed back in the PNW. Next to the group of bikers getting their caffeine fix after a cheeky Saturday morning ride (🤙🏼hell ya), there was the next stereotypical group: five moms all discussing, well, honestly, who knows. They all had vanilla lattes, so another stereotype bonus point? The last infinity stone was collected when the guy in front of me—clearly sent by his girlfriend on a coffee run—reluctantly ordered an iced caramel latte with an extra pump of sugar, while making sure to read the order off his phone so the barista knew it wasn’t for him.

It didn’t end with the people, though. They had every trendy coffee you can think of, including, yes, a Nitro Cold Brew. While I’m sad to say I didn’t get it—the Building Three Nitro will always be number one for me—it did at to the far-reaching vibe.

Even the decor screamed coffeehouse stereotypes. From the little sign hanging up in the main room that says “Will Trade Coffee for Gossip,” to the bathroom being filled with those mid-2010s quote posters you find at Hobby Lobby that white-suburban moms think are the pinnacle of humor (see photo below), everything you can think of is here. And I’m honestly a fan, as you can tell from my ranking.

💵 Price: 7.8/10

Their pricing felt very inconsistent. Over $4 for a shot of espresso might be the biggest highway robbery I’ve ever seen, but the Cortado I got was only $4.75. Make it make sense. Everything else felt pretty standard for a coffee shop in the PNW. They do have more pastries, sandwiches, and other treats than you could ever imagine, so if you’re coming for food, you’re in luck—as long as you don’t get paralyzed by choice.

☕️ Taste: 7.5/10

Eh. Quite literally the definition of nothing to write home about. The coffee snob in me wants to criticize the poor latte art, as I was not blown away by the drink itself. But it did the trick of getting me caffeinated, and is there much else to ask for in a coffee? In school, a 75% is a passing grade, but surely nothing to tell your parents about, and I think that works perfectly here.

Bottom Line

While it’s technically not the closest coffee shop to my house in the Quah, and I’ve only been here a handful of times, I do consider it my home course. I take pride in my Quah roots, and Issaquah Coffee Company is a shop I’m proud to call part of my town. While the coffee may not rank as your favorite ever sip, come here on a weekend morning, and I assure you, the $5 you will spend on a drink is worth it. The vibes carry this place, and if you find yourself on the east side, it’s worth the trip.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 38.3/40

2. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

3. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

4. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

5. Issaquah Coffee Company: 35.1/40

6. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

7. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

8. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

9. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 32.6/40

10. Good Neighbors: 32/40

11. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

12. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

Happy Sunday, and welcome back to another edition—and the beginning of a new era—of coffee chat. Just as Lewis and Clark did centuries ago, I’ve traversed across the Rockies and settled at the mouth of the Columbia River, also known as Seattle. Back from college (for good, which still feels weird to say), I’m now beginning the task of exploring and ranking coffee shops across Seattle, which is an assignment that feels slightly overwhelming considering the incredible amount of options the 206 has.

Home of the slightly contentious Starbucks—which I think has to get a ranking at some point—Seattle has a rich history of coffee, only improved by the whole “Pacific-Northwest hipster wearing a microbeanie” aesthetic. But despite it being the roaster that most people associate with Seattle, we’re not starting with Starbucks. We’re starting with a south roaster that was mainly picked, to be quite honest, because it was close to my uncle’s house, who I had just been at.

But don’t let that make you think this place doesn’t deserve the first Coffee Chat ranking of this new era. Q.E.D. is a coffee roaster with multiple locations around South Seattle—all to say that it’s a fast-growing roaster that perfectly fits the Seattle vibe. Let’s get right into it below.

📍 Location: 8.9/10

Now that I’m no longer basing this category around its proximity to Colorado College, it becomes a little harder, while also giving me more wiggle room. Which, to be honest, I’m not mad about. This shop, which is on 31st Street, just south of I-90, is honestly in a pretty good spot. It’s surrounded by a couple of other fun little shops, as well as being within walking distance of more houses than you could imagine.

The 10-minute walk from my uncle’s house was quicker than any I made back in the “good ol days”—as I’m now contractually obligated to call them—when I was at Colorado College. So if you’re in the South Seattle or Mount Baker area, it’s a pretty good pick.

🔥 Vibe: 8.7/10

There’s a recent trend in the restaurant industry that I thought would never reach the coffee world, but this shop made me think otherwise. Have you ever been to one of the boujee, trying-way-too-hard-to-be-hip Mexican places that feels they can charge you $12 for a taco and $15 for guac because it comes in a fun-shaped metal bucket? Or the water that comes in a thick metal cup? When I got my cold brew, I was greeted by something I never thought I’d see: the barista was pouring it into the exact same metal cup those restaurants use.

Suddenly, it hit me, and as I looked around as realized the menu was written on a chalkboard, the barista had a manbun, and they sold overpriced t-shirts, I realized that the epidemic had spread. Coffee shops, too, are now falling victim to this trend. Is that a bad thing? For our wallets, probably. But, I am slightly embarrassed to admit, I don’t mind it. Sipping a cold brew out of a metal cup made me feel like I was living out every pickleball mom’s dream lifestyle. So the tl:dr? vibe-wise, it’s up there.

💵 Price: 5.5/10

I think I’m going to have to adjust my mindset now that I’m back in Seattle, and my bank account is actively screaming at me as I do. $5.25 for a 12-ounce cold brew is pretty brutal. $5 for a cortado, my gold standard for comparing different shops, is worse than the infamous prices at Loyal Coffee. Maybe after ranking a few shops around Seattle, I’ll look back and realize this is simply just the standard, but it still pains me.

☕️ Taste: 9.5/10

I’ll concede it right off the bat: drinking cold brew out of a metal cup on a hot day adds an incredible amount to the experience, and it carries this category’s score more than Lebron did with the Cavs in 2016. So my advice is simple: if it’s a hot day, and you find yourself in these necks of the woods, eat the $5.25 and get the cold brew. While it’s not as magical as the cold brew ice cube at BirdTree, or as fancy as the Nitro cold brew at Building Three, it’s not going to disappoint.

Bottom Line

I’ve heard from professors before that the hardest part of writing a book is starting the thing. Getting the first words down on a page. This taste—ranking coffee shops around Seattle feels similar in a way, because there are pretty much infinite shops to rank. But the hardest step is always the first one, and Q.E.D. is a respectable opening line in this infinite maze of finding the best coffee the PNW has to offer. Needless to say, I am taking—and quite honestly, almost begging—for any recommendations of shops y’all think are worthy of the title.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 38.3/40

2. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

3. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

4. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

5. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

6. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

7. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

8. Q.E.D. Coffee Roasters: 32.6/40

9. Good Neighbors: 32/40

10. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

11. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

While I’m excited to venture back to the Pacific Northwest and be spoiled with choices of coffee shops—some great reviews are coming soon—I am sad that there are a lot of shops around the Springs I never got around to reviewing. The Cat Cafe downtown comes to mind, and so do a few shops in Manitou and up north. But there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, and if there’s one shop that deserves a ranking—and the title of number one coffee shop in the Springs—before I leave the Centennial State, it’s Building Three Coffee. Located just a five-minute drive north of campus—and right next door to Nightingale Bread (more on that later) it’s one of my favorite roasters and shops. Let’s get straight into it.

📍 Location: 8.5/10

It’s not really walking distance from campus, and the area around the shop isn’t too great. While the fact that it’s next to Nightingale Bread—an incredible bakery that is worth a trip in its own right—the big parking lot surrounding the shop gives off that “Mytho America” vibe. Although, to be fair, a lot of the Springs do, too. With that being said, I do actually like the little parking lot it’s in, as it’s next to some fun little stores.

🔥 Vibe: 10/10

Building Three makes up for a subpar location with some incredible vibes on multiple fronts. If you go on the weekend, you’re bound to see mobs of cyclers who—ironically—look like they should be from the Pacific Northwest, as they sport their Patagonia fits. Inside, you’ll find a very open space full to the brim of a great mix of people chatting, doing work, or just enjoying a cup of joe.

What really completes the vibe, though, is the fact that just across the hall is their roastery, which, for a coffee nerd, is like Christmas. Have you ever been to Din Tai Fung, or a bakery where you get to watch the workers handmake delicious food in front of your very own eyes? That’s what this is like. To get to see the coffee before it’s famous (fame here being defined as going into my belly), makes it taste all the better. For that reason, I’m giving it a 10/10 for the vibe category.

💵 Price: 8.8/10

At this point, I’ve gotten used to what to expect for coffee prices in the Springs. Building Three is towards the middle of the pack when it comes to pricing, but it’s still got some pretty decent value. Not as bad as Loyal, that’s for sure. Good Neighbors is a solid price comparison, but I’d put it above them. They’ve got a solid selection of food options, too, which don’t look like they’ll break the bank. While I’d opt for food next door at the bakery, you can 100% find something good here.

☕️ Taste: 11/10

Yup, I’m breaking the rules here. Building Three breaks the ranking system here. Arrest me. Their espresso is incredible, and the fact that it’s roasted in front of your very own eyes makes it all the better. But the score is largely based on three words: Nitro. Cold. Brew.

Have you ever wanted the aesthetic of holding a crisp Guinness, but it’s 9 am on a Tuesday? Wanted that Irish cream taste, but 86 the hangover? Building 3 is the place for you. And no, this is not an ad, and I was in no way paid to talk about this. But the nitro cold brew is something special. They pour it out of a “beer” tap, and as you anxiously wait for the drink to settle, a feeling that everything will be ok washes over the drinker. It’s a unique, one-of-a-kind drink that makes the trip up worth it. I mean, come on, look at that drink.

Bottom Line

As I leave the nest of Colorado College and head back to the 206, I can say without a doubt that I will truly miss the coffee scene in this city. There’s an abundance of great shops in this town that offer whatever you’re feeling, and Building Three is no different. Not sure if I’ll ever find a nitro cold brew as good as this—or at all, to be fair—and it’s a perfect sendoff. Looking ahead, I’m excited to start reviewing all that the PNW has to offer in terms of coffee, and would love recommendations!

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Building Three Coffee: 38.3/40

2. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

3. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

4. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

5. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

6. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

7. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

8. Good Neighbors: 32/40

9. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

10. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

When I started this column several fortnight ago, I was guided by a simple goal: to provide CC students with information about different coffee shops around Colorado Springs, so that they too could enjoy and support the businesses in the area. Like a Squirtle becoming a Blastoise, this column has evolved, and I have ranked everything from the tiny, but mighty, little hut that is Story Coffee to establishments that are closer to cafes, such as Good Neighbors or Bird Tree. And while these all have great things to offer, and are worthy of a review and a visit, I am ashamed that I have ignored what is undoubtedly the most popular coffee shop for students: Susie B’s.

It would be criminal to write a coffee review column and not do a piece on the shop. And there is no more fitting way to end my time as a writer at the Catalyst (although I have a bone to pick with the fact that this last edition won’t be in the physical paper this week…) than to write about the place that got me through so many essays, readings, and group projects throughout my four years at CC. Without further ado, let’s get into it below.

📍 Location: 10/10

I mean, it has to be a ten, right? As I said above, the founding goal of this column was to provide students with some information on coffee shops around town, and so if you’re a student looking to get coffee, nothing quite beats this place in terms of getting there. It’s almost too convenient, as you can be grinding away on the third floor of the library (although I will die on the hill that nobody is actually getting work done on this floor, as consistently seeing a stream of your friends walking by cannot not be distracting), and practically reach your hand over to the register and tap your gold card. The bottom line for this category is simple: for a CC student—who’s either on the meal plan or has a friend with extra Tiger Bucks—the location can’t really be beat.

🔥 Vibe: 7.5/10

While the vibe isn’t going to beat out the mythic establishment that is Misty Mountain Collective, or have a barista as animated as the one at Bird Tree Cafe, Susie B’s keeps it simple, and I, for one, appreciate that. They aren’t trying to do too much, and while some of the workers have definitely given me a difficult time on some occasions, there isn’t too much to complain about within this category. Plus, because it’s in the library, you’re certain to run into friends who are also looking for a quick caffeine fix to get them through the rest of their class.

💵 Price: 10/10

Again, objectively speaking, the price category has to be a ten, right? I mean, assuming you’ve got Gold Card money or, in my case, a generous friend, you’re playing with monopoly bucks here. I honestly couldn’t even tell you how much a coffee here actually costs. While it’s probably overpriced, like everything at the C-store or the Preserve is, it’s regardless. So I think it has to get a perfect score in this category.

☕️ Taste: 9/10

There’s something about the medium-iced coffee with a splash of oatmilk—the order that was a constant in my morning routine freshman and sophomore year—that just hits me with a wave of nostalgia harder than hearing OG Fortnite music. Maybe it’s the fact that the order is the reason I was able to write a ten-page research paper in a day, but something about the coffee just, quite simply put, hits different. It might not be the best coffee objectively. If you blindfolded me and had me taste different shops’ iced coffee, I probably wouldn’t pick it. But, like many things in life, it’s not the thing itself, but the memories that accompany it.

Bottom Line

With graduation coming around faster than that guy who just broke the world record in the marathon—and this being the last coffee chat I’m writing for the Catalyst—I’m beginning to reflect on which shops I’ll miss the most. While I’ll always have the mason jar from Misty, and might even pick up a bag of overpriced coffee from Loyal, there is something that Susie B’s offers that no other shop does. Grabbing an iced coffee, going down to the basement of the library, and locking in for a research paper in the fourth week will be something that I might actually miss. While Susie B’s might not be a coffee connoisseur’s first choice, for the CC student, it’s a humble and worthy establishment. It’s a worthy runner-up in my final rankings.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

2. Susie B’s: 36.5/40

3. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

4. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

5. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

6. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

7. Good Neighbors: 32/40

8. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

9. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

PS: If you made it this far and haven’t already, please consider subscribing for free! And tell all your coffee enthusiast friends and family about the column! Now that I’m graduating, I’ll be headed back to the Pacific Northwest, where I’m going to have more options for great coffee than I could possibly dream up. Be on the lookout for a review of the first-ever Starbucks down in Pike Place Market, Monorail Coffee, Cafe Ladro, and much, much more.

Bird Tree Cafe is another one of those establishments that, one, I have passed by on plenty of occasions but never gone into, and two, toes the line between a coffee shop and restaurant. But the beauty of writing this column is that I can make and bend the rules to my choosing, and Bird Tree is a place that deserves a ranking. It’s also the first recommendation I got from a Substack follower (and former teammate, shoutout WAS(!) ), so it was a no-brainer to rank it for this week’s edition. Here are my thoughts on the place.

📍 Location: 9.5/10

Bird Tree is right across the street from Story Coffee—a shop I ranked a few months back and gave a 9.8/10 in this category, so it only felt fair to give a very similar location ranking. The only reason it doesn’t get that extra 0.3 that Story has is that it’s not in Acacia Park. But it’s in the heart of downtown, and only a ten to fifteen-minute walk from campus, making it a perfect spot to go after class or on a weekend, as you’ll find yourself in one of the best parts of Colorado Springs (in my opinion).

🔥 Vibe: 9.4/10

The vibe of this place can be encapsulated very well by the logo font—known as dosis—that epitomises the hip, millennial core aesthetic that a lot of the restaurants and coffee shops in downtown Colorado Springs have. It’s very similar to the “metal cup and plates” type of vibe that taco shops will use to justify making you spend $15 for chips and guac. Anyways, with that slight rant out of the way, I actually do really enjoy the vibe and social atmosphere it harbors. There’s a solid mix of people talking, doing work, or just hanging around, and the ceiling decor—which was Chinese New Year themed—was actually pretty sick, even if it feels like April might be past the socially accepted cutoff of when you can use that decor. The only point I’ll take off was for the aux, which seemed to have absolutely zero theme or continuity. I heard some EDM, pop, 1980s rap, and random other songs that made me feel like I should be racing in Rainbow Road.

But what I want to highlight the most, and the reason it’s got such a high vibe score, are the baristas. More specifically, the barista who took my order, with her pink beret and communication, is something I can only compare to a flight attendant, in the best way possible. It felt like every word she said was perfectly constructed, and not a breath was wasted on unhelpful information. Either that, or she’s just a very good saleswoman.

💵 Price: 6/10

Overall, I’d say my best comparison to this place is Good Neighbors, and the price category epitomises that. $6 for a cold brew is pretty steep, but it’s aided by the fact that it instead of ice cubes, it comes with frozen cold brew cubes, so that the coffee “isn’t diluted,” according to one barista. On the food side of things, while the Early Bird Breakfast Bowl I ordered ran me $15 and felt overtaxing, it was well worth it taste-wise. Although the prices aren’t as bad as Loyal Coffee’s overpriced avocado toast (I have a personal vendetta against that specific dish for some reason), it’s definitely not on the cheap side. It’s a perfect middle-of-the-pack contender: in no way great value, but it also won’t set you back and put you in decades of debt.

☕️ Taste: 9.6/10

To keep a bit of fairness in these rankings, I’m gonna focus on the coffee part of the cafe, rather than the food options. But I have to admit, the cold brew was something special. I think a large part of that is because of the frozen cold brew ice cube, which is something I’ve never seen before and am a huge fan of. Going to start a petition to pass legislation that says every coffee shop that serves cold brew has to do this.

I’ll briefly mention the food side of things, because the bowl I got has to be one of the best coffee shop meals I’ve had. The fact that Loyal’s sad avocado toast costs the same makes me despise that place even more.

Bottom Line

Whether you want to come and get some work done, have a bite with a friend on a weekend, or want to see quite possibly the world’s first and only flight attendant barista, Bird Tree is well worth a visit. I’d honestly say it’s worth a trip just to try the frozen cold brew ice cube. And if you’re of drinking age, they’ve also got a bar with a few beers on tap, as well as a wide range of cocktails. While Bird Tree narrowly loses out to its next-door neighbor, Story Coffee, both offer very good coffee and vibes if you’re in the downtown area.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

2. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

3. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

4. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

5. Bird Tree Cafe: 34.5/40

6. Good Neighbors: 32/40

7. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

8. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

As far as annoying, tedious adult tasks go, getting your car serviced has to be up there—and maybe even barely beats out going to the dentist. From the fact that the car mechanics seem to be speaking a different language (I, for one, have zero sense of how much it costs to replace a wheel bearing, so they could be making up prices on the spot for all I know) to typically sitting in a room that is oddly similar to the DMV or passport office, the bottom line is clear: the whole process sucks.

But my perspective changed, and I knew I had to write a special review when I was shown to the waiting room at Heuberger Subaru in Colorado Springs. Shortly after talking to a mechanic, I was shown back—like a hostess would at a restaurant—to, as I can only describe, a beautiful cafe: The Subarau Service Cafe. Or, as another little sign calls it, “Java Kat Kafe.” I’m sticking with the former because I think it makes the fact that it’s actually a great cafe even funnier.

Let’s dive a little deeper into why I’m considering investing in this coffee shop…

📍 Location: 9/10

Location in relation to what? That’s the question I asked myself as I wolfed down a PB&J I brought from home, thinking it was going to be the highlight of a miserable afternoon getting my car serviced. But the location—if we’re talking in terms of proximity to where my car is getting serviced—is pretty much perfect. I can still see my car, and the area itself is very open with lots of natural light. I can genuinely say it’s better than a lot of speciality coffee shops that try too hard to curate the perfect location.

🔥 Vibe: 9/10

Again, maybe it’s the fact that my expectations were so low that almost anything would seem great, but I feel like I was transported into an old-timey, car-themed coffee shop. As I write, I’m sitting next to a red 1974 Subaru, and across from me is a little pond and waterfall (sadly, there’s no Koi fish) with greenery and shrubs that make me feel at peace with nature.

The barista, a sweet, older lady, was talking with all the customers—all of whom had a smile on their face, a sight you rarely see in the waiting room of a car shop. And there’s even a large, colorful mural of a mountain. The only thing that takes the vibe down is that the mechanics occasionally walk through, briefly teleporting me back to the reality that I am indeed getting my car serviced.

💵 Price: 10/10

You’ll never see me give a better price rating for one simple reason: everything in the shop is FREE. Yes, you read that right. All the coffee, drinks, and snacks–albeit not the largest selection—are completely complimentary. They don’t even accept tips(!). So while they might not have the freshest coffee, be able to make latte art, or have avocado toast on the menu, I won’t be spending a dime here. Maybe there’s some hidden fee in my car service that contributes to this, but I’m going to choose not to subscribe to that theory.

☕️ Taste: 7.5/10

Remember when I said they might not have the freshest, speciality coffee that other shops have? I sort of lied, because they actually have three Loyal Coffee blends on drip. As someone who loves the coffee at Loyal, this was a beyond-welcome surprise. The only reason the score isn’t higher is that the actual espresso-based drinks are surely nothing to write home about. But hey, they do the trick of getting you caffeinated.

On top of that, they actually have a menu of speciality drinks, with options like a “Milky Way” or “Tropical Polar Bear” available for the adventurous. And, because of course, they do also have a vanilla chai latte.

The array of free snacks is also worth highlighting, as they have a range of fruit, bars, and even fruit roll-ups. A solid little touch that is honestly better than what’s offered at “real” coffee shops.

Bottom Line

I’d be lying if I said part of the reason I’m doing this review is to pass the time and distract myself from the fact that, yes, I am spending my Monday afternoon getting my car serviced. But don’t let that make this review any less serious: this shop deserves some recognition for its great vibes and free, I repeat, free, coffee and snacks. It’s in the #2 slot at the time of writing, and I genuinely think that’s a deserved spot. The Subarau Service Cafe embodies the Bill Belichick mantra of “Do Your Job.” For a person waiting to be told they are going to have to spend thousands on car maintenance (editing this in later, I found out the actually number will be $1,700), it’s a sliver of tranquility and peace.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

2. Subaru Service Cafe: 35.5/40

3. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

4. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

5. Good Neighbors: 32/40

6. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

7. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

If you keep your eye out around campus, I guarantee you’ll quickly see students branding a very particular mason jar, filled to the brim, which, I would be willing to bet, is some type of iced latte. That mug, I recently found out, belongs to Misty Mountain Collective, a spot that, despite being just a block south of the 7/11, I have never been to. But that all changed this week, and as my Beli ranking may have spoiled, this place quickly became an instant favorite. I’ll get into some specific rankings below, but before some readers inevitably flip to a new article, let me say: if you need a new coffee shop, I demand you try this place out.

Location: 9/10

There are two parts to the location ranking of a coffee shop, in my opinion. The first is how close it is to the reader (in this case, CC students), and the second is the surrounding area. While its distance from campus warrants a 10, I had to drop a point because of the surrounding area, which I’m almost certain is a reason I, and a lot of people, have never been. As my neighbor put it when I told him about the shop, it looks like a motel. And he’s not wrong. The place is literally surrounded by motels that look like they were used to film Breaking Bad. Even the store’s sign fits the vibe (not sure if this is on purpose?) of a motel. But for those whose curiosity gets the best of them, I’m sure there was little disappointment.

Vibe: 10/10

How do I even begin to explain the vibe of this place? When I walked in, I felt like I was transported directly into a hobbit-hole, and was sure I would turn my head to the left and inevitably see Bilbo Baggins drinking an iced oatmilk latte. The vast array of plants, trinkets (highlighted by decks of tarot cards, because, of course!), and a handwritten menu on a chalkboard epitomize the place’s vibe, and I’m all in on it. I mean, the fact that my drink was served in a Peter Rabbit mug is incredible by itself, but the shop’s main gimmick, that you get to keep your glass mason jar for $1, is one of the most fun things I’ve seen a shop do.

On top of that, having a vast array of “potions,” which range from fun non-espresso lattes to the ominous and apparently “mildly psychoactive” Lucid Dream (more on that later), adds a whole other dimension while simultaneously fitting directly into the vibe this place is going for.

Price: 8/10

While the coffees and speciality drinks are on the more expensive side—$4.5 for a cortado is definitely high—I found it fully justified given the vibe of this place, as well as the fact that you get to keep the jar. So while you might spend an extra dollar or two here, consider it as an entrance fee to one of the coolest clubs around Colorado Springs.

Taste: 9.8/10

I’m hesitant to give out 10/10’s, but this place got pretty close. I think the Peter Rabbit mug impacted how the coffee tasted, but it hit harder than a mango melba smoothie from Colorado Coffee (which is an incredibly high bar, for those unfamiliar with that drink). But what I want to highlight to all is the Lucid Dream drink, which, as I alluded to earlier, was described by the barista as a blend of adoptogens which, together, have a mild psychoactive effect similar to taking a hit of pot, so I was told.

While the drinks’ claims may have, like pretty much every other drinking claiming these adaptogenic benefits, been completely overblown, the concoction itself did actually taste incredible. Its blue hue in the mason jar made me feel like I was drinking a Mini Shield—fueled and ready for the day ahead. At $11 its hard to justify buying again, but my journalistic instinct required me to let the people know whether it was worth it.

Bottom Line

I’ve got a new leader in the rankings, which is bittersweet in a way, because I am sad I didn’t discover this place earlier. It’s perfect for meeting with a friend, getting work done, or just hanging out in the sun and enjoying some high-UV weather. If I could recommend one place to walk to next time you need some caffeine, this would be it. Plus, you’ll come out of the place as the owner of a pretty mason jar, meaning you’ll gain some very CC-esque granola credentials along the way.

🏅 Current Rankings

1. Misty Mountain Collective: 37.8/40

2. Switchback Roasters: 35/40

3. Story Coffee: 34.8/40

4. Good Neighbors: 32/40

5. Loyal Coffee: 29/40

6. Frankly Coffee: 28.5/40

And lastly… as always, I would love to hear from y’all, and welcome any recommendations on spots to try out next! See you next week. - Rex