In 1971, Starbucks opened its first location in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Since then, the brand has evolved into one of the world’s most recognizable coffee shops. It’s no secret that the city has bred a culture that revolves around crafting the perfect cup of joe. And while Seattle is most widely known for serving as the origin of Starbucks, there are a number of local, eccentric coffee shops throughout the city that are worth visiting. Here are the best five, according to locals.
Poindexter Coffee
Poindexter is an all-day café that serves beans from Coffee Manufactory—a sought-after brand from the acclaimed, Bay Area favorite, Tartine Bakery. The sleek space also features an array of pastries by the farm-to-table bakery, Salmonberry. For more information, visit www.graduatehotels.com.
Preserve and Gather
Any true coffee connoisseur knows that a cup of coffee is only as good as the experience that comes along with it. At Preserve and Gather, the ambience is everything. The pastries and roasts are made locally from Fulcrum Coffee. And the shop purposely doesn’t have Wi-Fi—a strategic move to encourage interaction and build more community in the heart of Seattle. For more information, visit www.preserveandgather.com.
Herkimer Coffee
Herkimer is truly a neighborhood coffee hotspot. The space has a reputation for creating a community-oriented environment that’s built by a talented team of baristas who not only seem to effortlessly remember customer names and orders, but they also make every visitor to the coffee shop feel as if they’re a part of their family. Herkimer Coffee demonstrates a knack for attention to detail—in their caffeine concoctions, pastry delicacies and service. For more information, visit www.herkimercoffee.com.
Caffé D’arte
Caffé D’arte recently opened a new location in Pioneer Square—but the brand certainly isn’t new to the Seattle coffee scene, as it’s been serving quality caffeine creations since 1985. Visitors to Caffé D’arte can sip nitro wood-roasted cold brew and indulge in pastries from local favorites Alki Bakery, French Connections, and Rain Shadow Meats. For more information, visit www.caffedarte.com.
Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Company
Zoka Coffee serves incomparable cups of coffee in a classically Seattle setting that’s artistic, grunge and effortlessly cool. The brand has garnered a reputation in Seattle for the quality of their creations, which have been around since the roaster’s opening in 1997. For more information, visit www.zokacoffee.com.