6 Fantastic Seattle Coffee Shops

Analog Coffee © Jeff Scott Shaw

By F&W Editors

In F&W's survey of America's Favorite Food Cities, you chose Seattle as the best coffee destination in the country. Here, six of the city's best places to grab a cup. —Julien Perry & Sara Billups

Analog Coffee.

 Analog is an incredible hangout. There are stacks of comic books, good music on vinyl and expertly brewed coffees made with beans from Seattle’s Herkimer Coffee. 

Fun fact: Analog accepts records in exchange for coffee.
Drink to order: Cold brew on tap. Analog was the first place in town to make cold brew, which is extra-smooth and concentrated.
Coffee-snob factor: 3/5

Milstead & Co. 

Where Seattle’s biggest coffee geeks meet. Owner Andrew Milstead sources beans from a list of roasters, just like pubs rotate taps from breweries. Baristas walk customers through the 25 or so coffees they pour each week. 

Fun fact: Milstead’s mother decorated the shop with percolators from estate sales.
Drink to order: Single-origin pour-over.
Coffee-snob factor: 5/5

Porchlight Coffee & Records.

 Recently relocated to a new Capitol Hill location, Porchlight uses a Seattle-built Synesso machine and locally roasted beans. Fantastic doughnuts from Mighty-O are a powerful lure.

Fun fact: The shop doubles as a record label and music store.
Drink to order: Macchiato.
Coffee-snob factor: 1/5

Slate Coffee Roasters. 

In the early 1900s, streetcars ran along Sixth Avenue, and small grocery stores were at many of the stops. One such building now houses the family-run Slate, where baristas pour espresso drinks into wineglasses for a fancy look.

Fun fact: Slate was originally operated out of an Airstream, which is still used for parties.
Drink to order: A deconstructed latte: espresso, steamed milk and a latte served in three separate cups.
Coffee-snob factor: 3/5

Victrola Coffee Roasters.

 The small Seattle chain’s original café launched in 2000; a second Capitol Hill location opened in a 1920s Auto Row building, and that’s where the friendly baristas now hold free coffee-tasting classes on Wednesday mornings.

Fun fact: Victrola serves beans from sustainable growers in season (like all crops, coffee has a season).
Drink to order: Cappuccino.
Coffee-snob factor: 4/5

Vif. 

By day, this Scandinavian-style café serves espresso drinks and pour-overs using Olympia Coffee beans, a local favorite; by night, it’s a natural-wine bar and shop. 

Fun fact: Co-owners Shawn Mead and Lauren Feldman make almond milk and vanilla syrup, plus snacks (granola, chicken liver mousse).
Drink to order: Single-origin pour-over.
Coffee-snob factor: 2/5