In this day and age, Coffee shops might as well be makeshift offices. The all-too-familiar scene of a hip millennial working on a laptop at a coffee shop has become the signature of a generation. It has also prompted the growth of coffee as a culture throughout many major cities. 

But few of these cities can compare to the coffee capital of the United States. Seattle exhibits uniqueness in many ways through its idyllic waterfronts or jaw-dropping mountain views. One of its trademarks is a collection of world-class coffee shops. And although the bearded, tattooed hipster image permeates coffee culture anywhere in the world, the highlight of the Seattle area coffee scene is its cultural diversity. 

New residents looking to buy homes in The Emerald City will find themselves involved in the coffee culture here one way or another. But it is a massive undertaking to explore a place that claims to have more coffee shops than any other city in the nation. 

That’s why the Prevu team has set out to make things a little more manageable. Below is our beginner’s guide to the best coffee in Seattle and the neighborhoods to find it. 

Best coffee in Downtown Seattle

• Anchorhead Coffee
• Elm Coffee Roasters
• Fulcrum Cafe
• Starbucks
• La Marzocco

Made up of numerous micro-neighborhoods such as South Lake Union and Pioneer Square, Downtown Seattle is home to the original Starbucks, whose Pike Place Market store still gathers winding lines, though mainly for the touristic opportunity. But what is now the most recognizable coffee brand in the world is not the catalyst to what eventually became a blossoming coffee scene.

While Starbucks spread far and wide, the coffee-obsessed Seattle crowd of the late 1990s helped spearhead a wave of coffee shops that established themselves in the heart of the city. 

Anchorhead Coffee

Located in Pike Place Market, Anchorhead Coffee showcases the perfect fusion of coffee snobbery and inviting space for a simple cup of joe. Anchorhead, like many privately-owned coffee houses in Seattle, roasts its beans, and its popularity has spawned two other locations, including one in Bellevue, one of the most coveted suburbs of Seattle. 

Grab a brew of one of their Ethiopian-sourced roasts, and order a housemade quaffle, a cross between a croissant and a waffle, for the ultimate coffee break experience. 

Elm Coffee Roasters

Founded by Seattle-native Brendan Mullally and located in Pioneer Square, Elm Coffee developed its popularity through its housemade roasts. While as strict as any craft coffee shop when it comes to the perfect espresso and measured brews, the atmosphere is laid back, and the baristas help you feel at home with whatever you might order, from the dialed-in espresso shot to the simple cold brew with oat milk.

Fulcrum Cafe

Fulcrum, one of the most well-established coffee roasters in Seattle, is led by Blas Alfaro, a fifth-generation Costan Rican coffee farmer. Sustainability in coffee production is at the forefront at Fulcrum, especially since Alfaro knows plenty about how difficult it is to cultivate and farm coffee in an increasingly unpredictable climate. 

The roastery itself is in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle, while the Fulcrum Cafe is in Belltown. Opt for the cappuccino when you visit to get the perfect velvety foam complemented by the espresso below, not overpowered by it. Fulcrum also has seasonal single origin beans on rotation that deliver exotic flavor profiles like watermelon and meyer lemon.

Starbucks

It would be remiss not to mention the most recognizable name in coffee, though the oldest Starbucks that resides in Pike Place Market is not where you’ll find some of the brand’s top coffee. Instead, that honor goes to the Starbucks Reserve, located in Capitol Hill.

The location Downtown is mainly to satisfy the tourist itinerary, and you won’t find an offering that’s any different from any of their other shops. But it’s worth a visit to see a piece of history that changed the game of coffee in Seattle and the rest of the world.

La Marzocco 

Few espresso machine brands in the world can command the same legendary respect as La Marzocco. Founded in Italy in 1927 and innovating how the italian espresso was brewed, the brand has found its way into countless top coffee houses throughout the world. Therefore, it would be remiss for them not to have their own cafe in the coffee capital of the U.S.

The cafe occupies a section in the visually stunning KEXP at Seattle Center, Seattle’s foremost music station that sits just a short distance from the Space Needle. The cafe is also a short commute away from South Lake Union to the East, and Queen Anne to the north, the latter being one of the best neighborhoods in Seattle.

La Marzocco specializes in single origin and local blends, sourcing from the top roasters in Seattle and the world. It is definitely worth a visit for any coffee enthusiast, whether for the coffee or to enjoy the beautiful space.

Best coffee in Seattle’s International District

• Hood Famous Cafe and Bar
• Hello Em Viet Coffee Shop
• Phin

The Vietnamese and Filipino-influenced coffee shops in the International District, though part of Downtown Seattle, deserve their own section for the innovative and distinctive coffee they have injected into the evergreen coffee scene in the city. 

The International District is a melting pot of some of the most diverse and mouth-watering international cuisine. But in terms of coffee, these shops are ahead of the curve.  

Hood Famous Cafe and Bar

The Hood Famous Cafe and Bar isn’t so named because it sounds cool. Instead, it garnered fame around the neighborhood for a unique purple desert called the ube cheesecake. The eye-pleasing colors that fill everything from hand-crafted deserts to the lattes are unique fixtures in this Downtown gem.

Helmed by chef Chera Amlag and her husband Geo Quibuyen, Hood Famous started out as a bakery in 2014. They opened their first location in Ballard and eventually opened their own cafe, which offered many of the baked creations Amlag is famous for. 

They source their coffee exclusively from the Asia-Pacific region, championing frequently overlooked coffee farmers. 

Hello Em Viet Coffee Shop

Vietnamese coffee is unlike any other coffee you’ll find in Seattle. That’s mainly due to the robusta beans they use, which pack a much more powerful punch than the usual arabica beans used by most roasters.

Yenvy Pham helms the Hello Em Viet Coffee Shop in the International District’s Little Saigon. Pham sources the robusta beans directly from Vietnam and roasts them at the coffee shop’s small roaster. 

While Vietnamese coffees are traditionally served with condensed milk, Hello Em serves its brews up with a thick layer of homemade egg creme, adding a rich, salty kick to a delicious cup of caffeine-packed coffee.  

Phin

This Vietnamese coffee shop is, first and foremost, an immigrant story. It carries with it the culture of countless generations and nods to the richness of overseas coffee-making that has overtaken Seattle’s International District. 

Opened during the pandemic by Bao Nguyen, Phin does not have an espresso machine. Instead, coffee is painstakingly made cup-by-cup and filter-by-filter guided by Nguyen’s hand. This traditional brewing method utilizes the phin, a stainless steel metal filter that combines elements from a french press and a pour-over. Each drink is layered on top of housemade condensed milk, with an oat milk option available.

Unlike most Seattle coffee shops, the cafe is best enjoyed by those who aren’t in a hurry. Instead, Phin is all about the Vietnamese coffee culture, where a cup of coffee serves as a time to socialize and gather with friends, not as fuel for finishing the workday.

Best coffee in West Seattle

• Sound and Fog
• Ampersand Cafe
• Olympia Coffee

The skyline of the gleaming downtown highrises and the iconic Space Needle is a signature view from West Seattle, just across the bridge from Downtown. Though viewed by many living in the city’s heart as slightly isolated from the rest of Seattle, West Seattle has developed an identity as the more relaxed part of the city. 

But no matter how quiet the vibe may be, the coffee scene always finds a way to make itself heard, loud and clear. 

Sound and Fog

To find out why Seattle can boast of having some of the best coffee in the country, visit Sound and Fog. Located in the heart of West Seattle, Sound and Fog has quickly made a name for itself as having one of the best brews in the entire city. 

Sound and Fog rotates the beans they use for brewing, though they primarily source from Heart Coffee, a popular roaster based in Portland. The cafe has all the items you would expect from a specialty coffee shop, but the pour-overs are a work of art, with complex flavor profiles you won’t find anywhere else. 

Ampersand Cafe

One of West Seattle’s highlights is Alki beach. It rests on the northern part of West Seattle and offers an idyllic hike and a casual respite from the bustle of the city that’s only a short drive from the heart of Seattle.

Ampersand Cafe takes advantage of waterfront views thanks to its beachfront location, so locals have been flocking here since its inception in 2014. Along with high-quality coffee from Seven Coffee Roasters, Ampersand also bakes homemade muffins and biscuits, which are a must-try.

Olympia Coffee

One of the foremost roasting companies in Seattle, Olympia Coffee supplies some of the top coffee houses in the city. Initially based in Tacoma, Olympia established roots in Seattle with West Seattle and Columbia City locations.

With a flawless, white-walled decor that champions the minimalistic designs of many modern coffee houses in Seattle, Olympia prides itself on being committed to fair trade, sourcing from local farmers, and supporting transparency throughout its supply chains. Of course, they also make a flavorful cup of coffee.

Best coffee in Capitol Hill

• Espresso Vivace
• Victrola Coffee Roasters
• Ghost Note Coffee

Locals flock to Capitol Hill in search of vibrant nightlife, but some of the best coffee houses in the city started here as well. Capitol Hill is a unique neighborhood, just like every other neighborhood in Seattle. But it carries a specific charm because it effortlessly blends residential quaintness with high-paced nightlife. 

Tree-lined streets abound, but so do nightclubs and craft breweries. Nestled in between those are some must-see coffee houses.  

Espresso Vivace

Howard Schultz is a name you might often hear if you dig deeper into Seattle’s coffee history. Schultz took over Starbucks back in the 1980s and developed it into a megabrand with over 30,000 stores worldwide. However, the name you won’t hear as often is David Schomer, the co-owner of Espresso Vivace. 

Schomer is well-versed in metrology, the science of measurement, a skill that has served him immeasurably (pun-intended) in creating a close-to-perfect cup of coffee. His advances in espresso-making influenced many coffee shops in Seattle and other U.S. cities.

Espresso Vivace only has three locations, but whichever you choose (stop by the Capitol Hill location first), you will have one of the best espressos you can find in Seattle.

Victrola Coffee Roasters

Also sporting three locations throughout Seattle, Victrola Coffee Roasters serves up a velvety cappuccino and rich espressos. The flagship store is in the Pike/Pine corridor of Capitol Hill and, before Covid cut things short, would offer weekly cuppings where guests would try flights of different brews and hear about their origin and roasting process. 

As restrictions ease up, the cuppings might return, but for now, Victrola still offers some of the best coffee in Seattle.

Ghost Note Coffee

A perfectly-pulled espresso will never go out of style, nor will the milk-based drinks that grace the menus of the top coffee houses of Seattle. But Ghost Note Coffee is all about pushing the borders of beverage innovation.

Coffee mixed drinks make up a large portion of Ghost Note’s menu. Think of it as a day-drinking dream-come-true with zero guilt and no hangover. The creations feature a bold array of flavors, numerous vegan sweets such as vegan caramel and chocolate, and exotic notes of coconut or jasmine. Ghost Note is as much a coffee shop as a coffee bar with some of the most creative coffee concoctions in Seattle.  

Best coffee in University District

• Cafe Allegro
• Mr. West
• Zoka Coffee & Tea Company

Since the University of Washington occupies a large part of this section of Seattle, the vibe naturally became that of a laid-back college town with quaint residential streets. Many of the area’s happenings are closely tied to the University’s sports teams or events. But there are quite a few gems to discover wandering around this storied neighborhood, one of them being the oldest coffee house in Seattle operating today. 

Cafe Allegro

Cafe Allegro is as old school as it gets. Founded in 1975, Allegro has been serving up espressos and cappuccinos for professors, students, and dedicated locals ever since. Located in an alleyway, Cafe Allegro delivers on the ultimate old-timer coffee shop feel. 

Baked goods and seasonal drinks are always on the menu, and the quality espresso drinks keep Cafe Allegro on the map as a top cafe. But its appeal definitely lies in its charming, old-school atmosphere. 

Mr. West

A larger cafe than most specialty coffee houses in Seattle, Mr. West offers an extensive food menu and memorable specialty drinks to accompany their top-notch coffee. Though Mr. West has two locations, the one in University Village is a sprawling space that is as much a bar as it is a coffee shop.

There is a large selection of wine and beer and a varied menu of toasts and salads to go along with them. Specialty drinks include Cardamom Tonics, made with espresso, housemade cardamom syrup, bitters, and tonic, and the Seattle Fog, a wholesome blend of earl grey milk, housemade vanilla, honey, and cinnamon.

Zoka Coffee Roaster and Tea Company

Zoka offers the perfect spot for the quintessential laptop coffee session, a mainstay for many Seattle coffee lovers. Although technically outside the borders of the University District, Zoka is still close enough to all the action near the University of Washington. So if you’re craving good coffee while visiting the campus, it will definitely be worth the short trip.

If you’re in the mood for a more adventurous order outside the realm of cappuccinos and lattes, Zoka’s lavender mocha should be first on your list.

Best coffee in Central District

• Cafe Avole
• Union Coffee & Wine
• Broadcast CoffeeRoasters

Just east of Downtown Seattle is the Central District, which is an extension of the hustle and bustle of the city center as it merges into more residential areas. It is also the home to a top Ethiopian cafe and a hybrid coffee and wine shop that has topped the best coffee in Seattle lists numerous times. 

Cafe Avole

Solomon Dubie, the owner of Cafe Avole, began the cafe in 2012 in Rainier Valley, home to a few top-rated Ethiopian coffee shops and restaurants, such as Kaffa Coffee and Wine Bar. The idea was to bring traditional Ethiopian coffee culture to a coffee scene dominated by the usual specialty coffee.

Cafe Avole brews its coffee true to Ethiopian tradition, utilizing a ceramic coffee pot called a jebena. The traditional ways included hand-roasting the coffee beans on a pan, grinding the beans by hand, and letting the grinds brew within the jebena before pouring the first cup, called the “avole.” 

Avole’s original location in Rainier Valley had closed. But, a new one in Central District’s Liberty Bank Building is slated to open soon and will be a must-visit spot for any coffee enthusiast.

Union Coffee and Wine

Union Coffee underwent a change in ownership when it passed into the hands of Geetu Vailoor. The coffee shop had been around for a few years before Vailoor took the helm amid the pandemic. Vailoor made it her mission to re-brand a cafe that had flourished in a gentrified area and make it a beacon of inclusivity to anyone who loves coffee.

The location now features an outdoor patio and an extensive list of wines to go along with the incredible brews made with beans from Olympia Coffee roasters. 

Broadcast Coffee Roasters

Barry Faught’s passion project stemmed from a need to exit the corporate world. Faught’s father himself had a passion for radio and was a local DJ and celebrity in Boise, Idaho, Faught’s hometown. 

The roaster’s name pays homage to the family’s broadcast roots, and the success of their coffee paved the way to three cafe locations and one of the best espresso shots in Seattle. The company also has a vast selection of different roasts that have found their way into some of the city’s top cafes.