coffee – Need Coffee Will Travel

So you probably have heard Seattle is known for having amazing coffee. Some even deem this city as the coffee capitol of the world! But it’s more than just coffee that draws people in.

The coffee shop scene is becoming much more popular because they offer more than just a plain ol’ cup of joe.

A coffee shop is a place that you can make your own. You can choose your favorite beverage, grab your book or meet a friend. You can find a shop with an atmosphere that matches your own vibe. It could be a modern, cleanly designed space with warm lighting, or a cozy getaway with soft plush chairs, or perhaps an eclectic setting with colorful mugs to sip from…

You can try flavors and combinations you’ve never imagined in your wildest dreams. You can try different brewing methods without having to set them up at home.

It’s a meeting place for friends, family and colleagues. However, still a safe and comfortable place to study or read in solitude. There aren’t many places that offer both of those capabilities.

On my current adventure in Seattle (and previous ones), I’ve gotten to taste some pretty fantastic coffee. In fact, I try to make it my mission to try a new coffee shop everyday! There are so many local places to choose from it’s overwhelming. I’d love to share with you some of my favorites, and the reasons why I enjoyed them. Below you’ll find seven coffee shops with key features, locations, and insights on what to expect.

Anchorhead Coffee

Key Features: Unique, Signature Flavors and Helpful Staff

Location: CenturyLink Plaza, 1600 7th Ave #105, Seattle, WA 98101

On my first visit to this shop, I asked the barista for suggestions, and she recommended the Nitro Mint Latte. It definitely sounded a little out there, but she said it was one of the favorites among customers. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it! This iced drink was frothy (hard to get with an iced beverage) and had just a hint of mint flavor that balanced perfectly. When I arrived, it was clear this shop is a favorite among locals, the place was pretty packed. The selection of baked goods also looked delicious, if you get the chance, try the salted chocolate chip cookie.

Caffe Ladro

Key Features: Great View and Value

Location: 801 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

This shop is definitely one to visit on a day with nice weather if you can, because they have a little sundeck that gives a BEAUTIFUL view of nearby streets and buildings. Definitely the most relaxing place that I stopped, for the outdoor setting, and because it usually isn’t extremely crowded. The inside shop is very small, just tucked away in a large circular apartment complex called Tower 801.

Another perk besides the caffeine-there are some pretty awesome baked goods. I had a rhubarb oatmeal bar, I’d definitely get it again. I ordered a caramel latte which was delightfully balanced in flavors, and topped with a lovely leaf design. Caffe Ladro also has a rewards card that works similar to Starbucks for its more frequent customers, and offers a jumbo size for a better value.

Ghost Alley Espresso

Key Features: Fun Vibe and Local Roasts

Location: 1499 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

This tiny coffee shop definitely has a lot of spunk! Located right next to the gum wall under Pike Market, it’s right in the middle of the action. While I visited Ghost Alley, they were fairly busy. The tiny shop was full of people waiting in line to order their coffee.

I ordered the Salted Nut my first time, and the barista did let me know that they tend to add less syrups, so if I needed more to let her know, which was thoughtful. Check out their signature drinks if your looking for something different! When I returned a different day, I tried the Smog Latte, which was a lovely combination of earl grey tea, espresso, and vanilla. Give this one a go if you’re an earl grey lover!

Mr. West

Key Features: Modern Atmosphere and Friendly Staff

Location: 720 Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98101

Here, they have a great outdoor seating area that has strings of warm lights hanging overhead. Once you step inside, there is an assortment of succulents and other small decorative knick knacks that are available for purchase, some with the shop’s own unique logo and designs.

What I love about this shop, the baristas and other workers are very friendly and professional from what I have experienced. The atmosphere is modern, but yet it is very comfortable and relaxed. I felt okay sitting down to write for a while, sipping my espresso macchiato slowly. There are many more things I would love to try here, since it’s not only a coffee shop, but a cafe and bar as well!

Monorail Espresso

Key Features: Wonderful Espresso (no surprises here) and Baked Goods

Location: 510 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101

This shop is newer, but they are always busy with locals, who claim that if you work in the nearby area, that this is the place to stop. There is no indoor seating, but they have lovely colorful tables on the nearby sidewalk, sometimes decorated with fresh flowers. The baristas are very efficient at their job, keeping the line moving fairly quickly, so don’t be intimidated by the long line! I ordered a basic caramel latte here, and also got one of their chubbies (kind of like a soft scone). Their paper cups also sport a personalized logo stamped on them which I enjoyed.

Caffe Dior

Key Features: Organized and Friendly Staff

Location: 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

Located inside the Washington State Convention Center on the main floor, this coffee shop is a nice option for escaping the outdoors for a bit. They offer sandwiches and baked goods in addition to their beverages. I absolutely loved their caramel macchiato, which is more like the Starbucks version with very sweet flavors and less like the traditional macchiato.

I have visited this shop at least three times already, and every time I came in there was a very friendly older gentleman working. He remembered who I was and always asked how my day was going, which always makes for a positive experience!

Victrola Coffee Roasters

Key Features: Relaxing Atmosphere

Location: 800 Convention Pl, Seattle, WA 98101

My favorite location of this growing coffee company is located in Capitol Hill, but they have many locations including one in downtown Seattle. The first time I visited this shop (in Capitol Hill), I felt the need to sit down for a while and read The Seattle Times, given the relaxing atmosphere that surrounded me. Recently I tried their honey latte, the espresso was definitely the front runner for flavor, but the honey added a slight sweetness to help balance it out! Victrola’s downtown location is definitely more congested and has less seating available, so plan accordingly.

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of Seattle’s local coffee shops, I definitely enjoyed visiting them to see what they had to offer. Please join me in future posts for more travel adventures, inspirations, and much more! I’d love to hear from you, feel free to comment below!

Hi there, welcome to my first blog post! I would love to share with you the story of how I decided to take a leap of faith for myself, and go on the trip I’ve been dreaming of for the past couple years….and hopefully inspire you to do something for yourself too. You deserve it!

I have always had a fascination with travel, even from a young age; I have always loved the exhilaration of experiencing a completely new place. I believe each town, city, and village has a story to tell us.

With that being said, a few years ago, I decided to take a trip to Seattle with my mom for a weekend. Although it was a short time, there was just something about Seattle that drew me in. It felt like a home I had never known before, as strange as that may sound. That was two years ago, last year I returned for another weekend trip.

However, even though I had visited frequently, it still didn’t seem like enough. I still had an itch to go back. When I had free time, I’d find myself looking at Seattle apartments, restaurants, and current news….

Part of what fascinates me about Seattle is city life; I’m a small town girl. I felt the need to experience city life for more than a weekend. I often wondered what is would be like to live in a city, plus what’d be better than the one I had fallen in love with? And also as a lover of writing, this would be a great time for me to do some much needed time working on that.

Now, I definitely did NOT make this decision overnight!! Actually, I waited a little too long to act on it. I had been thinking about this for over a year before I actually took the leap of faith and did it. Why I don’t recommend waiting is because if you don’t live out what you dream of doing, you will feel unsatisfied with life. This happened to me all too quickly….I was unhappy with life in general, and I kept thinking to myself, you have so much to be grateful for so why do you feel like this?? I kept thinking what I could do differently.

This had been something I dreamed of doing, but felt extremely selfish for wanting it. Why? Because I had a relationship, an apartment, and a job that I felt I needed to put my daily effort into, and that it would be wrong of me to step away and do a trip by myself. I felt like everyone would blame me, like they would see it as an inconvenience. After having a long talk with my mom (bless her soul) she actually encouraged me, because she knew it was what I wanted/needed for myself.

After having a heart to heart with my mom, it was a little easier to bring it up to others. Although it came as a shock to everyone, no one discouraged me from doing it because I told them the honest truth: This is what I need to be happy. And I need to choose to be happy. People definitely try to understand that. I felt really bad telling my boss I had to leave my job, even had an embarrassingly tearful conversation with him, but I am very glad that I did, and was able to part on good terms.

Now, with saying that everyone was pretty encouraging, I know that this may not happen for everyone! Maybe they think this is a crazy inconvenience. BUT, I’m telling you that you can do this! You need to do this, because you deserve to do what makes you happy. Everyone deserves to make decisions for themselves that will give them inner peace.

Everyone has things they want to accomplish, but what if you stopped thinking of them as “those things” and start making a plan to do them? Maybe you can’t do it tomorrow, but when is the soonest you can? Following a dream can be logical!

I hope you enjoyed this post, and encourage you to check out more of my posts in the future about travel and more! Feel free to comment or contact me with your thoughts, I’d love to hear from you!