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Mon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"I had my first time at Liberty last night. Since I wasn't able to get things done in calm environments, I thought that I'd try this one. I…" read more »
Espresso is expensive. I love it, but I can't always afford it. Also, I don't have (nor do I want) an espresso maker at home. Thus began what I thought might be a painful migration toward the cheaper end of the coffee menu.
Having been staunchly anti-drip-coffee in the past (born with the Seattle Coffee Snob Gene™ but stuck in the Folger's-loving suburbs for many years), I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I *tolerate* Caffe Vita's coffee--I freaking loved it. And I've now scientifically proven that it's damn good coffee because I just made some in an old Mr. Coffee and it was *still delicious.*
People thought this was:
I work about a block away from here and go out of my way to avoid this place.
1. The barista's wont heat up your food. They have the proper equipment, but they say that they aren't allowed??? Here you can have the luxury of paying almost $4 for a cold, stale bagel. They'll even drop it into the bag with a smirk for you.
2. They use coffee concentrate instead of real coffee in their iced coffees. Honest! Ask them, they don't deny it...they'll actually try to convince you that its a better drink that way. But it tastes like someone peed in it.
Honestly, there's a little bistro up the street from Cafe Vita called Cafe Pettirosso. Try it. They have hot sandwiches that are fresh and cost about the same as that stale bagel at Vita. They're so good that my bass player took a bite and then called his mom to tell her about his sandwich. The people behind the counter aren't too cool to serve you coffee and would never scowl at the change you put in their tip jar.
Cafe Pettirosso is right around the corner. Go there. Skip Cafe Vita.
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Let's just say that I was not very impressed at all with their Chai Latte. It tasted very cheap and watered down. I was on a mission for the best Chai Latte in Downtown Seattle and this place has failed.
If anything at all, it was a very cute place. I liked the vibe that this place had. I went here at 11PM and it was packed full of people reading, studying, or on their laptops.
I wouldn't go back here unless I was going to order a drink that I know is going to be good. It's also a bit pricier by a few cents compared to the rest of the cafes in the area.
People thought this was:
Coffee from Caffe Vita is always consistently good. They perfectly roast their coffee beans and using quality ingredient to make a really mean drink. They also have a very good selection of teas and other drinks if coffee doesn't happen to be your fancy. Although, why do you live in Seattle if you don't drink coffee?
The staff are perfectly decent and personable. They know they make good drinks and they can do it quickly. The staff are good at keeping the lines moving, so don't let that long line put you off.
The ambiance is simple and the music volume is perfect. It gives you the opportunity to study with your laptop or simply have a good conversation with a friend.
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** FREE public cupping on the first Friday of each month **
I joined Caffe Vita at their first free cupping a couple weeks ago. A representative from Theo chocolates was also there, so we got to sample some deliciously roasted coffee in addition to a variety of cacao.
I think they were a bit overwhelmed with the cupping turnout. The host was incredibly knowledgeable, but the cupping itself was crowded. They didn't have enough spoons and walking around a table sniffing and spooning coffee with 30 other attendees felt awkward. Don't bother if you're OCD. :)
Afterwards, we purchased a latte and their daily brew downstairs. The daily brew was excellent, but the latte did not have the satisfying bold creaminess as other shops in the area.
Go for the cupping experience and their daily brew, but don't bother with the lattes.
People thought this was:
OK so I know this isn't my usual place to get coffee, but really they have drip coffee and I would rather go here for drip than Starbucks, I so F@cking tired of Pikes place blend ....anyways back to the coffee here
I like the Drip coffee here it is always fresh and hot and they mix it up it is never the same old same old, (I like trying new coffee blends it helps me to pick out Beans for at home) if I wanted that I would make Folgers at home damn it, but I am not gonna buy Folgers, nor am I gonna drink crap when I don't have to, and these guys are close to Emerson Salon where I get my hair cut
plus they are always fast and the Batista's seem to enjoy there jobs and are in a good mood, but not that fake smile that chain coffee shops make there employees put on
Quick as a virgin losing it and a thousand times as good.
When I am in the mood for respectable coffee and not standing around waiting, I go to Vita. And given my impatience, that's often.
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I was just there yesterday and I have to say that the barista's were not friendly at all! The woman at the register thought she was hot sh*t. I smiled at her and complimented her on a piece of jewelry and she was very smug about it. Then they were blasting punk music as loud as a club on a saturday night. Most of the people in there are students at central, considering that is was a Monday afternoon, 2pm to be exact. I think that these barista's think that they are the door people at Studio 54! For godsake, it's a f**kling job where you work on tips People! I didn't tip the barista because I didn't feel like she did anything but give me attitude and check her lipstick in the mirror. There are too many coffee houses in this great city of ours. If the barista's are going to play a popularity game because they have low self esteem and can only get it at work, then so be it, but I will not give them anymore of my money. Good luck Vita, lower your music and get some java house style music and new barista's and maybe I will try you again.
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I was in Seattle last weekend for Camp Jitterbug (three and a half days of swing dancing day and night!), and all of the daytime workshops were scattered around the Capitol Hill area. On Friday afternoon when I started wandering in search of a comfortable coffeeshop to settle in for a little while, Caffé Vita was the first one I found, and it became my go-to spot for the weekend.
Since it was sunny and warm for the whole time I was in town, and since I was dancing almost nonstop, my drink of choice was an iced latte, which was consistently good. I like the coffee here, and the baristas were pleasant and helpful. I also liked their little flatbread sandwiches (my favorite was the one with ham, spinach, and cheese), which made an excellent light lunch/afternoon snack.
Probably the best part about this place, and the reason I kept coming back, is the low-key coffeeshop atmosphere. It reminded me of my favorite morning hangout at home, with interesting but not distracting music, a little art on the walls, and people sitting there for a while writing, reading, and working on their computers in between sips of coffee. I was here several times in the afternoon and once in the early evening, and each time it was alive but not too busy to relax.
(As a side note, I came to the conclusion that Caffé Vita : Seattle :: Blue Bottle : San Francisco, which I suppose is neither here nor there.)
People thought this was:
It's a rainy day coffee joint, so dark inside. Though on a sunny day one could sit outside. But gosh their coffee is good!
I'll have a tall americano for here please, and a bag of Sumatra to go thank you!
You know what I hate most, is people who hate their jobs and take it out on other people.
I worked as a Barista in the past and I know what qualifies someone to be a douchebag customer. My coffee drinks are usually simple and don't use stuff like "oooh can you add 13 packets of Splenda with that"
1st time to Vita: Barista was just plain rude...no smile or hello.
2nd time to Vita: Cashier was rude, two barista were chatting it up behind the espresso machine. Barista was so busy talking that they forgot to make my drink, didn't even apologize when I asked for it. The condiment counter was so dirty and the 1/2 and 1/2 carafe was empty When I took the carafe to the counter for more 1/2 and 1/2, geesh I guess its so damn rude of me to interrupt their conversation.
I left that place pissed off. Never. Going. Back
I'll take my money elsewhere....
People thought this was:
This is the kind of coffee shop at which I never order to go. And the reason is simple. They make good coffee. No, they make very good coffee, and it tastes so good in their china cups.
If you go, try to hit it wen it's not rush hour. Sometimes the place can be unbearably busy, and it's difficult to find somewhere to sit. But otherwise the atmosphere is very mellow. Downstairs always with interesting art on the walls and upstairs with interesting students and a slight second hand look to all the furniture.
The baristas here are pretty unpleasant; today when I came in, I went up to the counter, and the barista was studiously looking up at the ceiling. Then she asked "Can I help you?" while continuing to stare at the ceiling, and there was a pause as I realized she was probably talking to me. I ordered a latte, and there was no further dialogue or eye contact, which felt weird -- my instinct is to say 'thank you' like my mamma taught me, but I was trying to interact with someone who either wasn't listening or was trying really hard not to listen. I found the experience a bit rude so I gave a small tip (a quarter), and based on what I've read below I think that netted me a bad drink; other people seem to really like the coffee here, but what I got is what I'd call an "airport latte." The barista who made my drink was equally unpleasant and uninterested in my thank you. This is not a one-star review because the music was good and I liked the look of the building.
I literally work across the street from Vita and lately their customer service has been so poor I've been avoiding it.
That's crazy because I'm profoundly lazy and I love the stupid croissant with meat and cheese things they sell.
But it's like, every time I go in there both the cashier and barista are bumps on a log. No pleasantries, just mild grunts and groans like they're just trying to pass the day and fund that nights bender at Linda's. For the sake of them being an local independent business I hope they fix things because there is plenty of better coffee and service to be found in this city.
People thought this was:
I really want to like this place. It's a nice spot with quality coffee beans and the baristas make pretty designs in the coffee. It's just that they're snobby without reason. See, while the beans may be good, their coffee making really isn't. Every drink I've gotten from there has been just shy of luke-warm and has been lacking in flavor.
I started out wanting a macchiato. What I wanted them to do was to put steamed milk in a tall sized cup and then pour the shots over the coffee. They had it on their menu. I immediately got resistance because their idea of a macchiato is a little cup of milk with a shot. Immediately they thought I wanted Starbuck's version of a caramel macchiato. Yeah no. So then they asked if I wanted a latte. "Sure, but pour the shots over the steamed milk and make it extra foamy." Did I get a foamy latte with the coffee poured over? No.
I then resorted to a mocha. Who effs up mochas? Well, they do. I don't get them warm enough and there isn't much chocolate. I don't want a overly-sweet drink but if I'm paying extra for chocolate there better be enough to taste.
I gave them a three for the following reasons: they steam the milk correctly, they don't let the shots run too long, they're Pumpkin Loaf is amazing. I've had much better, thanks to The Black Drop, and I've had much much much worse. So hence, a three.
Oh, and their WIFI is painfully slow.
People thought this was:
The coffee here is good. The music here isn't too loud. And there's always plenty of tables to post up at.
The baristas here make a mean drink, and a few of them are perfectly personable... but just a few of them. I'll never understand why people who don't want anything to do with the public become baristas. I understand that "you're on the hill" and all... but would it KILL you to smile...
...
Oh... what's that, you say? It would? Sorry. Guess I better reread my hipster manual. My bad. Carry on... and continue.
People thought this was:
I went into Caffe Vita last night on the recommendation of a friend. I'd been told that this was espresso in a way I'd never tasted before (and I'll be the first to admit for all of us that in Seattle, we like to all say we're esprexperts).
This is a roomy and warm-colored café on Pike, only a short walk from Seattle University. I went in around 9:30 in the evening (they're open till 11, which is fantastic for us night owls) and the place was still lively, even for Thursday night. I had a soy latte. My friend was right - some of the best espresso I've ever had. It was rich and roasted just right, keeping a wonderful, toasty aroma lingering on the tongue. Fantastic! And to top it all off, the baristas do cute little drawings on the top of your latte (which, of course, you then destroy with your nomage). A friend ordered a chai latte which was quite watery, but chaitastic.
I felt like the baristas were incredibly gracious and nice. They chatted with me about my evening and it never felt forced or fake. I never auto-tip a barista, but I made sure both of the girls who helped me walked out that evening with a little extra in their pockets for their friendly demeanor and skills. From nearly every review however, it seems like this wasn't the case for a lot of people, so I might have hit these guys in a good mood or been very lucky. Take the other yelpers advice and go in without too many expectations. I'll be sure to visit again and see if my mind is changed, however.
I did use their restroom facility, which is spacious but not the most upkept. I'll cut them some slack, though, because at 9:30, the restroom is usually the least of your worries.
My latte was excellent, my friend's was decent, and I felt like the service was good. I'll definitely be back, but I'll be going with caution thanks to the other Yelps.
The good? I love the space. Lots of wood, tall ceilings, great location. The size of the place makes it a top choice for random meetings, study sessions, book clubs and the like. I went there for a book club one evening and there was a singles meetup and a knitting club doing their thing - no one got in anyone's way, plenty of chairs for all. Not bad.
The bad? The coffee. Seriously, not good. Tastes burnt, bitter, and like something that I'd expect to find in a greasy spoon truck stop. I suppose that's a compliment in some circles, but not at these prices. The hot chocolate is acceptable, though, and they've got a nice selection of overpriced, maybe healthy-for-you bottled juices.
And I really don't understand why their brew is on the menu at places all over the city. I suppose maybe there's just a desire to feature other local businesses, and short of getting it from getting it from the place that starts with an S and ends with an arbucks, Caffe Vita is the only place large enough to serve a decent number of restaurants. Or maybe the owner of Caffe Vita is just blackmailing a large population of Seattle's restaurant owners. Who knows.
People thought this was:
Dear Cafe Vita, your coffee always tastes burned, even if you don't think so.
.
People thought this was:
I stopped in for a quick cup of joe before we hit the airport. Caffe Vita was awesome inside! I was in love with the artwork I saw on the walls. Anyway, the coffee wasn't bad. I almost had this feeling I wasn't welcomed there...like the baristas were annoyed with me. I remember thinking when I left..."Wow, this place is great...except for the unfriendly baristas..." And by reading the recent reviews, it appears that I'm not the only one to think so.
Aside from that, it was really nice on the inside and they had good coffee, so 4 stars it is!
"BEST BEANS IN SEATTLE...SO FAR"
THE GOOD:
-great coffee bean roasters
-nice dark atmosphere
-cool little spot with nice people
THE BAD:
-may be too dark to read a paper but it's draw, I suppose
THE DECISION
Well, it's been decided. These will be the coffee beans used at our coffee shop someday. They're really that good. Sadly, after reading some of the recent reviews, it sounds like Cafe Vita went ahead and hired some of Seattle's Worst baristas. I've come to realize that many of Seattle's barista's can be a bit overboard with the attitude. Usually, these are what I equate to a first year law student, med student or a white belt in karate. A bit more knowledge than average = a whole lot of unnecessary attitude. Trust me, I've been there. I know it's rather rude but hey, if they can serve it up tasty...who cares. Trust me, a couple years in the game and they WILL be humbled. Either my someone else or the game itself. So laugh it off and go ahead and enjoy your coffee. Or if you so desire, give a piece of your mind but please, be classy about it~
People thought this was:
This isn't an objective review at all, but rather the face of my subjectivity.
I hated caffe vita in all its scenester appeal. From the baristas to the patrons, it screamed scene, scene, scene. If I was to picture the sentiments of "look at me, I'm so different!" it would be actualized here.
Sorry, vita, I'm sure you're great; you're just not for me.
People thought this was:
Nice front row seat to life on Cap Hill...watched protestors opposing foie gras at Quinn's and missionaries from the Ukraine, all in the time to finish a single shot of espresso. Coffee wise - everything was fine but I prefer the Queen Anne location for drinks. But entertainment wise, Capitol Hill is tough to beat.
People thought this was:
the lighting on the first floor is quite dark. the second floor has a lot of tables to study, with lot of windows to gaze out. the floors do kinda shake when people walk on it which is distracting.
the bathroom is hit or miss on the clean factor. and it's only one unisex bathroom.
open late, great location and good coffee
Um everyone working and drinking in there was either high ( on meth) or coming down off of SOMETHING . Sure the coffee was good, and the tea was okay and rosettes and blaah dee blaah.
but um, seven fifty am...nothing but unemployed users with man purses ( messenger bags) and unflattering tribal crap tattooed everywhere.
Uuuh- no thanks.
BTW most places have an 8 dollar minimum when using a credit card- you could easily go over getting tea and a croissant.
People thought this was:
I was in Seattle for two days recently and made the rounds to a few different coffee shops that were recommended to me. I had a lot of really good coffee on this expedition... A lot. I'm talking serious numbers here. Only a few cafes really stood out to me when all was said and done though.
Caffe Vita was one of them.
I've worked at coffee shops before. I'd consider my coffee snobbery to be pretty high. I could safely say that prior to my visit to Caffe Vita I would agree with all of the massive hype regarding the quality of coffee in Seattle. But it was after my visit to this particular cafe, in which I had what I consider to this day the best drip coffee I've ever tasted, that I was completely won over and blown away. The next time I visit Seattle, Caffe Vita will definitely be on my 'to do' list.
People thought this was:
The most rude baristas work here! I went in with a group of friends a while back. It was fairly busy, so a few of us grabbed a table, while the others ordered. The barista stopped the music and told us to leave or order (not realizing that there were people in line with our $$). We were pretty mad, so we just left. Plus, the barista was wearing a really bad cowboy hat. I am not sure which offense was worse...
People thought this was:
Great coffee shop. Great coffee. Emanates a no bs feel due to the dark colors of the room. Patrons stare you down when you speak inside (as if they're saying "don't you know this is a library, not a coffee shop?").
Come here, get some awesome coffee, and enjoy your book in silence. Otherwise, take it to go and go see the other more friendly places in Seattle.
People thought this was:
I remember this place was way better 2 years ago, visiting from san francisco, capps were swill, espresso was overly acidic, cloyed in your mouth, the texture wasn't glossy, and the art was crappy.
Too bad because I remember really liking this place.
The service stunk almost as bad as the coffee they serve.
Wow! I was there on Wednesday morning and I had no problems at all with the barista or cashier as some other Yelpers have noted. They were both polite and friendly, and I loooooove the coffee. Yum!
I actually hadn't stepped foot in here since this location changed it's name from Cafe Paradiso until yesterday morning. The service was friendly enough and quick. My cappuccino was made with just the right amount of foam. Pricing was relative painless for the quality.
Extra plus for attractive male and female baristas/servers and the window into the factory. I'll make a point of returning the next time I'm in the hood for spark plugs or dance class.
People thought this was:
Used to be in love with this place unconditionally... But once I let it slip that I worked @ a Starbucks, the customer service seemed to take a hardcore nose dive. Not just that one time, but every time I've gone in. And I dont know what they're doing to my beautiful caffeine, but it tastes much more acidic that it used to be when I started going there. Also, I know theres an unwritten rule that you cant smile at customers on Capitol Hill (yeah, cause, ya know, only conformists try to smile and be nice to customers), but seriously, even if its a phony one, its better than being stared at like your mother gave birth to a female Quasimodo.
Baristas: renew your customer services skill, cause I would much rather use my partner card @ an SBUX, where I know the other partners will treat me better. And sadly to say, SBUX coffee is starting to taste better than yours. Seriously, get some help.
People thought this was:
We parked the car a block away and the first thing that hit us was the aroma of coffee from the Roaster. The ambiance was warm, charming and inviting. There were a variety of people ranging from ages 4-50 years old. I love the display of loose leaf teas and coffee beans on wooden shelving panel behind the brewing station. It was interesting to see the roasting machines through the glass window. I'm all about what they stand for which is dedicating their time to finding the best coffee beans from around the world.
The baristas made my well balanced latte with a beautiful leaf design on the velvety foam in 2 minutes. The taste was just right, not too strong, but gave me a good buzz. I left with bag of their Holiday Blend the bag released a taunting aroma. I can't wait to brew my own cup.
ok...my hair is sooooo blue...and ,what i say is sooooo true...i enjoy the 'hospitality' ...the 'homey-ness' and atmosphere of 'cafe-vita'!...always 'warm-heart-smiles' shared by all and 'fantastic-musical-choices' played at all times! ...and i haven't even mentioned the coffee...well, 'it-speaks-for-itself' : thankfully-delightful! YAY! ...squiggley!
Nothing fancy, just good coffee.
This was my first time swinging into this place and I'm glad I did. My Americano was excellent and definitely on par with some of the best coffee shops in Seattle.
So why a 4 instead of a 5?
Well, the coffee-snobbery is very strong here. You can feel it when you walk through the door. I would recommend all newbies to have an idea of what they want when they first step through the doors. Two of the baristas were friendly, the other was giving me the death glare only breaking it after I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
But the coffee was good enough to save the day and the other two baristas were much friendlier. Definitely worth popping into if you are in the neighborhood.
People thought this was:
You know, I hate coffee shops that charge you 2.50 for a cup of tea. I can see why coffee drinks get pricy sometimes, but tea? wtf! At Caffe Vita, tea will always cost you 1.45, no matter what size, and they give you a loose leaf tea packet with enough oomph to last through at least two hot water refills. That's the kind of thing that I like.
There's also this thing called coffee there, I don't know if you've heard of it, but its pretty good.
The wireless internet can be spotty, which is aggravating, but come on, it's free!
People thought this was:
I keep hoping for one more spot in Seattle to wow me with great Espresso. I mean like they make it and they don't even set it down but hand it right to me and I take a sip before it breaks down, freshly brewed like 15 seconds ago, and I'm like transported back to Florence or Venice or Rome or Tutta Bella in Columbia City and my brain fizzles and my mouth smacks and my nipples harden and I compulsively speak Italian: "quello e buono" or something to that effect.
I gave it a shot here. Make that a double shot. It was... ok. But it didn't zing me. I tasted it, and then I took some time and walked over and sprinkled a little sugar in and tasted it again and it was sweeter but not so different. No hardened nipples, which was fortunate as I wouldn't want to accidentally cut the glass on the doors as I walked out, right?
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***************UPDATE****************
I was just reading about VITa in the news..did you know that the new "Fair Trade" is "farmer direct?" Guess which place in town has been farmer direct, even before it was oh-so-cool? VIT, that's who!
VITA I LOVE YOU!
awesome. I used to always go here with Ben while ehe lived on the hill. The people are awesome,..no ass kissing, just say hi, take my order, make it. NICE. they also answer any questions. and the coffee is great, as well as being fair trade organic. Nice atmosphere, good for a date or reading. I also buy my coffee roast from here..i stopped for awhile only because i live in West Seattle now, but i'm going to again now, because Jave bean lost me (see review). i never should have strayed..I'm sorry Caffe Vita!
People thought this was:
Now that Vita has apparently established itself as pretty much the big gun amongst the independent coffee roasters, it seems like they're content to sit pretty and not actually make good coffee anymore. It's not terrible, although the service truly is. I am a barista. I know how annoying people can be when it comes to their drinks. But I have actually had one of the baristas directly insult me over what I ordered. Other than that horrible incident, the experiences I've had are tepid at best. Still, the coffee isn't awful. It's just not up to par with the competition on Capitol Hill.
People thought this was:
I go to this coffee shop almost every weekend to study. The americano and drip blends have a distinct high quality coffee taste, though I was really disappointed in their mochas (total letdown). Their bagels taste good and their chocolate croussaints are heavenly. Most of all though, I like the atmosphere: the art work on display, friendly chill staff, plenty of room with the perfect study lounge upstairs, and an eclectic excellent taste in music that varies but does not disappoint. Great to have a huge window space so you don't feel claustrophobic if forced to do reading or studying or projecting.
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