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Seattle Coffee Works

5 star rating
based on 21 reviews

Category: Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Downtown
111 Pike St
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 340-8867
  • Hours:
    Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    Sat 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
    Sun 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Wi-Fi: Free

21 Reviews for Seattle Coffee Works

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2

10

Jen B.

Tacoma, WA

5 star rating
05/02/2008

Fabulous no matter what drink you get. The owner? or whoever makes the drinks always takes time & effort to make a great drink- very creamy and flavorful. I was hooked after my first cappuccino and go everyday even though it's a half mile from my job!

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Photo of Tracy S.

Elite '08

47

162

Tracy S.

Redmond, WA

5 star rating
04/22/2008

You're walking down Pike towards the Market and need coffee. Sure, you can see Seattle's Best from quite a distance...but you might want to turn aside and into Seattle Coffee Works.

They have multiple coffee beans a'blendin for your beverage. It's a cute little space, sort of what one might expect a local coffee shop to be.

It's not glitzy. It's real.

Real good.

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Elite '08

12

109

Callie K.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
03/29/2008

This is the first coffee we had in Seattle and man did it hit the spot!

It was raining and we were trudging along like good Seattle tourists to Pike Place Market to see the fish throwing, whatever, etc. I asked BF if we could make a quick detour to Seattle Coffee Works (only a block away from Pike Place) for a much needed pick me up. We hadn't put anything into our stomachs yet and it was already past noon. He agreed and we pulled over. A tiny coffee shop with only a couple other coffee drinkers already enjoying some house blend, I was happy to dry off and order a vanilla latte "for here". Fabulous foam with an intricate leaf design was delivered. BF believes it was the best latte he has ever had. I agreed it was pretty damn good.

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2

16

Jason T.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
03/29/2008

Very good experience. It's really cool to get to choose from several blends for espresso, which is usually not possible in most shops due to the logistics of having several commercial grinders compete for space.

What makes this place particularly good? if you don't like the particular blend you sample, they'll make you something else. Since they buy from small roasterias that tend to have quirky preferences, there's a fair chance you'll have something that isn't quite to your liking, but with espresso, when it's on, it's on.

It's a great place to experiment, and taste the differences of various blends and roasts.

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Elite '08

105

154

Megan B.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
01/28/2008

UPDATE 2/13/08: I love Seattle coffee works so much I might leave my husband for a coffee place. Well, not really of course. But it's not just the coffee that keeps me coming back. It's the whole experience. Sebastian is a great source of coffee knowledge, and is a passionate & hedonistic kindred spirit. I have learned more about coffee than I ever thought I'd know from him, and I'm sure I'll be learning even more in the future.

__________________________________________________ __

In our quest to attain the greatest espresso beans in Seattle, our quest finally brought us here, to Seattle Coffee Works. You see, we're absolutely OBSESSED with Vashon Coffee Co's Espresso Velutto, but I just can't bring myself to pay to have it shipped, and I'm sure as hell not going out to Vashon for coffee.

Come to find out, Seattle Coffee Works sells the Velutto. Hooray for me! They also sell a wide array of microroasted beans (Borogove, Lighthouse,etc...), and will pull a couple of shots for you with any of those you like. This idea is genius to me. Why has no one done this before? It's like the Brouwers or Uber of coffee. Perfect for this city.

We had only planned to stop and buy beans after work, so we put just 15 minutes on the meter, as they closed in that time frame. Almost an hour later, I left with a case of the caffeine jitters, a smile on my face, and a new friend (and NO parking ticket, thank you very much)!

We got a comp espresso drink with our bean purchase, and so we purchased another one. Sebastian, the owner, made us get two different bean varieties so that we could compare. I had an espresso blend from Borogove (not the gitano, another one), and the huzz had one called seven something-or-other.... It was great to taste the differences between the two- mine being smoky and earthy and my husbands being bright and fruity.

We thought we were done there. NOPE! Sebastian was the perfect host, talking to us about our equipment, our jobs, life, coffee.... he made us some deliciously velvety hot chocolates, we talked some more (mind you he's supposed to be closed). This guy is SERIOUS about coffee, and he loves to talk shop. Finally after about 45 minutes, we get ready to leave, but not before he sends us off with a final treat- a shot of the espresso velutto topped off with whipped cream and sprinkled with cinnamon.

Needless to say, I'm in love, and I WILL be back for more.

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Elite '08

20

195

Jess C.

Cotati, CA

5 star rating
02/06/2008

Thank goodness for you Yelpers, you saved me from hitting up a Starbucks everyday while in Seattle! On my recent trip, I looked up where a good cup of coffee was and this is what we decided to try.

The Barista was very friendly and knowledgable. He created his own coffee blends daily... wow! The cappuccino I ordered was nice and dry (how often can you get really good foam at Starbucks, anyway?!)

The shop is nearby Pike Place and the Seattle Art Museum, so we stopped in during our tourist-y stops for some local flavor.

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Elite '08

22

101

Derek B.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
01/09/2008

This review dedicated to Megan B.

This doppio felt like cream on my tongue. It dark, robust, and roasty, closely followed by an elusive spice that I failed to identify, best tasted on the middle-sides of my tongue. There were no tanniny drying qualities to speak of, and a loooooong raisiny finish. That's right, I said raisins.

Now, I don't recall which beans they used for this, as there were quite a few (I want to say ten?) to choose from. This was not the best espresso in town, but it was very complex and artfully crafted and I will go back again and again.

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Elite '08

460

522

Tim O.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
01/08/2008

Great way to spend a rainy Seattle day: sampling various roasteries' beans.

We got 'The Works' which was 3 different cups each with a short double espressos from a local roaster.

We ended up with the Costa Rican single source bean (like a punch in the mouth, in a good way), a house blend and a Bainbridge Island blend.

All in all, a cool experience, even if I couldn't pick up on the nuance in each cup. (Really? This one should hints of lemon zest? Because it taste like strong-ass coffee to me!). I'd recommend making them a macchiato (wee bit of milk) to cut the bitterness factor.

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Elite '08

17

300

Brad C.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
03/02/2008

Overall pretty great. If you are near Pike Place Market be sure to make a stop here. They have good coffee, and a great selection as well. The Barista was really friendly. Great atmosphere to just sit with a friend and enjoy a cup of coffee.

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6

Sam S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
02/11/2008

What I noticed immediately upon entering this place is the 10 grinders behind the bar.  Excellent!  Try "the works" - three different shots of espresso.  My fave was Borogove's Cremona blend.  I'm not great at descriptions but it's DA BOMB!  A seriously fun, tasty experience for those coffee lovers out there.  I hear if you buy beans they will give you a free drink.  Good stuff.  I will be back.

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Photo of Ian D.

 

0

7

Ian D.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
03/10/2008

If you appreciate coffee this is your place! They have coffee from all the best roasters in the Seattle area and more. Seattle Coffee Works is unique in that they offer tastings of many different roasts. What a great idea! If you're lucky the owner will be there to treat you to a great coffee experience. He is passionate (and extremely knowledgable) about his coffee! I've tried 4-5 drinks so far and they've all been superb. The atmosphere is also nice. It's a place you can go to hang out and relax or a place for your daily cup that is far superior to Starbucks or Seattle Best across the street. Come to think about it, Seattle's Best should probably change it's name now!

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shon r.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
01/18/2008

Great coffee, but its the staff that really sets this place apart.

The only thing I hate about Seattle coffee shops is that the atmosphere can be a bit much sometimes.  It's coffee people, calm down.  But this place was different.  The atmosphere and staff were all quite friendly.  

During my last visit, there was a guy in line who was obviously a tourist and asking all kinds of questions.  My first thought was "oh no, this guy is about to get it."  To my surprise, no one in line started huffing and puffing.  The best part was that one of the staff members pulled the guy to the side and spent a good 10 to 15 minutes explaining coffee to him.  It was a welcome change of pace from some of the other coffee shops in town.

With so many coffee shops in Seattle, I find it very hard to label anyone the best.  But I don't think anyone will be let down by Seattle Coffee Works.

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Katie S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
02/06/2008

Went here due to the great reviews on Yelp and was not disapointed! The staff was highly knowledgable and very friendly!  Not snobby at all! The espresso was fantastic and the atmosphere was a cozy place to read a book on a rainy afternoon! I just wish it was open longer!

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Elite '08

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Michelle B.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
11/08/2007

"Starbucks Sucks!" is what you are likely to hear most coffee snobs proclaiming in a knee jerk reaction to this corporate giant.

If you say that when you walk into Seattle Coffee Works you are in for a big surprise. Sebastian and crew know their coffee *so well* that they are actually able to defend Starbucks! These guys understand that Starbucks paved the way for gourmet coffee and they are not afraid to give them the props they deserve.

This is a refreshing change and sets the perfect mood for you to indulge in what they have termed "The Works."

The Works is akin to a beer sampler, but instead of different brews you get different roasts of beans from various micro-coffee roasters in the area. Tasting the different cups next to each other will really allow your inner coffee snob to come out full force!

If you're not up for the full meal deal you can always just order up a good old fashioned cup of joe, throw in some cream & sugar, take a seat in the back of their shop, and play on Yelp!

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Katie R.

WA

5 star rating
04/20/2008

The coffee selection is fantastic and Sebastian is a gem.

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Elite '08

7

89

Josh B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
01/15/2008

I was scared to try a coffee shop on such a touristy route, figuring they would just be trying to make money off Seattle's coffee reputation.  But I was pleasantly surprised!  The Ice Coffee here is really something special in the summer time.

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3

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Kendra G.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
11/08/2007

Upon straddling the cobble stones of Seattle, we, as 1st time visitors, search for the non-Starbucks, the epitome of real coffee. Then BAM: SEATTLE COFFEE WORKS! The best coffee I have ever had! I'm talking about perfect temperature, perfect creaminess, perfect ambiance where you are devoured by surrounding coffee books, & comfortable enclavic nooks where your world can just nest itself within its booth. Ask the most knowledgeable staff to teach you the art of coffee and roasting. The pistachio croissant was amazing as well.
Enjoy.

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Amanda P.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
11/11/2007

On a visit to pike place we decided to stop here for coffee since we hadn't tried it before, and it was perfect. We couldn't ask for a more friendly barista, and the coffee was made very well. Nice australian(?) guy, friendly to our kids too! YUMM.....

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keren b.

Bellevue, WA

5 star rating
01/17/2008

no I don't drink coffee but I need a place where I feel comfortable to get myself some great tea( I like the ginger one) and enjoy the atmosphere. Yes, the people are funny, friendly and not cold like in many coffee places. The simple pleasures in life are getting a drink at a place you love, feel comfortable and warming up on a hot day. I think I just might start drinking coffee because everytime I go,  the people there talk about coffee with their eyes lit up.

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Sabr S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
09/07/2007

The coffee was the best I have EVER had. These are true masters of coffee roasting. Super Fresh. I visited from San Francisco in August 2007 and I came back everyday. They also have the coolest staff. They were so helpful and recommened other good places to visit and eat. Seattle Coffee Works Rocks! And remember "Friends don't let friends go to Starbucks".

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Ron G.

WA

5 star rating
03/10/2007

Just a half block from the Market but if you're not careful you'll walk right past this place.  Stuck in the front corner of a t-shirt shop SCW makes a very fine cup of coffee.  Check out their 3 head Synesso espresso machine; the best there is.  You can even select from various brands of beans.

6/07 up date: they've redone the store front, in Moltieni Orange, and now you can't miss it.

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