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Starbucks
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
328 15th Ave E(between Thomas St & Harrison St)
Seattle, WA 98112
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 323-1568
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 9 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Starbucks
Review Highlights
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"And yes, there's free wi-fi." In 4 reviews -
"what exactly is that Clover machine." In 4 reviews
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"my starbucks sells beer and wine, what about yours." In 5 reviews
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Katy H.
5/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
For a Starbucks this place isn't so bad. Yes they charge too much for coffee that is better elsewhere on The Hill but you've got free WIFI, lots of tables and space to do work, host meetings or just sit and relax.
I do wish the power outlets were easier to find as most of the communal tables are on the middle of the room, away from the walls.
Glad they also serve loose leaf teas, wine and beer! -
Review from Oliver S.
3/4/2012 10 Check-ins Here
This is a Starbucks on steroids! This location serves the regular menu items and more!
They also serve:
1. wine and beer
2. loose-leaf teas
3. pour-over coffee
4. Essential baking goods
This location is a great place for studying. It's a study location that's not too quiet, but also not so noisy. It can get busy, but I've never not found a table. There's a pretty good amount of turnover.
The only irritating thing (pretty minor) about this location are the power outlets. If you need to plug in your laptop, you'll need to sit at one of outer tables. There are no outlets for the tables in the middle.
Awesome use of space! -
Review from Corinne K.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here about a week and a half ago with my good friend Amy, both got Mocha fraps and chocolate whipped cream (oh goodie bring on the calories) The girl working was incredibly happy and friendly, had really good talking skills and helpful informative suggestions. She knows the regulars here and remember their drinks which I found really neat.
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Review from Ryan N.
Seattle, WA
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only Starbucks location serving alcohol.
Nice hip and trendy interior.
Formerly known as 15th Ave Coffee & Tea.
QUICKTIP: Also, the only Starbucks with a Happy Hour! -
Review from Kevin C.
12/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm in love. Head over heels adoration with this Starbucks. Rather than the Corporate-Chic vibe of almost every other Starbucks in the country, this one has a cool, understated feel that fits perfectly with the eclectic neighborhood it finds itself in. There is a large communal uneven wooden slab table as the centerpiece, but then smaller more intimate parts as well. The drinks are all standard, except for the Clover! Yay Clover! And they also have beer and wine, which is kind of awesome, although don't expect anything too crazy on that end. The baked goods that they sell aren't the typical sawdust stuff you'd expect from a starbucks either - they get them from essential bakery, a local spot! So if you're looking for a starbucks that rises to the top in terms of uniqueness and vibe and CLOVER, then come right in!
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Review from Ema N.
Updated - 12/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
The review is for 15th Ave Coffee House (or whatever its name was before it changed back into Starbucks). So many changes on the hill these days!
::
I came by to study for a bit since I had an hour or so to kill before I started work down the street.
I found out that the workers pretty much suck balls.
- They cannot tell you if any of their breakfast pastries have dairy in it but they know that they are made by a local company.
- They cannot tell you if any food (not drinks) has dairy in it or not.
- They will not go out of their way to find out if you can eat anything if you have a restricted diet.
It was pretty sad...
Ema: "Do you know if the granola has dairy in it"
Barista: "Well, most granolas don't have dairy it in"
Ema: "Is it possible to check? I'm severely lactose intolerant"**
The barista couldn't check to see if the granola had dairy in it so I just had a soy chai and studied until I had to go to work. BUT I do know my barista was 23 years old because she said so while chatting to her co-worker.
It was a very sad start to my morning. I thought maybe they had improved their service but nope.
**= Servers and baristas, when a customer says they are lactose intolerant, it means that they do not want to spend the next few hours sitting on top of the toilet with explosive poops because their stomachs are self-imploding. Just an FYI. :)Listed in: Ema's Capitol Hill
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/15/2009
Meh.
They didn't offer the shaken black iced tea, nor did they even offer to make anything similar… Read more »
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Review from Alice C.
1/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I knew this was a Starbucks before it opened- I had to read all the promotional packets Sbux was sending to stores to announce its opening, and as a Sbux employee at the time, I knew of the corporate ownership long before a lot of my friends did. As someone who no longer works for them, I don't care who owns it, as long asi get my coffee in a timely manner and I don't have to worry about potentialy surly hipsterista's giving me decaf because they didn;t think I tipped enough.
Yeah, they use a manual machine- believe it or not, a good amount of Starbucks employees have previous barista experience and do, in fact, know how to use a manual machine; the push buttons are, however, an absolute god send when you have a line of 60 people out the door.
My double short mocha was actually really good. -
Review from Vanessa G.
3/12/2011
This is by far the coolest Starbucks i have ever been in. Flanked with massive ceilings, warehouse style, and wood everywhere. You will win me with wooden picnic benches and large comfy sofa seats.
The food looks fresher and more unique then other location as well. I was able to pick the beans i wanted for my personal coffee. I also got a free petite bite which is a promotion on for the next day. I love the tirimisu and birthday cake lollipops.
They have beer, wine, and full leaf teas.. crazy. A nice outside atrium that looks perfect if it didn't rain all winter. -
Review from Kel M.
Seattle, WA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool rustic Starbucks atmosphere. Made to order cafe mocha-- filtered coffee, which makes it smoother. Unique pastries looked good too.
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Review from Shekinah S.
Seattle, WA
3/30/2010
Oh Starbucks you are so sneaky. You close a shop and the neighborhood panics and even has a "Save Starbucks" table out front. Then a new shop, 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea, opens. It looks like an independent coffee shop, with a community crossword puzzle at the counter, manual espresso machine, local goodies, live music, and beer and wine... but wait. It's owned by Starbucks and the to go cups even have fine print: "Inspired by Starbucks."
My boyfriend and I went here on Sun and the episode left me ambivalent and wary of the lengths the Big Buck o' Stars will go to wipe out local competition. The experience itself was fine. The shop is nicely decorated (though a little dark) and you'd never guess it's affiliated with the corporate coffee giant. The decor is rough-hewn, though I know this was the result of marketing panels and experts, and not limited resources that dictate the artsy look. The cashier was friendly and also forthcoming about the ownership. Our drinks took longer than at Starbucks, but not annoyingly long. My latte and my BF's mocha were good, though not great, and complete with pretty designs in the foam. They didn't taste like Starbucks coffee. But I can't get over the conniving business plan. Left a bad taste in my mouth.
Starbucks is embarking on an innovative yet questionable marketing strategy by pretending to be a local coffee shop. This new concept is obviously designed to lure in customers (aka "capture a market segment") that knowingly avoid big corporate chains. Though if you look at the front door -- which was propped open so we didn't see the "Inspired by Starbucks" sign -- I guess you can't really accuse them of outright deceit. However, I think it would be more honest to change the name to 15th Ave Starbucks (according to the Starbucks website the idea is to have shops that reflect the qualities of the neighborhood) or Starbucks Coffee & Tea (distinguishing it in look and feel, but not entirely name, from the parent company). I don't begrudge Starbucks their wild success, but it's not fair to act like a small coffee shop without facing the challenges a small shop must deal with.
That being said, there are some things to appreciate about this shop: eco - friendly design using reclaimed and recycled materials, real baristas that do more than push a button, and a general attempt to deviate from the standardization and assembly line methods that made Starbucks a household name across the world. Maybe Starbucks has realized the fallacy of its ways and seeks to return to their humble origins -- which are local, after all.
Or maybe they're just stealing ideas from small shops and trying to trick us into accepting a world where all caffeinated roads lead to Starbucks. Either way, if we'd seen the sign on the door and realized this was a Starbucks in disguise, we would have headed back towards Ladro and Victrola. I'm curious to see how this experiment works out and if Starbucks will be opening more of these "neighborhood" shops. However, I doubt I'll be back with better choices just up the street.
Some interesting articles:
http://www.coffeestrat...
http://seattletimes.nw...Listed in: Latte List
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Review from Jessica S.
Seattle, WA
7/26/2009
I realize 15th Avenue is owned by Starbucks. OK? Let me start off and say that. But I think it's a really smart business move. And honestly-the service here is way better than most local cafes and coffee shops I go to. I personally don't care for the ambivalent, grumpy attitude I get from a lot of baristas who seem to forget that patrons are spending money and in turn providing them with a paycheck. Not my style.
Anyway-Starbucks can get a little stale. The loud frapp machine, the cookie cutter interiors, the terrible pastries. This is a nice alternative. You know what to expect for the most part-it's like Starbucks. The friendly baristas, it's relatively clean, and consistent. But there is a Clover machine which really is an improvement. And the french press option is great. And the fact that the baked goods and sandwiches come from Essential Bakery makes it the best of both worlds, right?
I like this place. I think the local coffee shops should stop complaining about all of the cues Starbucks have taken from them and should take a cue from 15th ave Coffee and Tea-BETTER SERVICE. -
Review from June N.
Seattle, WA
8/25/2009
I don't drink Coffee, but decided to peak in here after dinner at SMITH. After having heard about all the evil's of Starbucks and corporate blah blah, I was kind of ready to hate on everything in the store even though I'm not a coffee drinker.
Well...first impressions. Wow, they spent a lot of money here decorating the place. Everything although it was...I don't know what word would be suitable here...faux rustic...it seemed sterile...like how many board room meetings did it take to decide on which faded paint color should go on which wall? I think the main detractor to the interior is that when a small business owner creates a unique space, they take what's available to them by sifting through junk or being creative rather than a team of marketing people scouring and poaching ideas from people and mixing them together and spewing forth their interpretation of a "hip" and "happening" coffee shop. If you try to bottle "cool" it ends up being not "cool".
Well, aside from that, they still serve Starbucks Coffee from what I've heard. Repackaged and re-branded, it's still a Starbucks underneath. My buddy ended up getting a small americano and didn't really mention anything about the taste. It was incredibly hot though. So I can't really comment on the flavor.
The service however is excellent. Everything is clean and the staff are helpful and nice. It's just another coffee shop in Seattle, but this one is backed by Starbucks.
I guess if anything else from all the bad rap it's got, If I were a coffee drinker, I still wouldn't support this place. They took the Sonics away from us. 'Nuff said. -
Review from Starr J.
7/25/2009
I stopped in here today, their second day of being open, and first let me say that I didn't have any of the pre-existing biases that some others on Yelp seemed to have about it. I go to Starbucks AND independent cafes and don't think that anything Starbucks = the devil.
didn't really need another coffee today, but I ordered an iced soy mocha anyway, just to try. also got a yummy lemon bar. I think they made my coffee in a bigger size than I asked for, but no big deal....it was just a little too much soy milk/coffee for me. otherwise fine.
I love the decor! lots of seating and interesting interpretations of the trash/recycle cans, condiment table, etc. there are big rolls of brown butcher paper that they pull down and write the food menus on...love those.
they're still working out the kinks, but that is to be expected for the second day being open. I'm very easygoing about new businesses and always give them a generous time frame to work things out.
I'll definitely be back...... -
Review from ken q.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2010
As a brand strategist, I find this venture absolutely fascinating. I had to see how Starbucks managed/introduced this so-called 'stealth Starbucks'. I was genuinely a kid on Christmas day entering this location - so curious to see a global brand spawn this boutique experiment. I admittedly was questioning if this 'secretive attempt' would backfire in this coffee crazed city. People take their coffee serious here and can make their voice heard if need be. That's why I'm sure Starbucks is reviewing these Yelp notes with interest.
Architecturally, its a very pleasing site. Gone are any flashy signs or vivid, attention-getting colors. The site is unassuming and understated. I immediately was pleased to find Starbucks wasn't hiding behind this venture - with a hand-painted sign on the door 'inspired by Starbucks'. Nice strategic touch.
Entering the store, I encountered smiling barristas lacking store-name aprons, just casual clothes. The menu wasn't mass produced, actually hand drawn on a roll of brown construction paper. Some inspiring ways to communicate in a more personal/organic manner.
Very cool, open decor - mixing a bohemia/industrial look and feel. The wallpaper made from book pages is a little too overthought, but overall, a very nice setting. I like the furniture too: with a long, communal table for large groups, surrounded by small tables and old, wooden movie chairs along the wall.
To the important part: will Mikey like it. Well, I ordered a large Americano. It came in a large soup-bowl with ears on both ends - making it hard to drink from one hand. So, a more involved drinking experience. The key: the coffee was fantastic! I would line this coffee up against some of the best I've ever had. I've since returned two more times and every time, its been consistently phenomenal.
Overall, some really intriguing ways a large company can look and act, nimble. Could be interesting to relinquish typical brand restrictions and let new franchisees take on a little more local-influenced flexibility. I give Starbucks brand team props for not hiding behind this venture by endorsing it on the door. The workers seemed genuinely relaxed and not over-caffeinated as you regularly encounter at traditional Starbucks. WiFi was free - a critical, appreciated new addition. What really caught my attention, besides the outstanding coffee, was this new, organic method of communicating. Very nice touch. Curious to see where this goes. -
Review from Katrina N.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2010
I reallllyyyy wanted to hate 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea.
When I first read about it on KOMO's website, I thought that Starbucks was trying to trick people into thinking that this new shop was just another cute neighborhood coffee stop.
But I don't hate it. Because they carry Essential Baking Co.'s lemon bars.
And you just can't hate lemon bars. -
Review from James E.
11/28/2009
If you enjoy your soy milk with vanilla flavoring and large amounts of sugar, then by all means order a soy latte at 15th Ave Coffee & Tea (a.k.a. Starbucks, a.k.a. Stealthbucks). Or a soy chai, if your prefer. Whatever you pair with the soy milk, get ready for your drink to pack an unnecessary sweet punch. Possibly diarrhea, depending on how well your body can handle that much sugar in the soy milk. But I digress.
What I find so charming about this café is not its garish/opulent interior or its staff that border on corporate hipster. No, what I enjoy most is the sandwich board outside the café that is usually riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes. Because nothing says "independent" like misplaced apostrophes and poor subject-verb agreement.
That said, my dog loves the waterbowls placed outside the café entrance. Kudos, kids. -
Review from Gwen C.
8/21/2009
It's still a Starbucks. Alas, that means two stars and it goes up and down from there. Examples of what changes a rating: being the only decent coffee for 100 miles (see also, Starbucks, Bismarck, ND), being 24 hours inside, etc.
They did extend the hours. They have beer and wine. Thus, they get three stars.
I don't, however, get why you'd go here when there are better options down the street, like Victrola, Ladro, Remedy Teas, Insomniax, etc etc. It's just a Starbucks. In Boston, that means good coffee. Here, it's just the middle of the road. -
Review from Emma R.
Seattle, WA
1/25/2010
When I heard about Starbucks' plan to become more "local" I laughed. To me there is nothing local about a company that has stores all over the world, even in countries that had no need for one. I am a proud Capital Hill resident and with that, in my opinion, comes a desire to help out the independent coffee shops that stud all the streets.
However, when this place opened their doors my curiosity took over and I shamefully hid my face as I walked past Victrola and into 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea.
Their assortment of pastries surprised me. There weren't the usual suspects that you see in Starbucks but instead goods from bakeries around town.
My real question is: what do they put in the coffee of their employees? They were all energetic, happy, and practically dying to help you. They answered my coffee questions that I had always been to embarrassed to ask other coffee shops due to the snootiness of the baristas. Here though, no shame.
After getting my coffee I looked at the interior a little closer and couldn't help but shake my head and sigh. The long wood table they have looks identical to the one housed in Volunteer Park Cafe. The place looks like a mash up of the best parts of all the surrounding coffee shops but with none of the well worn charm that the others have.
Overall it was a good experience. When I don't have the energy to deal with baristas looking down their nose at me I will probably come here. I really wish I hated this place but the charm of the people working there will have me coming back. I am a sucker for nice people and the staff is a refreshing change from those at other shops. -
Review from Sylvia W.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2009
This review is simple, not trying to copy others, but here goes my opinion...
Been here 4 times as my conversation group meets here on a weekly basis. Each time I have seen food gnats either flit around OR land on top of pastries. One word? EW!!!
Don't like their coffee, since I'm not a *$ fan. Do like their loose leaf tea offerings due to it being more than the average *$ Tazo offerings. In particular their Silver Needle. Been having it iced, need to try it hot.
Tried a snickerdoodle & sandwich there ONCE and it was far worse than one at regular *$. Identical sandwich of turkey w/cran BUT the bread was stale on its crust and it was wrapped up in food service butcher paper. Cookie was meh, could tell it'd been there for a bit.
Service has been really friendly and accomodating. Our group reserves the patio and the staff has been conscientioius in always putting up a reserve sign for us. Two thumbs up for that alone.
Decor is that in keeping w/gentrification of most coffee houses on Capitol Hill. This one does it better b/c they do have wine. It'd be better if their receipts didn't look identical to *$. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Seattle, WA
1/26/2010
First off, I'm docking one star because they got their name backwards.
I'm with the reviewers who say "If you're a Starbucks, say so!" They're not going to win business by pretending they are something besides it. They WILL win business by doing what they currently do: Not acting like a Starbucks while accepting Starbucks gift cards. Their name should be: Starbucks Coffee and Tea: Inspired by "current location" instead of the other way around. I think that gives better tribute to the neighbourhood without failing at pretending to be an indie coffee seller.
This review is written from within the shop, and I've been here for two hours at this point. Their coffee is decent and served in ceramic if you're planning on staying, which is nice.
They have the walls lined with old wooden theater seats, which can obscure outlets pretty easily. The solution? They've got drawn power outlets and arrows on the walls above the level of the chairs to point out where you should sit if you want an outlet. THANKS!!! I always feel like a dufus running around looking for an outlet peering behind strangers.
They also have a nice variety of table sizes and even an outdoor seating area suitable for a 6-8 person meeting if you want to do that... outdoors.
As I sit here, there's a parent and child enjoying some hot chocolate, a clear business meeting in the back, a delightful elderly couple enjoying lunch and about five of us on laptops working like dogs (except me who is reviewing the place between work-stints). The music isn't so loud that you can't hear yourself think or conduct business, but does provide a nice bit of privacy.
The food from Essential? Good call. Could be a little more diverse, but I'll take soup and sandwiches any day and it lets me work all day here with the free wi-fi.
Overall, I really, really like this place. I don't even care that it's a Starbucks. It doesn't feel like it, look like it or act like it. It's a lot more comfortable and friendly than any Starbucks I've ever been in. I think I can find myself working here more often thanks to it having the right blend of atmosphere and food/drink offerings.
Thanks, Starbucks! Let's put in more of these and fewer of the mermaid-adorned rubber-stamp shops! Respect for the neighbourhoods you rely on for patronage definitely goes a long way.Listed in: My Coffee Shop Circuit
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Review from Diana B.
Seattle, WA
1/14/2011
Can't compete with other better coffee shops in the area. If you want good espresso go to Vivace. For good coffee, Victrola or Joe Bar.
Be aware for barista with tattoo's and plugs- he's a total jack a**.
PS: If you're going to ask someone if their pup can be "POOCH OF THE MONTH" and then they walk in with a "POOCH OF THE MONTH", you shouldn't ask them to leave. Why do you market yourself as dog friendly? What a hoax! -
Review from cathy g.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/15/2010
Something not so good happened today with a shift staff manager. It can happen from time to time. Poor comunication, lectures .. etc... can make a person feel like not going back. Maybe I shall drop by again another time.
This place is one of Starbucks experiments in reaching out with coffee sales from many places. Also, superbly with music evenings and more. While I appreciate the experiment and music, I didn't what happened.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/19/2009
i was so surprised. I didn't think that i would like this venue. Where is the old place?
I was so… Read more »
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Review from Cyndi C.
11/18/2009 3 Check-ins Here
15th Ave Coffee is actually a Starbucks, ok, so it looks like we receive consistent solid coffee and good service.
I like the design here as it looks like the rest of 15th Ave. I see nothing wrong with upgrading your style to match the neighborhood, it's better than bringing a cookie cutter shop to this artsy hood.. no? It seems kinda dark in the back of the shop though.. I like the bench table seating that is available in the far front for lots of natural light.
Try the Clover press coffee, it will NOT disappoint. Anniversary Blend is the Yum! -
Review from Jim D.
Seattle, WA
12/6/2010
always good for studying, though i like roy st better...
It holds it's own against the local shops nearby, middle of the pack for 15th ave area. Honestly, I don't mind that it's owned by Starbucks. They're the #1 local coffee company, and every other coffee shop in town owes them for making Seattle the coffee giant that it is. -
Review from Iki T.
Seattle, WA
8/28/2009
I didn't see anything special.
I know it's a nice place to stay for coffee and some readings.
I liked how they use the space.
The interior was nice except the cranky bench chair.
It's kind of nice to choose one from many different kinds of coffee beans.
It really feels like a high-end coffee place... compare to Starbucks.
However, it's just another nice coffee place.
One thing I hated was the open food case.
It attracts flies so much that I saw a huge one stopping on the pastry.
I guess they need to do something about it. -
Review from Amanda M.
1/5/2010
I read about this place last year when it first opened and thought it sounded a bit gimmicky and contrived. If you're a Starbucks, say you're a Starbucks. None of this trying to be the "friendly neighborhood coffee shop" crap. Leave that to the REAL friendly neighborhood coffee shops. But I do appreciate them trying to keep their business competitive, so I allowed that it MIGHT work.
Anyway, on a recent trip back to the NW I was walking down 15th Ave with some friends and we decided to cross the street for some espresso at what we thought was a cute little indy coffee shop. Yep, we totally fell for the ruse. From the outside, you really can't tell there is anything chain about it. But in small letters on the front door, they admit the "inspired by Starbucks" part. Sigh.
Inside, it has all the key elements of a "cute" coffee shop - in an irritating, over-the-top way. In trying so hard to be indy and fun, the carefully thought out design sort of missed the point.
I DID like the little open-air patio and the doggy campsite by the front door. I DIDN'T much like my cappuccino, unfortunately - very, very little foam to be found. I guess I should've ordered it dry. Otherwise, the place was quiet and relaxing on a Tuesday afternoon and a good spot to hang out. Doubt I'd be a regular if I lived around here, though. -
Review from Ardith F.
Corvallis, OR
1/25/2010
This wonderful shop is a branch of a huge corporation, and generally, Starbucks coffee drinks aren't of the finest quality. They get me caffeinated, but when I have time, I like to frequent places like Stumptown.
Yesterday, my friend and I decided to check out 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea because we were curious about the shop. Well, the decor is really nice, and the service was good. Additionally, the latte I had was outstanding. It was just your basic 16oz. 2% latte, and I was honestly impressed.
We stuck around the shop for at least an hour, just chatting and enjoying our drinks. My only complaint is that there wasn't more muffin-type pastries, but they did have whoopie pies, and that's great on its own. -
Review from Soren S.
San Diego, CA
8/31/2011 9 Check-ins Here
This Starbucks definitely does not have the typical Starbucks corporate feel. I love the trendy decor and the manual espresso machine. Also, the fresh pour over drip coffee is much better than the coffee that's already been sitting for 30 minutes. The barista's are friendly and the whole store has an indie feel. I also love that they serve beer and wine and have full leaf teas instead of the Tazo bags.
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Review from Landon H.
Seattle, WA
8/9/2009
People are going to naturally hate on this shop due to its 'Starbucks in disguise' label. One that it should definitely own up to.
If this was an independently owned shop whose owners toiled and troubled to make the design perfectly cozy and original, and the espresso perfect and fresh, then it would get a solid 4-star rating from me. However, the feel/design/decor/attitude was simply stolen from other Seattle-area independent shops, organized by a team of Starbucks think-tankers, and replicated in Disney-esque fashion. For that... I cannot embrace nor reward this location with 4 or 5 stars.
Positives: wine, beer, free wi-fi, better-than-Starbucks coffee, freshly ground and not made by machines. -
Review from Spencer B.
Seattle, WA
3/10/2009
I know, I know. It's just another Starbucks: nothing new, nothing inventive, nothing out of the ordinary. But it's got a great staff (for the most part) and I have yet to get a "bad drink" in here. In fact, the best Caramel Macchiato I've had in a couple of years came from this store.
I know it's not cool to go to Starbucks on the Hill when Victrola, Cafe Ladro, and all sorts of other places are just a few more steps in any direction, but sometimes, it's just nice to walk in, call your barista by name, order a drink, and have it taste like you expected it to.
All in all, I'm mostly just glad my neighborhood Starbucks isn't a shit-hole.Listed in: Where I've been so far...
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Review from Alisa B.
5/25/2010 1 photo
Ok i really wanted to hate this place. Its starbucks for gods sakes... I can't like a starbucks! I'm way to freaking trendy for that! I just couldn't hate it though.
I stopped in today my heart set on a chai and a muffin. However I saw they had Tom Douglas' tomato soup and my heart skipped to a happy little tune. I got a chai and the tomato soup and took a seat towards teh side of the cafe in a cute little olde timey school chair. While I waited for my soup I took in my surroundings; dark walls and ceilings, chalk board style menus, a chandelier made of clothes pins (cool idea), it really was quite cozy.
My soup was lovely, thick and creamy tasty with three lovely corstini to accompany it. My chai was the usual tazo chai that starbucks uses but for some reason this was better. These baristas actually seemed to know what they were doing, the milk was frothy and the seemed to know the secret ideal ratio of chai to milk to make even tazo taste pretty good.
Like I said I was pretty happy overall... and honestly give kudos starbucks for going through with it and making this a trully cute local coffee shop. -
Review from Ara M.
Seattle, WA
7/2/2010
Love this place for: good coffee (actually made the way coffee SHOULD be made, not some push-button machine like other Starbucks), good pastries and snacks (most locally sourced), nice atmosphere and live jazz on Sunday evenings (although I hear the new manager isn't so into that, too bad--it's really the only reason I come!!)
Hate this place for: Being a Starbucks the sheep's clothing and the non-snack kind of food!!
Husband I came here last Sunday for jazz and ordered an $8 veggie sandwich and an $7 organic garden salad. The ONLY veggies on the sandwich included lettuce and mealy tomato--come on now, those are just sandwich accoutrements! Sandwich was also served very cold, and the bread was stale. Blech. The salad wasn't much better. The greens were wilted and the additional veggies were shredded carrots and red cabbage, not to mention the balsamic dressing was congealed. Ewww. Food was clearly overpriced, and a little disgusting.
I'll come back, but only if they keep Sunday jazz. Hopefully they'll also work on the food, too!! -
Review from Share W.
9/1/2009 4 photos
After finding this place, we knew what we wanted. Well, at least the boys did. BEER! That's right. All for the right to say they ordered beer at a coffee/tea shop. They have wine too, if your taste buds are more refined. Oh and they have no problem cardin' your arse too if you decide to order. I opted the more, normal stomach friendly choice that suited the environment: tea. With so many selection, where to begin. Well, they have an area with samples of each tea choices in dishes to help you out. I went with the green dragonwell. It came served in 2 system pot: top compartment to hold the tea and hot water to which drips into the bottom compartment to catch the brew. The tea was alright. I've had better. Maybe a another round through the seepage system to make sure it gets brew'd properly?
Organic wood communal table in the front, open "sun room" in the front/outside and plenty of table space in the back. Enough room to hold an impromptu group meeting or a tea party. Kitchy and looks like decor out of a ReadyMade magazine. Starbuck's alernate ego isn't bad, but I will have to agree with a more closed food bar. I scrunched my nose if a fruit fly got a taste of my goods before I do. -
Review from Grace L.
9/2/2009 1 photo
I walked into the shop and was, unfortunately, that annoying customer who can't decide what she wants, but the barista was very patient and offered up several suggestions. He sold me on the mocha, though, when he told me it was made with a house-made ganache.
I'm not huge on coffee-foam art, but I have to admit that my drink was poured beautifully. They were doing a brisk business, and I heard the various counter staff greet many of those coming through by name.
Really, I like what they've done with the place. I generally find most Starbucks interiors a little off-putting (something about the color of the wood they use for the tables, it's too bright and harsh for me), but I enjoyed the muted browns here, which gave the space a cozy, comfortable feeling. And so what if the decor was created on a designer's sketchpad and not cobbled together lovingly over a series of years by an indie coffeeshop proprietor? It still looks great. The bibliophile in me adored the pages on the back wall, and I thought the butcher paper rolls being used as changeable menu boards were very clever.
Patio space is difficult to come by in this densely-populated area, but they carved out a small area at the front for a cute, mostly-enclosed patio that may even be usable in the wintertime!
I really liked it here, and would be happy to come back when I'm up on 15th. -
Review from Heather H.
Seattle, WA
6/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Defiantly part of ideal little Seattle cafes offering so much in ambiance!
Lets roll off why this place is so fantastic for us locals:
1. Local - aka hipster friendly!
2. Hidden - you literally have to walk by this place in order to spot it! Its nearly too me 3x to finally figure out whether it was a bar or cafe.
3. Visually inspirational - If your not staring at the large clothespin lights, then I hope your taking in all the rusticness ambiance. Great for groups, the people here are all very chill while working away at their apple laptops.
4. Food - and its good food, finely made sandwiches, not something that looks like it was made from the Safeway across the way.
Outside there is a small porch which you can twitter away among the terrace. Inside remains rustic and earthy allowing for you to breathe and mellow out with a fine cuppa coffee.
Finely done on the 15th avenue! -
Review from David E.
5/8/2011
This is one of the nicest Starbucks I have been to and I have been to a lot of Starbucks. It was a different name for a while but changed back to Starbucks and I think one of the best. The service was excellent and made each drink a little special.
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Review from J K.
Seattle, WA
12/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
It is a coffee shop. It has coffee. It has places to sit.
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Review from Jesse O.
Seattle, WA
11/7/2009
I like it.
Had 15th Ave Coffee + Tea not been "starbucks inspired" everyone would be praising it. But hey it's cool to hate on Starbucks so I'll give you that.
Five stars. -
Review from Brendan M.
Seattle, WA
7/24/2009
I came here early in the afternoon on opening day, 24 July 2009, and was pleasantly surprised to see the place was not completely packed. I got in line --- the line moved fairly quickly --- and ordered a tall cup of Espresso Roast. I asked the man at the register if they accepted the Starbucks card; they did not, so I gladly paid cash. Since it was opening day, it looked like some of the employees were still working out the details and the functions of the new store. The guy operating the Clover machine had to ask another employee about something, and some other guy appeared to be reading an instruction manual of some kind. Major Cohen -- I think it was he -- was watering plants and busing dishes, but when he wasn't busy, he took the time to sit down with some of the patrons and talk about coffee and the new store. An electrician on a ladder was installing a security camera on the far wall. Overall, the employees were polite and did their jobs well, but they didn't seem as enthusiastic about coffee as I expected. Maybe they'll warm up in time.
I had to wait about 4-5 minutes for my coffee, and once it was ready, I had no trouble finding an open seat, one of the old wooden theater seats in a corner. Very comfortable! To my delight, wi-fi here is free and easy to access.
My coffee was good. I'd never had Espresso Roast before, but now that I've tried it, I'll probably stick with some other blend that I like better. The blunt, low-acid, one-dimensional flavor that works so well for espresso is not as good in a brewed coffee. Some people like to complain that Starbucks serves only burnt, over-roasted coffee, but that is simply not the case. At 15th Avenue Coffee & Tea, there are plenty of different coffees from around the world, including some nice Latin American single-origin coffees and other mild to medium blends. And there are different brewing methods, too: pour-over drip brew, French press, and Clover. And the espresso is prepared using an honest-to-God La Marzocco manually operated espresso machine -- just like in the early years of Starbucks.
I liked the inside of the store. The line flows in a logical direction, from the door toward the back of the store. There's not much for me to say that hasn't already been said (e.g, "repurposed" this and "recycled" that), but it comes together nicely.
According to the website, 15th Ave plans to sell ice cream too, but I didn't see a freezer area. Also, there appears to be a sun room / conference room near the front, but it was cordoned off on opening day. My guess is that it might be a little while before the store is running at "100 percent."
15th Ave might be worth a try if you're in the area, especially if you enjoy dark, flavorful, delicious brewed coffee. I sure do. -
Review from Joshua B.
7/25/2009
Wow - what a nice addition to an already great neighborhood (15th/Capitol Hill). I read a bunch about this place in local blogs and the Seattle Times and my wife and I decided to check it out Friday night and was so impressed that we came back with my parents who were visiting from out of town on Saturday. Our coffee drinks (drip "poured over", iced latte) and the tea we ordered were all great.
In general, they serve beer, wine, tons of coffee, tea, Beecher's cheese and desserts, and they're open to 11 - so it's a great place to go after a movie or dinner (or both). And you can hear yourself talk (nice for a change), unlike most bars. And yes, there's free wi-fi.
I also got more personal service the two times I've been here than I've _ever_ gotten at the ultra-locally-owned hipster places down the street. You know, smiles, helpful advice (i.e. "what exactly is that Clover machine?") and friendly conversation. Maybe it's just because they opened two days ago, but they seem to actually be trying to keep their customers (the miracle of competition) by engaging with them - hopefully that'll continue after they've been open a while.
I frequent tons of coffee shops, from independent stores, to local chains to the big behemoths (including the parent company of this place) - and frankly the quality and experience is all over the place (some great; some not so much, see also my Yelp reviews). This place is owned by Starbucks, and they're clearly trying to do something really different with a less staid/corporate look and feel. But any criticism that they simply walked into the nearby establishments and copied the exact style is totally off-base. It's definitely not like a Starbucks you'd find out in suburbia, although there are several subtle connections (the "inspired by Starbucks" tagline, and the little "power" icons on the wall with the same font as the Starbucks). But otherwise, the decor was pretty unique and well designed, including lots of seating around small and large (reclaimed wood) tables, bus-depot seats, and some pretty cool artwork (don't know the source) on the walls. On one of the nights there was even a little stage with some local music act.
This is getting long, but I also wanted to mention there's a place to leash up your pooch out front (and water bowls), along with this outdoor but semi-enclosed room that they're still getting ready (apparently you can rent it out for like a community function or meeting or whatever).
So perhaps you won't burnish your indie cred by hanging out here, and maybe the shots aren't as expertly poured as the best places in Seattle (although that's subjective), but you can have some good drinks (coffee or otherwise), tasty treats and good conversation - what's not to like?
I say put your biases aside, haters begone, and everyone else give this place a try.Listed in: Caffeinated Heaven - Coffee…
