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OK I’ll confess to being a coffee snob, but hey, it’s the little things that make life enjoyable, and for me a good cup of espresso is high on that list. Unfortunately, once you go outside the city limits of Seattle, WA you have to be wary and patient if you’re looking for a quality cup of ‘spro. Even in San Francisco it takes a little sniffing to suss out a good cup, and what’s up with serving coffee in those cereal-bowl sized cups anyway?So I did a little google search after trying several outlets in Everett, WA and coming up disappointed, and one of the top-rated in town was a drive-up, which usually means two things: Bad coffee and reviewers with no taste buds.Wrongo: Espresso Avenue not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded it. It gets compared to another Everett shop with multiple locations that starts with a ‘B’ but I tried them and they don’t stand up. First off it’s a double window drive up, and every time I went they had two employees, which is good because trying to work two lines by yourself makes for slow service. And every time I went the staff was friendly and chatty in just the right amount. But lightening service and pleasant conversation isn’t why I spend my hard-earned dough on take-out coffee, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE COFFEE! and Espresso Ave doesn’t disappoint. They grind up Cafe D’arte, which is a good start: quality beans make screwing things up harder. Then the baristas use proper preparation methods. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched someone try to pull shots without properly tamping the grounds. And if the timing is off they dump the shots instead of trying to pass them off on unsuspecting customers. To top it off they don’t try to charge $2.50 for a short Americano, which I get too often these days…..So how’s it taste? Wonderful! The coffee taste is clean and bright, with that almost chewy texture that everyone who loves their espresso knows what I’m talking about. And they’ve learned the trick to serving an Americano without being too cool or too scalding. If I closed my eyes as I was pulling away I’d almost believe I was sipping at one of my favorite Seattle coffee shops! Thank you Espresso Avenue!

Espresso Vivace – Menu with Prices – 227 Yale Ave N, Seattle

As the Seattle stereotype goes… there’s a coffee shop on every corner … and there’s a Starbucks on every half block. That’s essentially true. If you’re a coffee drinker, this city really is your dream come true. I have now come to Seattle 4 times in the last year and it’s allowed me to explore certain parts of the city really well. Because I stay in the same location each time I go, I have developed some “regular” locations that I really enjoy including Espresso Vivace. I’m fairly new to the coffee scene so I take each visit to a new cafe as an opportunity to broaden my horizons. I have now been to a fair number of places and have really enjoyed becoming a regular coffee drinker. On our first visit to the area, we dropped by Espresso Vivace because it was close to the Springhill Suites in SLU. Located right across from REI, there’s a lot of foot traffic coming through this little corner that they sit on. As such, the mornings (even times before 8AM), there can be a little bit of a line. That being said, the longest I have ever had to wait was about 10 min. They have a wide array of coffee drinks but I frequently find myself going back to my usual: either an iced americano or an espresso. Both of these drinks I feel really highlight the beans they use. Their flavors are complex, bold and low acid… just the way I like it.

Perk Avenue Drive Up Menu with Prices 3198 N Hwy 97, Bend

If you are like me (and I hope for your sake that you are not), you just have to have a good espresso drink first thing in the morning, every morning, or you are not happy. So wherever I go, I take the time to find the very best espresso available. When I visit my relatives in Bend, Perk Avenue is that spot. The coffee is *awesome*, you get it *super fast*, and the people there are *super nice and fun*. They even put me in a good mood *before* I get my espresso, and to be honest I didn’t think that was possible. Plus it’s a locally owned family business, which I am always glad to support. If you are staying anywhere in Bend (and especially at the Shiloh or Riverview which are very very close), this is where you should go. But even if it’s a little bit of a drive, the time you save getting your coffee quickly here vs. waiting in line somewhere else will more than make up for it. And the quality of it will make your whole day better! Get the coffee you deserve. Get it at Perk Avenue. ?

Lasaters Coffee & Tea – Menu with Prices – 589 S Riverside Dr, Clarksville

I was in town for work and needed a good coffee. Well I also needed something to eat. So I stopped here because I do try my best not to eat or drink at chain places as much as possible. I pulled up and ordered an Americano and a bacon/egg/cheese bagel. If I based my experience off of just the customer service and the coffee this would have been a 5 star visit. I did order a bagel… Yes I know what was I thinking ordering breakfast at a coffee shop that I didn’t know if they make everything or not. Well by the taste of it the egg was a premade egg, the bacon was microwave bacon the cheese was unknown but the bagel didn’t taste bad, it could have been off the cisco truck or local bakery I was not sure since all I could taste was the over cooked egg and greasy bacon. But this should be about the coffee… the Americano was perfect, it was just the right about of espresso and hot water. I mean it was perfect. I would gladly come back just for the Americano. If back in town again I will come here and order another, maybe even one for the drive home.

Yellowhammer Coffee – Menu with Prices – 3249 Dauphin St, Mobile

Today was my first time at YellowHammer Coffee. I will definitely be a regular customer from now on. The quality of coffee is far superior to other places I’ve been. You can tell they’ve done their homework to get the best taste around. The coffee shop is small with three barstools inside and one small table outside. They also have a drive-through which I am going to get quite familiar with soon. They really know what they’re doing here and can answer all your questions. Searching for the perfect coffee? Search no more, it’s here. The “Nitro cold brew” is super strong and smooth, if you need a jolt of energy this is definitely the ticket. One of my personal favorites is the “Blondie”, it has a mix of vanilla and caramel served hot. This is not something I thought I would like (I don’t normally like sweet coffee)but I absolutely loved it. I’ll be back for more. Of course you can’t go wrong with a regular cappuccino or latte, but for another sweet option the “Mocha frappe” is fabulous and a sure way to wake you up. They make their’s with four shots of espresso, which is perfect (most other places usually only use 1-2 shots). Because of the extra espresso, their’s is a little less sweet than the others – which I prefer. Five stars!

Halo Espresso Bar – Menu with Prices – 3024 Hurontario St, Mississauga

I hate doing this. As someone who works in “specialty coffee,” I don’t like rating other shops – especially negatively. I’m always on the look out for new specialty coffee shops because coffee is always a learning experience and an adventure. And I believe in supporting independent “specialty coffee” shops. I want to be at shops that not only pulls amazing espresso shots, but that the baristas show passion in their coffee. I was really excited to visit, having seen it on Instagram. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in Halo – a place that brands itself as a “specialty coffee” shop on Instagram. I have now been there twice, because I thought I’d give them another chance. While today’s visit was better, Halo has ultimately let me down. Coffee shops need to be able to dial in their espresso shots – meaning that their espresso is calibrated to bring out a balance of flavour. The first time, the shot was so bitter that I couldn’t finish it. The second time was much better, but still very sour. A shop’s espresso doesn’t have to be completely perfect – coffee is always a battle to find the perfect flavour. But this was just poor quality. The staff on my first visit was quite cold, but the barista that served me today was quite nice. They weren’t very passionate about coffee though. That love for coffee really goes a long way for a coffee shop. This was not a place that was serious about their coffee. It showed in the staff’s interactions with me, and the quality of the espresso shot. It’s ok for a shop to be mediocre in its coffee. But I expected much better from a shop that brands themselves as “Mississauga’s own independent specialty coffee shop”. I don’t like posting negative reviews, but Halo gets a thumbs down from me.

Full Stop Station – Menu with Prices – 1132 E St Catherine St, Louisville

A unique concept as far as Louisville coffee shops go. Vibe-wise it’s a coffee shop through and through, but they also feature a somewhat expanded set of prepared food choices (the menu didn’t appeal personally, but appeared sufficiently hipster-friendly, as you might expect), and a bodega-like set of grocery items (again, none of which personally appealed, and I wondered to myself who would come here to buy a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon). Anyway, the coffee (or at least the espresso) is Ritual from SF, very well prepared, and there is plenty of comfortable seating if you’re looking to hang out and work/study a while, which I did. The one thing I didn’t care for was the price of my 12-oz americano. At $3.71 (incl tax), it cost more than at *any* other coffee shop in town (yes, I’ve been to *all* of them), and a full $1.10 more than at Starbucks. Oddly, none of their other coffee drinks seemed out of line with local prices, and annoying, the americano isn’t on their price list (which usually means it’s the same price as an equivalent espresso, but that’s not the case here). Now that I know, I’ll may just do the espresso ($2.50) next time…

Anthem Coffee & Tea – Point Ruston – Menu with Prices – 5005 Main St #105, Tacoma

I was very excited to see an anthem coffee open at Point Ruston. I was even happier when I decided to venture out and try their dirty chai with soy. Essentially it’s chai, soy, and espresso shots. It sounds a little crazy, but it’s super delicious! It is actually my new favorite thing at any coffee shop now. I love that they have these creative drinks, and that I found my new favorite, but I have found that the last two times I have gone there, they haven’t been consistent. Last week, we ordered a mocha and a dirty chai and both were extremely milky. It was hard to taste any coffee or chai. I’m not sure if the espresso shots were made poorly or the measurements were wrong, but they just weren’t good. Also, the coffee is rarely very hot. We gave Anthem another try a few days ago. I really do like the flavor of their coffee and just want our drinks to be like they were when we first ordered them. This last time when I ordered, they asked me if I wanted vanilla or spicy chai. I have never been asked this, and didn’t know what to pick, so I picked vanilla, but I think it was the spicy chai that I like. Maybe some people ask for your preference and other people just make it, I’m not sure. However, consistency is really important. I really want to keep going to Anthem and getting my new found drink, but I want it hot, the espresso shots made well, and the same chai used every time. My partner just wants his mocha with well-made shots, milk, a balanced amount of chocolate, and to get it hot. We will give it another try for sure, but I really hope this next time goes better.

I Wana Moka Menu with Prices 319 E Holly St, Bellingham

I Wana Moka. What to say about this place. For the longest time I avoided it like the plague, like any sound human being. The decor made me cringe with terror and think of a tacky ghetto coffee shop out in the middle of no where, trying too hard to stand out (believe it or not the pun was not intended). My first thought was that it was a place to draw in creepy perverts with the Hawaiian theme of bikinis and beaches. Not the best tactic in Bellingham to say the least. Anyways, when I finally went, because someone recommended it to me (not because I was looking for some half naked barista to oogle, ya perv!) it was surprising. Beside the normally dressed, beautiful, kind baristas, the coffee was great! Fidalgo Bay Roasters makes great espresso… and I’m not a guy who gets fruffoo drinks that cover up the coffee taste. I like double short americanos, no cream, but a little room so I can sip off the crema while driving before it dissipates and not spill on myself. Fidalgo coffee is great. Now, typically I go in the mornings, so obviously I can’t vouch for every barista but my experience has been delightful both in taste and in interaction. The baristas I get coffee from pull good, timed shots with even crema. Typically not a lot of channeling (if they don’t clank the tamper on the portafilter (some do)) and they quickly drop the shots into the hot water so they don’t die (this is normally called a “long black”, when the shots are over the hot water. Rather than an americano when the hot water is poured over the shots). Again, my taste from I Wana Moka is delightful! And most enjoyable on a crisp fall morning before 7am! The only complaint I have about this place is the poorly designed and marketed shack. Many of you probably have the same thoughts as I first did, and probably stay away because of that! It would do everyone a favor if the owner would rebrand and renovate the place to keep up the rep of himself, the employees, and Fidalgo Bay. I guarantee that would bring I Wana Moka the attention it deserves and bring them more business. Overall rating: 5 my cup of joe in the morning is worth it!

Ladybug Bikini Espresso – Menu with Prices – 11603 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma

Not sure what kind of scam they’re running but stop to get an Americano and they ended up insisting that it was $7. Really!? I’ve never paid $7 for Americano even in an airport or at a concert. Maybe she was scamming me or maybe they’re expecting me to pay for the show but sad to report she wasn’t much to look at. If I’m going to pay $7 for a simple americano coffee they better have better looking girls working their “bikini coffee drive-thru”…….

Kings Peak Coffee Roasters – Menu with Prices – 412 S 7th W Suite 140, Salt Lake City

I really wanted to like this place. It?s a lovely space and the barista was very friendly, unfortunately the coffee we had was terrible. I had a macchiato, and instead of being an espresso shot marked with a dash of steamed milk, it was a full glass of milk with a splash of espresso. My partner had an americano and the espresso was under extracted and sour. Based on the other reviews of this place, I want to believe the bad drinks were just an anomaly, but they were bad enough we won?t be returning to find out.

The Coffee & Tea Exchange – Menu with Prices – 3311 N Broadway, Chicago

Preface: have inside secrets that I’m only telling now because I moved out of state and miss CTX every. single. day. 1. This is the FRESHEST ROASTED coffee in Chicago. If you time your visit right, the coffee beans scooped for you by the friendly staff will still be warm from the GD roaster. 2. CTX has been selling high-quality, low-cost bulk tea since before I could read. Don’t be blinded by the massive amount of bulk coffee – try the tea. It’s SO GOOD and SO CHEAP. 3. NOT ONLY are drinks cheaper here (coffee OR tea based…including matcha)- but you’re getting more espresso than you would elsewhere. Most places give you 1 shot for a small drink, 2 for a medium or large drink (so you’re just paying for more milk and less buzz). CTX’s standard protocol is SM: 2 shots, MED: 3 shots, LG: 4 shots. UH THAT’S RIGHT. 4. CTX respects the bean. Their coffee is roasted in perfect harmony with the flavor profile of the region and soil of origin. Do you like caramel notes? fruity acidity? peanut butter mouthfeel? Not sure what you like but you know you hate Colombian coffee? Tell them. They’re there to help guide you to coffee bliss. And you know what? They enjoy it. When you finally find your perfect bean/roast/blend, a barista in purgatory gets to stop re-foaming milk for the perfect dry cappuccino. 5. They do all this without being snobby or pretentious. If you work at CTX, you genuinely enjoy helping people, making their day a little better, putting them at ease while you do the heavy lifting, and guiding them to caffeinated bliss. So ask questions, try a little of everything, and don’t forget to TIP the hardworking humans serving you. TL;DR: Best coffee in Chicago, and possibly the world. Tip your Baristas.

Bare Beans Espresso – Menu with Prices – 7 W Pacific Ave, Spokane

Stopped here on the way when I moved to Seattle. Very friendly service, but more importantly had an iced white chocolate latte that was probably the best coffee I had ever consumed. I still have a lot of Seattle coffee ahead of me, but at times I contemplate driving all the way out there just for another coffee!