This Eye-Popping New West Seattle Coffee Shop Needs No Filter

In a competitive Seattle coffee landscape, there’s a new player on the scene adding a splash of neon — and some serious Millennial energy. Lula opened this weekend at 4451 California Ave SW in West Seattle, with a menu of playfully-named items like “B*itch Better Have My Matcha,” “Healthy AF” options (such as a red velvet latte with cacao and beet root powder), and bright Instagram-friendly artwork along the walls.

Lula is owned by 27 year-old Taylor Platt (who has nine years of experience working in the coffee industry), and the eight-person staff consists entirely of women in their 20s. Platt tells Eater Seattle that her goal was to try to stand out from the crowd with a “happier, lighter mood” than some of the other cafes around the neighborhood. The eye-catching mural is by local artist Tori Kirihara, a mutual friend, and the decor — including the giant “Coffee” sign — was all created by Platt and her crew.

Courtesy of Lula

Lula tries to skew toward healthy options for the drinks menu, with collagen powder lattes (rather than ones made with regular milk) and a turmeric-flavored option blended with oat milk, while aiming to limit ingredients with refined sugars. All beans are espresso roasts from Cutters Point Coffee Co., a fair trade-focused roaster from Gig Harbor (and Platt’s former employer). On the food side of things, there are burritos from neighboring food truck El Chapulin Oaxaqueño, along with some pastries and bagels.

Platt also wants to give back to the community by following the example of businesses such as Conscious Eatery, which donates a meal for every one sold. So far, that means connecting with local schools on fundraisers, but she hoped to get to a point where every transaction has a charitable component. Beyond that, Platt says she wants to make sure people come first, before profits: “If someone’s having a bad day, the coffee’s on us.”

Courtesy of Lula

• Lula Coffee [Official]