Columbia City’s Vietnamese cafe Coffeeholic House opened its second location in Greenwood at the beginning of October. Sourcing coffee directly from Vietnam, Coffeeholic offers modern takes on traditional Vietnamese drinks, like its ube latte (Purple Haze), and best-seller Coffeeholic Dream, made with salted cheese foam.

The latest coffee addition to Greenwood happens to be a drive-thru coffee stand housed in a 31-foot Airstream trailer. Streamline Coffee Drive-Thru has coffee and espresso beverages, as well as a selection of energy drinks. Co-owner Andrea Sligar has polished Streamline’s Palm Springs vibe by planting palm trees on the property and filling in the area with gravel that looks like sand. Check out Streamline’s s’mores cold brew with marshmallow whipped cream, or basil lime spritzer for something on the lighter, non-caffeinated side. Streamline also sells some sandwiches and gluten-free treats.

Not quite ready for the rainy days? Head to Ballard’s Papa Chango for a Miami-style coffee bar and Pasteleria sure to induce a sunny state of mind. Papa Chango makes drinks with Miami-based Panther Coffee, and sells pastries and goodies like sweet bread cookies, papaya scones, and Pastelito de Guayaba y Queso — a puff pastry stuffed with cheese and guava filling.

203° Fahrenheit Coffee’s second location in South Lake Union is only a city inspection away from opening. Owner Alen Fikic has over 23 years of experience in coffee, including a stint as president of Zoka Coffee Roasters. Expect high quality, fairly-traded coffees at 203°, with an emphasis on excellence and simplicity. 203°’s first shop opened in Kirkland in 2019.

Sweets are the main attraction at this new Capitol Hill shop, the first US location for Jalisco-based chocolatier Rey Amargo, which has been around for more than 80 years. But along with a wide variety of bars, truffles, and chocolate-covered fruits for sale, there’s also a substantial drinks menu, with coffee (hot or iced), herbal tea, five different chai options, and some fantastic hot chocolate, of course.

This Central District shop built up from a small Instagram-based juice business took over the former Cortona Cafe space and serves up wonderful ginger-turmeric drinks, Herkimer coffee, stellar empanadas, and those famed Cortona waffles (the owners bought the recipe). Eventually, the business plans to offer live music and community events, and will add some more items to the menu soon, such as smoothies.

In May 2021, Overcast Coffee Bar joined Metier Racing and Coffee on East Union, its second location after a debut inside the north building of Kaiser Permanente on 15th Avenue in 2020. In addition to single origins and coffee blends, the shop offers wine, beer, and pastries that are locally sourced, with a focus on partnering with minority-owned businesses. And the vivid mural by Stevie Shao is a great attraction while waiting for Americanos, masala chais, or a bike tune-up. 

Armistice Coffee Roaster has locations in Eastlake and Roosevelt neighborhoods, and opened a third near Pike Place Market. Owner and head roaster Rebecca Smith cultivates an approachable vibe at her cafes, a space for people to call a “truce” on their stressful day. There are usually seasonal rotations of two or three single-origins, a selection of Smith teas, and breakfast sandwiches, quiches, and pastries from Italian restaurant Limoncello Belltown.

This striking Little Saigon cafe specializes in Vietnamese roasts and light desserts. On the menu are takes on café sữa đá, a Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk made onsite, mochas, and Vietnamese yogurt coffee. For dessert: pandan waffles and flan with shaved coffee ice. Read more about owner Bao Nguyen’s deeply personal journey from Saigon.

Located in the Friends of Little Saigon Creative space, this new cafe from Pho Bac Sup Shop co-owner Yenvy Pham has its own roastery, with beans imported directly from Vietnamese farmers. There’s a creamy cà phê trứng and a coconut-flavored cà phê cốt dừa, plus fun takes on pressed banh mi (“banh mi ni”), including one stuffed with hot dogs, and pastries as well.