In this ultra-minimalist shop in West Seattle, beans from a variety of Pacific Northwest and other roasters across the U.S. are featured, with Portland’s acclaimed Heart Roasters prominent in the lineup. Seasonal drinks, like espresso soda, nitro and regular cold brew on tap — as well as rotating beer and wine selections — round out the impressive beverage options. It also offers some coffee and wine subscriptions. Indoor seating at Sound and Fog is slated to return at the end of March.

A little cafe in Upper Queen Anne that opened 28 years ago has blossomed into a mini empire and has become a well-loved staple of the Seattle coffee scene with its own roasting program. Try the short Yankee Dog, an Americano with a dash of cinnamon, that always hits the spot.

Named partly after the Queen of Sheba (Makeda), and partly after chef-owner Prashanthi Reddy’s rat terrier (Mingus), this Greenwood spot specializes in not just excellent brews, but also a stellar menu of Indian fare in its weekly dinner offerings. The golden milk latte, a family recipe from Reddy, is also a highlight.

This take-out only cafe in White Center on 16th Avenue SW serves up a variety of fantastic, seasonal lattes and other flavored drinks, including the decadent Mocha Arbol, made with an infusion of chile de arbol, panela, cinnamon, and Theo dark chocolate. The vibe is welcoming and baristas are friendly and helpful at this small cafe. Moonshot also sells beer and wine.

Although technically about a mile north of city limits, Shoreline’s Black-owned cafe is an important hub for communities of color in North Seattle. The nonprofit cafe has youth-focused programs like barista training, internships, and leadership opportunities. Swing by and pick up a Melanin Mocha or Supa’ Fly Chai. Be sure to check out Black Coffee NW’s newest location in Ballard at 1713 NW Market St., slated to open in the near future.

One of Seattle’s most esteemed roasters is run by fifth-generation Costa Rican coffee farmer Blas Aflaro. Fulcrum’s Belltown cafe is modern and welcoming, and delivers on the high standards set for quality coffee. Here, one can order a meticulously prepared espresso from one of Fulcrum’s thoughtfully sourced roasts, or opt one of the more playful lattes. Some examples are the butterfly pea flower latte with vanilla and lavender and the pink beetroot latte with rosewater and jasmine flowers.

Credited with being the nation’s first espresso cart, Monorail Espresso should be on the radar for any Seattle coffee devotee. Its original incarnation — a coffee cart (stationed by the entrance of the downtown monorail) made with parts from a Boeing surplus shuttle cart in 1980 — eventually transitioned into a walk-up window at Fifth Avenue and Pike Street. At any time you’ll find a steady flow of business suits, tourists, and bike messengers eager for a pick-me-up. Monorail will open its fourth location downtown at Fourth Avenue and Union Street next month.

This well-respected company, with locations across the country, has a history of coffee-making that goes back decades, originating in a roastery in Perugia, Italy. Using more than 15 varietals of coffee, the blends are fantastic and Umbria’s espresso is some of the best around.

Pioneer Square’s coffee haven is the perfect place for stellar coffee, yet approachable in a way that invites you to learn more about the finer points of brewing methods. With a rotation of seasonal coffees (current offerings are sourced from Peru and Columbia), and a streamlined, solid menu of coffee drinks, Elm is a go-to.

At this Chinatown International District shop, chef and co-owner Chera Amlag has drawn high praise for her delectable Filipino treats, including the cafe’s famed bright purple ube cheesecakes. On the coffee side, Hood Famous’ pandan lattes and iced calamansi espresso tonics are distinctly Filipino takes on specialty coffee drinks. By day, Hood Famous is a cafe and bakery, and at night it transforms into a cocktail bar serving pulutan, Filipino bar food.

Victrola is one of the most prominent roasters in the city, known for its consistently highly graded coffees, including Kenyan peaberry offerings. Victrola’s location on Pike Street also serves as a roastery, training facility, and cupping room. There are beans for sale online, as well as subscriptions to single origin roasts. Try the cozy location at 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill, the bustling downtown cafe, or the smaller outpost in Beacon Hill in addition to the Pike Street roastery.

Founded in 1988, Vivace was a pioneer in the early days of Seattle espresso culture, especially through the contributions of co-founder David Schomer, who wrote an influential book on espresso techniques and latte art in 1994 and educated countless baristas over the years who have gone on to open cafes and chains of their own. Those who want to pay homage should pay a visit to the Capitol Hill sidewalk bar, where a shrine to Caffeina, Goddess of the Walking Day, is closeby.

Hello Em sources Vietnamese coffee and roasts in-house at its coffee shop in Little Saigon. Menu offerings include espresso drinks topped with fluffy egg crème (made from egg yolks), and egg cloud (made from the egg whites). Popular in north Vietnam, egg coffee drinks originate from milk shortages during the First Indochina War. Hello Em also sells pressed bánh mì sandwiches and pastries.

One of the oldest shops and roasteries in the Seattle area, Café Allegro has been serving up espresso in the University District since 1975. Allegro’s coffee is available online, but to really feel the old school Seattle vibe, you’ll want to go there in person. The entrance is through a brick-walled alley.

Beacon Hill’s coffee shop by the Light Rail station has long been vocal and active about social justice causes. In addition to excellent coffee drinks, The Station hosts pop-ups and food drives, and is a hub for community organizing. The shop is a lively and welcoming neighborhood gathering place where you can sip on a Mexican Mocha or hot chocolate or enjoy one of The Station’s excellent sandwiches.

In 2020, the 15 year-old Fuel Coffee officially came under the new ownership of Danielle and David Hulton, owners of Ada’s Technical Books & Cafe. Since then, Fuel’s three locations have undergone a bit of a makeover. The result is a fresh new look, design, and the addition of books for sale. Check out the space-themed Milky Way and Andromeda blends.

Over the past two years, there have been several coffee shops in Seattle opening up with Vietnamese coffee as the focus. Coffeeholic was the first of the bunch, and there’s no denying its popularity, with customers regularly lined out the door to grab excellent ube lattes, ice cold coffee topped with cheese foam, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch-filled drinks, as well as some light bites. Coffeeholic has a location in Columbia City and one in Greenwood. It also roasts its own beans sourced from Da Lat, Vietnam.

Columbia City’s gem is known for excellent seasonal latte art, so every frothy cup — from sweet matcha to lavender to cayenne — ought to hold something Instagram-worthy. The popular house-made cashew milk sells out fast, so owner Ian Peters often has to whip up extra batches throughout the day. Snacks include crispy waffles (including vegan and gluten-free versions), and since the pandemic, the upstairs has transformed into a vinyl record shop.

This longtime Rainier Valley Ethiopian favorite is more of a full-fledged restaurant than a cafe, but its single origin roasts have incredible depth, best paired with any of the wonderful wots or fuls. Even though the pandemic has necessarily limited in-person interaction, Kaffa will perform the immersive Ethiopian coffee ceremony upon request (if scheduled far enough in advance), an exceptional way to experience coffee culture from the country where it originated.