Seattle Espresso 2011
Although by-the-cup pour over brew methods have replaced the pressure profiling trend this year, the Seattle espresso scene is still alive and changing for the better. The variety of amazing flavors being extracted is increasing mainly, but not only, due to the introduction of new roasters.
Besides being the official representative of Handsome in town, Tougo offers occasionally Intelligentsia and Oslo. Aster changed to Olympia Coffee Roasters and Empire Espresso to Kuma. Milstead just introduced Coava. Analog Coffee elevated Herkimer to formerly unknown heights and Urban Coffee Lounge never disappoints on the allegedly unforgiving Stumptown. Although Neptune and Tougo sometimes have Velton, I’m still hoping to see a coffee shop that has it as standard offering.
All of them achieved the magical combination of excellent coffee + roaster + equipment + barista. Adding to the Seattle incumbents, there is now almost 20 great roasters to chose from. In alphabetical order:
- 49th Parallel (Trabant)
- 7 Roasters (Makeda)
- Coava (weekdays Milstead)
- Equal Exchange
- Handsome (occasionally Tougo)
- Herkimer
- Intelligentsia (occasionally Tougo, Milstead weekends)
- Kuma (Empire Espresso)
- Neptune
- Olympia (Aster)
- Olso (occasionally Tougo)
- Seattle Coffee Works
- Stumptown
- Velton (occasionally Tougo, Neptune)
- Victrola
- Vita
- Vivace
- Zoka
Take that, Portland!
