Seattle coffee culture has long been a defining part of the city’s identity, so it’s no shock that Food & Wine recognized the city’s coffee (as well as a beloved neighborhood bar) in this year’s Global Tastemakers Awards. Still, locals might raise an eyebrow at the Emerald City landing at number five on the list of the country’s best coffee cities behind Austin, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. (It’s OK—Seattle’s coffee will always be number one in our hearts.) Filling out the bottom half of the list is Miami, Honolulu, San Francisco, Boston, and San Juan.
As Food & Wine points out, any conversation about Seattle coffee inevitably begins with Starbucks, which opened its first location in Pike Place Market in 1971. While the brand has grown into a global giant, Seattle’s independent coffee scene has flourished alongside it.
Today, a wave of indie cafes keeps the heart of the city’s coffee culture beating. Food & Wine highlighted artisan roasters Kuma Coffee, Olympia Coffee, Push X Pull, Sound & Fog, and Ghost Note Coffee. Each brings a distinct approach, from meticulous sourcing to experimental roasting techniques.
For those interested in coffee’s past and future, Food & Wine points to the Bakke Coffee Museum in Ballard, where you can “consider where the culture has been and where it’s going.” (Pro trip: the museum has free admission on the second and fourth Sundays of the month from noon to 4 pm.)
Altogether, Seattle’s placement on the list may spark debate, but it ultimately underscores what locals already know: this is, and always will be, a destination for coffee lovers.
