Seattle is known for its small coffee roasteries and meticulous baristas. These roasters specialize in small batches that are served to their customers within a day or two of being roasted. We recommend you drink as much coffee as you can while you’re in town (we certainly do). Here are our favorite spots.

Lighthouse Roasters (Fremont) – This is one of Seattle’s smallest, and best, roasters. They recently opened their second location, Wheelhouse Coffee, in SLU and their coffee is served at various restaurants around the city.

Milstead (Fremont) – This place is rare in that they don’t roast their own beans. Instead, they source the best coffee they can find between San Francisco and Vancouver, BC.  Each cup is brewed when you order and made to perfection by some of the friendliest baristas in the city. Eater magazine called this one of the top 5 best coffee cafes in the United States.

Victrola (Capitol Hill and Downtown) – Another high quality Seattle coffee roaster that shouldn’t be missed. While the price can be shocking, the single-origin pour overs can change your perception of what coffee is supposed to smell and taste like. Unless the barista tells you otherwise, I’d recommend trying a sip before adding any milk or sugar.

Caffè Vita (Various) – The largest local chain (by our estimation anyway) offers solid, drinkable coffee in pretty much every neighborhood in Seattle. Like many of Seattle’s roasters, you’ll find that Vita features mostly certified organic and fair trade coffee.

Places Specifically to Avoid

Starbucks – People love to go to the original Starbucks at Pike Place Market. Unless you have a thing for standing in lines, don’t bother. The coffee here, and at any Seattle Starbucks, is no different from what you get where you live.

Seattle’s Best – This is probably Seattle’s worst coffee, also brought to you by Starbucks.

Tully’s – Much like Starbucks and Seattle’s Best, this is mass-manufactured and nothing special.