SEATTLE a Day Trip

Vancouver happens to be only about a 3-hour drive from one of the most influential cities in the world of coffee, Seattle, Washington. To everyone who insisted that I HAD to make the visit, thank you. I knew at least a day trip was in order to get a taste of what our neighbours to the south had to offer. Fortunately, my aunt had the day off and was more than willing to accompany me across the border.

PIKE PLACE MARKET

STARBUCKS

Yes, I did peep my head into the first Starbucks ever, and even more excitingly had the opportunity to explore the Willy Wonka Coffee Factory AKA the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room where they produce their specialty line of direct trade and single origin roasts.

I also visited some of the more local establishments to compare their various flavour profiles and use of public space and design. Capitol Hill happens to have a large concentration of these more local spots such as Vivace and Victrola, so we spent the better half of our time scaling the hills and exploring the hood.

ESPRESSO VIVACE

VICTROLA COFFEE ROASTERS

ANALOG COFFEE

Analog was one café that really inspired me for what they were doing in their small, residential community on Summit Ave. With the sounds of vinyl tracks crackling off the 70’s-style décor, as Barista Bob [I don’t know his real name, but he was very cool] pre-infused another wonderful shot of espresso. Oddly enough, co-owner, Danny Hanlon, was just walking in with his adorable child as I was capturing some photos of the shop, and I had a chance to chat with him a bit about his concept.

Whether it be film photography, vinyl records, comic books, or coffee creations, analog is definitely portrayed well at the shop. We didn’t get to talk for long as he was onto the next errand, but it’s absolutely worth a stop if you’re in the area [or era].

THE CITY

Seattle is an amazing city for a lot of reasons, but with its extreme topography and changes in elevation, the urban form and architecture really take on an interesting role with highlights including Pike Place Fish Market, Seattle Art Museum (SAM), and especially the Public Library to name a few.