You already know that Seattle has a rich coffee culture, but with many cafes closed and daily routines disrupted, it’s harder than ever to take advantage of that abundance. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to get coffee from local, original roasting companies, which source their beans from sustainably run farms with fair trade practices, roast them right here in the city, and create their own special blends. We’ve rounded up our favorite local roasters that either have cafes open for takeout or that offer online ordering and delivery of their beans, so you can step up your at-home coffee game. Plus, find out how to support these places in other ways, including donating to virtual barista tip jars, purchasing gift cards, and signing up for weekly or monthly coffee subscriptions.
We’ve adapted this article from a 2019 piece about The Stranger’s favorite original coffee roasters, written by Lester Black, Leilani Polk, and Rich Smith. Some of what they wrote about in-cafe experiences is no longer relevant, but we’ve kept most of it for context.
Anchorhead
What we said: The blocks around Westlake Park can feel like a special type of hell as you navigate between tweakers begging for money and people from Marysville doing the Suburbanite Shuffle (walking from Old Navy to the Cheesecake Factory to Gameworks). But nearly hidden in a set back office tower is the coffee oasis that is Anchorhead. Everything is tasty here. The lattes are as good as anywhere in Seattle. The espresso is excellent, especially on the house’s Leviathan Blend. And at the center of Anchorhead’s bar sits the Poursteady, a $12,500 pour-over coffee robot that perfectly executes your next single origin, natural washed roast. LESTER BLACK
Cafe status: Closed
How to support them in lockdown: Order whole bean coffee online for delivery. Choose your favorite roast (like the Leviathan Blend that Lester suggests), or choose the Roaster’s Choice box—new subscriptions are 15% off. You can also purchase gift cards for future use, or shop merch, like their brand-new “Be Good to Baristas” T-shirts and hoodies, all proceeds from which will go to Anchorhead’s laid-off staff.
