Cafe Vita

Hard-core coffee drinkers will feel at home. For example, they don't bother serving single-shot lattes (unless you ask). The roaster area is in full view of the serving counter. The take-home beans are sold in whatever lot size you want, including "personal quantities" like what I'll use in a week. You get free Internet (of course).

There are two spacious drinking areas: a darker, downstairs place that's good if you're alone and want to see other people; upstairs is good if you're with other people and want more room and some privacy.

Personally I still prefer the obsessive quality of Espresso Vivace, which is just a few blocks North, but Cafe Vita is a close second place in my opinion of best coffee shops in Seattle.

PROS: Plenty of room, great coffee
CONS: Parking can be difficult.

I knew Caffe Vita from their Queen Anne flagship store; they buy and roast their own beans, and do a darn good job of it. I love their Mochas, and prefer the Caffe Del Sol, when buying beans to take home.

When they took over the Pike Street location, I was sorry to see the quirky Cafe Paradiso go; I'd been there often, and loved it. But, Caffe Vita did a good job of making a new home there, and the quality of their coffee makes up for any nostalgia (except for the red-headed male barista who used to wear dresses, on occasion).

When I want to show someone what a good cup of coffee is, or to give fresh coffee as a gift, I go to Caffe Vita.

Cafe Vita replaced the well beloved Cafe Paradiso without spoiling the superior atmosphere of this centrally located Seattle cafe. Rub shoulders with writers, hipsters, coffee lovers, and musicians or just sit by the large windows and watch the world go by. The place is big enough that there's almost always a seat. The coffee is good, though not the best in town, but the friendly staff make up for. It heartily recommend getting to know everybody.

PROS: atmosphere, history
CONS: so-so food selection

not very sophisticated designed place to sit and relax, but the coffee roast is good. located at the pike's market area, one can briskly walk to cafe vita for a quick good coffee then enjoy the pike place market.

I like the coffee and the barsitas that serve it. The espresso shots have a good/noticible flavor that I truly love. This place in located in the Capitol Hill area. When visiting the cafe, you'll always run into the laptop users(inside) and outsdie coffee/ciggarette smokers. There are two levels for your convenience. The lower level is a bit darker and the upper gives in more sunlight. Good coffee, free internet connection, nice employees, good atmosphere. What a deal!!

I adore Cafe Vita! I have lived in Seattle for about six years and remember this place before they remodeled. It was much smaller, not so comfy and nice inside, although their coffee was worth the visit. Since there revamping a few years ago, it looks so great! They added a lot of beautiful wood to huge portion of the interior, and they started putting up a series of really great art on the walls. And as always, they still roast their own coffee (one of the walls in the cafe is a window into the roasting area, so yo can watch them roast, so cool!) , which I personally think is the best in town.

Don't miss upstairs - it's a beautiful ope space with nice windows - I love to come here on a nice day and read upstairs near an open window.

PROS: Gorgeous interior, very comfortable, friendly staff, and delicious coffee.
CONS: This place is popular, so it gets crowded, especially on weekends, but there are tons of tables.

By far, these guys are the best in Seattle. Nuff said.