Lava Java

I attend college in Seattle, but Ridgefield is my hometown, and I have to say that every time I make the trip home I'm sure to stop by for coffee. Their lattes are superb (my drink of choice), the baristas are friendly, and even with my infrequent visits almost all of them know me by name, a quality not many establishments value.If you're still skeptical, talk to them about their involvement in the coffee industry. Many of them attend barista competitions regularly, and a couple are either certified or getting certified to professionally grade coffee. I guarantee your ~$3 will be well spent!

Posted 04/15/09 | Report Abuse

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I pulled off I-5 looking for a treat for my long drive north. I ordered a 16oz Carmel Mocha and a cookie. The cookie was fabulous!! The coffee was not more than warm and was very bitter. This was the worst cup of coffee that I have ever had! The atmosphere was pleasant. Only one other patron on this Tuesday afternoon. The one Batista seemed to be busy with other tasks and I was an inconvenience an hour prior to closing.The artistic creation made with the foam was impressive but I felt the $6.38 charge was a lot to spend for coffee I couldn't drink and a cookie. After reading the other reviews I may consider trying this establishment again hoping that this experience was just "a bad coffee day". At this point I will not recommend this stop to others and with the economy the way it is right now it will be a long while before I decide to spend money on a gamble for a decent cup of coffee from this establishment.

Posted 04/07/09 | Report Abuse

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I dropped into Lava Java for the first time the other day at the prodding of a friend. The shop has a good-sized lounge area, leather couches and easy chairs as well as tables, high ceilings, lots of windows and soft music in the background. A comfortable place to sit and read or meet a friend.

I love lattes and have tried them from every place you can think of, from the big chains to dozens of drive-up stands across the western U.S. Lava Java poured a latte for me that was second to none. The espresso was strong but smooth, absolutely no burnt taste, and the micro-foam perfectly prepared and topped off with a perfect fern leaf design. I can see how the owner won multiple barista awards, and its obvious that owner has trained the staff well.

There is a local chain of shops in Anchorage, Alaska called Kaladi Bros. that made a comparable latte, but I have yet to find another place that matches up with Lava Java here in SW Washington. Easily five stars out of five. http://motodometer.blogspot.com/

Posted 02/09/09 | Report Abuse

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This place is easy to miss, but it actually is right off the Ridgefield exit , off of I-5.they use Stump Town coffee, so you are guaranteed a great cup of coffee, or Latte.The apple turnovers are also to die for!

Posted 12/08/08 | Report Abuse

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The place is just right off the Ridgefield exit so it is easy to find. The service is pretty good, but my choices always feel so limited when I go there. The prices are pretty decent and the drinks are too. If you like a basic coffee drink, this is the place for you.

Posted 11/27/08 | Report Abuse

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I'd have to slightly disagree with the person below stating that Lava Java is off the beaten path. It's directly off the freeway heading North on 1-5, right north of Vancouver.

The coffee is good, they used to have the best blended drinks - my favorite was the grasshopper (mint chocolate) mm! The service is good, but it's a small town coffee shop so it's not super speed like Starbucks. I do know they have recieved many barista awards.

Posted 11/17/08 | Report Abuse

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I first heard of Lava Java after reading an article about the 2005 United States Barista Competition. The owner won after producing coffee in the 12 areas dictated by the contest. This piqued my interest, as it was not a national company and was local to my work area. I happen to be a few miles south on a normal working day.

As far as pricing goes, a 16 ounce latte runs under national chain pricing. The quality? Excellent and they use Stumptown coffee. The owner wasn't on the premises, but the two baristas behind the counter seemed to know what to do to produce a good quality latte. They even went so far as to use their creativity and include a bit of foam art on the top of my cup. Yummy!

Though I didn't check out any of their other offerings, to me, a good sign of a good cup is just in the taste of the espresso shot. Excellent.

Worth a visit? On a road trip heading up to Seattle or coming down to Portland, definetly. They are located directly off the interstate at Exit 14 on I-5 in Ridgefield, WA.

PROS: Great coffee, Good Service, and Nicely priced.
CONS: Off the beaten path.

Posted 07/26/05 | Report Abuse

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