Pacific Northwest Coffee

The south is the home of BBQ, New England is the home of lobster rolls, and if you ask me, the Pacific Northwest is the home of coffee. That's not to say that other regions can't do coffee well, but when I think of good coffee, I think of Oregon and Washington. Three of the ten best coffeehouses are located here, and I was able to visit two of them on my recent trip to Portland and Seattle.

The first coffee stop of the trip was Heart Coffee Roasters in Portland. This coffee shop has two locations, one on the east side of the Willamette and one on the west side. While it's next to impossible to pick a favorite of the trip, let alone of the list, this one might take the cake. Well roasted coffee beans + latte art + community tables where you can read or work on your Macbook = sold. It also didn't hurt that it was raining outside while we sipped on our coffee, which contributed to the quintessential Portland coffee experience.

The coffee is roasted inside the coffee house space.

While still in Portland, we also visited Stumptown. Though technically not on the (subjective) ten best coffee houses list, this place is definitely worth a visit. The original Stumptown opened in Portland in 1999, and they now have cafes in four cities: Portland, Seattle, LA, and New York. Good lattes, funny ugly dog art, and a garage door that let you enjoy the fresh air even if it was raining outside.

Our last noteworthy coffee stop on the trip was Slate in Ballard. Much more of a coffee bar than a coffee house, Slate would be an excellent first stop in Seattle for even a non-coffee drinker. The second we walked through the door, we were greeted by Willi, the friendliest barista I have ever met. He brought us to three empty bar stools at the counter, asked where we were from, what we were doing in Seattle, and if we liked coffee. He agreed to make Luca hot chocolate and then started working on the coffee drinks. Drinks at Slate are served in wine glasses, if that gives you any indication of the funky nature of Slate. This place definitely takes the award for friendliest and most unique coffee shop. Even the other locals sitting at the bar were friendly. Before we knew it, everyone was shouting out recommendations for restaurants, bars, and getting around Seattle. 

If you do make it to Slate, be sure to ask for Willi. He's the best!