Starbuck's blames it on housing...

[Max Rommel]

They need to understand that a business must control costs. The easist way is to cut the baristas pay to minimum wage. This is not skilled labor. In the long run unless they manage expenses they will not be able to compete with McDonalds.

[Markor]

[deejayoh]

[Markor]

[biliruben]

Caffe Umbria.

It's the reincarnation of Torrefazione, which Starbucks bought and killed. They didn't even replace them with Starbucks. Just bought and boarded them up. Sick.

I get their coffee at some local shops (60th St. Bakery mostly) as well as the Honey Bear at 3rd Place. I've seen their beans sold at Met Mart. Maybe the high-end QFCs. I think they may be roasting in Pioneer Square, but haven't had a chance to get down there.

[Lake Hills Renter]

There's a coffee stand called Little Italy near 116th St and 124th Ave in Kirkland that had fantastic espresso when I lived near there a few years ago. I asked the owner what it was over and over and she finally told me it was . At the time they were the only place you could get it on the east side. I don't know now. That was damn good coffee.

[ira s]

Vivace on Capitol Hill and Caffe Vita ( several locations) both make pretty good espresso.
But I'm really spoiled. I roast my own beans to just past second crack, so it's a nice medium roast, perfect for espresso...Most places burn the crap out of the coffee during the roasting process, so you're tasting burnt coffee rather than the more delicate flavors. Starbucks popularized this burnt coffee stuff, calling it " Northern European" roast, and a lot of people prefer it here nowadays, but the Italians drink a much lighter roasted bean than that, and i think hey know a little bit about coffee.

[deejayoh]

[Markor]

Got to Stumptown yesterday. Ahhhh...a real cappuccino!

On my scale of 1 to 5:

McDonalds: N/A (yuck!)
Most places: 1-2
Starbucks: 1
Seattle's Best: 2 (apparently they do something different than their owner, Starbucks)
Caffe Ladro: 3
Caffe Vita: 3
Tully's: 3
Victrola: 3
Vivace: 3
The defunct Torrefazione: 4
Stumptown: 5