CoffeeHERO

Ice cream is good, coffee ice cream is better and coffee ice cream made using local roasted coffee is best.  Here in Seattle we have at least four options for treats that combine locally roasted coffee with ice cream.

Old School Custard and Caffe Vita

Old School Custard makes vanilla, chocolate and one other flavor of custard each day.  They post a flavor schedule a month in advance telling their customers what that third flavor will be.  About once every 5 weeks, that flavor is Caffe Vita Espresso.  Custard is similar to ice cream, but also includes egg yolks, which create a smoother texture than ice cream.

Photo Custard – Caffe Vita Espresso by INeedCoffee / CoffeeHero

Molly Moon’s Ice Cream and Espresso Vivace

Unlike Old School, Vivace Coffee ice cream is a daily option at Molly Moon’s.  Sometimes they offer a coconut milk variation of the Vivace Coffee blend.  It is equally as good.  The only downside to Molly Moon’s is the line can often be quite long.

Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room and Stumptown Coffee

This hidden gem in located in the heart of Capitol Hill.  Fans of local beer pub Elysian will also want to try their Elysian stout ice cream.

Peaks Frozen Custard and Lighthouse Coffee

Like Old School Custard, Peaks also posts a flavor of the day schedule.   Unlike Old School, they have two coffee based flavors.  The Coffee Turtle has caramel, fudge, pecans and is very light on the coffee flavor.   Coffee Toffee Crunch is coffee mixed with toffee.  That one I have not tried yet.

Picking a Favorite

I’ve had them all and would have a tough time picking a favorite.  They are all excellent.  If pushed, I’d say Old School’s Caffe Vita has a slight edge.  Am I missing any other local ice cream maker meets local coffee roaster options?  Which one is your favorite?

Sources:

Old School Custard – 1316 E. Pike Street

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream – 1622 N 45 Street and 917 E. Pine Street

Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room – 1205 E. Pike Street

Peaks Frozen Custard – 1026 N.E. 65th Street

UPDATE (July 3, 2010):  Full Tilt Ice Cream uses Caffe Vita beans as well.  They offer a Coffee Oreo ice cream.