Each time I get on the ferry to leave Seattle, I think that I am stepping back in time when it comes to coffee. The overly dark roasted old-school Pacific Northwest charcoal water is still the default for our neighbors to the west. Yuck. Yesterday I assumed that would be the case again when I went the Sequim Lavender Festival. I was pleasantly surprised.
Leaving From Edmonds
I didn’t get a coffee at the Edmonds-Kingston ferry, but there was no mistaking the Caffe Vita sign at Waterfront Coffee Company. I have no idea if they make good drinks, but at least they found a good roaster and then proudly displayed their logo outside for all potential customers to see. You know I like that.
Waterfront Coffee Company – 101 Main St, Edmonds, WA
Arriving in Sequim
By the time I arrived in Sequim, I was ready for coffee. This was all new territory for me, so I had to listen to my espresso senses. I have a heroic gift for looking at the naming and fonts used for coffee shops to determine a level of quality before even stepping in the door. Coffee shops with chaotic names that focus on caffeine almost always will suck (Ex: Jitterz). Those with subtle names tend to speak to true coffee fans.
When I drove past Adagio Bean and Leaf, my espresso senses told me to turn around. If I was wrong about the coffee, I could always get tea (the Leaf). So I turned around to check it out. Once inside I saw the barista was timing shots and then I saw a Stumptown bag of coffee. I was safe. One excellent double short Americano later and I was on the road.
Adagio Bean & Leaf – 981 East Washington St, Sequim, WA
At the Lavender Festival
Downtown Sequim is where the food options were and the buses that drove to the lavender farms. I was happy to see Seattle based Caffe Fiore had their own booth there.
At the Farms
I went to four farms and the coffee options there looked awful. At Purple Haze, there is a tea booth that serves a good Dragonwell tea. There were signs of lavender infused lattes. No thanks.
Sources:
Adagio Bean & Leaf – Sequim, WA cafe using Stumptown Coffee.
Caffe Fiore – Seattle based coffee shop.
Sequim Lavender Festival – July 16, 17, and 18, 2010.
Purple Haze Lavender – Of the four farms visited, this was my favorite.
Looking for great coffee in Sequim? Try local chain The Buzz both in downtown Sequim (Sequim Ave and Washington) and Port Angeles. My parents have near Sequim for a number of years and we usually make a mid-day trek to one of these two locations. Really good service and a pretty good Cafe Vita Latte. If the owner is around you’ll get some latte art. The house drink is a honey latte.
The decor is a little county funk, but a great reflection of the community. There is free wi-fi and an antique shop attatched, if you still need to do a little shopping. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the open mic on Wednesday for a peak at the local talent.
What? Lavender infused lattes? Ugh, that sounds horrific. Just leave the coffee alone!!