x
Breaking News
More () »

Trying the best coffee around Western Washington

KING 5 is cruising to a different cafe every day this week to get a taste of each unique vibe.

There are thousands of mom and pop coffee shops in our region; each one embodying its own community.

KING 5 is cruising to a different cafe every day this week to get a taste of each unique vibe.

First, we took a trip to Everett and Narrative Coffee. From the moment you walk in the door, you realize the experience is all about the coffee and the people.

From the simple brick walls to the unencumbered menu, you get the sense that the emphasis is on quality coffee, pastries, and community. Like walking into Cheers, everyone knows each other’s name, impressive when you learn that Narrative has only been open for nine months.

The owner, Maxwell Mooney, says coffee and people are his passion, which is why he wanted to create a place where people could enjoy both comfortably.

The menu is simple. No mocha-frappe-peppermint-twists just filtered coffee and espresso. What about ordering a latte? They have that - it's simply called espresso and milk. Their food is also simple, but very unique. They have about six or 10 menu items including an egg wrapped in prosciutto and pastry dough - yum!

Related: Coffees A La Cart, coffee service that comes to you!

Mooney's own wife is responsible for their highly addictive, melt in your mouth, chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with sea salt.

We heard several stories about how Narrative has become a huge part of the community. Tawny and Brian come to Narrative almost every day, except for a few days in January when Brian was involved in a car accident. But they still got their coffee. Tawny tells us that Narrative's owner hand-delivered her coffee while Brian was recovering.

During our visit, we also met Alex Lark, Planning Commissioner with the City of Everett. He spends more time at Narrative than he'd like to admit and says coffee shops like this are special and integral to the future of Everett.

If you make your way up to Narrative, let us know what you think!

WATCH: Everett’s Narrative Coffee is a fun place to fuel up

Hidden in an alley in the U-district, Cafe Allegro is rich with regular customers.

The cafe opened in the 1970's and has been celebrating coffee ever since. Kate Robinson stands on a platform built behind the espresso machine she calls a 'throne' for short people. A member of her family has been serving coffee at Allegro for decades, she is the 3rd generation owner.

It's also a place with a lot of space. There are several rooms off the main shop offering plenty of room for students to study while cozying up with a cup of coffee.

One of the most fascinating people we met at Allegro is Brian Taylor, a local poet who has been a fixture there for years. He sits quietly in his 'spot' surrounded by postcards from his many travels, his table covered with books written by Elliot, Keats, and Joyce.

Just as the shop is rich in tradition, their coffee is equally rich in flavor. The roast their own beans and say they are committed giving customers quality coffee. Their pastries are also a delight, especially the basil and pine nut roll which I'll be thinking about for quite some time.

Cafe Allegro truly embodies the spirit of coffee in Seattle. Literally, if you imagined a movie set of a Seattle coffee shop - this would be the place.

Beyond ambiance, Allegro has capably earned its reputation as one of the most respected independent coffee shops in Seattle.

WATCH: KING 5 visits Cafe Allegro for Coffee Week

Before You Leave, Check This Out