Coffee of the Week: Cappuccino at Vivace on Broadway

Seattle coffee fiends — in fact, coffee fiends around the world — are already well aware of the gaping hole left in local — global — coffee culture when the original Vivace roasterie location was finally torn down. Sound Transit is putting in a light rail station where Vivace once stood. The train hasn't been built yet, but they've cleared out the lot, tearing down several local businesses.

Vivace had some lead time, and an innovative leader in David Schomer, and they've already opened a new store on the other end of the block, in addition to the one down by the REI.

But for a Seattle native, there's nothing quite like the Vivace Sidewalk Bar on Broadway. An hour ago I stopped by in the middle of running errands all over town. It's a grey, misty, miserable, cold, dark day in Seattle (a "mizzy" one, as my sister puts it). The kind that drives non-natives crazy, but which I happen to relish. Still the cold and rain and darkness can get you down. Which is why we have ta-daaaaa! the best sidewalk espresso in North America.

True professional baristas making you true espresso beverages. It's tucked into a little stand just between a couple of retail spots. Just a warm, red little space without even a door. Just step in under the awning from the rain, order your drink, and two world-class baristas make your cappucccino with speed and aplomb.

I had a cappuccino today, and a conversation with barista, Teal, an old friend of mine. It really made my day. Now that the sun is setting at 4:23 pm, I'm back in my house doing a little work on the Ethiopia project, and this cappuccino's making everything all right in my universe.

So there you have it, Vivace's classic cappuccino, this week's Coffee of the Week.

Comments

[Nate]

I've never had the pleasure, but the cap looks amazing! I'm trapped in the upper mid-west, and quality cafés are few and far between...non existent even. :( I aspire to open my own one day...after saving $$ :) I hope to visit Seattle one day, to visit the Mecca of coffee, and experience the Pacific NorthWest.

[coffee messiah]

I grew up in SF and went to the Caffe Trieste from HS through before I moved out here. We opened our own for 4 yrs in a small town. Sadly, went as far as we could go and luckily we got out before things started breaking down. We've been to that Vivace that was torn down on both trips out there in recent years, and purchase their beans for our espresso machine.
That one and the one that was torn down were excellent, as you mentioned. The one near REI which we tried once, wasn't a very good experience for some reason, so we never went back. Of course, Broadway is a better experience anyway.
BTW, enjoyed your video of Yirgacheffe also!
Cheers!

[Schwarm]

I would like to defend the REI location.

I stopped by while visiting my sister-in-law who lived up in Snohomish. I had three kids with me, my sister-in-law, and Lisa.

I had a drop dead perfect espresso. Seriously one of the top ten in my life. My Sister-in-Law loved her cappuccino. Lisa had a coffee latte which she liked--she had had better.The kids had some kind of hot cocoa type things + vegan donuts.

The three step down entry way is a nice touch. The wall art is all very cool coffee themed stuff. There was a kid friendly zone in the back by the free conference room. Plenty of diverse seating.

I got an Americano on the way out which was one of the best I have ever had.

The Vivace by REI is close to the freeway and easy to find (the REI building is easy to see from the Freeway), parking is easy, coffee is ridiculously good, atmosphere is friendly, totally hard for me to imagine anything much better in a coffee shop.