If you find yourself in Seattle, you have to go on a Seattle coffee tour! The city is practically bursting at the seems with amazing coffee shops and an excellent cup of coffee can be found on practically every block! Fully embrace the local coffee scene and grab an espresso at the local caffe (Italian for coffee). Road Dogs took me on a Seattle coffee tour a few weeks ago and I can't wait to share their top spots!

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Caffé Appassano

Caffé Appassano is known for their in-house coffee roasting and as we arrived to the coffee shop, they were finishing the final step of the roasting process. Coffee roasters are like giant clothes dryers and the watchful Roast Master decides when to stop the roasting and what beans to combine and blend together. We were lucky enough to see the final step of the roasting process, where the roasted beans were blown up into the air for inspection and separation.

WHAT TO ORDER: Caffé Appassano roasts their beans in-house, so you should order a coffee made from the freshest batch of roasted coffee beans! There is a pretty good chance those beans you are about to enjoy were roasted just hours ago. If available, I would also highly recommend trying a white roast coffee (check out my explanation below!)

Overhead shot of white roasted coffee beans in Seattle

Hand holding a green coffee cup from Caffe Appassionate while on a Seattle coffee tour

Caffé Appassionato has a really beautiful ombre coffee bean display highlighting the variation of bean strengths and colors, starting from green coffee beans and ending with the darkest espresso roast. The rare white roast coffee bean (pictured above) is the first roast color transition when roasting green coffee beans. White roast beans have a light nutty flavor, are less acidic, and have less caffeine.

The longer the coffee beans are roasted, the higher the sugar caramelization and consequent acidity. If you generally find coffee to be too acidic, opt for a lighter roast! I have linked some of their coffee on Amazon for purchase - Ground House Blend, Ground White Coffee, Whole Bean Espresso Blend

Overhead shot of a roasted coffee bean display with varying colors of roasted coffee beans.

Overhead shot of lightly roasted coffee beans.

Caffé D'arte

Known for their traditional Italian roasting technique, Caffé D'arte in Seattle roasts their beans over a wood burning fire. While modern day coffee roasting techniques have evolved from this primitive fire burning method, Caffé D'Arte embraces it! As one of the last coffee roasters in Seattle to use this ancient roasting technique, the coffee that they brew using the fire roasted beans has hints of smokey flavor.

WHAT TO ORDER: You have to try a coffee made from the wood roasted coffee beans! The smokiness is truly a unique treat, giving you a taste of the old world Italian coffee roasting. Not all of Caffé D'arte coffee beans are roasted using the wood burning technique, so be sure to ask before you order.

Sample sized cup of coffee from Caffe D'arte while on a Seattle coffee tour

Storefront image of Caffe D'Atre's two red doors surrounded by brick.

overhead shot of a cup of coffee with a white marble background

Overhead shot of a cup of coffee on a white marble table with a hand holding the cup.

Wall mounted coffee bean holders lined up at Caffe d'arte

Caffé Umbria

We ended our Seattle coffee tour with a very chique coffee shop. With multiple coffee shop locations in Seattle, Caffé Umbria is serving Italian-style espressos that are the ultimate afternoon pick-me-up. We enjoyed an espresso con panna, which is an espresso topped with house made whipped cream and came with a piece of chocolate. The best way to enjoy this espresso is to stir the whipped cream into the espresso and alternate between sips and bites of chocolate.

WHAT TO ORDER: Espresso con panna (espresso topped with house-made whipped cream) is a delightful afternoon pick-me-up!