Arts

Uptown Espresso

“One of Seattle’s other coffeehouses”

500 Westlake Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98109

Mandatory meetings at 9 o’clock in the morning should not happen, especially for software interns (and MIT students), whose natural sleep-cycle is more similar to that of a loris than a normal, functional member of society. But it happens, and it’s times like these when I’m glad to be working in Seattle, a city which boasts quite a competence in caffeinated beverages. After all, this is the home of the international coffeehouse chain which brought you the Frappuccino. Needless to say, after my meeting I needed a quality cup to get me through the day, and so I made my way around the corner to Uptown Espresso for a caffeine fix and some breakfast.

Located a block away from Amazon.com’s South Lake Union campus, Uptown is a great place to take a quick coffee break from the office. I waited no longer than 5 minutes in line for my tall, single, no-whip café mocha and savory scone, and walked past several large eclectic tables (which appeared to have been acquired from the Antique Liquidators across the street) to take a comfortable seat by the windows. The mocha was perfect in its own way—topped with Uptown’s own “velvet foam” (a perfect way to describe its rich yet dreamy texture) and just the right amount of chocolaty sweetness. All in all, it was a refreshing break from espresso drinks dowsed in syrup and topped with whipped cream that I’m used to. The scone, which had veggies and herbs baked into it, was soft and flavorful, as well as filling.

Beyond great coffee and fresh pastries, Uptown also provides free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating. If you’re in the area and looking for a place to relax with a good cup o’ Joe, I’d recommend dropping by.