Eclectic Coffee Spots in Puget Sound

It is very hard, if not impossible, to live in the Pacific Northwest, specifically the Puget Sound region, and not become seduced by, and ultimately become part of, the pervasive coffee culture that thrives in this part of the country—come rain or shine.

Eclectic COFFEE Spots in Puget Sound represents my journey into the realm of coffee establishments around the Sound. It is filled with my own paintings and photographs along with impressions of what I observed taking place in various coffee spots.

As an artist, my goal in creating this book was to celebrate the visual and eclectic nature of a particular Puget Sound coffee spot, perhaps its ambience, its architectural character, the motif, furnishings, or curb appeal, whatever its distinguishing personality might be. My book does not seek to focus on the characteristics of the coffee but rather on the place where we imbibe.

There have been many famous coffee drinkers for whom coffee has been a focal point of daily life and inspirational thought. Some famous coffee drinkers include Balzac, who had his own blend, Goërte, Jean Paul Sartre, Napoleon, Beethoven, and Voltaire, who was known to drink fifty cups a day.

My own transcendent experience with coffee began in the 1970’s. One of my family’s rituals on Saturday mornings was to eat breakfast at the Athenian in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and then meander through the many fabulous produce and craft stalls. We would explore the various shops located along the market’s charming, cobble-stoned street. On one such excursion we detected a wonderfully inviting aroma beckoning us to a shop called Starbucks.

That was in 1976 and that is where I learned that coffee did not necessarily come in a vacuum-packed tin, but rather in the form of intoxicating freshly roasted beans to be ground, brewed and savored with great intention…. forever.

Since that time, coffee itself has become a ritual for me.

I can’t actually pinpoint the moment when the muse struck to create a book depicting coffeehouses. As a coffee lover, I have had my share of lattés in numerous coffeehouses and, as an artist using a visual language, I have been able to reflect the world in which I find myself a part. Being immersed in a mega-culture of coffee consumption, could not help but be influenced by and inspired to paint about my coffee going experience. However, it took at least a year for this book to incubate and ultimately command my attention.

As the coffeehouse phenomenon took hold in Puget Sound, so did the desire to seek the perfect coffee spot to take a coffee break with our friends, kids, neighbors, school mates, and colleagues along with our books, electronic devices and pets. Without a doubt, each coffee establishment in the Puget Sound region offers its own distinctive and savory environment.

During my eclectic coffee spot exploration, I discovered an amazing, overwhelming at times, treasury of coffeehouses, coffee concessions, and coffee kiosks. I tried to confine my survey strictly to coffee purveyors, but increasingly found that many of these popular establishments are serving wine, beer, and cocktails, offering live music and facilitating special events, thereby extending their hours and embellishing the coffeehouse visit.

Throughout Puget Sound, coffee spots promote the quality of great coffee, engaging conversation, and the opportunity for human connection. Seattle is unique in that there are so many neighborhood villages where people stroll or bike regularly, expecting to connect with other people.

In the smaller cities and towns around Puget Sound, coffeehouses are most often found in the downtown areas, which have always been the hub of everyday life.

I was able to compile what I hope is a truly diverse and broad spectrum of eclectic and inviting coffee spots. It was literally impossible to depict all or even most of them and still get the book done. eclectic COFFEE Spots in Puget Sound offers a glimpse into the multitude of unique and wonderful coffee establishments that have taken root and flourish throughout Puget Sound. I wanted to give a representative sampling of these places, taking into account both geography and character. Over the course of three years, I found that several coffee establishments I had visited were closed, had relocated, changed names or were now home to another type of business. Yet because of their unique visual appeal and history I have included some of them in the book.

I found several coffeehouses throughout the Sound that seek to serve and interface with the communities in which they are located and are actually run as non-profit organizations, while others opt to regularly contribute some of their profits to local charitable organizations, and at times, disaster relief. I also wanted to represent the preponderance of drive-thru’s / kiosks and walk-ups throughout the Sound.

Researching, mentally processing, depicting the visuals, describing each coffee spot, and assembling this book has been a fascinating journey. I have met many interesting people along the way, learned much about coffee and community, and have enjoyed getting to see the Puget Sound region with new eyes.