eastfly: Coffee Shop-ing

This past winter break I set out to try as many Tacoma coffee shops as I could, taking notes on the taste of the coffee, and the aesthetics of the shop (along with a few pictures). This project was primarily for personal benefit, so you will find that some shops don't have as many photos showing around the shop, and the tasting notes may be a bit amateur.

At each shop I ordered a doppio espresso with a tiny bit of water (still working my way to drinking straight espresso).

Shops are sequenced in chronological order.

Valhalla Coffee (3918 6th Ave., Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Everything black and red with dark plum walls
- Not very appealing to me. 50’s style stools thrown in
- Appearance gained appeal as the daylight faded

Drink:
- First thought of drink: excellent, rich, little dark
- Next thoughts: Fairly significant body, light tart, creamy, complex

Cosmonaut Coffee Co. (817 Division Ave., Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Tiny room
- Fun “guys’ room feel, some guys in there were swapping fishing stories
while I was sitting down
- Definitely a welcoming community feel
- Rough interior

Drink:
- Bright, creamy
- Tart berry
- Light body

Metro Coffee (1901 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma)
Aesthetics
- Outside is red brick walls with sky blue trim
- Inside emphasizes the antique structure (bricks, boards, and beams largely exposed)
- Vintage bicycles hung up on the walls with some typical art
- Nice over-all appearance

Drink:
- Rich, dark, bitter
- Some tang after a few minutes
- Not a favorite of mine

Lift Bridge Coffee (1102 A St #215, Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Inside "Courthouse Square"
- No music away from the bar
- Formal, antique
- Courthouse feel with echoes in the large, elegant hall

Drink (served with sparkling water):
- Creamy with sparkling acidity
- So bright, but I love it
(serving Kuma Coffee’s Latin American blend; sometimes serves Bluebeard, Olympia Coffee Roasters or other local roasters, thus tastes month to month will vary)

Bluebeard Coffee Roasters (2201 6th Ave, Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Open and large and lots of windows
- Hipster-esk rustic/industrial appearance

Drink (served with Sparkling water):
- Too much acidity on the first sip
- Wild flavor, fruit punch of coffee
- A roasty background

I missed photos this time around, but a few years ago I took some:
http://eastflyphotos.blogspot.ca/2014/02/bluebeard-coffee-roasters.html

Metronome Coffee (3518 6th Ave, 101, Tacoma):
Aesthetics:
- Pleasantly eclectic appearance
- Yellow lighting with pastel blue, grey, and darker blue walls

Drink (served with sparkling water):
- Dark, moderately heavy body
- Some acidic undertone
- Light cream
- Little nicer taste after a few minutes
- Bitter with more age

Manifesto Coffee (1003 S 11th St, Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Rough, lots of plywood
- Simple and open, but small
- Textured, cream colored walls
- Friendly barista, half the people coming in were already his friends
- Metal music playing

Drink (served with sparkling water):
- Roasty & Mellow
- Acidic fruit taste under the creme
- Medium bod
- Light cream
- I kinda wanted to gulp the thing down :)

Northern Pacific Coffee Co. (401 Garfield St S., Tacoma)
Aesthetics:
- Quite eclectic
- Played classical music while I was there
- Just a few of each type of chair
- A library wall
- Piano & stage

Drink (Olympia Coffee Roasting):
- Tart
- Citrus
- Light body