I am probably the happiest when I’m traveling and exploring new places I’ve never been! Now that the world seems to have opened back up, it’s time for the traveling to resume! It goes without saying that my recent trip to Seattle Washington was a fun and relaxing, new experience! The last time I was there was as a small child, so I remembered nothing! This time around, I knew while in the city, I had to visit some of the places the Emerald City is known for. The list included Pike’s Place Market, the Original Starbucks, The Space Needle, and The Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room! I am happy to report, I made it out to all four!
As an avid coffee enthusiast, The Starbucks Reserve Roastery was first up on the agenda!
There are only six Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in the world and the Seattle location was the first to open in 2014, just a few blocks away from the Original Starbucks at Pike’s Place Market. The 15,000 square foot Reserve is a coffee lover’s dream! It was for me! I was awe-struck as soon as I walked in! It felt like miles and miles of Starbucks all in one place…well it was, actually. A true Willy Wonka of coffee shops!
Once you walk through the door, it’s an immediate sensory experience. To keep you from being completely overwhelmed with excitement, there is someone to greet you and give you a brief run-down of what you can find inside. The first thing I noticed were the large, hammered copper coffee roasting vats and silos. They were beautiful! It’s literally a coffee oasis.
As described by Starbucks themselves, the Reserve is an immersive and dramatic experience that highlights a passion for coffee. It’s artistic, it’s scientific, and it’s creative! Unlike your local neighborhood Starbucks, the Reserve houses a coffee library, coffee bar, an Arriviamo bar for coffee-infused cocktails, pizza ovens, on-site bakery with items, unique to the Reserve, shopping with unique and curated selection of coffee gadgets, and so much more!
Additionally, the Tasting Room allows guests to enjoy a multitude of craft and innovative coffees including but not limited to brewed coffee, espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, cold brews, affogato ,tea, and coffee flights, where they can taste coffee from all over the world in a wide variety of brewing methods.
I went with the Irish con crema. This is a pour-over coffee topped with an aromatic and velvety cold foam. What makes this coffee so special is that it’s aged in a spirit-free Whiskey barrel. It was strong and it was delicious! There’s also have a wide selection of “Princi” food that you won’t easily find at your local neighborhood Starbucks like the sausage, rapini, & ricotta pizza and apricot tarts!
The first time I found out about Starbucks Reserve and Roastery, was when the one in Chicago was opening a few years back. Before then, I didn’t even know these were a thing. I knew instantly, that I had to visit one! A Starbucks of this magnitude had to be a exciting to behold and I was right. This one blew my mind! I’m so happy I had the opportunity to visit it. If you find yourself in Seattle, you would be remiss not to stop by to check it out for yourself, coffee lover or not!
Have you ever been to a Starbucks Reserve and Roastery? If so which one? Let me know in the comments below and as always thank you so much for stopping by!
XOXO
