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Empire Espresso
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Sandwiches Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches [Edit]
3829 S Edmunds St(between S Rainier Ave & S 39th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98118
Neighbourhood: Columbia City
(206) 659-0588
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6 am - 9 pm
Sun 6 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
83 reviews for Empire Espresso
Review Highlights
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"The waffles are amazing and are a MUST have." In 20 reviews -
"I come most often for a Cayenne Mocha made with rice milk." In 6 reviews -
"My favorite part is the garage door that opens up to the..." In 8 reviews
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83 reviews in English
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Review from Sasha C.
Seattle, WA
4/24/2012
I really love Empire and go there almost everyday. One of the things I love about living in Columbia City is the sense of community. I enjoy seeing my friends and neighbors in the businesses, I like that the business owners know me by name and vice versa. Well Empire is no different. This is a place owned by 2 guys who live in the neighborhood, who care about the neighborhood, and have worked really hard to create a family-friendly place where you can feel comfortable to eat, drink, work, chat...and occassionally watch soccer :)
I am a huge fan of the Cayenne Mocha. Nothing says "good morning" like that energizing sip of sweet and spicy. I also really enjoy their hot sandwiches.
Overall, I highly recommend this place to anybody looking for a delicious cup of coffee in a non-pretentious atmosphere. -
Review from Cece C.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2012
What? Why all the high ratings? I'm confused. O_O Anyway, I heard that this place was very pretentious. So naturally I wanted to check it out. When it comes to gentrification, there are some good things and there are some bad.
The Good:
Business is booming. More investment in a formerly "ghetto "neighborhood. They will repave a road quicker and maybe put in some bot dots. Great restaurants that juxtapose the equally great native restaurants.
The BAD:
Rise in property tax and home prices. (We all know what that means) In this particular case, pretentious cafes that look at the natives of the Southend like they're, well, NATIVES. Here was my experience:
Oh, you want a fancy Italian coffee you say? That's impossible native person! Let me make you this generic version of what you think you want and put it in a paper cup. Because you can't possibly want to have it here right? Please enjoy my watered down interpretation elsewhere for my hallway of a cafe is too full of well deserving consumers. Let me, the magical barista, who double-majored in coffee with a PHD in foam, make you feel like utter crap for entering such a classy establishment.
That in short, people, was my lovely experience at Empire Espresso. An ironically, well-fitting name for a cafe in a neighborhood that used to be the Southend. Honestly, let's just call it Little Ballard from now on.
P.S. Their highly recommended waffles are super salty.Comment from Ian P. of Empire Espresso 4/6/2012
I had decided to stop writing comments when we started… More » -
Review from Molly T.
Seattle, WA
3/1/2012
i saw this place on yelp's frontpage and seeing as its in my hood, i was excited to give it a try, hoping to find a gem i can frequent on the weekends.
the place is fairly charming. not too roomy but enough for a small crowd. cool decor and it looks like the garage doors open to a small seating area in the back, which should be nice when the weather warms up.
i ordered a double americano and a waffle to go. there were 2 people behind the counter, one who rang up my order and made my waffle while the other was on bar. the lady warned me that the waffle doesn't travel well, but i assured her i live closeby. what i didn't expect was that she stuffed the entire waffle in a small pastry bag and told me to put the toppings in coffee cups to bring home...okay, so that might a good reason why the waffles don't travel well. there are compostable boxes that would probably fare much better and we wouldn't have to waste coffee cups either. so i roll with it, and got toppings, which was simple: butter, maple syrup and a strawberry syrup/jam. i think they had bananas too.
the coffee tasted okay. it reminded me of stumptown, of which i'm not a big fan. the second i got home, i emptied the waffle onto a plate but even that didn't help. the waffle was soft/soggy by then, and adding the butter & syrup probably didn't help matters much. it definitely has a unique taste but the texture was what killed it for me. maybe i should've just eaten there. i'm not a huge waffle fan anyways, so that didn't bother me too much.
another thing that didn't wow me was their customer service. the two people working that sunday morning were nice but i don't think either of them cracked a smile to anyone. i wasn't greeted with a hello, how are you this morning? no conversation starters, and when i left, no thank you's or see you later's. so yeah, just a meh experience overall. -
Review from Daniel P.
Seattle, WA
2/16/2012
Hot damn do I love this place. Their eclectic single-origin espressos are crazy. Crazy good? Yes, but also just crazy. I've never tasted such differences in espresso before. Their Red Bear espresso is also wonderful, which is the espresso they always have.
But the real treats here are the pourovers. I think I can honestly say I haven't ever had better drip coffee. Coffee drinkers can really taste the differences in all the different pourovers. When I had the Ethiopian, I was floored by the strength of the floral flavor upon first sip. I've heard from various little birdies that Ethiopian drip can have that quality, but holy @#$% is that true here. If you ever want to understand what the hell those cupping notes are about, have some coffee here. You'll know.
And the paninis--in a word, gourmet. Crispy and savory flatbread blah blah blah just get one and you'll see, trust me, you will love it. Oh, and the waffles? Divine.
But the pourovers. Trust me. Get 'em.
Word to the Folgier's-swilling quick-coffee-grabbers, this may not be your place. The drips take time to prepare. But you can't mass-produce quality. (Just ask Howard Schultz. I ain't buyin' what he's selling. Especially cuz I'm not Oklahoma City.)
Yep, this place is as good as it gets. Run down to the up-and-coming Columbia City, grab a 'rover or a doppio and have a mouth-party. -
Review from Chris Y.
2/19/2012
I came here after reading all the great reviews, but I wasn't that impressed.
I thought the espresso drinks were just ok...I felt like my americano needed another shot.
The waffles are just ok...no where as good as the Waffle Window in Portland.
Nice cozy coffee shop if you live in the area...but I probably wouldn't make the drive from downtown again. -
Review from Austin R.
Berkeley, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Although just visiting Seattle, I just had the urge to review this place. The waffle I ordered: amazing. It had great texture, and an awesome combination of ham, scallions, and sauce. The coffee: strong but good.
I've only been here once: which is why I'm not giving it 5 stars. But an awesome cafe for sure, both for food and coffee. -
Review from Dublin Fitzgerald K.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2012
REALLY REALLY SLOW. Granted, I have very low expectations of any business in Columbia City, as it seems to be where burners go to die, but seriously? Their bar is set up completely backwards, requiring patrons to repeatedly squeeze by each other in an already cramped space. Oh btw, I wrote this while waiting for them to make an americano. Go anywhere else. I'd suggest somewhere not in Columbia City.
Comment from Ian P. of Empire Espresso 4/24/2012
Brilliant review! I'm glad you enjoy our neighborhood.… More » -
Review from Jordan R.
Mountain View, CA
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic.
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Review from H C.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2012
YUM! this place is awesome. Great location (close to home), and great decor. The mocha and cappucino were awesome!
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Review from Ksenia P.
Seattle, WA
1/12/2012
Yes, please!
Tiny, cozy place with the bestest, roastiest, yummiest espresso around. Enjoyed a soy, dry cap with actual delicious foaminess (tough with soy) and tried a bit of my date's pour-over.
Will def. be back ...I must try a waffle
A++ for the espresso, these folks know what they're doing with coffee -
Review from Kevin C.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, yes you should stop by here. I had a pour over coffee and it was delicious. I believe it was the Papua New Guinea coffee and I highly recommend it. Their waffles are also really really good. I got the cinnamon, honey, walnut waffle and it was waffle goodness. The waffle was DELICIOUS and from other reviews it seems that all the other waffles are just as good. I would definitely come back if I lived closer, but I live 800 miles away (San Francisco). The staff was really nice and they aren't your typical angry hipsters.
Great ambiance, service, coffee, and food! -
Review from Jelani J.
Seattle, WA
2/19/2012
Empire espresso is one of the best coffee shops in Seattle. Unfortunately the quality has been slipping as of late. A few days ago I ordered a macchiato to go (did not have time to sit). instead of making my drink, the barista stopped to "properly educate" me about the difference between a "Starbucks macchiato" and a traditional macchiato citing size and a lack of caramel. When she jumped off her soap box, I informed her that I knew what I had ordered.
Despite her rant, she served me the exact drink she claimed Empire does not serve. I received a poorly pulled shot immersed in nearly 4 oz of steamed milk and a bit of foam that was stirred into the drink.
It's one thing to insult your customers by assuming they don't know what they want, but to turn around and serve sub-par coffee is appalling. Get it together Empire.Comment from Ian P. of Empire Espresso 2/24/2012
That's pretty shocking to me that one our employees would… More » -
Review from Vill S.
Seattle, WA
2/14/2012
I'd usually pick small and local over the Starbucks across the street, but the last time I was there, I had a problem with my debit card and I was short a $1 in cash. The girl behind the counter made me feel really uncomfortable.. I don't carry much cash, and this rarely happens...so I was digging for some change, I don't know if she was having a bad day or what, but she just stood there watching me. The lady behind me was very kind to offer a $1 with a smile. I will always remember it and will repeat the good gesture.
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Review from Elizabethe A.
Seattle, WA
6/16/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I am here right now, as I have been for the last 3 hours, using their wifi, sipping a latte, and eating a pesto, sun-dried tomato, spinach panini, and having a blast.
The latte is perfect, with the perfect consistency and amount of foam and the perfect strength espresso. The sandwich was delicious and warm, and a little spicy from the sun-dried tomato mixture.
Last time I was here I had the blue cheese, walnut, and honey waffle which made me jump out of my chair when I saw it on the menu. And it did not disappoint. Excellent and healthy amount of blue cheese, and just a tad of honey to even out the bitter taste of moldy cheese. The waffle of course was fluffy with crispy edges and I don't doubt that it would be excellent all by itself without toppings.
Mostly I just love sitting here at the cute little wooden table, with the garage door open, allowing fresh air to filter through, sports on the tv,and nice, relaxing music to listen to. Many other people come here and just sit with their computers or books, providing a nice quiet atmosphere to just sit and dream the day away.
I also can't say enough about the excellent staff who are super duper friendly and chill. They obviously have a keen interest in the coffee they serve and their other products, and their relaxing attitude will put you even more at ease in this very simple and dare I say, perfect coffee shop. -
Review from Betty W.
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Empire Espresso, at first glance, struck me as yet another overpriced, hipster coffee joint. It has that small but industrial feel going for it, so I wasn't expecting much . . . until everything blew me away.
Get a cayenne mocha - smooth, sweet, rich, with just the right amount of kick that makes for a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
What's even more necessary than the coffee fare, however, are the waffles. Absolutely DELICIOUS. Hands down, the best waffle I've ever had. Unlike any kind of waffle I've ever experienced, and I've had my fair share of delicious waffles, from chewy liege street waffles to huge diner platters of them smothered in whipped cream and strawberries to a Southern one that covers the entire plate, with a piece of fried chicken plunked on top and smothered in gravy. Obviously no offense to all the aforementioned options, but Empire's waffles are insurmountably delicious and unique from them. They're made with a savory-sweet cornmeal batter, fluffy and moist on the inside, and crisped delightfully on the outside. They also come with a variety of topping options like raspberry jam and powdered sugar, or blue cheese and walnuts, drizzled with honey, or ham, cheese, green onions and creme fraiche. I think there's an option with Nutella, too (but how can there not be?)
Also, there's a garage door in the back that opens up to a quaint outdoor seating area, that, if you happen to show up at EE on a rare cloudless Seattle day, will pretty much cap off a perfect visit.
If any of the other 364 days, though, a waffle will more than suffice. :) -
Review from laurie p.
Seattle, WA
8/13/2011
Holy moley!!! I have never tasted a waffle as good the ones they serve here....no joke!! It was extremely light and fluffy and literally melted in my mouth!!! I chose the raspberry jam with powdered sugar topp,ing....that mixed with just the right amount of butter was perfection! (Waffles are served all day, every day, to boot-what's not to love??!) The coffee is delish too. I like to get a soy cayenne mocha which is nice and spicy, if you're into that sort of thing (it kind of reminds me of abuelas hot chocolate with more of a kick! Aka "Mexican hot chocolate."
As for the atmosphere, it has a great vibe and there seem to be a lot of regulars that come in and chat it up with the owners. I haven't been for the beer and wine selection yet, but am looking forward to going there for happy hour soon! -
Review from Hugh G.
Austin, TX
1/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great spot!! Coffee is great and waffles are delicious...
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Review from Daren D.
3/24/2011
Cool Coffee Chai spot off the beaten Rainier path. Currently in 'hood discovery mode so I swung by here last night for some munchies and shtuff. Neat, subtle decor with futbol banners. A few non-threatening dings to the 5-stars are:
-if you're table is uneven, the table pegs are screwed pads, so you can manually adjust.
-i noticed some folks squatting down to plug in their laptops under the wall bench. If the gap between bench and backrest was bigger, you can just reach under and guide while sitting.
-it's a bit crowded going through so barista may just put your order on counter.
-When placed on said counter, Sonya could speak up a bit more when announcing orders (bit of a soft voice).
Ok, onward! Sonya didn't give me any awkward stares or vibe while I popped in and just perused the menus ("Wow, I thought to myself. Alcohol, paninis, waffles, coffee, chai...!"). I told Sonya (working last night) that I might order different things. First was the Turkey Havarti + HR sauce panini + water. Next was chai. She said it was Travelers; I didn't find it online so I'm guessing their masala from Capitol Hill? And finally, the YUM evening waffles with walnuts, cinnamon and honey.
I told Sonya I like Chai and tried it around, so she was curious how I liked it. I told her kind of hesitantly slow----"you don't like it, it's ok I won't charge you for it" ....what?! I'll pay for it. No it's ok. *further brief chat ensues* You're too kind Sonya and carry a pleasing soft voice. Indeed, I shall be back.
P.S. Whatever CD, playlist, radio station was playing the airwaves, it's cool.
P.P.S. Table height is rather short, so if you're tall like me, expect to hunch over a bit.Listed in: Chai is nice
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Review from Karen U.
Seattle, WA
8/11/2011
I've had one too many burnt Americanos and french press coffee. Empire Espresso consistently has tasty, strong and bold coffee.
Also love the: back outdoor seating on a sunny day and Columbia City ambiance -
Review from Chris R.
Seattle, WA
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
If not the best, damn close!
I'm a fan of local, one-offs here in Seattle. Especially coffee shops that aren't a chain but can represent the level of quality I look for in any food.
This place epitomizes quality, coffee and the neighborhood feel associated with Seattle. The first time visiting EE I ordered a vanilla latte. A month later, they not only remembered my order but the quality and taste was the same as the first.
The waffles are amazing and are a MUST have.
The only thing constructive I can say about this place is the seating. It's a bit uncomfortable if you plan on being there for a length of time and to plug in you'll be down on all fours trying to reach the outlet.
If Seattle = coffee, Empire Espresso = Seattle coffee.
With that:
5 stars for service
5 stars for coffee
3 stars for seating -
Review from Jeff J.
Kent, WA
1/22/2012
They really have good waffles, the espresso is pretty good too, i had a little trouble getting the WIFI to work but after a few minutes i got it up, the place wasn't super packed which i sometimes take has a bad sign, but the service and food is very good, the prices are a little high but the you get what you pay for, you want to cheap go to McDonalds or something.
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Review from Clover A.
2/4/2011 7 Check-ins Here
For coffee alone, this place is a 5 star winner.
I read Chris Y's review and wanted to try the Cayenne Mocha but my husband convinced me I don't like spicy and ordered one himself.
He let me taste it.
!*&(^@$! I'm getting that next time. It was amazing.
We also had a few of the breakfast panini's and they were fantastic. The seating is tight during the colder months but the back patio is a little oasis when it's open. -
Review from Micah A.
2/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Empire Espresso is in an area on Rainier known as "Columbia City" which is apparently the only section of Rainier that white people aren't scared to visit.
Empire Espresso has a Knee High vibe, except without the Groupon that has ruined Knee High forever. Everyone there acted like they knew each other. As soon as my friend and I walked inside, the 8 some odd people inside Empire turned and stared at us like we were gay black female midget police officers entering a redneck rebel biker bar. They even did the silent pause before going back to their business like they do on cop shows.
The barista was busy cooking up waffles (!!!!) so she didn't see us enter, but since she was wicked attractive and cooking up waffles (!!!!!!!!!) it didn't matter. WAFFLES! I didn't order any, but the fact that they existed was giggity.
The mocha I ordered had the little foam leaf and tasted like a mocha. They had two big screen plasma TVs showing the North Carolina/Duke game. I don't really give a crap about college basketball or rivalries that take place in red states, but for a little hole in the wall coffee shop, having a game on to pass the time is a nice touch.
Near the end of the night the barista handed out chocolate covered macadamia nuts and had a good time using "Chocolate Nuts" as innuendo. Then we left. It looks like there is a lot of neat crap at this place so I have to go back sometime. Waffles! (!!!)Listed in: Great
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Review from scott k.
Salem, OR
3/14/2012
seattle is the #1 city in the US for coffee...
empire espresso is the #1 coffee shop in seattle...
does that make empire espresso the #1 coffee shop in the US? I dunno about that but it's definitely #1 in my heart.
quick few pointers:
-if you cant handle the heat, dont order the cayenne mocha. it kicked my butt
-panini are just ok
-waffles are bomb but spendy
-best espresso and pour overs around -
Review from Rachel N.
Belmont, CA
6/17/2011 1 photo
SOOOO good!! I went here for lunch/breakfast and I got a hot mocha ... it was honestly the BEST I have ever had. Beats starbucks by far. I loved it... and I'm a coffee fanatic! Also, I got their homemade waffles... flavored with fresh lime. It was very different, but I really enjoyed it! We sat outside... I don't picture many people sitting outside in seattle weather but we had a sunny day that day- it was a really nice cafe =)
I would recommend it in a heart beat- wish there was one in SF! -
Review from Kimberley D.
Seattle, WA
3/13/2011
Cayenne soy mocha = mmm.
Free wifi and they have some tables big enough to spread out laptop + books / newspaper / other stuff. Comfy interior & friendly staff. Outdoor seating for when the weather's nice.
I haven't yet tried the food, but it includes evening waffles, panini sandwiches, hummus plates, etc. They also have beer & wine.
Beer details according to their blog:
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout 4
DAB Dortmunder -- Lager 4
21st Amendment -- IPA 4
Ayinger -- Hefeweizen 6
Orval -- Belgian Ale 8 -
Review from Laurie K.
Seattle, WA
8/4/2011
Love this place! Food is above average, coffee is EXCELLENT. Love the folks who work behind the counter. Location is good as well and they have outdoor seating and can open the back wall of the location to let sun and air in.
Cons: Everybody knows about this place now so it seems like it is always crowded!! Used to be able to bring a book or my laptop and have a quiet space in which to work. Guess that's the price of being AWESOME! :-) -
Review from Heather W.
Seattle, WA
3/4/2011
Color me impressed Columbia City!
Good quality espresso beans (I'll take Seattle Coffee Works!) and a great space conducive to studying, socializing, and watching sports. Wait, sports? In a coffee shop? YES SIRREE!!! If I ever open a coffee shop (I won't) I will certainly have a big screen TV parked on espn all day. Well done Empire! Friendly staff that isn't chatting your ear off, but not pretentiously ignoring you either.
Took the suggestions of other yelpers and ordered the cayenne mocha (so not my thing) and was impressed. My throat was a little swollen by the bottom, but it was really good and I'm not generally a fan of spice.
I'll be back! -
Review from Chris Y.
Burbank, CA
1/26/2011
When it comes to mocha's you need to hit these guys up for a Cayenne Mocha!! that spice to the sugar is ooooo sooo nice!! just say "lets go" and they'll hit the synesco and turn those shots right into dreams in a cup!
Nice Job on the feel of the place, great open air cafe to tune the world out, watch the world come in, or just sip the coffee with the flavor and that cayenne spin.....
Also when you stop by you can turn on your machine/phone for the free WiFi! -
Review from Janice W.
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is such a great little coffee shop we discovered while escaping a quick rain shower and we loved it! I had a regular latte and my boyfriend had the Cayenne latte which was sooooo good! I drank more of his than mine own. The only downfall is if there are more than 5 people in there then there isn't any spot to sit. Good thing the rain stopped quickly!
Comment from Ian P. of Empire Espresso 11/4/2011
Thanks for stopping in! We work hard on our coffee and love… More » -
Review from Dennis S.
Seattle, WA
Strong coffee and good food.
Independently owned.
Southside... the hood... "revitalized" Columbia City in Rainier Valley.
Nice place to sit down and have coffee while watching tv or working on your laptop. Owners Tino and Ian provide photastic service and the prices are good compared to other coffee joints in the area. The garage door in the back opens up on hot Summer days!
Only complaint might be that the outlet for plugging in my laptop is awkwardly located underneah the seats. Just try not to bump your head on the table or chairs and you're good!
A good mix of people come here. Power to the people, power to strong coffee!Listed in: Coffee Houses
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Review from Brynne H.
3/26/2011 62 Check-ins Here
My weekend go-to spot for coffee. I'm tempted to rate it a 5, but I have to go back and re-review Voxx with a 5 first since I love them just a teeny bit more.
There's nothing better on a Sunday morning than crawling out of bed, fixing myself into something of a presentable state (and by presentable I mean clean up enough that children won't run off screaming at the sight of me), and wander the half mile down the hill to Empire Espresso.
Sundays are my mocha day, my splurge day. It's totally worth coming here. Totally. -
Review from Nick B.
2/1/2011
This is a great, quaint little coffee shop off of Rainier in Columbia City. They make a mean coffee which tastes superb.
In addition to the coffee they have amazing panninis, I highly recommend the havarti and turkey!
Of course, if you are a soccer buff then this is the place for you. Their tvs are almost always tuned to a foot-bul game during the day.
Overall a great atmosphere with excellent food and coffee. -
Review from Naurry K.
They brought me in with the World Cup but they kept me here with their waffles. The atmosphere is still pretty awesome mostly due to the staff and having a tiny little space amongst all the brick-facade townhouse-looking business space.
Hey summer, hurry up and get there -- I'm waiting to enjoy the outdoor seating.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/15/2010
My gawd, this place is amazing.
It's a charming little coffee shop in the heart of Columbia City with… Read more »
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Review from Eric P.
Seattle, WA
9/5/2010
So we have a little Sunday tradition of trying to find new places for coffee. Read all the great reviews on Yelp about Empire so had to go check it out. Honestly couldn't have been more disappointed. We got there at 10AM - not exactly crazy late, but completely out of pastries, no whip cream for mochas, kids ordered little vanilla steamers and complained that they were just heated up milk. I heard all about the waffles - not sure if they had them or not, but nothing posted about them and when we asked about anything to eat they said they were out.
Now the ONLY upside was that because of the lack of stuff to eat we ended up at Columbia City Bakery right around the corner - SAVED THE DAY! What a GREAT PLACE!! But I'll save the full review for their space on Yelp.
Long and short - won't be back to Empire Espresso. Sorry guys. -
Review from Brad C.
International District, Seattle, WA
10/31/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Delicious waffles and panini, and their espresso can stand up against anyone's. They also offer plenty of pastries, Italian soda, horchata, and even have a decent beer and wine selection. It's the perfect cafe. I just wish they had a 2nd location closer to downtown or Capitol Hill.
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Review from Alex K.
Seattle, WA
8/19/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Yeah, I have to give it 5 stars too! This place is cool without being ostentatious, has a pretty good selection of food, beer, and wine for a coffee place, has a pretty comfortable vibe for hanging out, but most importantly:
They make a solid cup o' joe.
Whether it's a soy latte, iced americano, or plain french press, the coffee is pretty amazing, even for Seattle standards.
And they're just a block and a half from the farmer's market! What better way to energize yourself before the melee than at Empire. -
Review from sara l.
Delicious coffee, and a cute girl serving it. What's more, the design on the foam in my mocha was spectacularly intricate. Beautiful in every way!
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Review from Rassamee H.
Oakland, CA
8/4/2009
What a great addition to Columbia City! This espresso bar is outstanding. For those of you without kids in Columbia City (there are some of us right?) this is a great place to get some studying or work done without distractions. I used to study at the bakery and you know how it goes. I love kids, promise, but it is hard to get work done with kids running around, crying, etc. The owner, Tino, is a friendly guy who had a vision for a spot where people could enjoy coffee while studying, working on laptops, etc. He said so himself to the customers who had filled up the space today. Sort of like an acceptance speech but not.
The space has a great urban feel. The bar runs 2/3 of the way back. There is a large communal table if you came to have a meeting or just need space to spread out. One long bench, made out of some sort of compressed wood that looks similar to zebra wood, runs the length of the space with small square tables with wood tops (all these tabletops came from the same piece of wood apparently). My favorite part is the garage door that opens up to the communal patio of the live/work lofts that Empire Espresso resides in. You can walk through the cafe and sit right on the patio if you would rather be outside.
The coffee Tino serves is called Seattle Coffee Works. I think it is one of the better roasters in the city. If you get a mocha or hot chocolate they put in shavings of Chocolati chocolate right in there. YUM! They also serve assorted paninis, donuts, and juices. There is a flat screen tv mounted to the ceiling and sometimes the game is on.
I have already been to this place 5 times and it just opened during Light Rail opening weekend. Definitely one of my new favorite coffee joints:) Check it out! -
Review from Nick V.
Seattle, WA
7/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Excellent coffee!
I love this place!
As a coffee snot, I give this place 5 stars. The roast they use is excellent. Very Euro in the feel and atmosphere. Love it!
-1 star for no a/c.
Was breaken a sweat just waiting for my coffee. Wouldn't be fun to be a barista there with no a/c.
