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Espresso Vivace Alley 24
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 11 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
196 reviews for Espresso Vivace Alley 24
Review Highlights
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"The Vivace latte was smooth from start to finish." In 31 reviews -
"Five stars for the Beautiful Stephanie alone." In 4 reviews -
"They have the best foam I've ever had." In 19 reviews
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195 reviews in English
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Review from Patti C.
Seattle, WA
4/3/2012 27 Check-ins Here
Simply THE best coffee EVER.
PERIOD.
And, love, love, love Darrell, Jason and the cute guy from Montana : )Listed in: Best Cookies
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Review from Fouzi H.
Seattle, WA
I would really like to give Vivace 5 stars but there are a few technical details that I've noticed they are sloppy about that forces me to ding them on. First lets start with the technical details of what they do right:
- Locally roasted coffee beans: Check. They have a roasting facility in Capitol Hill on Broadway.
- Baristas with proper training on pulling espresso: Check.
- Microfoam quality and Latte Art: Check (See the picture of the cap I added)
Espresso Vivace is doing a great job of maintaining a high standard of doing espresso based drinks that come to be expected of a Third Wave / Coffee 3.0 establishment. When you order anything from a Macchiato to a Latte you will get a drink with well extracted espresso and properly steamed microfoam that is poured with latte art. This is good and what gets them the high marks.
Where I have to ding them is on the following:
Ideally you want the espresso and the microfoamed milk to both be produced with as little time between as possible so that they can be combined quickly to prevent flavors from escaping and to prevent the milk from becoming uneven. On several occasions I've noticed that either the shot was pulled and sat for a long time as the milk was being steamed or the milk was already steamed and was being swished around (to prevent the foam from creating a top layer) for way too long because the shot was not ready. Furthermore I've seen them pull the shot into a shot glass and then pour the shot glass into the cup. Not sure why they are not pulling directly into the cup because that extra pouring can break down the crema.
They also tend to break up the tasks of pulling the shot and steaming the milk between two baristas and the one steaming the milk is usually also preoccupied with taking your payment as well. Another thing that bugs me is that they don't always wash the milk pitchers and will happily pour more milk into a frothing pitcher that was just used without even a rinse (lazy?).
Anyways, I know that these are nitpicks but these are things that you wouldn't find some of the stars of the Third Wave / Coffee 3.0 movement doing. Nevertheless these don't bother me that much and I continue to go back to Vivace and enjoy the drinks they make. -
Review from David K.
Everett, WA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Vivace is easily one of my favorite places to get a latte when I want to get something to clear the palate. The beans they use for their lattes are a bit on the milder side but has a clear finish as a result.
Overall, the staff is very friendly, informative, and knows how to make a good latte!
Depending on what time you go, parking might be tough. -
Review from Celeste T.
Seattle, WA
4/22/2012
Service is great here, and being able to sit on the sidewalk when the weather is nice is sooo good! Now that it's spring again, I'm looking forward to many Vivace sidewalk drinks.
I enjoy their coffee here, it's neither burnt nor weak. I think that's the best way to describe a good cup of coffee, and I wish I could describe it as a series of positives...but this works too! Anyhow, walk by and stop in sometime, it wil be worth it. -
Review from Mandy S.
They sure know how to steam their milk ! no place can compare to their lattes here.
however the coffee bean taste is light compared to starbucks. It kind of reminds me of white coffee.
But for those days, where you want to treat yourself to a heavenly 5-15 min break in a cup It's a must ! -
Review from Matt D.
Modesto, CA
5/8/2012
Heard from a California barista/coffee house owner/ coffee roaster that this was the place to go in Seattle. He was right! Macchiato was amazing.
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Review from Scott B.
Austin, TX
5/3/2012
Caffe Latte yyuummmm! Across the street from REI. Enjoy a shot before taking on the flagship of outdoors.
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Review from Brie M.
Seattle, WA
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Probably the best cup of coffee I've ever had. Now every time my boyfriend wants to go to R.E.I I won't balk at the idea!
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Review from Julie G.
2/18/2012 13 Check-ins Here
I LOVE Vivace coffee. In fact, when I'm trying to be frugal and only make my coffee at home, Vivace is the one place I'll allow myself to slip up. Their espresso drinks are so rich and velvety, a truly luxurious treat.
Note - if you can't use the main entrance (with stairs inside), go around to the side door. Sometimes this will be locked (on weekends), but a doorman will be inside who can assist. Upon my request they've placed a sign up to let people know about alternate access. It's a shame that a building of new construction requires me to use the side door, but I guess it's not entirely Vivace's fault.
They often have a carrot cake in their treat case that is also divine, give it a try! -
Review from Michelle M.
Seattle, WA
2/13/2012
I'm on a quest to find a Flat White in Seattle. If you lived in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, you know what a Flat White is. It's akin to a Latte but its served in an 8oz mug, double shot of espresso and a lot less milk. There is no frothy foam in a Flat White.
I thought surely the espresso experts at Vivace would know how to make this drink. I thought wrong. My conversation with the Snobby Espresso Chick (SEC) went something like this:
Me: Can you make a Flat White?
SEC: Sure. We make it like an Americano and then add milk. We call it a Mezzo.
Me: But a flat white is about steaming the milk and...
SEC: (interrupting) We aren't going to do it that way. We make it as an Americano with steamed milk.
Me: Umm. Ok, I'll try it.
I should have ordered a latte! I got a big 16oz mug with water, espresso and lots of milk. The "Mezzo" was the weakest cup of coffee I had in ages.
Bottom line - The SEC at Vivace didn't know what a flat white was and wasn't interested in talking to me about it. It's fine not to know what it is but don't pretend you do and then make me a crap cup of coffee. -
Review from Travis M.
Kirkland, WA
2/20/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I want to not hate this Vivace, but I just do. I mean, it's Vivace, so the coffee is excellent, but I'm pretty sure the baristas have to have been training in making customers feel like crap. There's never a, "Hi," here. Just ignoring you until they have a free minute and then a stare that says, "Fine, just give me your order and get out of my store." The other Vivace locations are a little cold, but they feel like a family reunion compared to this place.
Maybe it's just me though. I did once see the barista nicely ask the woman behind me for her order. When she seemed a little uncomfortable, he then looked at me and said, "Oh, did you want something?" At least I got to order :) -
Review from Mandy B.
Seattle, WA
4/11/2012 1 photo
Favorite coffee shop in all of Seattle, their espresso is perfect, drip coffee is great & if you have a sweet tooth indulge in a white velvet - knocks any other 'white chocolate like drink" out of the water.
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Review from Jane A.
1/1/2012
TASTY!
(5 stars)
Independent espresso cafes in Seattle just amaze me. AND serving VEGAN pastries... WOW.
- Espresso, great
- Prices, average maybe a little out of pocket
- Service, fast (that long curly hair barista rocks the shop)
- Ambiance, cute little cafe
Back in the days when everybody was about starbucks, i was always about these independent cafes. I'm happy to have continued finding such great places many yrs later. Not sure what it is, but if you from seattle you love coffee/espresso.
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
VEGAN GREEN TEA CHOCOLATE CHIP MINT COOKIE - Of all the vegan pastries and pastries in the glass case and counter, the green cookie just stood out the most. It was vegan and just unique looking, I had to try it. First bite made me smile, seconds later the cookie was gone. Yup, that yummy.
WHITE VELVET LATE - I think thats what it's called. I got the small (8oz) and the cup was really small. The barista made it pretty damn good but the end was a bit chalky for me. Wish they stirred it a little longer.
Will I be back? I'm a fan!
Until the next review.... -
Review from ReviewInHaik u.
Portland, OR
2/17/2012
Americano.
Really two shots in this cup?
Weak, watery, bad. -
Review from Marin J.
12/21/2011
Spectacular coffee, high caramel notes.
Exceptionally friendly staff
Interesting outdoor/indoor cafe storefront european style -
Review from Will M.
12/12/2011 85 Check-ins Here
5 stars for the coffee. 2-3 stars for the space.
Not sure what there is to be said that hasn't already been said - there coffee is phenomenal and consistently so. I've heard they have a rigid training program for their baristas and if so it shows. Never had a bad drink from either the Alley 24 or Broadway locations.
About the space. The shop at Alley 24 is just not a great space to sit an enjoy your coffee. The tables and chairs are something you'd expect to see at a hamburger joint. They need more couches and cushy chairs. The one couch they do have isn't that comfy and it is right up against and facing a wall with a large painting. It's just a weird space that is in complete contrast with the excellence in service and espresso. -
Review from Leah H.
11/30/2011
I love this place but it's not in my normal travel route so I don't get to it nearly enough.
I get my coffee quickly and at prices similar to other shops. The staff isn't filled with pleasant small talk but also isn't snarky or dismissive.
Why I love it? The coffee. It is rich and caramelly and delicious. I would recommend getting a shot by itself just so you can taste how good this espresso is.
I always leave Vivace with jitters because I cannot order just one cup here! -
Review from Greta P.
Seattle, WA
11/23/2011
Best coffee in Seattle.
Americanos are fantastic. If you order milk, even better (foam is amazing).
I used to live down the street from this location. All the employees are amazing. I will seriously miss these guys. (Luckily, now I'm next to the sidewalk cafe!) -
Review from Adrienne S.
Seattle, WA
9/22/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Why I No Longer Drink Starbucks:
1. Espresso Vivace.
2. Cafe Apassionato.
3. Stumptown Coffee.
4. Cafe Vita.
5. Diva Espresso.
Vivace's first on my list, and others are closer. I used to drink coffee with a ton of sweetener (thanks for facilitating that habit, Starbucks) and Vivace's roast is pure, rich, creamy goodness. Nothing like a macchiato and cute business men (perhaps why it's first on my list..) to wake your morning up.Listed in: kaffee, Cafe, COFFEE, Caffe,…
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Review from Eric P.
Kent, WA
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good atmosphere. A great place to sit down, relax, and have a good cup of coffee with some friends or on your own. Good service and good prices. If your looking for an alternative to Starbucks, make sure to give this place a try.
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Review from Andrew T.
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh, hipster coffee. This place was introduced to me by a coworker who said it's where he used to go for coffee...before it got popular and all the hipsters ruined it. I'll let him have his little hypocratism, but he's right, this is totally hipster coffee.
Which isn't all bad - amongst the signs and things crowing about their methods and practices and whatnot is some decent coffee. I had a Cafe Nico, with its delicious orange aroma, cinnamon sprinkle, and lots of heavy milk...enough to cool it down to be drinkable (for my little girl mouth) without a 15 minute cool down...and also enough to dilute the coffee flavor way to far down. Honestly, the espresso, with half the milk and that orange cinnamon would be awesome, and I think the coffee was really good under it all, but I can't be sure, and I'm certainly not enough of an expert to really rate it unless I could really taste it.
I want to go back, but might not have enough time on this trip. Next time, I will get just a regular old espresso. -
Review from Denise W.
Redmond, WA
Updated - 2/26/2012
I still love love love this place. Wish you would open one on the east side so I don't have to cross the bridge and pay the toll. Still amazed at the cool coffee design.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/1/2009
A piece of heaven! My Italian seduction come true. I live on the east side and seldom cross the… Read more »
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Review from Philip S.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2012
I have had a hundred cups of coffee here and every one of them has been excellent.
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Review from Christian D.
Snohomish, WA
7/9/2011
If I could wear a Camelbak filled with 60oz of Vivace Latte perfection each morning I swear that I would do it. The bar was set very high as we set foot for the first time into this renown-amongst-Seattle-coffee-snobs location. You see, on the Eastside, the bar is set by Urban Coffee Lounge (UCL) in my opinion. UCL is 5-star worthy as well. So which is better? Hard to say. It's very, very close.
Vivace made me the smoothest latte I have ever had today. There was zero "Stumptown" aftertaste like a UCL latte (which isn't bad - it's just worth mentioning). The Vivace latte was smooth from start to finish. It left me wanting every last drop; like a ship-wrecked sailor who hasn't had water for 3 days or something. I wanted to rip the paper cup into pieces and lick out the inside. LOL. Yes, I liked the latte.
The baristas were friendly and efficient. The decor was modern and hip. And they had a kid corner stocked well with keep-them-busy toys (brilliant!). It was also very clean which is a good thing as my 15 month-old sniffed out the remnants of a discarded ham and cheese croissant on the floor and promptly shoved it into her mouth. Hey, it's our 2nd child, so what do we care?
The only two negatives I can dig up for you is that you have to pay to park (take your chances if you're just going to run in and out, but keep an eye on your car) and that their prices are higher than most other coffee shops, including UCL.
I'll be back! -
Review from Alice A.
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The cappuccino at Espresso Vivace is the closest I have tasted to cappuccino at Sant' Eustachio in Rome, Italy, which according to the Top Ten Rome travel guide book is the best in Rome. Everyone prefers his/her coffee and espresso differently, but the silky dry foam laying atop espresso that tastes dark and supple at the same time is hard not to appreciate.
Listed in: Coffee spots
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Review from Clive D.
Seattle, WA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
They do not have drip coffee! Okay, I get it when the carts or the shacks don't have drip. But a full-on retail space? Come on! I had to go to the Mexican restaurant next door to get a cup of coffee. Is it a hipster thing? If so, I'm not savvy. Is there a city code that says if you put the word "espresso" in your title, you can't serve drip coffee?
I'm going to lose it if one more barista tells me an Americano is the same thing as a drip coffee. How can you be a coffee snob if you can't taste the difference between drip and espresso?
I'm being generous with the two stars, but even after ranting, I do realize my opinion is rare and specialized. So after applying a subjectivity algorithm to my real one-star rating that I wish to give, I will acquiesce to two stars. -
Review from M B.
Seattle, WA
2/17/2012
Love it. Pure heaven - what espresso should be.
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Review from Jamie Q.
Pico Rivera, CA
7/18/2011
Admittedly, I am not a coffee guy. I'd like to be but I neither need it to wake me up in the morning nor do I have the overpowering drive to learn about it. But since I was in possession of a rental car in the lovely city of Seattle, I decided that it was my obligation to get some coffee.
I did a bit of Yelp research on what the best coffee shops in town were and this place popped up as one of the most mentioned places. When I left my friend's house, I had not decided on one in particular, but as I drove up to one of the must see places on my itinerary, the REI flagship store, I noticed Espresso Vivace right across the street. Great, so I can kill two birds with one stone.
The coffee gods were smiling down on me. The plan was after shopping at REI, I would take a midday break, get some coffee, and lounge about reading the newspaper for an hour. The problem was because I didn't know anything about coffee, I got nervous when the barista asked me for my order. Rather than getting something I can enjoy the whole time I was lounging about, I got an espresso. Now mind you, it was the best espresso I've had, but I had it down my gullet before I even opened the front page. Luckily as I was standing in line waiting for my espresso, I noticed that the girl in front of me had ordered a mocha, which looked amazing! So after sitting down for about 10 seconds, I got back in line like a jacka** and ordered a mocha.
The woman making my mocha was quite nice. While she was doing her thing, she asked me how I was and how my day was going, which is a far cry from most other coffee shops. Let me tell you, as good as that espresso was, that mocha blew it out of the water. It was just fantastic. I almost got up a third time and got something new after I was done with the mocha -
Review from Max F.
Los Angeles, CA
1/17/2012
Seriously some of the best coffee I've had. No bitter taste
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Review from Lyca P.
Seattle, WA
1/24/2012
Some of the best cups of coffee I've ever had!! 'nuff said!
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Review from Mark B.
Wenatchee, WA
2/2/2012
Extremely smooth espresso. Loved it
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Review from Don B.
4/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Another Vivace location for me to get my Caffe Nico fix? Oh yes. How can that not be worth 5 stars.
In case you didn't know, Vivace is a Seattle espresso institution, and they have been making some damn fine coffee for years via their ever-expanding empire. Their coffee is roasted and ground with care, and the shots are pulled with an expert hand. Add in a robust food case and good space to chill, and it's a wining combo.
What more can I say that hasn't already been said? Oh yeah, try the Nico. You'll love it.Listed in: Sea-town Ballers, Espresso is an Art
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Review from Minnow N.
Five stars for the Beautiful Stephanie alone!!
I know, Seattle = coffee, but you won't regret getting this cup of tea. It's an amazingly flavorful cup of earl grey. You must try this.
The white velvet was just ok. -
Review from Scott H.
Canton, OH
8/5/2011
I roast my own coffee (Drum roaster) and have a Mazzer Major for a coffee grinder and have commercial espresso machine in my kitchen, so I guess you could say I'm a bit of a coffee nut.
So, I had to visit Vivace while I was in Seattle. I could write a huge review, but I'll keep this one simple:
*Outstanding roasted coffee
*Excellent Espresso
*Amazing milk art on my drinks
*Super friendly staff on both visits
*Fair price.
I don't think it gets any better than this. -
Review from Jen H.
Seattle, WA
9/12/2011
This espresso is like liquid crack (not that I know what crack is really like).
Pair a latte with a raspberry croissant and any day instantly gets better. -
Review from Samantha E.
Centennial, CO
6/5/2011 1 photo
I parked by the REI on my way to meet friends at Portage Bay this morning. I was super early so I stopped here for coffee.
Oh. My. God. Best mocha I've ever had. EVER. Close-your-eyes-in-coffee-bliss good. Enough said. -
Review from Jason C.
Seattle, WA
9/6/2011
Vivace serves the best coffee that Seattle has to offer.
The servers are all so nice and always remember my drinks and even my name sometimes.
And the coffee is amazing! -
Review from Vanessa J.
Seattle, WA
1/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
As a big fan of the old roasteria (RIP) and the sidewalk stand, I was thrilled when the Alley 24 location opened. It's closer to me, and I love the new space. However, I was very dubious about getting my coffee from anyone but Don and Jody in the beginning, a trepidation I have entirely overcome. Jack is my new favorite coffee god, pulling shots and feathering milk like a seasoned pro, and making my latte just as orgasmic as it ever was.
Now that they offer my favorite pairing in the world, Macrina pumpkin muffins and a vivace triple latte, I may have to give up all other foods in the interest of the shape of my hips as it pertains to this new obsession. It'll be worth it.
There are other contenders for best coffee in Seattle, but Vivace is always the clear winner in my tastebuds' view. -
Review from Drew S.
Woodinville, WA
8/31/2011
I live in the building, and this place was my instant new favorite coffee spot. nice big building, large open windows on sunny days, great environment, friendly baristas -- the works.
Most importantly, the coffee and baked goods are delicious.
My advice: Almond Mocha -
Review from Katy H.
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
Vivace makes the best _________ in the city.
I leave that blank because you can say latte, drip coffee, mocha, cappuccino... and it's still true!
This is my favorite Vivace location although I live much, much closer to their Broadway locations in Capitol Hill.
My service yesterday was awesome. Sometimes when ordering coffee I can feel intimidated or even rushed by the baristo/barista.
I placed an order for myself and a friend and we both ordered complicated, girly, sugary coffee drinks. When the baristo slipped up the order he blushed, laughed and shyly asked for the order again. And again! It was pretty cute. It took him three tries to get it memorized but the drinks were perfect and the goof up made the transaction more interesting. I love when people are in a good mood, even if they still haven't had their coffee yet!
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