It is always very hard for me to give even a lukewarm review aving benefitted so much from Yelp reviews, but here were my concerns, and they are specific to their "family-friendly" claim. It is a giant pain in the butt to maneuver a stroller in there. I had to move tables, chairs, and wastebasketsto get back to their kid's play area, which was so small. When I go to a coffeehouse with a kid's play area, I go so my kids can socialize. But there was no room for more than a couple kids in the play area. We make special trips to places where my girls can play with others, and the play area was pretty disappointing. I hate to say it. Like I said, I benefit from this site, so I know how this can affect business, but I am hoping in writing this that they will do something about their layout to make the cafe truly kid-friendly! read more

So very, very average. This place is close to my apartment so I occasionally grab a coffee and a pastry which are both alright. The one time I did hang out to read a bit there were children everywhere running around and screaming which is fine for parents but not so much the ambiance I was looking for. read more

Stopped in for a Latte on our way home from Golden Gardens this morning. Not a trace of a smile or even an ounce of friendliness from our barista, and not in a 'I'm so busy I don't have time for small talk' sort of way which is usually forgivable, they weren't busy, she just wasn't friendly. This could have been saved by a good cup of coffee but our lattes were beyond bad, burned as bad as espresso can be. I'm not too picky about my coffee despite my 8 years of barista experience but this one got tossed in the trash. read more

Stopped in for coffee a little before open time and was greeted by a very pretty, but extremely rude brunette. I couldn't get two sentences out to explain my parking situation and she laid into me like I was 5 years old. I must have caught her on a bad day and she didn't appear to be a morning person, which I thought was odd for a coffee shop. Day before was completely different story. Nice gentleman and a blonde gal served me up an excellent breakfast and were accommodating to me with regards to parking. I would rate those two 5 stars! The brunette a negative 5 stars!! After getting scolded I went to the drive up lucca coffee shop which has excellent coffee along with a very nice (and very good looking) blonde gal ! read more

Good coffee. Cashier couldn't speak English well enough to understand my order. "12 ounce Mocha with half the amount of chocolate... light chocolate... not too much chocolate... easy on the chocolate..." I did get a mocha. A very chocolatey mocha. I should have stuck with an Americano. Keep it simple and you probably won't be dissapointed. The Americano my girlfriend ordered was good. read more

I used to go there regularly with my child as it has a small play area where my child can play while I'm having a coffee. In the last few months, I've noticed that their service including their beverage quality and customer service has significantly dropped. My husband ordered an iced coffee, an iced green tea latte and hot chocolate for our child the other day, but he was gives a hot coffee and extremely hot chocolate. They used to make lukewarm drink for kids, but apparently they don't care anymore and give us wrong drinks as well...we don't go there anymore since several disappointing incidents have happened in the last few months. Sad. read more

Fantastic service and excellent coffee. As someone that considers him self as a coffee snob. I would say that firehouse makes and excellent americano. The breakfast sandwiches are a perfect afternoon snack. The young gentleman that helped me I think he said his name was Max was very upbeat and enthusiastic he genuinely seemed happy to be working. I'd refer Firehouse to all my friends and family. If your in Ballard and don't want to wait in line at the busy chain shops then this is the place to go! read more

Friendly staff, and they serve Cafe Vita, which is probably the best coffee in town. I wouldn't say it's the fastest cup of joe, but other than that, I like this place quite a bit. read more

[ First review on Yelp! :-) ^^ ] Recently returned to Seattle, and of course revisited the usual great cafés (Zoka, Bauhaus, Caffè Fiore, Victrola, etc. etc. etc.). Turned to Yelp to find something new to me near my 'hood and found Firehouse. Despite the previous mixed reviews on Yelp, it's been a hugely pleasant surprise. Pluses: tasty coffee, tasty treats (from Essential Baking Company), a friendly owner who seems to remember everybody's name, cool firehouse building, super-fast Internet (fastest wi-fi I've ever connected to), pet friendly, fresh flowers on different days, clean bathrooms, drive-through, parking spaces, deck seating. Minuses: in front of busy section of Market Street (currently being worked on), so not super pedestrian friendly; it's just past that core area around Ballard Ave. so not as busy as it could be if you like a vibrant place (as I do), though it does get its stream of customers; view is nothing special. In sum: 4.5 stars, which bumps up to 5! read more

I wish there was a way to give NO stars, but sadly one will have to do. Anyone who makes the unfortunately mistake of driving through this establishment for coffee is wasting their time. There are FAR better establishments in Ballard with better service and better coffee. I rolled up this morning trying to get a fix before having to get to work and the bairsta laughed and made fun of me for accidentally asking for a latte "to go" (I'm used to walking into a place and ordering this way so I can continue on my way) and they left me sitting in my car for well over 8 minutes waiting for them to get my drink. Now I know you working as a barista can be a thankless job, but if you hate you job so much, then don't do it. A different girl with EXTREMELY dirty hands handed me my coffee and when I asked for a packet of sweetener SHE SHUT THE WINDOW AND WALKED AWAY. Seriously, can't believe people would pay to get coffee here let alone have to deal with those horrible baristas on a daily basis. I'll happily go anywhere else in Ballard to get coffee and make sure everyone I know doesn't make the same mistake I did. read more

Firehouse coffee is pretty much a wash for me. They get points for the free wifi, the comfortable seating and the fireplace. They lose points for the overpriced mediocre food, the anal approach to aforementioned free wifi and the general feeling I got from staff that I was had been at my table for too long. (Being at a table in the corner on a rainy Sunday afternoon for an hour and a half when I have purchased food and drink is not unreasonable.) I come here sometimes out of sheer convenience but it's definitely not a favorite. read more

The coffee here is decent. They have a drive through,which I have never used, but seems convenient. The food is pretty bad, and I would recommend just sticking with a coffee. The service here has always been pretty slow as compared to other coffee houses. The reason I give this place 3 stars is that it is GREAT for kids. They have a room with tons of toys and tables. Tables where you can sit with your significant other or a friend, and the toys for the kids. Recently I went here with a girlfriend and her son. Her and I were able to sit at the table and chat, while we watched our sons play with the activity table and the little trike, so many toys! This is a great place for you to meet other friends with or without kids, keep your kids occupied (And keep an eye on them), and socialize like you did BC (before children) read more

Coffee is nothing special but overpriced. Very slow Wi-Fi.

Chocolate chip muffin was quite yummy. Great space for working on the computer. Chai was slightly sweet for me, but still good.

Drip coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Simple, but rarely executed well. Barely hot sandwich on a cheap white bagel, when the picture is of ciabatta. Decent coffee. 6.75 read more

The barista/cashier at the drive through window had a seriously black eye and large cuts on his face. When we had ordered and he was handing us the credit slip, I saw that he had large open (un-covered) wounds all over his hands. The drinks went in the garbage. I like supporting local, but not risking a blood borne pathogen to do it. read more

I really enjoyed my afternoon at Firehouse. My only issue is that it took the four people behind the register a while to acknowledge me. This place has free wifi that you can use. The one on one seating is not super comfortable, but it gets the job done and it feels pretty private. I ordered a chai latte with Almond milk. They also have soy abd rice milk for the non-dairy folks out there. Although I didn't get anything to eat, the options looked very appetizing! read more

Tasty coffee on the go. I love that they open early, are really friendly, and can provide me with that jolt to wake up before going climbing in the morning. I've never been inside, but the outside is cute, and the coffee is excellent. I love the drive up window, and highly recommend it for those of us on the go. read more

I go to this coffee shop nearly everyday and I LOVE it. I really appreciate how friend the staff is and the consistency of food and coffee quality. Also, they have a play area and are pet-friendly. What more could you ask for? Great service, staff. read more

I love this place. It's a great place to camp out and work. Good food and snacks. Really well made coffee. And every barista is super nice. Highly recommend for coffee in Ballard, especially if you want to work or study there. read more

This place could be chill, but it's going to take a lot more than a sliding wood door to conceal the continuous, shrill cries from the baby room they're so kind to provide to all the moms that meet up here as a result. vNice staff gave me treats and music is good(but pay the $10/month to get rid of ads already!), which is cool, but it was sweltering in here, even before the sun started pouring in the wall of south-facing windows. No complaints when I opened the window, though, which was nice. read more

Coffee is average, food is definitely sub-par-repurposed Costco frozen pastries and bulk-pack goods. Space is very uncomfortable-seems put together on a shoestring-cushions are 10" bigger than the seats themselves, odd seating arrangements. Sorry, I want to love this place, but with all the great coffee places in Seattle, this just isn't one of them... read more

Great food, friendly people, and one of two places to make my perfectionist girlfriend a perfect coffee in the four days we were in town!

I drank a LOT of coffee when I came to Seattle! I like that the city seems to be so purist in their offerings. We stopped into Firehouse on the way to the farmers market and I wanted something with just a little something this time. We were waiting in the drive-thru line, which wasn't really moving, so we decided to park and pop in instead. So glad that we did. They had a lavender latte on special. It was the perfect thing for a Sunday morning stroll through the farmers market. Nice subtle flavor. Not syrupy or sweet, like some flavored lattes can get. read more

Very fair prices for a cup of joe, or a trusty Cafe Au Lait. They have a drive-thru for anyone in a hurry, but it was nice to sit down and enjoy the morning newspaper. Customers are very friendly, and the staff are too! I would highly recommend the Coffee Cake... it was to die for! read more

Pretty cool spot with great service! Came here with my coworkers the other day and had a red bull Italian soda. They have delicious drinks and the environment was calm and comfortable. Also they have a nice little family room and a kids play area which is am awesome and unique addition to the place. read more

My review is on the Firehouse stand in Epilogue Books versus the freestanding building down the street in Ballard. I have no complaints. The coffee is delicious, they make it quick, and my fella and I frequently stop on our way into the morning grind for our caffeine pick-me-up. Nummy! read more

Every time I get a cup that says " Caffe Vita" I know whatever is in there will be full of pretentious and suck. However these guys had the good sense to not pretend they knew what to do with loose leaf tea ( unlike the other location I have reviewed) and just gave me a sack of Numi. They had to heat water for my order so let's move to the people in my car. Luckily I travel with a posse so I can give the skinny on a variety of drinks. Their triple Breve is A-okay, their Italian soda was delicious but they much have been running out of whip cream when we got there. The chai was smooth and sweet, and not too hot- like the tea. I only got a report on the hot chocolate because at this point a lot of germs had been spread about. But it was pretty intense like maybe they used natural cacao but never tasted it themselves because it was not nearly sweetened enough to taste like anything nib slurry. Now doesn't that sound dirty? However little ship cream and over powering hot Cacao aside they did a decent job. I went through the drive through so I can only comment on service and quality of product but the woman who helped us was very professional and didn't have a melt down at our largish order(7). read more

Has a nice atmosphere and serves Cafe Vita coffee with free refills if you stay.

We are the Firestation quite regularly..... you can tell from our punch cards. They have good chai and cinnamon lattes and cafe vita drip so both john and i are happy. Did I mention I love cinnamon?! yum! We used to go inside and use their free wifi but it can get a bit full of children which is just fine. No problem for us but can be a bit noisy. So now we just do drive thru or get our coffee to go. read more

This was my first time in here today. Stopped in with a friend that has a baby for a caffeine fix. Loved the idea of a little play area for the mommies, daddies and babies. Place seemed cozy and quite busy for two o'clock in the afternoon. My coffee was decent nothing special. I probably wouldn't come here unless I was with someone that had a little one. read more

It's OK if you're into strollers and smooth jazz. I'm pretty sure they were playing Kenny G on the hi-fi. Decent space with room to stretch out, but not the vibe I was looking for in a Ballard neighborhood coffeehouse. read more

Good place to stop by for coffee. Their drive-thru window makes it easier for me to get morning coffee on my way to work. The service is prompt and although the staff is friendly, there is a certain air of aloofness about them although I really don't mind since I'm just there to get coffee. read more

I enjoyed the available outdoor seating, friendly service, very tasty coffee and reasonable prices. I don't know what isn't to like!

I always like to stop by Firehouse when I'm in the neighborhood on weekend mornings. The staff is very friendly and relaxed. By this I don't mean "slow," although if I were on my way to work and in a hurry, I might have a different perspective. The coffee is good, the food pretty good (the cappuccino chip muffins are very good, especially when heated gently). They have hands-down some of the best seating options of any espresso place in town, from regular tables and chairs to cozy armchairs, to a couch and coffee table, to several outdoor seats. read more

If there were always full carafes of coffee and cream, it would be 5 stars. I love this place: great coffee, staff, and places to sit for studies, chatting, sitting with yer dog, and toddler playing. I spend more $ at this coffee house than any other. And I will continue to patronize them. Grateful to have them in my neighborhood. read more

The shop has a nice ambiance, and they have Italian Sodas and a children's play area, both things I greatly appreciate in a coffee shop. I had some difficulty redeeming a gift card that I had held for a year. The barista refused it because it was issued by the previous owner, and that individual was no longer reimbursing them for the expense. I didn't feel this should be my problem and wrote a negative review saying so. I've since been contacted by one of the current owners who offered to make things right. I recognize that nobody's perfect, and I've raised my rating to reflect their effort to make things right. read more

Swung in for a quick coffee. Not bad not great just middle of the road. Cute place, has a drive through but the staff seemed a bit frazzled. Barrista was calm, made my complicated coffee perfect. Wanted to love it just wasn't there for me. 3stars for the girl behind the coffee machine! read more

Stopped in here today before heading to the quilt shop next door. The barista that helped us was so nice - had a great time chatting with her! I had a sandwich that was just ok (maybe a tiny bit pricey?), and I only had iced coffee - nothing fancy, but it was *really* good! I've only been here once, but it was a great experience! I'd definitely stop by again! read more

Firehouse is middle-of-the-road in terms of size, ambience, and price, but the coffee is consistently good, it's a decent place to read a book for half an hour, and the staff are nice. Good enough to keep coming back! read more