These folks are great. My coffee is always perfect, and usually waiting for me as I pick it up in the drive-through. Nothing fancy here, just good coffee and efficient service. Oh, and their cinnamon rolls are very good! read more

if you're looking for the worlds slowest coffee shop, this is it! i've lived next to this shop for the last 7 years. gave it a try when i first moved nearby and wasn't a fan. after 6 years i recently returned twice in the last two months in a pinch on my way home. both times 1 laté took 10 minutes with just one customer order ahead of me. never again. in that time you can walk to at least 3 other shops and still have your order faster. read more

Firehouse is great...fireplace to keep it cozy, a place for the kids to play, people hanging with their dogs. The employees are very nice and always seem to be in a good mood. The one reviewer gave a bad review because of the note that was written by the owner. Well he did write it but it was after a number of please, please. please notes. The final note was not mean it was just direct and guess what it worked. Just clean up after your kids, if you don't have time tell the employees and they will do it for you. read more

Best tasting coffee in Ballard. I just started going here this summer and I really like the coffee and service. Family owned and very friendly. read more

You can not get better than this place! The service, the coffee, drive trough, walk-in, hang out and most important GREAT coffee! The folks care about your experience and clearly like their profession. my spot! read more

In a time when coffee money might be scarce, Firehouse deserves your $$ when you decide to divulge in a tasty cup of joe. Great service, great coffee, great atmosphere (+ awesome breakfast sandwiches) make this a no brainer! Highly recommended. read more

I always enjoy the atmosphere and the fireplace in the winter. Nice People. The internet is very speedy.

Ordered two drinks and the girl making them slammed both dirty cups on the counter. When I asked which was which she rudely told me which was which. Of course when I took a drink out of mine, it was the wrong one. The place could work on customer service, cleanliness and process/procedure. read more

I wanted to love Firehouse coffee! Really I did! Play area with a door, good java, close to Archie McPhee and Me n Mom's. I really wanted to love it! Sadly the owner has a habit of posting vitriolic and insulting notices about the play area. Sure everyone should clean up after their kids, but sometimes it just is not going to happen. I don't need to be spoken too like a naughty child because someone else didn't pick up their toys. I have found the staff to be cold and not really interested in helping. Navigating the narrow passage from the door to the playroom with a stroller is a nightmare. Skip it and go to Vios or Sip and Ship. read more

I went here and got a coffee today. I walked out the door, took one sip and accidentally dropped my coffee. I went back in for another. Told them what just happened, they made me another Latte......AND then charged me for the replacement :( This is not very good customer service. How much does a replacement Latte cost them? I even gave them my cup to reuse. I don't think 2 shots of espresso and a bit of milk cost them over $6, or even the original $3, I paid (which is more than a Latte is elsewhere at 4 other establishments within 3 blocks of here). Good customer service would have comp'd the replacement coffee. I will not go here again, and it is SO close to my home. Treating your customers better (and being understanding that accidents happen), would go a long way to create loyal customers...... read more

Amateur hour in the caffeine department. Bitter espresso and tasteless iced tea (not brewed long enough and no lemon). Gave it any stars only for pleasant atmosphere. read more

Don't do it unless it's your last resort. I've tried and tried and only kept going back because it was handy and the drinks consistent. Now that's no longer the case. There are only two employees ( tall guy and blond gal, who recently returned to the area) that have been frriendly and make good drinks but I haven't seen them for a while. The gal with the long dark hair must have a bad day everyday. I wish I could buy the place just to take great joy in firing her. RUDE RUDE RUDE AND A TERRIBLE ATTITUDE. She really needs to quit. I used to want to leave as soon as she aproached the drive thru window but thought it would be rude. What was I thinking? Rude? She wrote the book. I truly hope the owners do something about this place. read more

This used to be just an occasional neighborhood stop, always decent but never did I have any desire to return. However, since they have hired their new barista, Max, that has all changed. I really believe he has changed the whole dynamic of the store. He takes the time with every single person that walks in, making sure that they feel way more than just a customer. No matter how big the line is, he never makes you feel rushed or that you are taking too much of their time. I've seen him greet people by name, by their regular drink, etc. He has definitely turned this place from a so-so experience to looking forward to getting my coffee from here every day! Great choice to the owners for hiring him! Take my advice, don't waist your time coming in here if he isn't working, it wont be worth it. read more

My 1-year old and I met a friend and her 2-year old at Firehouse this afternoon and had a great time. It's hard to spend 2 hours anywhere with two toddler boys, but we got ourselves some sandwiches and sat at one of the tables in the playroom and talked while the boys played. We all really enjoyed it. The playroom is well stocked with toys and is nice and bright with lots of windows. Very comfy. And it has a closing door-- a real plus so that you don't have to constantly chase the kids out into the main area, and so that they're not bothering any of the people in the main part of the cafe trying to work. The only thing I'd change is to add more food/lunch options. There was a very nice selection of pastries and coffee drinks and a couple of pre-made sandwiches that they warmed up in a panini press. There aren't many options for places where you can actually sit for some food and/or coffee and also keep the little ones occupied and happy. I will definitely be back! read more

The best blended mochas ever! I am seriously in love with them! The staff is also super friendly and the drive through is perfect for a quick stop! read more

Great baristas, amazing coffee, good atmosphere, great music selection, and has a kid friendly playroom in the back.

Super friendly staff and quality coffee and tea. The baristas went out of their way to find a specific tea for my husband. Cozy atmosphere too! read more

Terrible service and wifi "does not work all the time" as one of the employees told us. We asked him to try and reset the router and he said "It will just go out again, our internet is just like that"...Okay! read more

good coffee, good chicken ceaser wrap, but i think the two college girls behind the counter were quite possibily the snobbiest i have encountered in my 2 weeks here. someone new will probably take that title from them tonight... now i know that i have an accent and most "enlightened" people from seattle probably assume that i am an uneducated hill-billy, could you at least smile back when i smile at you? even if it is only because you are laughing at me on the inside? read more

Great little coffee shop in Ballard! Located right next to a Gymboree play center, so ideal to take the kiddies before or after a play session. They have a proper kids area seperate to the main cafe too, which makes it nice for the families & those who are looking for a quiet cuppa. The kids area is full of toys, books, puzzles, tables, highchairs and comfy chairs; so it's possible to have a meal in there or just sit in a cozy chair with a nice coffee while your child happily plays. The toys are a bit on the dirty side, but tell me what public play area dosen't have toys that are a bit sticky? They have full size changing tables too, which is nice instead of those flemzy fold down plastic ones. The coffee is quite pricey; I got a small (think smaller than a Starbucks tall) soy mocha and it was like $6 including a tip. A nice perk is with a purchase you are entitled to use their desktop free of charge! So Mom's & Dad's make a day of it, hit the Ballard locks right down the street, go for a session a gymboree, then unwind at Firehouse with a coffee while the little ones play....it's a great little outing in a fun neighborhood! read more

Tina and Emily are the best. When I don't have the brainpower to make pre-coffee decisions, they do it for me and they never steer me wrong. Without these two, I'd probably still be lost in last Monday's uncaffeinated fog. read more

This place is awful! The staff is rude and extremely slow. The coffee either tastes bad or is cold! The management needs to step up and train their staff customer service and how to move quick. I tried this place 3 times to be fare and all 3 times were not worth it! Dont waste you $$$ read more

Love, love, love the coffee, atmosphere, and the quality people that work here now (Emily and Max in the morning). They know what you drink if you're a regular and are greeted with a warm smile and wonderful attitude! The veggie breakfast sandwich is great! Basil pesto! YUM! read more

I come here because its close to my house. The coffee is only ok, the staff is nice, and the service is quick. I wish it served better coffee, but lets take it for what it is: a better-than-most drive thru coffee place. read more

I really enjoy Firehouse. I haven't stayed to drink my coffee, as I am normally on my way to work, but it looks comfy. It is also located perfectly on my drive to work, so that is great. The coffee is good and the staff are friendly. I recommend. read more

Update: current owner contacted me to try and resolve the card issue. Unfortunately, even though the card is clearly for Firehouse Coffee, it does not register in their system somehow, so I'm still out of luck, but I appreciate the attempt to try and resolve it. So I will change to 3 stars and maybe try them again next time I go to the Quilt Loft next door. read more

I love that it's low-key, it's neither pretentious nor run-down, and it's just plain comfortable. The coffee is usually pretty good, and they are very accomodating of the small crowd. It's nice to be able to enjoy a cuppa, get some apple juice and string cheese for the kid, and have a nice, safe play area for her read more

I visited Firehouse Coffee today for the first time because I wanted to see what their play area was like. The vanilla latte was great, the muffin I had was cold and dry, the play area was nice, but the staff wasn't very friendly (borderline rude). I know everyone has an off day, but other reviews on Yelp seem to indicate that their staff is known to be rude. If you can get past mediocre pastries and unfriendly staff, it's a nice place to let your toddler play while you enjoy a cup of coffee. read more

Simply put, this cafe is a dump. The baristas are too preoccupied talking to each other to ring up orders or make coffee. When breaking from their socializing to serve a customer they can barely veil their indignation. Cafe Vita is a great coffee when you prepare it properly. Sadly, theirs is overdone and burnt...tastes like Folgers and costs ten times as much. read more

Their customer service is just great. One girl who works there is always giving me my coffee with latte art, you just don't see that everyday. To boot they have a nice interior with a Kids room. Their drip is not the best but those people know how to make a flavored espresso drink alright! I'm just a big fan of the attitude of young women who work there, they are a really friendly group of girls and make me feel like a regular every time I go, though I only make it there twice a week or so. Keep up the good work! read more

I'm not typically one to go to a coffee house, but I definitely recommend checking this one out if you're in the area. Great coffee, great atmosphere, great staff. I never know what to order at these kinds of places, and usually my indecisiveness is met with impatience- but not here. The lovely man working there was more than happy to give me recommendations based on my tastes, and what he (I think his name was max?) suggest was absolutely scrumptious. Plus, they're vegetarian friendly! read more