Discovery Espresso is the definition of "good"--not great, but it gets the job done. It's a solid…read morespot if you need a quick caffeine fix before hitting the Loop Trail at Discovery Park, but don't expect a curated boutique experience. The coffee is decent and the muffins, while likely store-bought, at least taste fresh. The barista was friendly and polite, which goes a long way. The main downside is the interior. There is none. It's incredibly cramped, and there are boxes of supplies stacked everywhere, which makes it feel pretty cluttered. Honestly, they'd probably be better off converting the front door into a walk-up window, as there's essentially zero room to move around inside. Bottom line: Great for a grab-and-go on your way to the park, but not somewhere you'd want to hang out.

There is nowhere to sit inside (the business is very small), and there are only a few tables to sit…read moreout front. I only got the chai latte, which wasn't good. The staff was friendly. It is in a good location if you are going to discovery park, but I'd only recommend going if you are in desperate need of caffeine.

Try it. You won't regret it. As someone who lives in Ballard and has tried about 4 other coffee…read moreshops with in walking distance of this coffee shop-- this IS the best coffee in Ballard. No pun intended as their building says "probably best coffee in Ballard".... IT IS. It took me a while to try this as they are a little farther walking distance for me and they close at 4 :/.... But...... SO worth it. I've had the Vienna latte - iced and hot Salted caramel latte - iced and hot I'm an avid coffee drinker with out the flavors as well. I can tell they have a quality coffee. I haven't tried the pastries as I'm honestly not a fan of pasties sitting out and exposed to the air, but they look delicious.

Since Cafe Besalu closed I needed a good alternative. Venture coffee had solid coffee but didn't…read morehave a good spread of pastries. When I come to Seattle it's still my go to. And now, looks like they've beefed up their pastry selection. I tried the ham and cheese croissant, almond croissant and chocolate banana bread - all solid. Staff are friendly. I never really had to wait long. Sometimes they leave the front door open - can be chilly if you want to hang around. In Summer they roll up the windows and it gets amazing light in the morning. Love the ambience. The waiting area for coffee is kinda weird - crowding the people sitting down. But like I said, short wait times.

Cute ambiance and decor for sure. I thought they would have used Mexico beans at this cafe but it…read moreseems they just use regular beans/blends. Was hoping they might have some good beans for sale. Got the orange mocha which was tasty. They use Mexican hot chocolate in it. I also was hoping there would be more Mexican pastries available but majority of their pastry case were just regular scones/pastries and just had one type of conchas. When I looked at images in the past, it looked like they had a few more regional options.

First time visiting The wait was a bit long since there was only one cashier taking orders and one…read morebarista making all the drinks. That said, the staff were very friendly and patient in answering my questions I ordered a latte with Mexican caramel syrup , which ended up being a bit too sweet for my taste. The coffee itself wasn't bitter or burnt, though, so I'd definitely try other coffee drinks next time Seating can be a little tricky--there aren't many tables, and during my visit one person was occupying a four-person table while working on a laptop

I was really blown away by the selection of teas that they have here. They have a book with their…read moreselection near the cashier for you to browse. I was overwhelmed with their options and had trouble picking one as so many sounded so delicious. There is truly a tea for everyone's taste buds. Upon entering they have some of their teas that they sell on display for you to sniff. They also have samples as well for people to try. Staff were very kind and the service was very quick considering how many people were in line. I tried one of their white teas and it was delicious. I'm not a tea connoisseur but you could really taste all of the flavors in the description of the tea. It was very light. I definitely want to come back to try other teas. I really like the ambiance/design of the place. There are many seats for people to study and/or hang out. It was super busy on a Saturday though and we barely were able to get a seat inside. Luckily we were though, because enjoying the tea in their space was lovely.

This is a really nice and popular spot in Ballard! I came on a rainy day and it was packed - we…read morealmost didn't find a seat and were about to leave but got lucky last minute. I got the seasonal kinako matcha with soy milk - the drink was pricey at over $10, but that's almost the standard nowadays. I really like the kinako flavor though I didn't really taste the matcha itself. They also have tea samples which I really liked too. A good spot to chill and work at if not too busy!

Are you looking for a coffee shop that makes you feel like you're in a spaceship? I know... a…read morepretty niche category, but this coffee shop is exactly that! Coffee was perfect temperature right off the bat, no scorching drinks here. Coffee was great, just the right amount of sweetness to coffee bitterness ratio. Comfortable seating, lots of chair space, and one couch. It is a small place, but there is lots of sci-fi character. And the staff were super nice.

We stopped by The Outer Rim around 11 am on a Saturday. It was incredibly busy, and most of the…read morepastries were already sold out. The decorations are super creative, fun sci-fi theme. Their specialty drink menu is fantastic. I'm usually hesitant to order heavily flavored lattes because I worry they'll be overly sweet and mask the actual espresso (almost like a dessert or boba drink). However, that wasn't the case here at all. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the quality of the coffee really shined through. We ordered: * Ceti Alpha 5: A lovely lavender and honey latte. * Romulan Cloaking Device: A toasted marshmallow and hazelnut latte. Highly recommend for both the fun atmosphere and the genuinely great coffee!

I come here nearly every day with my dad as part of our morning routine, and let me say I can't…read morethink of a better place to start your mornings than here. The staff is very helpful and kind. We always get our drinks pretty quick. I sit here sipping a mocha with a breakfast burrito, watching the roasting machine make some delicious looking coffee beans. In the morning, it's genuinely packed but not too loud. Given the opportunity, I could sit here for hours. Side note: Appassionato is also across from the fisherman's terminal so on sunny days it can be nice to park or walk across and sit with views of the water.

Coffee was great but baked stuff weren't good. The location is nice too and I'll return for coffee…read moreonly

Cute pastry shop with good coffee/matcha/special drinks selection…read more Such a wide array of savory and sweet pastries, as well as sandwiches. No indoor seating area, but a few outside. Overall quick service and fresh, will definitely come back

For Seattle, I think this may be the best bakery I've ever had French pastries from -- or at least…read moreit's right up there with the the French Guys in Capitol Hill. From the moment I walked in, every single item in the display looked absolutely delectable. It was honestly difficult not to buy one of everything. I ended up choosing two pastries, and they were incredible -- fresh, beautifully made, and full of flavor. You can truly taste the quality and craftsmanship. I highly recommend this bakery to anyone who loves authentic, high-quality French pastries. There is a small amount of seating outside, but the location is designed more for take out.

Love this little coffee shop! The folks behind the counter are so friendly every time I go. There…read moreare lots of tables. Though it is very popular, I've always been able to find a place to sit while I have coffee and a piece of rich, nutty harvest bread. The coffee is delicious, and they always have an intriguing special drink I can discover. Really great vibes. Highly recommended!

Dan, the business owner, was helpful and communicative in providing a refund. Thank you, Dan.read more

I love this place! The coffee is delightful and they clearly care a lot about what they make you…read more Everyone here is so nice, even the customers. It is also a nut free cafe! Great music, cute interior - I think this just became my new go to place in Ballard! No WiFi and food is small pastry items if that's important to you.

Stopped in here before the Ballard Farmer's Market. I grabbed an iced vanilla latte with oat milk…read more It was good! The shop itself is really nice too. They have beautiful ceramics for sale. Whole place just has good energy. I'd recommend grabbing a drink here then stroll around the farmer's market. Ballard's got a lot of fun shops and the market is always a good time. This was my first time here but definitely won't be my last!

Everything you'd want in a museum cafe. Definitely had Scandinavian flair. We opted for the Pork…read moreTenderloin smørrebrød and the Salmom Gravlax. I was thinking I would prefer the salmon but hubs and I shared both. The Salmon Gravlax had creamy dill as a base, topped with pickled red onion & dill. Very tasty, very satisfying. Hubs was enjoying the pork, and once I tried it, I could see why. The horseradish aioli was the exact combination with the pork tenderloin. I think it was our favorite of the two. This was a great option after visiting the museum. Very enjoyable morning!!

An amazing cafe right inside the entrance to the Nordic museum (no admission necessary)! They serve…read moreunique Scandinavian food like smørrebrød and pickled herring alongside staples like avocado toast and drip coffee. I LOVED my Stockholm steam (black tea with cardamom syrup, nutmeg, and steamed milk). Comfort in a cup. The star of the show was the Rømmegrøt, a Norwegian sour cream porridge. It tasted very rich, creamy, sweet and just slightly tangy with a velvety smooth texture. The generous toppings balanced it out perfectly and it was served in a beautiful Fortessa bowl. The presentation elevated the deliciousness. The staff also cleaned up a broken plate knocked down by a little girl and handled the situation with kindness and grace. Freya reminds me of the cafe Off the Rez at the Burke museum: a beautiful tribute to the museum's heritage and a way for visitors to experience its culture.