By far this is the best coffee in Seattle! Scott is a brilliant roaster and the barista's are passionate about their love of coffee. They offer cuppings to teach you about different varietals as well as to help you understand what your palette is discovering with each sip. To top it off, all of their roasts taste absolutely amazing! I reccomend them highly if you want a smooth cappuccino or are looking for the best espresso to serve in your own shop. read more

Excellent coffee and authentic espresso. Great beans roasted on the premises. Good, friendly service. Nice atmosphere and the wall art rotates every month or so showcasing local talent. The pastries are OK but not great, especially when compared to Fresh Flour's, just down the street. read more

Excellent coffee and atmosphere, nice employees. It's my go-to coffee spot when I don't need a wifi connection. Lots of cozy spots by the windows, it is a pleasant retro vibe reading the news on paper while its raining outside. Just make sure and buy a paper first. Because the internet is spotty there, ie you will need something to read. As in a thing with pages and words written on it. Because you won't be able to read the news on your device, unless you have a data connection. For example, if you don't need a wireless internet connection you'll be fine. But if you need to access the internet for work on your laptop, you wont' be able to get anything done, because the wifi connection is poor. I guess if you go with friends and you will be talking and not using the internet I would give it 5 stars. read more

I guess the place used to be cash only, which would be fine, but now they also take credit cards, though one is charged a flat fee of 30 cents (or so) per transaction. Really? This fee schedule is kind of punitive. Why not charge the 3% or so credit card company fee straight to the customer... which in a coffee shop with many small transactions would more typically be half the fee Herkimer is currently charging. Or go with a minimum purchase to loose the fee, etc. etc. The current model has a "gouging" feel to it. Not nice in a place where community naturally wants to coalesce. Otherwise the coffee is good and the atmosphere is fine. A change to the credit card fee policy and this place might then have something going! read more

Really nice vibe. Surf photos on the wall, decent coffee. Since I really enjoy the ambience and lack of a crowd, I'll be back.

You must be doing pretty well in your business when you can tell someone who routinely drops $5 to $10 per day in your coffee house that she's no longer welcome. The crime? Her 4-year-old daughter dared to make eye contact (and apparently a silly face) with one of the stony wifiers who hunch along the walls nursing their 8-hour-cups and glowering at the fools who dare trod their sanctified tile too loudly or who speak above a library whisper. And apparently she's not alone -- I've since talked to other parents who have been made to feel unwelcome, unworthy and unwashed -- and they've also decided to take their business elsewhere. The owner is free to create any kind of atmosphere he wants, and there is a sign warning of loud kids -- but the sign should say, "If you have children, I don't need them or your dollars." Nobody likes an obnoxious brat, but I'd rather have a kid laughing next to me than some overwrought day trader making me feel like I'm drinking coffee in his office. I became a Herkimer customer because I wanted to support an independent coffee shop rather than the Starbuck's down the road. It's decent coffee and the baristas are good, but in Seattle decent coffee and good baristas are a dime a dozen. An owner who appreciates loyal customers is a little more rare. read more

Best coffee in Phinney. The coffee is roasted right on site and they bring in great fresh pasteries. Nice ambience, with great baristas and a laid back vibe. Oh, and they are no longer cash only. :) read more

Great coffee, great staff (Chad!), and a good place to hang out ready the paper, get some work done or just visit with a friend. We've been enjoying this Herky since it opened in 2003 and are looking forward to the next 10 years to. Thanks guys! read more

Most of the customers here are regulars and I'm sure they're treated better than the less frequent visitors. The coffee is very good, and we're talking Seattle standards. The location is great, on lively and interesting Greenwood Avenue. The baked goods are mediocre, which is the case in many places. But the service is the worst. The baristas are snooty, condescending, unwelcoming to new people and are apparently never wrong. We got the wrong coffees which we didn't realize until I had paid and started to drink. When we took them back up to the counter she said "It'll be about 10 minutes." For her to correct her mistake she expected us to wait in line again. Obviously she thought we didn't know how to order and had done it incorrectly, even though she was working alone on a busy day and taking about 6 orders at once before she made them. Although I end up here about once a month, the service is always lacking, unless you're a regular, then you get all smiles and good service. read more

Love Herkimer. We are there almost daily. Intelligent, kind baristas who are helpful and want to get your order right. Great suggestions on beans if you let them know what you're looking for. Nice pastry selection. Very interesting changing art exhibits and good music. Just a lovely spot. read more

As others have said, Herkimer consistently has great coffee, friendly staff, and a good atmosphere. There is plenty of space to hang out with friends and catch up, or break out the laptop and get some work done, or just drink your coffee peacefully. Good afternoon sun, especially nice to sit at the window on a crisp, sunny day and stay warm. I think the reviewers who had bad experiences may have just come on the wrong day or something -- I've always enjoyed my experiences. read more

We were new customers and were not treated well. Employees smug & not helpful.

love love love this place. the only things they could do better in my book are be open later and have a better snack selection. oh and its cash only and i never have cash... that said everyone is really nice, there is great art to look at, the tea is good the wifi is free the customers are happy local greenwood/phinney folk. Its a great spot. read more

Consistently good coffee, clean place, friendly service, fair prices, decent art on the walls. Nothing not to like.

A light-filled place where the coffee and teas are good and fairly priced. Such a difference from Chocolati up the street where the prices are inflated, the staff SLOW and unfriendly (except when they try to strong arm you to buy some overpriced candy), and where the dark walls are covered with "artwork" displaying blood and dismemberment. And this from a place that tries to draw in families with a "kid-friendly menu". (Only if you hated your kid would you go to Chocolati.) I'd never worry about taking my daughter to Herkimer. This is a lovely place that helps make Greenwood a good neighborhood to live in. read more

This coffee shop hits all the right notes: The coffee is amazing, the baristas are pleasant, and the place itself is perfect for getting some work done or just lazing around over your coffee. read more

After giving Herkimer 5 stars in an earlier review, I'm sorry to downsize it down to 3. They have changed their "favor profile," sadly, and the coffee just doesn't taste as good. They used to make a rich latte, with a 3-dimensional finish of carmel, chocolate and other amazing notes. The coffee is flatter now, with a dead finish. Why did they mess with a good thing? read more

Would have given this place 4-5 stars if only they get a bit creative with their lattes. For instance, honey lavender for spring/summer season flavor or coconut flavored latte for the summer rather than the typical vanilla, almond, etc flavors. Pricing is reasonable, cheaper than Starbucks for certain. read more

Great coffee but the snottiest baristas in town. I see them talk to some people, maybe the regulars, but to an irregular like me they simply look with raised eyebrows at which point you tell them what you'd like to order. Hey, you don't have to be my BFF but I do expect to be greeted and asked what I might like. Coffee is equally good at 72nd street cafe at Green Lake and way better service and the baristas at Starbucks on Phinney are the best. read more

Vivace has been my favorite for 20 years... until I had Herkimer Coffee on Phinney Ridge. Both the drip and espresso roasted beans are unbelievably excellent. Even better than Vicace...and if you've had Vivace, you know that's saying a lot. I even had a cappuccino there and it was as good as any I've had in Italy. read more

Love the de-lish coffee with only a semi-hipster vibe. I wouldn't mind cushioned seating, but I suppose they need to have an incentive to move people along without them getting overly comfortable. read more

Reasons: Bad Coffee, Rude Baristas, Unfriendly atmostphere, LOUD music, CASH Only. Going to coffee shops are one of my favorite things to do if I need to get some work done. It helps me focus and I love sipping on a coffee while trying to be productive. I've been to this particular coffee shop 4 times total and each time I had a negative experience. In general, they only take cash, which in this day and age, who always has cash on them? The first couple times I went there I got tea. But the fourth time, I ordered coffee. The baristas were very unfriendly and when I had to repeat myself 3 times because the music was so loud when I was ordering - the barista huffed because I repeated myself again to make sure they understood what I said. It didn't taste like any vanilla non-fat latte with extra foam I've ever had. It tasted burnt and was so gross I couldn't have more than a sip of it. I was asked to leave that day because 'I was doing "business" there and if I was going to act as if this was an office - should not come back'. Yes, I was there for quite a bit, but I bought my coffee and pastry and had someone meet me there who dropped off a file to me (who also bought a coffee). Then I had my husband and my brother stopped in and bought coffee as well and sat down to visit with me for a bit. I'm sorry- isn't a coffee shop for visiting with people? Each person who came in to see me is an extra coffee that was bought that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten business from. Don't people have work meetings there all the time? What is everyone else doing on there laptops there? I was so offended they asked me to leave - but its not the reason I decided to not come back. After the fourth try there and the coffee tasted so horrible and the unfriendly baristas, I won't be back. read more

Delightful people, Delicious coffee. Really its top notch. Only downfall is its cash only but a small price to pay for that delicious americano! read more

Great beans. Great coffee. Roast they're own beans and sell them there. Won't use anything else for my home espresso machine anymore.

YUMMMMMMMMMM! What a great selection of beans! Please keep up the great work guys, and gals. You make great coffee, and have a well trained staff! read more

as a general rule - the more F'd up the furniture in a coffee shop - the better the coffee is going to be. banged up tables = good americanos. shiny metal 'cafe' furniture = mediocre joe. or at least that's the rudimentary equation i'm working on right now. it may require that i take the square root of the banged up tables and multiply it by the number of shots in the americano in order to get it just right. anyhow...when i wander into a coffee shop that actually has matching chairs, and tables that haven't been hauled in from a school district salvage yard - i'm generally skeptical. herkimer is a pretty tidy ship. but despite the decor (and actually it's fairly well done) the coffee is generally good, and the baristas are pretty friendly folk. it tends to be a jogging-stroller parking lot during the week - but really, unless you're unemployed or writing bad poetry - why would you be in a coffee shop during the middle of the week? overall - a good joint. read more

got a drip coffee fo $2! pretty cheap compared to some of the fancy coffee places. the atmosphere was calm, the barista was very sweet and the coffee was good. great place to study! definitely going to go back. read more

if you are into coffee, this is your place....no other products really (no chai, sandwiches, blended drinks or any other crap), it's just about the coffee. roasted on site (see roaster for a tour or cupping). baked goods from upper crust bakery are very good too. read more

I adore Herkimer. I live close by and go there often. I'm feeling like constructive criticism might help out a little, however. Here goes: I don't have a problem with the cash only policy (hell, sometimes they just say "get us back next time"!) but I do wish they had chai since its all my BF drinks and so while Herk is my fav place to chill out for a half hour and read or talk, he hasn't much reason to come with me. Sometimes he'll go into Vita and I go into Herk but that's just a pain (I'll always choose Herk coffee over Vita!) I assume they just don't want to have too many options beyond coffee and look clutterly which I do appreciate. I like clean coffee counters and simple menus too, but I don't think adding chai would ruin their asthetic. More importantly, though, is that I feel I get weak shots a little too often. Maybe its when they're busy but I often feel like my tiny americanos are not very strong. This happens across the coffee map, of course, but I wish it didn't happen so frequently at Herkimer. There really are coffee shops that pull great shots EVERY SINGLE TIME, so I know it can be done. Herkimer is definitely top notch most of the time, and their espresso has amazing flavor. Definitely buy their beans too. read more

great, neighborhood coffee shop with an awesomely friendly staff and good music. the space is large, west-facing with lots of light (meaning it is great on sleepy days, but a little hot in summer afternoons). the interior also has a great consistent look, and features lots of tables + power outlets, making it easy to hang out and work here. easily the best coffee shop in phinney. read more