Bluebeard has been a staple on 6th ave for as long as I've lived in Tacoma. The espresso is…read moreconsistently good and there's ample room to sit, but it does get busy enough that the place fills up with people hanging out and working on their laptops. The furniture and decor is definitely to my taste. They also roast and sell their own beans, which is cool. The owner is also really kind, which always helps set the tone for the entire experience.

With the likes of Starbuck's running the coffee world from every other street corner, it's…read morerefreshing to find a small place like Bluebeard in the mix. I know they've been hiding out on 6th avenue for quite a long time, but parking is a struggle most days and if you're in a hurry, this may not be the best place to stop. It's more of a local watering hole where the neighborhood folks congregate for their morning coffee and pastries but if you get the time and don't mind the parking situation, this cafe is worth the trip! Small batches of delicious roasted coffees paired with some scrumptious bakery items to enjoy while you relax in their large but cozy space. The staff is super friendly, and you can sit and people watch or make yourself a temporary workspace. They are perfect for the whole group or just the two of you. When we walked in, I felt like I had been teleported to Ballard or Greenwood up in Seattle. At least that's the vibe that I felt when we were there. It doesn't quite fit the Tacoma aesthetic but that's just one more thing that sets them apart from other Tacoma coffee shops. If you're in Tacoma, skip the big corporate coffer monger and go try something that you've never tried before. Bluebeard is a good place to start! Thanks for reading. Cheers!

The inside is bright and clean, not super big but very cozy. Benita the owner was very friendly…read morewhen I asked her for recommendations, and I'm so glad to follow her recommendation. Now let's talk about my drink - Cookie Butter Hojicha Latte (hot)! I'm a huge fan of hojicha, but I don't get it often as it's not as common as matcha. When I ordered, I was actually thinking about a cold drink, but I'm so glad I didn't mention cold or hot, because the hot version is the best hot drink I've had this year - creamy, subtly sweet, the nuttienss of cookie butter just works perfectly with the hojicha. The store also carries baked goods from 2 local bakeries (one is Lobo Bakery) in Tacoma, and all the baked goods are reasonably priced. I enjoyed the Black Sesame Sugar Miso Morning Bun - gently sweet, buttery and flaking, paired well with the hojicha.

Civic Roasters is a new coffee shop that has opened up in Tacoma and the two times I have been here…read morehave been great! On both visits I got their Hojicha Lattes. On our first occasion the latte was iced and on the second it was hot. Both versions of this drink were great! Hojicha is a roasted Japanese Green Tea just in case specifics are needed here. On the first time chef Jan Parker was also hear serving food from a small menu which made this coffee shop extremely busy! But on the second time when no additional activities or events were happening it was really chill and I was the only customer. Steve and I got baked goods too, a real Achilles Heel for us and they are very good. I believe if memory serves they come from El Lobo Bakery if we recall the signage correctly. So between the drinks and the baked goods Civic Roasters is a great addition to the Tacoma coffee shop scene.

Parking: limited parking lot; may need to park in the street…read more Experience: I was visiting the area and stopped in to pass time while i waited to meet a friend for dinner. Surprisingly cute venue and the service was impeccable! 5/5 Cardigan Latte, so delicious! I'll be sure to stop in the next time I'm in the area!

I stopped here on a recommendation from a friend. My cardamom latte was very solid! Good quality…read moreespresso with a nice balance of flavors. I always appreciate when a coffee shop serves drinks in real glasses/mugs, which they do here. The service was fast and the employee I spoke to was very nice. My only complaints are the parking lot and that, like most coffee places, it's a little expensive. The parking lot is truly miserable to park in. Super tight and precarious, and my car is a pretty averaged size SUV. You're better off street parking on the busy road it's on and walking. There's seating inside, but not tons. Limited options on a Friday morning that I went. Other than these (admittedly small) complaints, this is a nice coffee shop and I'd definitely stop by again next time I'm in the area. Always nice to support a local place over the big chains.

The cutest corner coffee shop!…read more Curran Coffee felt like a place straight out of a storybook. It was the coziest spot with the friendliest baristas! There was plenty of seating inside and out. You also get a nice view of the water just around the corner. A dream! I was recommend Magic Hour which was a former house special not currently on the menu. It featured notes of coconut and toffee- soooo yums!

Cute little corner coffee shop with a fun menu. I stopped by on a busy Saturday, but the line moved…read morequickly. The staff was super friendly and even made small talk despite the rush. I ordered the Limelight and it was so refreshing after a long walk along the water-bright, vibrant, and a great boost to keep me going. I wish I didn't already have lunch plans because the pastries look amazing. Expect me to be back whenever im in the area.

London fog was great. Barista was kind and patient. But the macrons are amazing. Their limited time…read morechurro macron was so tasty and had caramel filling on the inside. Try their sweets!

We moved to Lakewood mid-August, and I was so so happy to find out that I was 00.02 miles away from…read moreMorning Ale. I'm here pretty much at least once a week. Husband and I haven't gotten anything that was disappointing. Jason really knows how to make the perfect cup of coffee every time. They also have delicious concoctions of Lotus Energy Drinks. I often end up with two drinks: a coffee for now, and a Lotus for later. They also have wonderful treats like macarons, cake pops, breakfast burritos and sandwiches. They definitely got me hooked on the macarons! I wish I still had all my photos to post here. I post them on Instagram, but I keep forgetting to post on Yelp. Hahah. Anyways, overall, every drink is phenomenal.

Diversions Cafe is the coffee shop at the University of Puget Sound campus in the main student…read moreunion building. It was good to have this shop during my conference, which took place at the university, especially in between different sessions. Diversions Cafe primarily serves the students here - and I was impressed that they serve Caffe Vita coffee, which is my favorite coffee. When the coffee is this good, a drip coffee is all you need, which I drank a ton of during my conference. But they have a full coffee and espresso menu and they also have Lotus Elixir energy drinks here. The pastries are few, but there's something if you need to nibble. I like that there's plenty of space if you want to hang out with your coffee, which I imagine is perfect if you're a student. It's centrally located on campus too and opens early. I was glad to have this caffeinated option on campus during my time here.

I've only been there one time on a long walk with a friend, and was not disappointed! 5 stars!! I…read morewill make sure to go back there soon! The staff there was very delightful and nice, never rushed us, not crowded, and it was even during rush hour time too. I was kind of scared I was about to have a panic attack since usually that's the time I get overstimulated with the kids getting out of school and all the cars driving around like it's the horse races! But no! I am very pleased where they built the coffee restaurant where you don't stand out amongst the crowds, and when you leave, you're able to just leave kind of towards the back away from the chaos. 5 stars!! Everybody grab yourself some strong coffee there!!! You song regret it!!

I wish they still drew on the coffee lids :(…read more We ordered oat milk lattes and they tasted good and prepared quickly. I was bummed overhearing that the barista operating the register had recently had her hours cut. A bit of that seems to be going around in the country. I hope her situation improves!

Service not good. This place is very busy…read more Only one Barista there and looked exhausted. I was first time there, didn't know where is things and what. Barista seemed didn't care. My coffee tasted weak. Also the lid was loose :( it splashed all over my car seat :( Ambience - long line. I wish I liked there since it's convenient for me. I won't order there again.

Coffee was great. I got an iced caramel coffee with the sauce and whip. The espresso was perfect. I…read moretried this place for the first time and I normally get scared because I'm picky about my coffee, but im so happy I tried it. This is my new place !

I stop at this stand every week while coming back from Puyallup and any other time I am in that…read morearea. The baristas are friendly, and the vanilla chai is delicious. I also often get a muffin to go with my drink. I have been stopping there ever since they opened.