Taking in Tangletown at Zoka in Seattle, Washington
Many paths cross one another in Tangletown. University students and aging hippies rub elbows with young parents and perambulators. Writers and designers cut from a singular cloth find refuge. Street piles upon street. The fulcrum around which much of this revolves is Zoka's flagship store. Stepping inside reveals a cross-section of Tangletown humanity. Term papers fly off fingers onto laptops. Conversations buzz through the air, permeated with the steam wafting off freshly pulled shots. Burrs gnaw through coffee beans. Milk hisses beneath the steam wand. Cultural posters cover a worn-in wall. Baristas craft beverages. Despite the throng, with drink in hand, it is still possible to carve out a niche for oneself.
Many paths cross one another in Tangletown. University students and aging hippies rub elbows with young parents and perambulators. Writers and designers cut from a singular cloth find refuge. Street piles upon street. The fulcrum around which much of this revolves is Zoka's flagship store. Stepping inside reveals a cross-section of Tangletown humanity. Term papers fly off fingers onto laptops. Conversations buzz through the air, permeated with the steam wafting off freshly pulled shots. Burrs gnaw through coffee beans. Milk hisses beneath the steam wand. Cultural posters cover a worn-in wall. Baristas craft beverages. Despite the throng, with drink in hand, it is still possible to carve out a niche for oneself.
If you could take just one photo:
Sunlight streaming through the windows.
Out of the many choices one has to "get a coffee" with someone, I always return to Cafe Zoka. Conveniently located on the busline, or within walking distance if you happen to live in Fre-Lard, meeting a new friend or an old one is best done here. The single floor is accommodatingly large, with huge windows to let in natural light that cheers everyone who enters. You can grab one of the many tables - or one of the few sofas if you're lucky enough - then look up to see the exposed wooden beams on the ceiling complete the country setting. Most patrons are typically studying or working on laptops: quiet enough so you can actually hear your own conversations. And of course there's espresso, or french press, or even a pot of tea should you be so bold. Hopefully the roasted-right -in-back coffee gives you enough energy to keep your side of the conversation flowing.
It's autumn everybody! It's time for PUMPKIN LATTES! Don't you just want one!? Need one!? There are signs all over Seattle, billboards even, pushing the latest must-have beverage. Orange leaves and pumpkin spice will soon be replaced by spray-on frost and gingerbread syrups. Foamed eggnog in your cappuccino. White chocolate raspberry flavoring around valentines day. Question: Where can a girl go to escape the seasonal peer pressure!? I just want my coffee, pure and strong. Answer: Cafe Zoka in Greenlake. Award winning baristas. Each drink served with exactly 19 grams of espresso. A clean, open space with leather armchairs for reading, small square tables for working. Accessible outlets. And most importantly, strong, rich espresso, served straight up. No frills. Exactly what you need and nothing more.
“Affordable art” is no longer an oxymoron—at least if you’re at Seattle’s Zoka coffee shop, it isn’t. Order a latte or cappuccino at its flagship Greenlake store, and you’ll be rewarded with a mug of one-of-a-kind—albeit ephemeral—modern art, not to mention a seat at one of Seattle’s best people-watching venues. Say hello to latte art—the intricate, swirling designs café baristas create with milk, espresso, and lots of practice. Sure, you won’t be able to hang it on your walls at home, but where else can you sip a work of art while simultaneously boosting your calcium levels?
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