Canal Street Coffee

Canal Street Coffee is now closed and the number is disconnected, so this review is more of an obit.
Canal Street Coffee, you were my first experience of Seattle, my adopted home. I fell in love with Fremont because of the canal, and then I fell in love with Canal Street Coffee because it was Fremont.
You were like me, a little strange at first (cash only, mishmash furniture, homemade banana bread). But you were comfortable and off the beaten track. Ironically, as you were on the Burke Gilman trail. I knew you had other customers, but I always felt like I was the only one who knew you existed.
I will always have my memories of the only coffee shop I ever knew with a fence, and the only coffee shop with that lovely view of our happy waterway.
You leave behind many sad customers and one John Crosby, a clever Fremonster who I wish all the best.

16 oz — Iced quad Americano from Canal Street Coffee will get your day going!

This is the most laid back, homely, comfortable café I know of in Seattle. It has none of the pretentions of most coffee shops here, nothing is ritzy or trying to be classy. If you’re a coffee connoisseur you’re better off elsewhere. But if you like a bowl of froot loops, a cup of tea and maybe a game of chess at their dedicated chess table, this is really the place to come. It’s quirky, comfy, and really really special.

Taking an afternoon break, sitting on the deck looking out at the water — all with a good cup of coffee — was worth the search for this small café. My friend ordered a hot cup of drip, that unfortunately, was luke warm. She didn’t seem to mind. My iced coffee was perfect.

Great spot to stop for coffee when you’re cycling along the Burke Gilman. I couldn’t find a wheelchair accessible entrance, so I guarded the bikes and my companion fetched my iced Americano. Quite tasty!
I’d rate them a 4 or 5 if I could get in, but for now I’ll leave it at a 3.

3 stars for the view. That’s about all I can offer.
Went in today for a soy chai tea. While they have soy, hemp. almond, and coconut milks, the soy is fat-​free, and gross. My drink was very disappointing.
The barrista, who I’m assuming is the owner, was pretty grumpy. It seemed like he couldn’t multitask, as while I was placing my drink order, someone else wanted their food reheated, and he seemed incapable of doing both, very flustered. Another worker appeared and started talking to him and they started arguing about something.
If I go back, it’s only for the view.

Not many coffee houses can boast a waterfront view.
Canal Street Coffee is off the beaten path in Fremont. Outside on the patio on a sunny day you’ll find the elusive antidote to city living –boats float by on the Fremont canal, trees sway in the breeze and puffs of dandelion drift in the air.
The Stumptown expresso on offer is enjoyable, but number of stars is attributable to location. This is not the best coffee in town. It’s good, not great. The service experience here is mixed, friendly mostly, and then other days, grumpy.
What Canal Street does exceptionally well is commune with nature. It’s beer garden meets café, with a boat parade thrown in for good measure.
Consider Canal Street Coffee your first stop on your trip to Haight Ashbury Northwest (my recommendation is visit in the summertime or on a sunny day, if possible. I know. I know. What are the odds? But trust me, this is the place to head on a sunny day.)
This is a good place to bring out of town friends to show them how quirky, fun and relaxing Seattle can be with its waterfront tugs and barges going by.

Crowded… chairs and tables thrown out
Music…Loud but nice selection
Don’t take cards… trying to make a statement by taking ANY paper currency :)
Coffee…tastes wonderful but overprice. I ordered a coffee in a mug and paid almost $ 5
I won’t be coming back here

Like a number of those who’ve posted I have driven or walked by this place sooo many times and thought that someday I should go in.
The upside; looks good from the outside, lots of windows, funky atmosphere (anti-​Starbucks), a pretty good latte, bitchin’ location and view of the ship canal, outdoor seating, handy to Burke-​Gilman trail.
The cons: cash & checks only, distressingly limited selection of food items, the owner/​barista is an interesting guy but he will talk your ear off especially about his liberal stance on politics and mistrust of the U.S. Govt., supplies stacked around the place in little bits here and there.
At one point the guy make a comment about having had some women baristas but they were all a disappointment. Hey this sounds like a screening/​training problem. A couple of perky baristas (male or female) would lighten up the atmosphere of the place.
I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t go here, but considering all the other coffee houses in Fremont why would you?

I had always seen this place while on the Burke-​Gilman, but never really got around to it. When Snowpocalypse 2012 hit, all the other Fremont coffee shops were jammed packed so I decided to trek to this establishment and check it out.
It was pretty casual. I was greeted by the barista at the gated entrance after he had spotted me wandering onto the street. It was about 2 hours after it was supposed to open, as (what looked to be) the first customer of the day. I ordered a drink, the barista did a little work in the back for a bit and then he plopped himself down on the comfiest couch available to take a nap.
Some more people shuffle in and out. The barista and I got talking after a bit. The place is adorned with things the barista picked up during his time in the railroad industry. Picked the barista’s brain a little and he has a great appreciation for history and flags (we talked about concessions made during the 2^nd Anglo-​Dutch War).
The work product was solid. The drip and cider I had were spot on for what I needed that day. The sitting area is drenched with natural light with sturdy furniture to pound away at work or couches to sit around and pass the time. The IOU policy for a cash only place is a nice touch. The music was eclectic. It’s a curious spot, sweet location on the canal, and excited to check this place when the sun is actually out.

This place is lacking a couple things that would make it my favorite place ever.
1.) Better coffee, or a better barista (I hate to even write that, because I love the dude who is THE barista, but its the truth. If im craving damn good espresso, I dont go here.
2.) Better munchables. I really think they should buy whole cakes from Simply Desserts, and sell them here. They’d sell out every day. Also, their cookies suck, and they dont have muffins or croissants.
The upsides to this place make it one of the best places to do school work or read a book on the deck with your dog, because they are super laid back and allow dogs on the deck.
*Did I mention I love the guy who is the barista? Love that guy.

This place is pretty heavenly.
I was there on one of our few-​and-​far-​between warm days a couple of weeks ago and with the doors & windows open and the ceiling fan on, it was the absolute perfect temperature. It’s light and bright, and would be great to hang out in on a stormy day as well. The deck is also huge with lots of umbrellas and a great view of the canal.
The coffee was great, and drip is affordable with 50 cent refills.
They have Mike’s East Coast Sandwiches and some donuts/​cookies/​sweet things.
Warning: they are cash only! They say they also accept IOUs, but not sure what the exact policy on that is???
Free wifi, but be forewarned if you’re not familiar with the area: parking can be a pain in the ass.

Love this place. There’s a lot of natural light and wood floors. John owns the place, and makes all the drinks to boot. You can pick his brain about anything.
Coffee: It’s good. It’s affordable. Refills of drip on anything 50cents.
Perks: Deck, $ 2 hale’s, comfy couches, tables, view of the canal, 25cent donuts, quality wifi.
Quirks: Accepts all current currency, different flag flying everyday, eclectic mishmash of tunes.
Keep in mind there’s not a lot of food and its cash only.
Hours are 8am-​7pm (M-​F) and 9am-​7pm (Sa-​Sun).

Great location, quiet street, relaxing views. Vast patio but limited indoor seating, none of which really keeps you from the breezy outdoors, so bring a sweater on a cooler day. The coffee’s pretty decent and the owner’s chatty, which can hold up the line when he really gets going. I wish there were more veg-​friendly food options; I was basically stuck between donut and banana bread. They are cash only but also accept any foreign currency and IOU’s. Cute!

I worked from Canal Street Coffee in the afternoon a few days ago. They have one of the best decks in town for working — spacious, big sun umbrellas, good wireless. They used to have power strips running all along the decks but not any more (and hence I’m giving them only 4 stars). I bet some power-​tripping useless bureaucrat from the city told them that the power strips were safety hazards.
Anyway, they recently have started serving fresh hot sandwiches as we ll, which is a nice improvement. They also have bottled beers.
One important note is that they do not take credit cards, so make sure you have cash.

I love this place. Lots of space, great service, friendly owner and patio. What else could you wish for? Oh yea, wifi is really good too!

I love this gem of a coffee shop. Prime location, tucked away from the noise of the main street, right by the Burke Gilman trail.
As you look out at the water, transport yourself to a place of calm as the trees sway in the wind, while listening to the most eclectic mix of music I’ve heard yet — ranging from soul, blues, jazz, to rock, african, latin, eighties, pop, classical, hip hop, motown, and alternative. If you do not find something you like here then I can’t help you. This coffee shop is going for a global feel with the acceptance of multitude currencies, a map of flags, world atlas, and a definite global music selection.
Talk to the owner, John Crosby, who’s not only friendly but full of historical tidbits. Get your education for the day and keep sipping on the local Seattle brews — Red Menace, Hale’s Pale Ale or Red Moose IPA. Cheapest happy hour around at $ 2.20 a bottle and honestly, the atmosphere is tops. It’s past 6pm right now and I’m loving that my friends and I are the only ones here. I can write, be creative, chat, reflect, and not be distracted by other people’s noise.
There are four tables and some comfy couches and recliners, and a lot of outdoor seating. I’m thinking for a more intimate, non-​bar happy hour scene, you could bring your friends over and have a great time.
I am a huge fan. I will gladly walk the half hour to this joint often.
Oh — cash only BUT, remember, they accept all sorts of foreign currency, Kenyan shillings included! Woohoo.
Everything is alright while I’m here. My mood is lifted and my thoughts come together.

Coffee is decent but if you want something tasty to go with the coffee you’re out of luck. Dry pre-​made sandwiches, most of which are not vegetarian and some old dry pastry’s might be what you’re in for.
Plus side, nice view, and dog friendly. Not sure that’s reason enough to go though.

Canal Street Coffee is my favorite little coffee shop to hit up when I need to get out of the u-​district. The coffee is great, the chai is even better and they have good beer for $ 2/​bottle.
The view out onto the shipping canal is incredibly pleasant even in the cloudy grey that is Seattle winter. The chairs and couches are perfect for making you feel at home and the place has much more of a relaxed almost home away from home feel than just a place to go get a cup of joe.
Also, for whatever reason it’s usually not so crowded which makes it a great place to actually get work done.

Sipping Stumptown coffee while sitting outside.
Sitting outside on a patio while using free wi-​fi.
Using free wi-​fi under a patio umbrella on a warm, sunny Seattle afternoon while looking over the Fremont canal, through the thriving flowers growing tall in the mini-​garden in front of the patio.
And they have beer. And I already mentioned the Stumptown…
What more do you need to know to go?!