Monorail Espresso

Great coffee! Don’t go to Starbucks if you want a new and different delicious coffee. Burnt cream latte is phenomenal. The owner who’s an older gentleman is funny and so helpful and nice.

Th original coffee stand in Seattle? Are you kidding me? Ride a bike and get a discount? AND delicious, consistent expresso (is what the locals call it, I don’t know)? Monorail is a destination. There is a reason why you might spot a Legend in line. Where the pro’s go.

I’d been told by several people that this is the best coffee in Seattle. And there are a lot of coffee shops here! So I tried a large mocha with almond milk, and I added some extra sugar to it, because I am a sugar fiend.
It’s a small window counter, no seating, stand outside, and be forewarned it is CASH ONLY, which I hate, so to tell the honest truth I probably won’t return because of that. Having cash for my coffee is inconvenient, even though the coffee was great.
The mocha itself was wonderful, you can tell it’s real chocolate in there, rich and creamy. And a lovely foam on top that I couldn’t wait to lap up.
BUT… all things considered. I just do not foresee myself having to carry cash for this. More and more payments are going digital (square, venmo, paypal, etc.).

Someone recommended monorail expressi as a good coffee place during our stay in Seattle. We tried it the last day on our way out.
It was about 7am and dark out. The place was slightly hard to see as google maps for some reason tells you in H&M (??) but when we finally found it we parked about a block down.
The coffee was really good. Strong but tasted fresh and made quickly! I deducted a star just because it would have been much more convenient to take debit/​credit – none of us realized it was cash only and luckily we scrounged up enough to get three cups!

Five stars for sure. The lattes are smooth, silky, and made right in front of you. Most of this café’s charm comes from the counter-​style service in the middle of downtown.

Great little corner coffee shop, the first non-​starbucks coffee I had during my trip.

I don’t know what was better — the super fast service or the creamy mocha latte. Probably the latte because I went back a few times. My mocha latte was smooth, creamy, and addictive. Some say the service is slow, but I was in and out of there in about a minute.

EXTREMELY CUTE.
Didn’t want to come all the way to Seattle just to get a drink at Starbucks (unless it’s the first one, I get it!).
You order, your drink is made, and then you pay. Because of that, the line moves slow. But with the time, the owner really tries to connect with every customer that comes by!

Love love love this coffee! People are always awesome here too!!!

It’s true what they say… you can’t judge a book by its cover and I guess you can’t find a bad cup of coffee in Seattle ! Monorail expresso is true to its name, they are next to the entrance to the rail system at westlake and, their coffee is meant for people on the go. It’s a very small space and you order on the sidewalk at their walk up window. They did have one picnic table and a few small tables on sidewalk but it was raining and so obviously no one was sitting around. They nice lady at the window suggested I order their well known burnt Carmel latte. It was delicious ! A Well made cup of happiness on a gloom grey afternoon. I thought it tasted very close to a vanilla flavor latte. This place is Cash ONLY !

The Burnt Cream Latte was amazingly smooth and creamy. Hands down much better than any coffee offered by any of the chains in the area. A little off the beaten path but worth the effort to find. This is a cash only spot so be sure to swing by am ATM. Definitely worth it!

A must try for anyone in the area who enjoys a good coffee. I’m not a big coffee person but a friend and I stopped here and I had the iced mocha. I was pleasantly surprised and can say without a doubt it was the best iced coffee I have ever had, albeit my experiences are limited. It was good enough that I might have picked up a new habit.
Cash only and be prepared for a line.

Good cappuccino. Some places in Socal don’t know how to make a cappuccino vs. a latte so I was just happy with that.
Espresso itself was good but I’ve had better… intelligentsia and stumptown to name a new popular ones.
Wish there was a inside sitting area and wish I knew I could have asked for my coffee in a real mug.
Sitting outside was a bit awkward and chilly.
However, it’s located on your walk over from downtown to Pike’s Place so it’s a great way to grab a cup to go.
My friend enjoyed her Large white chocolate latte but didn’t think it was any better than what we’re used to back in La.

This is why you visit Seattle! We weren’t at all interested in going to Starbucks, can do that anytime.
The burnt crème latte was so smooth and perfectly balanced, no need to add anything. It was perfect after a long travel day!
Cash only.

By far one of my favorite latte I’ve tried in Seattle! Strong, bold, and delicious :) It definitely hit my coffee craving. They have few seats outside on Pike st if you want to chill and read the paper.
Baristas:
I realized the second time I visited it wasn’t the same because I had a different barista. If you’re looking for bold flavored latte then look for the blonde lady or the one with tattoos. The other lady is recommended if you like smooth and creamy.
Tip:
The place is small and it’s cash only! I think they sell the beans for $ 12/​lb.
Check out their sign. They list the price it’ll cost for directions to certain areas. Starbucks is listed as «priceless».
History:
They were the first in the world to sell coffee via the espresso cart from which a barista can make espresso. Basically the kogi truck of food truck. The cart is on display at Banana Republic).

I am so glad this gem exists downtown!
This is a CASH ONLY establishment — so be sure you come prepared! The line moves surprisingly fast, and the baristas are always very friendly.
But come on, you don’t go to a coffee place in Seattle for friendly baristas (they’re just a nice plus). You go for some damn good coffee. And if damn good coffee is what you’re after downtown, look no further than monorail.
To top it off, they have a lovely seating area on the sidewalk, complete with fresh flowers atop the tables. Love it!

I’ve been meaning to try Monorail for a while now, so I decided to pass up Starbucks on my way to work today.
To be honest, I have no idea what to order at these small shops. The menu is always very basic, doesn’t list any of their additional flavors, etc., so I tend to go with whatever is simplest on the menu. Today, I went with a white mocha (which I normally don’t choose, as most places make them too sweet).
I went up to pay and realized they were cash only… Which sucks, because I never carry cash. I should’ve checked their Unilocal page a little better! However, the barista waved it off and said it was fine, as they had already started making it.
The white mocha was soooo good. It was really creamy, and the coffee didn’t taste burnt or too strong. The white mocha was also really, really good. I expected it to be too sweet because I didn’t modify it at all, but it was perfect!
Only reason I give it a four is because they don’t have the best pastry selection, and the stuff that I was eyeing didn’t have any description or a tag to let me know what it is…
Definitely a cute little spot worth stopping at, though!

Yum! Perfect afternoon coffee spot. The staff is very friendly and helped suggests drinks that were sooo good!
I tried…
— toasted coconut latte w/​almond milk (highly recommend!!!)
— burnt cream latte w/​non-​fat milk (also delicious!)
The coffee shop is more of a shack and a stop on a nice stroll but there are is few outdoor seating.

Quick friendly service. Delicious Americano for me and latte for my mom. The thick slice of squash bread studded with walnuts and pepitas was delicious. Definitely worth a trip!

Monorail Espresso was on my list of must try coffee places during my last visit to Seattle. It was also my first cup of coffee upon arrival. It’s pretty much a small hole in the wall, no fuss, no frills, independent coffee shop. They sure know how to make good espresso, nice and smooth, just the way I like it.
Note: Cash only