Trabant Coffee & Chai

Great coffee. Well pulled espresso shot and foamed milk. I had a latte and it was really smooth. They used some African beans and while it was a little sour, you could tell it was supposed to be, and it was very tasty (not like it was actually acidic).
The barista was also nice enough to show us and explain the process of doing a good pour over. Very fun to watch and interesting.

It seems they are in the midst of new ownership or something, but transitions aside, the coffee was awful. There wasn’t a menu anywhere so I went with a standard drip coffee, and it was the most bitter, sour cup I’ve had from a coffee house. The inside seemed so empty, bland, and soulless, but at least the baristas were cool.

Their website has a lot of delicious looking drinks, but unfortunately the baristas told me it is extremely out of date. They do not make any of those drinks anymore!
However they were super nice about it, and decided to craft us up something off-​menu similar to the item we had tried to get. Turned out to be quite interesting, a combination of lemonade and coffee. Their chai mocha was also really good!

Trabant coffee and chai was a bit of a surprise find for me… it likes like a quite small coffee shop which makes you wonder however your in Seattle so the local brew has got to be decent.
This place has its small coffee shop charm nothing fru fru just a small coffee bar with your espresso machine and a few coffee grinders. A small concise menu nothing overly confusing the drinks are all served as doubles and come in 8oz or 12oz.
I always look for the specials and of course on the board is The Fog Lifter… something I’ve never seen before when I asked the barista she told me that the drink was separated but it could be mixed into a macchiato or a latte… she said she wouldn’t be offended if I wanted it combined but I chose to take it as is a shot of espresso and a steamer. Together a great combo of flavors very complex separate your shot of espresso is so concentrated it’s very bitter at first taste but the more sips bring out a caramel earthiness. The earl grey steamer is just a nice sweetness and the flavor and brightness you love from earl grey. Either way a different coffee experience that only the master barista could develop

Very good coffee but we went here on a 90 degree day and the AC wasn’t on so it was miserably hot inside. A fan would have helped at least. I’d go back if the weather was nicer.

One of the best places to get high quality espresso-​drinks in all of Seattle. Cool, large open space with rotating art installations and plenty of places to sit. They really know their stuff here, so if you’re walking down around Pioneer Square and need a break, this is a great option.

My all time favorite coffee and chai place!
My office recently moved to downtown and was looking for my coffee shop and found this place, so I decided to give a try!
Inside is pretty simple and minimalistic, nothing really fancy about it but gives the calm and cozy feeling. Baristas are nice, always welcoming.
I like having my latte a bit bitter and not too foamy… and BOOM. This place got it right.
Also, I LOVE having spicy chai… most of the places I know have sweet chai. There’s nothing wrong with that but I just personally favor spicy chai. This place also got spicy chai right!
I’m always looking forward to come here and get my chai or café latte…=D

Mexican mocha and spicy chai: love love love!
I also like the simple space, tables, wifi, printing if needed, beans and cute tshirts.
Could you open a place in south lake Union please?

Nothing wrong with the coffee, baristas or the place, but compared to all the other coffee shops in Seattle, I liked this place a little less. Why? The space is big, yet does not have that much character. There are very little food options and out of the food they had, there were flies flying around the pastries. Eh.
However, the coffee (americano) itself was good.
Good wi-​fi
Bathrooms
Music
Seating outside
Lots of techies walking in for their afternoon fix
Definitely a place to walk to since it’s in Pioneer square/​downtown. Not many places to park.

Barista is cute and he gave me the drink on the house. I ordered the apple cider and spiced chai, iced. I didn’t even think the combo would work but it does so well.
They offer variations of «mexicanizing» your drink, like Mexican hot chocolate to regular hot chocolate, Mexican Mocha to regular mocha. It’s a pretty big café with outside seating. No pastries to be seen though, I must have come too late in the afternoon.

The Entertainment book had a 2 for 1, so figured why not. I was growing increasingly tired of the other «Star”$ store!
Wasn’t expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. My latte was PERFECT. Just the right amount of foam, coffee did not have the burnt taste and rich full flavors! They offer agave sweetner. What more can I say???
Barista was friendly and efficient… but then I did stroll in at about 10 AM.
Was a little disappointed there weren’t more pastries and goodies, but then this is probably not their core product. Plus when each item is wrapped in saran wrap, it just seems like it’s not fresh. Superficial I know!
Will definitely be back for the coffee! Can’t wait to try their other drinks.

Well. Tried to stop in today at 8:30 (they say they are open until 10pm) but the doors were locked and no one was around. So all that to say that I can’t review their coffee but I can review their being open when they say they are. So, go if you want to risk showing up and no one being there.

Not bad! Defiantly good espresso. Had an 8oz mocha. Was very well done. Very fast! Only complaints $ 4.25 for 8 oz and décor of place is very down played. I imagine it is pretty hopping in AM however I visited at 745pm as I couldn’t Find any other place open. I would definitely return as they make a good espresso beverage.

The worst excuse for a themed coffeehouse that I have ever seen. Has one who was born and lived in as a child in Dresden DDR, I know a great deal about ostkitsch. Overpriced, unoriginal, plain, no soul, not worth even a moment passing.
Very sketchy owners, buyers beware

Seattle is truly the hub for the finest coffees and expressed beverages. And Trabant is definitely high on the list for best coffee shops, IMO. It’s an unassuming, quaint little coffee shop where you can come in, relax and enjoy the smooth, refined coffees from around the world like Guatemala, Kenya, El Salvador and Ethiopia. What’s special about them is their clover machine that will make your coffee fresh by the cup when you order it.
Since it was my first time there, I had a difficult time deciding which drink to get. I inquired about their mocha which I rarely order since it’s usually too sweet but I was in the mood for it today. Their über friendly and helpful barista informed me that they get their chocolate from Ghana. Okay, that piqued my interest. So, for $ 4.75 a latte, I had to try it.
I can say without a doubt that it was worth the price. The drink was strong and smooth but not bitter. The chocolate melded perfectly with the espresso where it enhanced the drink and not fight against the flavor by being too sweet or over-​powering. My friend ordered the coffee and said it was flavorful and strong.
We both agreed that Trabant will be on our regular rotation when we make our coffee runs in the mornings.

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. It has been three days since my last decaf Mexican mocha.
But Father…
It was gooooooooooooooooood. And I’ll be back for a Mexican mocha /​hot chocolate again soon.

I know it’s a tall order, but this is truly the best café in Seattle. The staff are exceptionally kind and always willing to help you. Also, their coffee is badass. I tried their punk rock unicorn — I have never tasted brilliance in coffee like this, ever. Don’t waste your time in Starbucks or any place for that matter. Come here.
Also, they have an interesting interior décor. And they support local artists by displaying their work.

Trabant in Pioneer Square is just the thing that livens up this side of town. Halfway between the downtown shopping district and the sporting arenas, Trabant offers a haven of warm coffee, a bite to eat, and ever friendly faces.
These people know their coffee too! So don’t be shy, ask for a recommendation and hunker down with a good book. Coffee really does taste better in a porcelain mug rather than that biodegradable paper cup you’re bound to nurse for the next few hours. Take a seat, bring a friend, stare out the window, whatever you do, drink the coffee.
I recommend:
Two shots of espresso and a cookie!
A «chai-​der» — it’s chai and apple cider (aka MAGIC)

I love the décor of this place.
It was pretty empty on a Saturday afternoon with only one worker behind the counter.
They serve both beer and coffee on the same menu!
Coffee shops in California need to do that more…

I have been to both locations and am impressed. I like the Outer Space theme. The people were so friendly and helpful to me while I was visiting. They helped me navigate my way after leaving the shop.
I only tried coffee, but will be back next time I am in town.