Uptown Espresso

I’m surprised there aren’t more plentiful and recent reviews for Uptown Espresso, especially with Seattle being such a coffee town. That said, I’m a fervent coffee fan myself, and I’m always chuffed to find locally-​owned outposts throughout my frequent travels. During a recent week-​long business trip to Seattle which housed me at the nearby Edge Water Hotel, I was fortunate enough to enjoy good weather and frequent morning strolls along the waterfront to Uptown. While there isn’t any indoor seating and just two small outdoor tables, you’ll want to get your coffee or tea to go, and enjoy the beautiful scenery, as the sculpture park is just mere steps away! Get your walk on!
I found the barista working each day to be knowledgeable, friendly, and not at all «curt» or «hipster». I think some employees might benefit from having a second barista on hand behind the counter, as having only one person on staff can make for occasional wait time issues.
Prices for your sundry lattes, espressos, drip coffee, and teas are very, very reasonable, even for what is quipped as a «tourist area.» I was definitely paying less than I would at a Sbux. And while I wouldn’t recommend Uptown as a coffee shop where one should go expecting to get serious work done, it’s the perfect spot to pop-​in for a hand-​crafted, delicious, velvety latte while you’re wandering Seattle’s Waterfront.

When they say «home of the velvet foam» they aren’t kidding! I don’t know what sorcery they employ, their machinery seems to be akin to what you’d find at other high quality cafes, but somehow they create a thick blanket of microfoam for your espresso drink of choice. I came here with a friend once only for her to order an iced latte. What a waste! The foam is of course incredible (did I mention the foam is good?) but the espresso is also amazing. Incredible flavor, not bitter. Delish. There is also lots of room to hang out, which is nice.

Not sure why our pure existence and quest for a cup of coffee pissed off the barista at the Pier 70 location this morning… what a complete jerk. Coffee was good but not worth dealing with that guy. I can only assume this was the sneering hipster referred to in previous post. I assume this must be the owners loser kid or something to still have a job there.

Skip it unless you like being sneered at by an angry begrudging hipster. All other locations of Uptown Espresso are great. Can’t wait for them to fire this guy and hire someone who doesn’t hate life. Also no indoor seating, a few bird poo spattered tables outside. Cold, stiff pastries, mediocre coffee. Someone needs to take more pride in manging their business. :-P

I was incredibly surprised by the lack of indoor seating! They had some outdoor seating, but the space is teeny tiny. When I came by mid-​afternoon, their pastry case was fairly sad looking — nothing left I wanted to eat!

Coffee and pastries are good, but the guy working the counter is a major DB. Get this clown out of the tourist area.

This place is nothing like the other Uptown Espresso locations. It is TINY and espresso just does not taste the same. Baristas don’t know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino.
I ordered one of each — my latte and cappuccino tasted and looked identical.

Go wander the SAM Sculpture Park and stop in for an espresso with the signature velvet foam while at Pier 70 on Seattle’s Waterfront. Tiny location, but has outdoor seating. Perfect for people or train watching.

I love this coffee shop! They make yummy coffee drinks. All the baristas are great at their job and friendly. I recommend getting some baked goods to munch on with your coffee. My favorites are the savory: ham & Brie croissant, or sweet: chocolate croissant, jam bars (in the glass jar in front of the register!) & peanut butter cookies! Oh and try to get some day-​old baked goods! Yum!
Also they have tables & chairs outside & a water fish for your Pup!
And now they have board & card games for sale! I want them all!

Great place to stop in for a morning drink and pastry! I tried a cherry Italian soda and a chocolate croissant — delicious! Super friendly staff and a cute little place that they are in the process of repainting.

the up swing is now without him I have saved myself from visiting twice a day and the cash is making my wallet fat.

For me Uptown Espresso is one step up from Starbucks. I don’t feel they are drastically better, simply a nice «something different» option.
I like their Café Mezzo: half-​Americano and half-​latte.
That particular place is also cool — tucked away right by Seattle Olympic Sculpture park.

I love this little place when I am on break from school across the street. Matt, who is there on Tuesdays, is great and the drinks are always exactly what I want. Love it. Also they use Oregon Chai — my favorite!
I do wish they would have a regular staff though. They always seem to be borrowing staff from other locations. Most of the time they are friendly and the service is great. I come every Monday and Tuesday like clockwork and the blonde girl there this Monday was incredibly rude to me. She seemed stressed out that there were a total of three people in the shop and she didn’t seem like she could handle it.
Please keep her at whatever stuffy location she usually works so this little corner shop remains my favorite. She sucks.

Excellent coffee and awesome baristas! Visited for the first time today and was not let down.

Decent coffee, and a nice place to sit outside. However, customer service could use a bit of work. Also, No restrooms, even for customers.

Uptown has great coffee and service. The baristas can make their signature velvet foam out of soymilk, which is not easy to do, and such a treat!

While the baristas are always friendly and quick, the coffee is sub-​par and always taste a little burnt. I’m also not a huge fan of the «velvet foam,» which the shop prides themselves on…
They do not have Wifi, so be aware of that before you head down there. it’s always a bit of an awkward layout and can get quite busy, so the wait may take longer than a quick minute.

Small, local, coffee shop that is in a perfect location for a walk out to Olympic Scuplture park or any of the waterfront businesses. We came in on a Fall day and enjoyed our espresso drinks. My mocha had the right amount of sweetness and my wife’s latte also passed the test.
If you’re going to get some drinks here, parking can be a little tough as its right on the waterfront. But if you’re already out and about, give this place a shot.

LOVE LOVE LOVE Uptown espresso. Why? Let me count the ways:
1. They make amazing Chai Tea Lattes, Mocha’s and Egg Nog Lattes!
2. The foam is really amazing, tasty, velvet.
3. At this location they play some great music
4. They don’t spend time banning guns, publishing petitions or whining about this and that :)
I subtracted the star only because the P70 location is SUPER small and sometimes its SUPER busy and I can’t get in to get my drink. But its a SUPER convenient location so I hope they don’t go anywhere.

Located just steps away from the Olympic Sculpture Park, we stopped in here to get a quick drink and a snack before heading to other tourist attractions. My husband’s coffee was totally adequate but nothing special. We each got a cookie, mine was chocolate chip and his was oatmeal raising (I think). The cookies were very so-​so, and I would not get them again.
While we were there, we thought we’d use the bathroom. We then happened to overhear someone else ask for the bathroom and found that they do not have one. What? They sell drinks and food and they don’t have a bathroom? Strange.