Espresso Vivace Roasteria

Yum! Their espressos are pretty good, rich.... I would say their soy lattes are some of my favorite---- iced or hot. If you want any pastries or biscotti, they've got'em. I love the baristas---- they're such quirky people! And expert at the coffees. Usually is super busy in the mornings, lines may go out the door. For some reason, you can find seating regardless of how busy this branch is---- and despite it looks small inside! Opens till 11pm, which is good, has WiFi :) If you like this place, I'd also try out Bauhaus Books&Cafe---- hard seating when busy, but they open till 1am which means if you're a hard-core nighttime studier, go there :) Pros: awesome baristas, great espressos Cons: only have one sugar-free syrup (vanilla) more

I used to work at a coffee shop, so when I go to a new one, I always watch the baristas. Do they foam the milk too much or steam it too long? Do they knock and swirl the milk pitcher? Do they pull the shot too long? Is the cappuccino the right proportions of milk, espresso and foam? When I get the drink, is there latte art? Does the coffee taste burnt? Pros: perfect lattes, study room, good service Cons: mediocre pastries, a little cold, no armchairs more

Yes, they do have some of the best coffee in Seattle. But, the music is horrible and very loud and the baristas don't care about patron comfort. It is freezing cold out, and the door is wide open as I write this. I asked them if I could close it, and the barista replied that it was too hot behind the machines. While I can sympathize with being too hot, and having to deal with discomfort in the workplace, the people they are serving are cold. Everyone is in their coats. People are hugging themselves from cold. My drink went cold in a matter of minutes. If they disregard the customer's comfort entirely, why should I care about theirs? Pros: Good coffee Cons: Freezing cold, both physically, and emotionally more

Espresso Vivace's staff consistently make some of the best espresso beverages around. Their ""crappy square-plastic"" grinders have a vented fan mounted on the back in order to cool beans that otherwise might get hot and essentially cook as they are ground--a small but essential alteration that many other caffes have somehow missed out on. And, upon reading the board, one is greeted with the information that Vivace's northern Italian style of esspresso preperation includes a cappucino that is very similar to a latte, with a creamy foam that melds seamlessly with sweet espresso, not the cup o' foam that so many have come to expect in this post-Starbucks age. Their espressos, (when drunk within 10 seconds, after which any shot goes sour) at their best acheive the owner's goal of tasting the way coffee smells. Fortunately, the well-trained and professional staff nearly always turn out espresso at its best. Unfortunately, not every drink can be perfect, and the variety that comes out of this unpredictable but reliable art might well be celebrated by patrons rather than bitterly ruled out after one or two experiences. And, to a self-assured individual, being on the recieving end of a little sass can be an envigorating and delightful thing. more

I have been to several shops in Seattle, and living in Portland, I am used to Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Vivace needed to live up to that standard. Both my wife and me agreed after going to two of their Capitol Hill locations, that it did not. Granted it is good and may be better than most in Seattle. But, it?s nothing compared to Portland shops. When I order a cappuccino, I should not have to say DRY in order to prevent from getting a latte! And, what is up with those crappy square-plastic grinders they use? I mean? even I use a Mazzer for my drip coffee at home. Cons: Two locations right by each other more

i first visited this cafe because i found myself on capital hill, but the mocha totally knocked my socks... more

i first visited this cafe because i found myself on capital hill, but the mocha totally knocked my socks off!! the taste of the espresso is like J... more

After all the hype aound Vivace I was expecting an unbeatable experience and the best espresso ever. Maybe my expectations were to high. Here is what I got: rude service (gosh, those baristas are really arrogant) and my standard double-shot espresso tasted sour, clearly underextracted. Maybe Vivace is over its peak. There is definitely better espresso to be found in Seattle than at Vivace. Pros: Nice space Cons: Mediocer espresso, snobby service more

I recently did a mini-survey of the coffee in Seattle based on good reviews online, and Vivace's wins hands down. It has the best coffee in town. Pros: some tasty pastries Cons: quality highly variable, uncomfortable dining area, spoiled baristas more

There are lots of coffee joints in this city but only Vivace's does it right everytime. This is a great place to take a date after dinner and chat about this or that as well as introduce them to the best cup of coffee they've had in this city. Pros: GREAT coffee, coffee related decor, very spacious more

This place makes the best coffee in the world. Well, the best coffee in the parts of the world that I have been to! Go there! Get up from your computer and go! Get the WHITE VELVET. Pros: Amazingly Good more

If you like the taste of coffee, you will love Vivace. I'm always converting people to Vivace but I have found that those who simply don't like the taste of coffee don't seem to like Vivace. However, those who can enjoy a good cup usually fall instantly in love, as I did. My drink is the latte. But when I'm feeling sweet, I'll get their Cafe Carmel. They have the PERFECT combinations of expresso, milk, and carmel. Their teas and ginger apple cider are also good. Oh, and don't foreget to try the Nico. It's strong but flavor's they add to it give it a desert-like experience. Lastly, don't be turned off by the line if there is one. The baristas treat each cup as if it were a work of art. They won't speed up if the line get's long...which makes the wait sooo worth it. Pros: Perfection Cons: ony 2 locations more

Having lived in Seattle for 17 odd (sometimes very odd..) years, and drinking coffee the entire time all over the city, you simply cannot find better coffee than Vivace! Anywhere. Anytime. Price. They win hands down. Forget the rest, drink the best. Hit up Cafe Vivace's two Capitol Hill sites and be very, very happy with your coffee purchase. more

Have not found a better cup of coffee in the area. Place is always clean, staff nice and never has my coffee order been anything but awesome! Take the beans home too! as close to heaven as you can get without heading to broadway. Pros: fresh, good staff Cons: parking more

Cafe Vivace is quite simply the best coffee in the coffee capitol of the world. I didn't like coffee very much until I tried their ""white velvet."" It is exquisite and is a must try for everyone. Not only is the taste incredible but the presentation is what amounts to eye candy with its unique rosettes on every drink. Pros: Taste, atmosphere, expert staff more

the coffee is exquisite and smooth. they pioneered the lovely leaf design in the foam. sometimes the staff gets ticked if you don't bus your own table, though. more

In the land where people think coffee means a billion-calorie coffee sundae from McStarbucks, Vivace is a welcomed cup of supremely excellent coffee, served the way it was meant to be. The menu options are limited, so if you gotta have that quad venti triple-flavored nonfat frozen mochachino with whipped cream and sprinkles, you should go across the street to the competition. Having spread its reputation primarily by word-of-mouth, Vivace makes real coffee really well, as the fortunate residents of Capital Hill know. Pros: Authentic, No coffee sundaes, Restretto shots Cons: Starbucks more