Espresso Vivace Roasteria

The coffee here is GOAT. The Nico and White Velvet are really, really good. If you’re in Seattle, this place is an absolute must-visit.

I visited because I heard latte art had started and that this place was well known, so I made time to come on purpose. Sadly, this is the cappuccino I received, and I was very disappointed. The barista asked if I had ordered a latte. I said it was a cappuccino, and after that she steamed milk several times. I was also charged for a latte. When I asked about it, I was told, “It’s basically the same.” It doesn't sound like professional at all. Overall disappointed.

Super classic Seattle vibes at Espresso Vivace with nice drinks and a relaxed atmosphere inside. Appreciated the wall power plugs near my seat to get some tasks done.

Espresso Vivace is one of those very well-known, old-school Seattle cafés. It’s clearly more focused on espresso drinks rather than single-origin, pourover coffees. You can tell they’re making some modern updates, but at its core, this is still a place defined by its espresso. I’ve tried it a few times, and it finally convinced me to buy their Dolce beans for my moka pot. I’m not a huge specialty coffee person, so I usually go for an Americano or a latte - and their latte is the SMOOTHEST I’ve ever had in Seattle. As the barista joked, the founder can’t even hear the word sour, and it definitely delivers zero sourness, no bitterness, just pure smoothness.

A friend who's a local recommended this place, and it's worth the ten-ish minute walk from Capitol Hill Station. The espresso here is immaculate, and I'd highly recommend bringing a bag of their Dolce Espresso home if you have the gear, they're now my favorite beans. I'd recommend trying their signature drink, the Nico. It's wonderful but small, but next time I come here I'll have to order it as a latte because my friend said that's an option. If you can manage to find a seat, it's worth staying a while to take in the vibe. You can't tell the story of espresso without mentioning this place and the people behind it, and it certainly lives up to that reputation. I stop here everytime I'm in the Capitol Hill area.