The Broadway store - smoothest lattes in town, and that is saying a lot.

The Broadway store - smoothest lattes in town, and that is saying a lot.
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Wonderful, smooth coffee, also sold in bulk. Uncomfortable chair. Fabulous cupcakes.

Wonderful, smooth coffee, also sold in bulk. Uncomfortable chair. Fabulous cupcakes.
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great coffee

great coffee
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I used to be one of those people who annoyed the owners by bringing a laptop to use the wifi which they used to have on all the time and haven't gone nearly as much when they started to curtail it. ... More

I used to be one of those people who annoyed the owners by bringing a laptop to use the wifi which they used to have on all the time and haven't gone nearly as much when they started to curtail it. There seemed to be potential for good conversation; I met some interesting folks although I also spent a lot of time zoned out on the internet. But it was in some ways too much of a good thing, and the place has become so crowded that I often go in, and then go right back out because there are no available seats. They have done a lot for their part of Capitol Hill with their events http://www.victrolacoffee.com/events.html because they provide something inexpensive and worthwhile that appeals to a lot of people.
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So i really enjoy good coffee and I was first drawn to Victrola because I had read about this new espresso machine company, Synesso, based in seattle and Victrola was one of the first cafes to... More

So i really enjoy good coffee and I was first drawn to Victrola because I had read about this new espresso machine company, Synesso, based in seattle and Victrola was one of the first cafes to install Synesso's 'uber' espresso machines (www.synesso.com/) my first experience was so-so....yes the coffee was great...but it was more the experience that I just didn't jive with. The cashier and barista seemed a bit pretentious and rude......and it took a good 5 minutes to get my espresso....yes there were 5-6 people in front of me....but it seemed very odd indeed. but i figured i'd give it another try and i've been back 4-5 times, but it's always the same experience......which is unfortunate as the coffee is great......but there are lots of great coffee shops and roasters in seattle.....that offer a much better experience. on one instance i was ordering a sandwich and the cashier/barista had a pissed off attitude that they had to grill the sandwich.....and then when he delivered it......it was the wrong one.....so he was even more pissed........at what i have no idea, but it's unfortunate that i've had this same type of experience on several occasions. So, if i'm on 15th and have 15 min to kill...i might hit Victrola or head down to Ladro (which usually has very nice baristas and great coffee as well)......or I find myself many times willing to walk on down to 19th and hit FUEL which is about as non-pretentious as you can get and has great coffee. but if you're in the mood for some pretentiousness...then you know exactly where to head. andiamo!
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Victrola has all the necessary components for an ideal coffeehouse experience: Great coffee drinks, a dark corner with sofas, a piano, sunny sidewalk seating, organic juices, rotating art exhibits... More

Victrola has all the necessary components for an ideal coffeehouse experience: Great coffee drinks, a dark corner with sofas, a piano, sunny sidewalk seating, organic juices, rotating art exhibits on the walls, a bulletin board crammed with local postings, as well as a large crowd of dedicated patrons. It's not part of a chain, and it's pure uncorrupted Capitol Hill coffeehouse culture.
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I drive all the way from the eastside to have "real" coffee and Victrola is one of my top picks. Their baristas are artisans and are not the usual coffee snobs that are so prevelant in superb... More

I drive all the way from the eastside to have "real" coffee and Victrola is one of my top picks. Their baristas are artisans and are not the usual coffee snobs that are so prevelant in superb coffeehouses scattered througout the Emerald City. There seems to be a problem w/ wifi, but I am just there to savor and sip the lattes: always the right temperature, not too bitter, not too frothy. The art work on the walls as well as the many colorful patrons give this coffee joint the Seattle vibe that a lowly suburbanite like me craves. My only beef is with the lack of parking.
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This was my one of my favorite places to "study" in college and I stopped going because it got so packed. The no wi-fi rules doesn't bother me so much, but i can see how it would be annoying. I... More

This was my one of my favorite places to "study" in college and I stopped going because it got so packed. The no wi-fi rules doesn't bother me so much, but i can see how it would be annoying. I think really their motivation behind that was web surfers/laptop workers would take up space/tables/chairs and not buy as much for the time they spent there, so with no wi-fi they have more traffic going in and out. I've never been that impressed with the staff; the service is just OK, but I don't go for the service anyway. The coffee is GREAT and it's a great place to meet up with friends for a chat. Lovely art on display.
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I've been to Victrola a few times and their coffee is pretty good. The tables, etc. aren't particularly comfortable and the light is not great for reading. They used to have free wifi all the time... More

I've been to Victrola a few times and their coffee is pretty good. The tables, etc. aren't particularly comfortable and the light is not great for reading. They used to have free wifi all the time but apparently they have decided that people should talk not work at coffee shops and have turned their wifi off most of the time. As someone who likes working in coffee shops now and then, I find this incredibly annoying and I won't be going back.
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Sure, the beans they use here are great and the pastry selection is generally good, but what really makes it are the baristas, which are very well trained in the art of making good espresso. It... More

Sure, the beans they use here are great and the pastry selection is generally good, but what really makes it are the baristas, which are very well trained in the art of making good espresso. It tends to get a little crowded on the weekends and evenings, but if you don't want to sit down, you'll be fine.
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