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tags: [] - coffee/geography - coffee/geography/north-america - coffee/history aliases: - Seattle specialty coffee - Seattle coffee scene created: 2026-05-10 updated: 2026-05-10


Seattle Third Wave

Tags: #coffee/geography #coffee/geography/north-america #coffee/history Aliases: Seattle specialty coffee, Seattle coffee scene Related: Second Wave Coffee | Specialty Coffee MoC | Starbucks Evolution Status: 🌱 Stub


Overview

Seattle is the home of Starbucks (founded 1971), which made the city synonymous with the second wave of coffee and the mainstream popularisation of espresso-based drinks in the US. Despite — or in response to — this dominance, Seattle has also developed a significant third-wave specialty scene as a quality-focused independent counterpoint; roasters such as Victrola Coffee Roasters, Caffe Vita, and Lighthouse Coffee represent the city's commitment to craft and origin transparency beyond the Starbucks model.

References

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