Great espresso drinks and whole bean selection. Awesome fresh baked goods. Often crowded and can be difficult to find seating on weekends. Wouldn't recommend working here if you prefer a quieter environment. Staff is usually friendly even though it's more of a chaotic environment. read more

Herkimer coffee is my favorite coffee in the city. It's smooth, has great flavor without being overwhelming and isn't as acidic as other coffees. I always miss it when I travel. What makes this particular location stand out is the ownership and the team. Kara MacDonald is tireless and dedicated, and has remarkable customer service skills. She has staffed this location with mature, attitude-free, kind and skilled baristas who genuinely care about their work and the people they serve. She has also done an incredible job of creating a community here - one that welcomes people of all stripes and lively conversation. They'll have my loyal business until the day the doors close, which I hope will never, ever happen. read more

I'm a born Seattlite and self-professed coffee snob. My veins flow w/Zeitgeist, Vita, Bauhaus and Ladro coffee. I recently moved into the Park Modern in Ravenna - www.parkmodernravenna.com that also houses Herkimer Coffee (a big reason for my purchase in the building). I now feel like Norm from Cheers... just substitute the beer for coffee. Cara, Ruth, Gabby, "Boots," and Jason are all great baristas and make exceptional coffee - smooth, creamy and STRONG. I'm there practically every day and when I walk in I get a happy greeting and the infamous question, "the usual?" The other thing I love is that they know me by name and not by my coffee drink of choice. I'm not the "iced mocha guy," but Josiah, "the guy that comes in with his slippers." I highly recommend stopping by this new Ravenna establishment and grab yourself a good cup of Joe. read more

This place in wonderful! They are located on the far north side of the Ave and may I say us folk who live up here sincerely appreciate it. Yea there is a booty-load of cafes and eateries on the Ave but almost all of them are located 47th and below, leaving the people who live north of 50th either wanting of good coffee or needing to make a 5-10 block trek to find it! (This does not include Starbucks or any other corporate chain.) Their coffee is consistently some of the best espresso I've drank and as a fellow barista that means a lot. They offer a variety of delicious locally made pastries from Macrina, Mighty-O Donuts, etc. The pastries are offered in interesting varieties and I can always seem to find a yummy croissant to go with my morning Americano. Now they offer the use of Credit Cards, not previously offered which for some people is a big huge hairy deal. I never felt this way honestly, It's really not hard to carry around a wee bit o' cash/plan ahead if you're going to go on a spending spree. I mean maybe this whole time they were really doing you a favor by not allowing credit cards and forcing you to have a little impulse control Mr. Consumertron5k.... Lastly, about the service. Before deciding to write my own review I read a whole bunch of past reviewers and there seems to be a general opinion that the staff is relatively cold and unfriendly. Honestly... people... If you want over-the-top-fake-toothy-grin-scream-in-your-face type service go to Starbucks. When it comes to customer service it is really a hit-or-miss kind of game, one person in line comes there for jokes/to be entertained, while the very next person in line could be the kind of person that doesn't even appreciate the sound of birds singing in the morning until they have had their cup of coffee. I appreciate the subdued nature of the baristas, I don't want to come into a coffee shop and get verbally accosted as soon as I walk in the door, I won't go to a place that is super busy where the baristas need to run and yell to get their jobs accomplished. And also on that note it is pretty difficult to do a job, maintain quality of product, and be constantly interrupted with irrelevant jargon that people so desperately need to tell you. Sometimes it comes down to this: They can concentrate on making you good coffee and quick service, or they can concentrate on having a conversation with you and you will have mediocre coffee that takes ten minutes to produce. Can't always have your cake and eat it too people... I'm not interested in going to a coffee shop where you are forced into a shallow, meaningless conversation just to order a cup of coffee. Often times I haven't even spoken a word yet and therefore the physical capability/desire to speak more than my order is not present and should not be required. I guess I understand the desire for your barista to try and connect with the clients in order to make them want to return but for me personally, most of the reason I return is because they don't try to force a dumb connection with me, they let me be sleepy-face-messy-hair-in-pajamas-girl. At this point I don't even have to speak words unless I feel the desire to, and after I had decided I heart this place and wanted to go there regularly I interjected myself into one of their conversations one day while they weren't terribly busy and you know what? They turned out to be super cool and funny people. Whoa! What a surprise! (not) The only reason I give Herkimer 4 out of 5 stars is because of the decor. This was what initially put me off about the place cause it is really cold and sleek and I am the type of girl who like a coffee shop to have at least one big comfy crappy couch to laze about on. But that is really just personal preference. I wouldn't sit in there for hours on end by any means but go there daily? fudge yes! Rant over. Thanks for playing! read more

I was surprised at how good my decaf cappuccino was. Some coffeehouses don't do decaf well; this is not one of them. Service was super friendly, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Herkimer was an oasis on a very rainy day. read more

Really nice coffee and good music if you are into such stuff. Highly recommend it!

They actually serve real coffee! Just a short latte will keep me awake the whole day.

Great coffee - rude service this morning by both workers. Won't be back but it was nice to see what all the hype was about! My cap was fantastic! read more

Excellent Americano and great coffee beans. Everything is beautifully prepared. The shop itself is cozy, simple and appealing. A great place to go and relax on a gloomy day. read more

Just went in to check out this small coffee shop. The drip coffee was not to my liking. I let the Batista know that I didn't care for the taste and asked for her to make something else... she seemed pretty annoyed however said she would make something else. I went to the use the restroom while she made me something else.. the barista told my teenage daughter that I needed to move on in life and get over things ... needless to say I will never go back and DO NOT recommend this place! read more

I would've liked to have stayed, however, this was more of a grab and go situation for me. I just got a latte and regular milk to go. It was actually the 1 of 5 coffees I had that day post show, therefore, I was extremely caffeinated at that point but was ready to go. The coffee was nice and smooth and the milk with nicely frothed. Great customer service and preparation for a busy time was in good measure. read more

whoah! Barely roasted coffee is not my normal jam, but this stuff is good if you like greener coffee. Very interesting flavors and knowledgeable staff! read more

So glad that this place is so close to my apartment! The multiple times I've been here, it's never been crowded and it's always super relaxing to walk in here. The staff is pretty friendly in the afternoon, but the staff in the morning fluctuates. The americano I got here was pretty good, but you HAVE to get a cappuccino here! It's definitely one of the smoothest and creamiest I've had in the area :) This place isn't a bad place to study especially since they play good music, but it's definitely not study music since they play it kind of loud. Still, I love the relaxing atmosphere here and I'll definitely be back since it's so close to where I live! read more

okay. i was never a serious coffee drinker until i moved to seattle. with that said, i consider myself to have somewhat of a delicate pallate, especially in the coffee arena now. I LOVE THIS COFFEE. i really do. it is rich without being overpowering. flavorful without that burnt taste (like another local, publically owned company) i think this is hands down, the best coffee i have ever tasted. i went to another new coffee house in queen anne recently and literally could not drink the coffee. i pitched it and stopped at herkimer. i cannot recommend them enough. employee friendliness interior design product quality five stars from me. but be warned -- they only take cash, but that is rumored to be changing. here is their website : www.herkimercoffee.com while you are there, stop in and say hi next door to us at TEN PACHI Modern Salon + Store. read more

Consistent and delicious espresso drinks. Pastry options as good as they get. *The real rave here is the bathrooom, TBH.* It is immaculate. Every time. And if you need to blow up the spot there is spray to cover up so you don't embarrass yourself or the establishment. The baristas are super friendly and down to earth. They don't have fake compliments waiting for you just simple conversation and real stories. If your are not much of a morning talker such as myself they leave you be. Real people, real coffee. No BS. 10 stars. Reviewed after 3 years of patronage. read more

This place has changed my opinion on coffee. Before I went here it had been years since I had a great cup of coffee. I got an americano and it was fantastic. I have been back twice since and it has been consistently outstanding. This place is a little off of 50th but is worth the drive and means that there will actually be parking. read more

Great neighborhood coffeehouse. Coffee is always great. Last October they started roasting their own coffee (they used to buy from Vita) and now they have one of the best espresso blends in town. Check out their single origin coffees as some of them are fantastic, even when compared to more reputable roasters. Service is mostly good, except during really busy times when they may be a bit rushed. From time to time, they offer coffee cuppings and it's a great way to really learn the delicate nuances among different coffees, even ones from the same region. Ask the baristas about cuppings or checkout their website. They are wholesaling nowadays so if own/manage a restaurant, cafe, office, or general hospitality environment, check them out! read more

Best cup of decaf americano ever. I was thinking about it two days later. True its only coffee and they only take cash, but some things are worth it. read more

Walked over to the "other" end of the Ave and wondered if the hype about Herkimer was justified. Their coffee was a little burnt so I didnt enjoy it as much as I hoped. Its an aesthetically pleasing storefront amidst a quiet, lonely section of the Ave. read more

Oh Herkimer, you will always be my coffee spot in Seattle! I've been a regular here for the better part of 2 years and they are always consistent, friendly, and make wonderful coffee! They've perfected the art of balancing the sweetness of flavored drinks so you have a beautiful balance of coffee, milk, and the aroma of added flavor. Whatever bakery they're using is awesome and they have a pretty decent balance of both sweet and savory to choose from. Their tea selection, too, is nothing to scoff at! Shout out to Mike, my favorite barista! read more

Love the coffee, always have especially at the phinney ridge location. I wasn't a fan of the really loud music and inconsistent drinks I get. read more

i don't know that the coffee itself tasted better than any other coffee, but the preparation and flavor of my plain latte was EXCELLENT (which is harder and harder to find in this city). and i could get it in a real ceramic cup! kudos! Already partial to this place just because I lived in Herkimer for a short time in my early childhood, I also truly enjoyed the opportunity to eavesdrop on the mellower side of the u-district at a sidewalk seat last Monday evening while waiting for my daughter. the decor: local artist works on an unimposing and urbane background. lovely. i like the works they pick to show. at both their locations. and the sidewalk seating. staff: wonderful. as noted below, bring cash and prepare to be tempted by baked goods too. suggestion: i got there maybe 45 min before closing and stayed till 30 min after (when the barista's boyfriend very graciously reminded me that they'd eventually have to put up the sidewalk seats). but it was lively during that time period and maybe it would be productive for them to be open a little later? read more

I dropped in while waiting for my hair appointment next door to pick up an iced mocha. It was perfect, just the right amount of sweetness. It was also nice to be able to get a small one instead of the supersize that the big chain serves. The staff was very friendly and efficient. Great place. read more

A hip coffee shop off the Ave that is perfect for getting work done and catching up with friends. My coffee was great and prices were pretty normal, probably even on the less expensive side. I wouldn't go out of my way to come to this coffee shop, but if you're in the U District and want to get away from the Starbucks and the students this is the perfect spot. It has a streamlined and clean interior and really polite and nice baristas! read more

I am not a coffee fan. in fact, the caffeine just puts me on edge and I am unable to do anything productive. however, i am a lover of good ambience and tea. The tea selection is limited, but their dragon well tea is delicious! As for the ambience, it is, of course, uniquely Seattle-like. The baristas are a mixed bag of friendly and cold, but that is what I expect from a Seattle barista. It wouldn't be right if there wasn't a little bit of a hipster vibe. Good music and it truly is a neighborhood place. Kids, dogs, the elderly, and students frequent this place so you won't feel like you don't belong just because you don't know the name of at least two of the Arctic Monkey's songs. The place is cash only which can be annoying, but it isn't surprising since it is a small establishment in Seattle (most of the cool coffee shops are cash only, or charge you for using a debit card). read more

Awesome! They accept plastic now, which for all who find that preferable, this may be your old new favorite place. Awesome coffee; great atmosphere. read more

I live really close to this location and have had the same experience both times I've visited. Coffee (I drink it black) was exceptional, and the only reason for any stars I've awarded. Baristas had very cold/ unfriendly personalities. I felt very unwelcome to return. read more

Not a bad coffee shop by any means, nor is it anything spectacular. A decent cup of coffee can be had and the pastries will satisfy. Quiet environment if you're in need of a calm space. read more

Dear Herkimer, Please take debit cards. I never carry cash and you are right by my bus stop. You lose approximately $14/week of my money to Starbucks because of it - just so you know. Other than that, I love it. I love getting the outdoor seating on a nice day and the coffee is perfect. The mochas aren't too sweet. read more

It's fine coffee, but it's a small space, and parking in the area is shit. By the time you do find parking, you'll see that the tiny space is filled with people who have nothing better to do than buy a single cup of coffee and sit for hours Googling themselves. I've never been able to get a seat, no matter when I visit. read more

It took me about 24 hours after moving into my new place north of the UW that I decided Herkimer Coffee was going to my new regular coffee place. Location and convenience notwithstanding, Herkimer's is almost everything I'd plan out in a coffee dive. Nice, clean design that doesn't distract from work, really good coffee, friendly baristas, good sunshine in the morning hours, and not too busy. How anybody can get work done at the 42nd Starbucks is beyond me. It's really smacks of that Seattle, coffee drinking experience. I enjoy the cozy, warm furniture type coffee place too, and to that end the "Ugly Mug" is great, but this just seems more efficient and productive to me. I only wish they took something other than cash, and I'd hate to start out on an uneasy relationship asking why they refuse to deal with plastic. read more

Good fresh not overroasted beans. Tried drip, latte, mocha machiato, all good. They have simple syrup, honey, raw sugar packs etc at the bar. Having hot cocoa today. I typically get a big cookie for $2, but today i decided to venture and give the chocolate covered Mighty-O donut a try. Not a fan of cake donuts, but at least i have my cocoa to dunk it in. read more

Flavored coffee with modern interior. I love that huge glass the you can look through outside. Nice when snow outside and you have a hot coffee inside :) read more

Confusing service. I was really pumped after seeing a few dogs come into the cafe with owners getting to go coffee. The servers at the time would pet them and give them treats and I was hopeful I could give my dog the same experience on a weekend morning. Maybe I should have come during a week day? I was immediately asked to leave or tie the dog up and they could take and deliver my order outside. I'm really confused because I've seen non service dogs go in before and there's a bowl of dog treats on the counter. Again, these were weekend servers so I recommend trying on weekdays if you want a dog friendly experience, or try out the Cowen Park Grocery around the corner, they let you buy to go with your pup:) read more

Pretty good. This is the only place I've been to on the Ave. that actually gives you water with your espresso. CONTEXT: Date: February 2008 Time: Late afternoon read more

The coffee was DELOISHOUS :) and you know what, the baristas were just fine. Friendly and efficient, nothing like all those reviews! I mean, I did have my drink order and cash ready though, so that probably helped keep it at optimal friendliness level. But whatever, the most important thing is that Herkimer served the best mocha I've had in a long time. Coffee snobs, enjoy. read more

Great place towards the end of the ave near Ravena so you are going to have to make your way away from U-village... Pretty small coffee shop so make sure to come early if you are trying to get a seat to sip and hang out. Coffee is great, I could recommend trying any of the lattes. I always get them iced and they make sure not to put too much ice in them (something that often goes unsaid and is really important to me!) unlike Starbucks who almost always goes heavy. read more

Good coffee, great space. I'm still partial to the Phinney Ridge space given the seating options. But the Herk offers easily the coolest space in the U-District for cafe dorks. Personally, I miss Last Exit on Brooklyn. Much less Last Exit as it headed up this direction on the Ave. Go to the Blue Moon. Oh wait - they don't serve coffee. So, I guess if you go in for this sort of buzz in the area, head to the Herk. read more

Tiny shop, incredibly rude baristas, and the coffee wasn't memorable.

My latte here was great!! This coffeeshop is cute, clean, duh delicious coffee, nice baristas, good treats (donuts for the win!) and close to the park if you're hankering for a stroll. If I lived in Seattle this would be a go to study spot as the chairs aren't too comfy that you feel the need to pass out every time you sit down and volume level is perfect--a nice background chatting but not too loud for productivity. Also isn't it just fun to say the name?!? Bonus points. read more