TLDR: Woods Coffee was a great experience! The baristas were knowledgeable about the coffee, brewing processes, and food items, as well as extremely friendly! They indulged my many questions and some pleasant chatter. The coffee was flavorful and well brewed / extracted to highlight the bean and roast characteristics (see below for details). Definitely worth a visit if you're in Bellingham, and worth an order if you're shopping for whole beans to brew at home!
The Coffee
Since they shared a parking lot with my hotel, I sampled a number of Woods' coffees while in town:
Batch Brew:
- Brown Bear is the darker roast. It has the characteristics one would expect - rich, earthy, full bodied; good balance of bitterness, lower acidity. Really enjoyable!
- Woods Blend is the medium roast. It is noticeably more acidic than Brown Bear, but still mild vs. something like a washed Ethiopian or Geisha. The almond and cocoa stood out to me, with a bit of stone fruit.
- The PNW Blend is a light roast. It's not always on batch brew, but I was lucky enough to find some fresh on a Sunday morning, right after opening. It was acidic, bright, and syrupy, with a bite to it! Really flavorful, nice sweetness. Get it when you can!
Espresso: I was pleasantly surprised to find a medium roasted espresso blend at Woods! The resulting double shot was well balanced, with some acidity that complemented the sweetness (caramel, chocolate) well. Thick, rich and enjoyable! Try a double shot, neat.
Blended (Mudslide): I think you know what to expect if you order a drink named "mudslide" ;) It was fantastic as a sweet treat! The sugar and other ingredients mostly obscured the coffee flavor, but I could still detect a little of it (I got the decaf).
The Food
I absolutely loved the Pumpkin Breakfast Cookie! In fact, I went back for a second one! It was filling, and not too sweet, with a satisfying crunch from the pumpkin seeds. The steel cut oats and flaxseed made it pretty dense - enough to count as my breakfast for the day.
I also had the White Chocolate Raspberry Scone. It was super-sweet and decadent for a breakfast. If you order this, be ready to indulge in a sweet treat with your coffee!
The Baristas
The staff were so nice! They answered all my questions, knew their product offerings really well (we got technical too, with conversation ranging from sourcing to roasting to brew methods), and made great recommendations. They also allowed me to sample different batch brews before making my final decision.
The Ambiance
I really enjoyed the Woods Coffee cafe and roastery! It had a variety of tables that would accommodate studying, plenty of power options for devices, and a cool fireplace. The playlist was fresh indie/pop that contributed to the vibe. It wasn't too busy the few times I visited. read more