Cafés have evolved. Their chief purpose remains the same (caffeine and caffeine accessories); but now we expect our Pacific Northwest coffee shops to do some additional heavy lifting. Their coffee beans must be absolutely excellent, and preferably locally-roasted; the espresso shots must be perfectly pulled, with unscalded milk of both plant and dairy varieties; and most notably, the aesthetics include the beverage in your hand, but extend to the entire experience.
This is a lot to ask for, but lucky you! You're in the South Sound, which means you have a number of fantastic cafe options that most of the country would find absurd. Let's get caffeinated!
Tacoma
Beware Coffee
This list is alphabetical, but Beware makes a fitting first entry. Welcome to paradise for coffee nerds. While they'll make you an incredible specialty drink like a Cardamom Matcha or The Partridge (latte with white chocolate and pear), coffee purists are in store for a revelation. Immaculately-pulled shots of espresso, photo-worthy rosettas every time, and a rotating assortment of vetted local roasters. Go ahead and ask about the beans, and what they recommend; you're in for a monologue to make you salivate.
Why we love it: Coffee perfection, plus tasty breakfast options.
Bluebeard Coffee
Bluebeard is a Tacoma mainstay for coffee going way way back, and this location is both where they roast and brew. There’s plenty of seating in the warehouse-style building, complete with a garage door that keeps the place cool in the summer. Try their La Pistola Mexican Mocha, which has a spicy chocolate sauce reminiscent of mole.
Why we love it: Classic Tacoma roaster, great café vibes.
Common Ground
Named for the community you can find in a coffee shop as well as reference to the coffee grounds themselves, Common Ground is a new classic in Tacoma's cafe scene. They first opened in spring of 2023 and offer an inviting space like a stylish living room with leather furniture, abundant plants, and statement light fixtures. As for their coffee, they lean in hard to the seasonal drinks, offering a welcome change in flavor and presentation for each time of the year.
Why we love it: Fun drinks, great feeling.
Cosmonaut Coffee
When you walk into Cosmonaut, you feel like you discovered it. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall place with some of the most coffee-educated baristas around, and they’ll happily share that knowledge with you. They’re known for their hemp-milk macchiato, so try one while you enjoy the eclectic décor that skews heavily toward robots, aliens, comics and Soviet memorabilia.
Why we love it: Classic Tacoma, excellent coffee.
Curran Coffee
Located in Tacoma's Old Town neighborhood, Curran Coffee is as new school as it gets. Their darling space is typically bursting with happy locals and a line trickling onto the sidewalk. They offer house specials with all kinds of flavor profiles, all skewing fairly sweet, but they're happy to modify the syrup levels according to your taste. Though aesthetics tend to overshadow coffee standards at Curran, their service is always warm, and we dare you to leave the buzzing cafe feeling anything but energized, beyond the expected buzz of caffeine.
Why we love it: Imaginative drinks, great ambiance.
Ebony & Ivory
Welcome to Tacoma's living room! Ebony & Ivory brings a lot of strengths to the table. For first impressions, the coffee bar has shelves extending to the high ceilings above, drawing the eye up and around to finally settle on a clear view of Mt. Rainier looming pleasantly over downtown Tacoma. But lest you think Ebony & Ivory is all style and no substance, prepare to be deeply satisfied with your coffee drink of choice. You'll also notice that while cafe is typically well-populated, the spacious room still offers privacy, space, and quiet. People take meetings IRL and via their laptops, write in their journals, sketch, and chat with friends.
Why we love it: Great coffee, perfect room for just about anything.
Lander Coffee
A North End neighborhood favorite, Lander roasts their own beans and operates a quietly excellent cafe. Though they first opened in 2019, they seem to have avoided many of the cliche coffee trends of the last several years; it's not tiled in shiny white, it's not suffocated with green plants, it doesn't have a calligraphy-scrawled chalkboard with specialty drinks. What they do have is great coffee and friendly service.
Why we love it: Fantastic coffee, genuine neighborhood affinity.
LUX Perpetua Coffee
LUX is located a block away from Beware Coffee, yet they offer the neighborhood two distinctly different coffee experiences. While Beware goes deep into nerd territory in pursuit of coffee excellence, LUX is more like a time capsule into 90s cafe culture, despite having opened less than 10 years ago. You'll find games, local art, and a simple coffee menu using Manifesto beans.
Why we love it: Classic Pacific Northwest coffee experience.
Manifesto Coffee Roasters
Manifesto is a minimalist, industrial cafe in the Hilltop neighborhood serving up their own beans. It's a hangout for young creatives and gamers, and since expanding their space into the shop next door, there's plenty of space to work on your laptop or bring your favorite board game. If you stop by and don't get a pour-over, that's on you.
Why we love it: Original Tacoma roaster, excellent beans.
Metro Coffee
With bicycles adorning the walls, this little coffeehouse has been catering to the students of the UW-Tacoma campus since 2004. The small seating area is great for quiet conversations and there’s a bench area for study groups.
Why we love it: Great place to work, around for over 20 years.
Olympia Coffee
Sure, the roasting happens in Olympia, but we're only too happy to claim this local outpost as our own bit of Pierce County excellence. Thanks to its proximity to the year-round Proctor Farmers Market, this location gets pretty busy on the weekends. Weather the line once, and you'll get it: the drinks are immaculate, the service is friendly and speedy, the treats are tantalizing, and the penny round tile? Painstakingly lining most of the room. Most impressively, Olympia Coffee is leading the coffee industry on a national level in terms of sourcing transparency. Drink your coffee and feel good about it, too!
Why we love it: Ethical, delicious, and served with a smile.
Outer Dark
Speaking of ethical coffee, Outer Dark echoes Olympia in focusing on sourcing with a conscience. Their beans have been sold throughout the state even before their cafe opened in 2024, and all those who enjoy a light-to-medium roast are sure to find a new favorite here.
Why we love it: The new guard of Tacoma coffee, locally great and emerging regionally. Extra PNW credit for having the bravery to name the shop after one of the most messed-up books written in the 20th century.
Oppenheimer Cafe
It'll take you a minute to get to Oppenheimer in the center of the University of Puget Sound campus, but it's well worth the trek. To understand the cafe's unique structure, consider its location near the science building; the irregular glass panes form the shape of a salt crystal. Extra points if you visit on a stormy day when the rainfall creates a cozy visual and white noise so consuming, you're sure to finish that novel.
Why we love it: Unique structure, plenty of space to work or read.
Third Space Cafe
Tacoma Instagram aficionados followed Kevin Lee for months as he prepared to open Third Space. Now that it's here, you can see the results in person, and boy are they delicious. While the coffee looks solid, the real headline for Third Space is their delicious food program featuring Korean touches like the Kimchi Cheesesteak and a Bacon, Egg and Cheese breakfast sandwich with gochujang aioli.
Why we love it: Focus on community, excellent food.
Valhalla Coffee
Valhalla’s location on Sixth Avenue does double duty as both a roaster and a no-frills coffee shop. Owner AJ Anderson is Tacoma born-and-raised, and his local pride is evident in his relationships with Valhalla regulars and Tacoma business owners. A coffee purist, Anderson famously walked away from Starbucks in the early days when they started "getting too big." He now preaches the cost of truly ethical coffee, and strives to deliver the best possible product to Tacomans. To drink a cup of Valhalla is to receive a coffee love note from someone who cares and knows about it deeply.
Why we love it: The same reason you love anything made by a master of the craft: it's fantastic.
Wily Cycleworks
Wily is technically a quadruple threat. Walk into this airy shop on Tacoma's 6th Avenue, and you'll quickly converge with diehard cyclists clip-clopping in their special shoes, passersby wanting to browse the retail area, locals seeking a microbrew or glass of natural wine, and people like you eager to enjoy a really great cup of coffee. You might be surprised to see a bicycle repair shop that also serves coffee on this list, but once you discover the local connection, it begins to make sense. Lander Coffee founder Dusty Johnson and State Street (of microbrew and natural wine fame) owner Alicia Johnson collaborated to open Wily Cycleworks, and it's actually Dusty's father who does the bicycle repairs. Yeah, it might be a multitude of concepts in one, but it works; if you're skeptical, let the coffee do the talking, and let the ambient smell of bicycle tire rubber serve as an unlikely pairing.
Why we love it: Local collabs of our favorite things, plus the great coffee experience we'd expect from Lander.
Wren's Nest Baking Co.
Wren's Nest is incredibly homey with an abundance of brick, squeaky leather furniture, lampposts reminiscent of Victorian England, and an antique carriage in the middle of the cafe. Yes, Wren's Nest is a certified Celiac-friendly gluten-free bakery, but hold on a minute, my glutinous friends! They seek to make excellent baked goods in their own right, not just "good for gluten-free." In any case, their coffee remains a solid bet, and we'll wager that a slice of their cheesecake will leave you completely satisfied.
Why we love it: Historic surroundings, delicious baked goods.
Puyallup
Anthem Coffee
If you’re planning on spending some time exploring downtown Puyallup’s antique scene, this is your stop for a pick-me-up. Anthem makes a mean cup of Dillano’s-roasted coffee and their tea selection is large and beautifully displayed. Their 16-ounce drinks come with a standard four shots of espresso, so be careful. It’s not enough to kill you, but it’s enough to change your perception of colors a little bit.
They also have a location in downtown Tacoma in the Museum District, so if you’re looking for some caffeine to propel you between museum stops, drop by.
Why we love it: Anthem has been at it for many years, and this local chain serves up some of the most reliable coffee in the region.
Fika Coffee
Part of Puyallup's Farm 12 businesses, Fika does heavy lifting by offering fresh-baked pastries and bread, lunch items, and drinks alongside their strong coffee program. There's plenty of places to sit and savor your coffee between the spacious warehouse and charming gardens outside. You can even take a stroll around the property if you prefer to take your coffee on the go, Sorkin-style.
Why we love it: Beautiful airy surroundings, surprising offerings alongside decent coffee.
Holiday Cafe
Calling all maximalists! Who says excellent coffee experiences must be minimal? If you want scrumptious cake, cookies, and waffles alongside your coffee—which may circumstantially be topped with sprinkles and whipped cream—have we got the place for you. It's all served in a bright and affirming room with the walls containing mantras such as "in everything give thanks." If the prospect of whipped cream coffee makes you nervous, worry not; we tried the cortado, and it was fantastic.
Why we love it: It's a joyful coffee experience that leans into the seasons.
Lakewood
Coffee Kitchen
Coffee Kitchen made a name for themselves by being one of the few in the South Sound serving up Victrola coffee pour-overs, totally local Mad Hat Tea, and they even give a nod to the area's Korean heritage with authentic Bingsoo shaved-ice treats. Come for the great coffee, stay for the charming surroundings.
Why we love it: Multicultural coffee influences at its best.
Gig Harbor
Cutters Point Coffee Co.
Cutters is a roaster based in Gig Harbor that also operates several shops in the South Puget Sound, and when they say they focus on service, they mean it. Starbucks-style friendly, but actually knowledgeable about coffee and happy to chat about it. Can you imagine?
Why we love it: Solid coffee, great experience.
Sumner
Craft 19
Located smack-dab in the middle of picturesque downtown Sumner, Craft 19 is a gem of a coffee house serving Dillano’s, roasted just a few blocks away. This ultra-modern, ultra-chic coffee spot is also a comfortable place to hang out for a couple hours, read a book, and eat a crepe (or three).
Why we love it: Hyper-local coffee, hyper-delicious crepes.
Electric Coffee House
"High design" applies to the drinks, but "minimalist" is just for the decor. Electric Coffee House slings cocktails, small bites, meals, and of course, a full menu of coffee drinks from Proud Mary Coffee. The spiced hot chocolate is a cut above the rest, and darn it, the folks that own the place—sisters Christina Chatha and Pawandeep—are just really cool, and that's scientifically proven to make the coffee taste even better.
Why we love it: Fantastic coffee made by fantastic people.
Buckley
Anchor House Coffee
If you want to feel like a Pacific Northwest local, Anchor House is simply the spot. Located right off Main Street in downtown Buckley, Anchor House never loses sight of its true place as a community hub. Don't get disoriented by the multiple chandeliers! Clutch an immaculate coffee made with their very own beans, borrow a book from the owner's collection of classic novels, and keep an ear open for the local gossip.
Why we love it: An actually unique coffee experience that helps you feel like a local.
Did we forget your favorite coffee spot? Tag us at @visittacomapiercecounty!
