Amazing place to go explore in Seattle! Loved the service: very friendly! The coffee was very flavorful and aromatic. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the different brews and coffees so the whole experience was very lovely! Had the Flight with 2 hot brews, 2 iced, a deconstructed cappuccino and a hot chocolate.The place is very cozy and small so it is definitely a place to go by yourself or 1-2 friends.

They dont pay their employees and fired employees unfairly, so they formed @coffeeatlarge. Be kind to baristas and go to coffee shops that actually do not scam their employees. Also who wants to pay 10 bucks for a deconstructed latte which is basically a cup of espresso, steamed milk, and water?

#1 in my list for coffee experience. Try the deconstructed espresso! The espresso has such a unique flavor and the milk is very interesting itself. It’s not really advertised as a latte place, it’s more of a “coffee purist” feel. coffee tasting at its finest.

Indeed serves the best coffee undoubtedly.Reasonably priced breakfast plates.Excellent Ambience. Nice songs in the background.V good & courteous staff.

This is my favorite coffee shop to visit. Freshly roasted coffee they can make with their own homemade coconut milk if you want. They have lovely staff, very friendly and helpful. You can get non-coffee drinks too. I love the place so much! Perfect!

Had such an amazing coffee experience here :)The barista knew his coffee and was very kind and chill.Would definitely visit again!

Great coffee. Small neighborhood feel. Friendly and attentive servers. Can be slow because all of the drinks are time consuming to make and theres often only one person working. Thats not an issue for me, because I dont get coffee to go, and part of what I want in a coffee shop is a place to sit for a little while.

Staffs are so kind and nice! We had a deconstructed espresso+ milk. Taste of milk was very special. Highly recommend! Lovely experience in seattle.

Cute little shop. Service was great and coffee was yummy!

Great coffee, I got their 12 oz espresso and milk and my boyfriend got their 4oz version of same thing. Mine was too milky for my personal taste, I think the sweet spot would be their 6oz offering. Not many seats but very attentive barista.

Espresso tastes like dessert...not coffee. Tiny shop so not somewhere I’d hang long, but definitely good spot for some really good caffeine.

Astonishing. Im geeked about the milk texture of my cortado. Delicious.

Deconstructed cappuccino!? Whats that!? After hearing about this I knew I had to try it. The concept is simple but the execution is stunning! I heard about Slate through listening to some coffee podcasts and I really wanted to make it to their OG location. Im glad I did! Service was some of the best Ive had and the coffee is great! The deconstructed cappuccino is a lot of fun and Im glad I made it in!

Same great coffee as the u district space, in a smaller building.

Cozy cafe with friendly staff and excellent coffee!

Small local coffee shop with seating for maybe ten people. Excellent espresso.

Small establish and it wasn’t very busy the morning I swung by. I had a pour over that is the best pour over coffee I have ever had. 2 weeks later and numerous other coffee shops across the country and I still haven’t found anything as perfect as that cup of coffee.Could I convince Slate to delivery a pour over to my home in Denver?!? :)

Looks cute, but door locked and nobody present at 8:30am ... says open at 7:30?

Two stars because it hasnt reopened since beginning of COVID and Im mad at that.

The staff is welcoming and provided excellent service.

Used to be one of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle, now it has really gone downhill. The service was really disappointing.The coffee itself is still pretty good, but if youre planning to sit down and have a cup. Honestly, just go somewhere else.

Delicious coffee, love the deconstructed coffee. Amazing almond milk & espresso

Very good coffee and in a very cool spot. Nice neighborhood. It seems that running a business in Seattle is now against the rules though with all the communists coming into town. Time to put up another Lenin statue I guess!

Did the coffee tasting. Very impressed. The server was incredibly knowledgeable and tailored the offerings to our tastes. I was also impressed with how reasonable the price was. For the experience we had I would have expected to pay more, but happy I didnt. Grabbed a bag of coffee for home and cant wait to try it. The hot coco was amazing.

Oh this place was so cool they had contests and trained people well. I lived right next door. The only issue was the place I lived in was not good way too many people in one house and I feel it affected the coffee shop and other places around as well.

Good coffee. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Tucked away around the corner from Market street it is not so easy to find, but well worth taking a few moments to do so. Fantastic neighborhood coffee haunt!

I dont know anything about their employment practices and I dont know anyone who works there. So maybe the bad press is true, maybe it isnt, I couldnt say. What I can confidently rate is the coffee. A solid 4 stars for sure (sometimes a 5). I mostly drink coffee for caffeine reasons not taste or experience, but would rate this a very enjoyable cup!

This is a small scale coffee bar with high scale coffee and espresso drinks. Stop in for a quick cup of Joe or enjoy sitting down with a fancier deconstructed latte. The staff is always friendly and its usually quiet enough that you can enjoy your drink without all of the hustle and bustle that plagues most of Seattles coffee shops.

Exactly what youd expect from a hip coffee place in Seattle

Great coffee and great service!

We love taking people here for the coffee flight. It takes a while to get through and youll be wired after, but it is a cool experience if you like coffee. Its a small place with not much seating, but the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the coffee is good.

Slate is easily my favorite 3rd wave roaster and coffee shop in Western Washington. While there are other Slate locations Ive had the most consistently excellent service at the Ballard location. If theres any downside its entirely a problem of Slate being too popular for its physical foot print. The shop can become crowded quickly and easily. Service is always pleasant and informative. For people familiar with order at the counter style coffee shops, it can be a bit off putting to find a seat and have the service come to you. Ive come to appreciate the method as it provides time to relax and contemplate your drink choices without feeling rushed. Of course, no review would be complete without speaking to the quality of the coffee. As Ive said, Slate is an exceptional 3rd wave roaster. Combining bean quality with skilled roasters and a supremely skilled bar staff leads to astoundingly good coffee. It is not hyperbole to say that Slate completely changed my view of single origin espresso. Just like any speciality coffee roaster/shop Slate can be a bit expensive, especially if you explore some of the more complex aspects of the menu; though the cost of an espresso is about on par with the majority of respectable coffee houses in Seattle.

Really great local coffee! If you like coffee with brighter, floral and fruity notes, you will love this place! They offer a wonderful coffee experience and are always eager to share the knowledge they have. Their coffee shop is just off the main street located in a neighborhood so there is always parking!

I like this place. Very comfortable atmosphere and the mocha was to die for. Excellent. I recommend this place.Angie J

If youre into coffee, you should definitely visit this spot. Very intimate and personal. Its like a dine-in restaurant, but for coffee! Get it to go at the counter or take a seat and enjoy a touch of table service! Waters, time to review the menu, and of course delicious coffee. We didnt try it, but they offer a coffee flight (an idea I thought would be so cool for coffee shops to implement - admittedly Im jealous they did it before I could take credit 😋) The Kenyan roast was 👌👌👌. We will be going back!

Awesome staff here. This is a huge draw as they are friendly, knowledgeable and provide pretty stellar service. The coffee is great, and the menu is a lot bigger than you would think. Try the tasting menu, its a little bit of everything and totally worth it.

Love the small, craft, craftiness of this understated shop. They have very friendly folks who can recommend for and speak to your tastes. Try the Flight if you have over an hour.

Pretty good coffee nice staff

Awesome place. I tried the deconstructed latte. It was a great experience. You cant imagine the level of attention to details at this cafe and it makes a big difference. Chelsea, the owner, and her colleague are super friendly. The place is small and hot on a hot summer but has a great neighborhood cafe feeling into it. Definitely recommend.

A little disappointed. Slate shows up on any search for the best cup of coffee in Seattle. I was underwhelmed. It was just OK. This location is t easy to find in Ballard - a little off the beaten path. Our barista was wonderful, though. Great customer experience.

Love love absolutely love this coffee shop. Besides their coffee being very delicious the people are knowledgeable and once you step into the shop they are wanting to not only share everything about the coffee but take you on a journey with their coffee. I recommend putting down your regular drink here and either get a hand brewed coffee or espresso. Theyll also make anything you want if youd like. Some of the most creative folk working barista youll find and most of them are bartenders in the evening around town. Check them out when you get a chance.

Excellent coffee and friendly staff. Felix was super helpful in guiding us towards the right coffee! If you can’t decide the coffee tasting is a great way to try everything.

Was told today that they no longer offer the tasting flight at the Ballard location, even though the website still says it is offered. This was disappointing, as we drove all the way from South Seattle specifically for the tasting--we could have had their coffee at a closer location in Pioneer square. Also, ordered a deconstructed latte and got a less-than informative description of the espresso only after asking specifically for information. Very disappointed. I used to bring all my out of town guests here--wont be doing that any longer. Staff were nice, just didnt seem knowledgable and the experience wasnt great, which is what Im willing to pay the slate price tag for.

Did an excellent job preparing coffee. Have the amazing slayer and know how to use. Often get some great single origins for their espresso. Only go for the deconstructed though. Be prepared for a dose of pretentiousness also.

Staff is very knowledgeable. Creative coffee. Small menu. Takes a little longer. Small coffee.

These guys I drank the best lat for the last 6 months. still it is pleasant that they use very tasty local milk. Good job.

The drive-through window service sucks. ;) And there’s no room in my car for the three separate cups needed for the Deconstructed Latte. How about making a special cup with three compartments, each with separate straws that are twisted together so I can enjoy all three flavors at once?! ;)

If you wanna geek out on coffee this is the place! Really casual and friendly and very knowledgeable people behind the counter. They roast their own beans so there is a really large variety of whole beans to purchase as well.

I dont live nearby anymore, but this is a place I specifically take my friends to when I want to introduce them to amazing coffee. The employees here take the time to explain everything about the coffee: the growing regions, the production process, the brewing method...They are so knowledgeable. Slate isnt just about great coffee; its an experience. Dont come here when youre in a rush to get to work. Come here when you can dedicate some time to actually enjoy your coffee. My favorite things to get are the Deconstructed Latte (which takes time to make), and their iced coffee. They are dog friendly and have wifi. They also sell a huge variety of whole-bean coffee to buy and will walk you through everything you need to know about that coffee to enjoy it to the fullest. Seriously. Do yourself a huge favor and come here. You wont be disappointed.

I got the deconstructed coffee! Interesting presentation, you get three glasses, one with espresso, another with milk and the third with both. The first glass with only espresso had an acidic-sour taste but it balanced well with their fancy creamy milk. Few of my coffee snobbish friends recommended this place, unfortunately I was underwhelmed. I guess its not the kind I like.Located away from the touristy area in Seattle. You got to go out of the way in order to try this place, luckily we had a rental car.Parking wasnt hard to find.The only thing that bothered me about the place were the people outside, which is obviously not their fault... but wow they were so obnoxiously loud and annoying!

One of my favorite coffee shops in the Seattle area. Period. The owner is very passionate about coffee and her process, and all the employees know their beans. Theyre consistent and always willing to help if you have any questions about coffee and their processes.

Really cool, authentic Seattle coffee experience. With an emphasis on the experience. Go here when youre not in a hurry. Sit and take in a flight of amazing coffee. Sit and enjoy as the barista wows you with helpful and interesting knowledge about your particular brew. My husband and I got a flight that started off with two different pourovers, then a deconstructed espresso + milk, and ended with a hot chocolate. The milk is local and tastes incredible. The coffee/espresso is clearly very carefully brewed/pulled by knowledgeable staff who are passionate about what they do - the taste reflects this. The building is pretty unassuming and there is not much seating, but this kind of adds to the magic of the experience. Loved it. Go here :)

I feel like a detractor even giving just 3 stars... This places coffee is excellent, but the hipster is cranked up to 11. Stemware for drinks? Uncomfortable seating? Blazing morning sun without blinds? Coffee is a smaller part of the equation in grading a coffee shop for me than most it seems.

This place used to be great. They used to prepare each and every coffee with extreme care and even love.However, after receiving a lot of attention and hype, they unfortunately started to transform into a yet another coffee shop that serves sloppy beverages, make customers wait for long time (i mean very long and sometime even you realize that your drink is forgotten)I really hope to see that they go back to what they were...

Great coffee! A little pricy, but a fun experience.

Slate is awesome. Get the deconstructed latte. Ask the barista about the milk they use. You will get educated properly here. It is small with limited seating so dont go in with your extended family.

Slate has the best coffee I have had anywhere, from Europe to South America, to all over the US. The staff is generally friendly, and one even remembers my preferences even when it is awhile between visits. I would give them five stars, but they are too expensive and their food selection is pretty weak. If their prices were lower and their food better I would be a regular, but as is Slate serves as a special treat or somewhere to take out of town visitors to show off the best of the Northwest.

An excellent shop and roaster. All of their beans in house are roasted by Slate and they do a fantastic job of crafting the light roast to perfectly compliment each beans diverse origin. A wonderful shop, beautiful presentation of drinks in long stemmed glasses (a first, for me). Thebbaristas that will go out of their way to answer questions and share their love of coffee with you.

This place used to be awesome and high quality, unlike anything in the area I had found. Unfortunately they decided to ditch Pure Eire milk in favor of the MUCH cheaper Twinbrook milk. I cant tell the prices have come down. Im hoping they did so at least the regulars get a price break for the now reduced quality.

Interesting place with no sign outside. The deconstructed espresso comes in a trio of glasses, and it was a very strange experience (in the best way possible).

The best coffee Ive had served by some of the most passionate baristas. Listening to the history of the beans and milk used in crafting your beverage really makes it an experience.2 years later and its still the best coffee in town, and one of my favorite places to treat myself.

Great coffee, hipster to the max. Literally 5 guys wearing Ray bans and plaid on their macbooks by the window. This particular location is quite small (probably seats 20 at capacity including outdoor seating) but the coffee is some of the best in Seattle.

One of the coolest little coffee shops in Seattle. Staff is knowledgeable without being pretentious. Actually, they are downright friendly. This is a coffee experience. Go when you have time to sit for a while and enjoy your time.

2 stars cause the coffee was decent. Options of flavors limited to chocolate. The barista was a bummer and seemed put out by my 2 coffee to go order. Ill be walking to a different coffee spot next time for sure.

This is in everyones top 3 coffee spots. Its a bit different than other coffee places. You wont want syrups and anything fancy, just let the baristas work their magic and you wont be disappointed.

Without a doubt the BEST iced coffee Ive ever tasted. They used a chemex and a shaker to make it - to order. These folks care about coffee. But if youre not a coffee nerd/snob dont worry, its modern but also welcoming with a neighborhood feel, and the staff is super friendly and full of information if you want it. The coffee they roast is on the level with stump town of any place like that - maybe even better. The food and coffee menu changes daily, which I think is pretty cool. If you live in this neighborhood make this your spot.

Super cute and cozy coffee spot. Was very happy I found this place when driving by. Great tasty coffee!!

Slate worked with a bartender to rethink the coffee experience. And came up with using bar glasses to serve coffee. My favorite drink is the espresso: it is served in a whiskey glass - and with the different shape of the drinking vessel - the flavor of the coffee is different - richer.

Great espresso.

Fabulous coffee and whole beans available. Parking is hard but worth a short walk. Great local coffee bar. Wonderful pastries brought in. Attentive staff all trained to give you a perfect cuppa joe, be it espresso drink, cold brew, pour over etc... Try a coffee tasting!!!

Slate is a coffee experience that is recommend to anyone interested in learning more about their coffee. As a rule they roast light so dont go expecting jet fuel but rather hints of lemon and nuts.My only suggestion is too budget more time than you might normally for coffee.

Really lovely surprise of a cafe, and local roaster, tucked in a residential neighbourhood. Excellent, focused service and high coffee knowledge. Friendly baristas. Tiny with limited seating, but a special find. Very good beans and wonderful pastries.

I asked the Barista to surprise me and she knocked it out of the park. Seriously, this drink is beyond! I dont even know what it is-a frothy iced Ethiopian blend of sorts. Im in love with this drink. This place just knows what to make the moment special. Its a relaxing environment, yet still personable and unassuming. Ill be coming back for sure.

Great coffee made by people that are passionate about coffee.If youre a coffee geek... or a hipster, you would love this place.

Deconstructed coffee was a fun experience and it did help to appreciate all aspects of a latte. Would like to try the Coffee Flight (takes about 1.5 hours, according to the barista) later some time.

This is my favorite coffee shop in Seattle, for the last couple years every time my wife and I head to Seattle we stop by their Ballard location.If you’ve never tried the deconstructed, do that. If you have, get what you like. A+

Great spot for people who love coffee. The menu is definitely on the snobby side, this is not the sort of place to take someone who is just looking for a no-frills cup of coffee. I highly recommend the hand-brewed coffee.

Plan on experiencing a focus on Slate... Black Coffee. This focus allows the team to provide one of the best coffee experiences youll ever have. Amazing hospitality, amazing product, and great atmosphere.

I have had a few of Seattles well-known coffee shops including Milstead and Espresso Vivace, and Slate made me the best cup of coffee I have had in the Seattle area.The pour over Ethiopian coffee was outstandingly smooth, and the espresso with milk was delicious. The barista was awesome and very helpful to someone like myself that is just getting into fine coffee.

Quaint little spot. Staff is nice and knowledgable, and the coffee is amazing! Especially like the deconstructed latte and their cold brew.

With coffee shops on every corner, this is my favorite unique experience in Seattle, its a small intimate space built with intention and great care and a unique menu. when i have the time i love to order a deconstructed latte.

This is the coffee equivalent of a grand cru wine bar. Specializes in light roast and you will realize that coffee is a fruit not a bean to be reduced to charcoal. Barristas are very knowledgeable and their tasting flights well worth the time.

Theyre pretty damn serious about their coffee here, but theyre nice about it. Dont come if youre in a rush. Do come if you want a really nice cup of joe.

Great coffee in a small shop nestled into a neighborhood just off of a busy street. Great spot to relax in the afternoon with treats from a local bakery

In this coffee drinkers opinion, this place has the best coffee in Seattle, a city of superlatives when it comes to caffeine. Not everyone will agree with this statement, but if youre serious about gourmet/artisanal/small-batch coffees, you owe it to yourself to develop your own opinion regarding Slate.

Always so good!

Excellent coffee - I dont even like coffee much and my cappuccino was so smooth and gentle to drink, it surprised me how tasty I found it. And such friendly service, with very kind staff.

Great coffee. Too bad they are well known to treat their employees with complete disrespect. Learn more about their unethical practices by following @coffeeatlarge on instagram.

Some of the best coffee in Seattle. The deconstructed latte is amazing, and so are their pour overs. There is limited seating space and its especially busy on the weekends.

Great deconstructed espresso in a cute neighborhood coffee shop. Loved the milk they use it is naturally sweet and the espresso was excellent.

Slate is probably my favorite coffee shop in Seattle- just know the experience is designed to be more intimate, and catered entirely around the art and preparation of the cup of coffee you are going to have. Sure you can bring a laptop and work, but come to slate and enjoy your time. Chat with the baristas, let them know how much you might or might not know about coffee, and they will be happy to help walk you through having one of the best cups of of coffee youve ever had! Leo is an awesome barista as well, that dude deserves a raise or two!

Their hand brew was delicious but dont come here if youre in a hurry.

This place had really great coffee. The barista even recommended a hike for me when I asked!

I just paid $5 for the worst americano of my life. So watery. Going to dump it out and get a new drink elsewhere.

They make the best cup of coffee that I had while in Seattle. Great beans to make at home, as well.

The absolutely finest beans, if youre looking for that complex high-altitude floral dankness.

Perfect place to expand your knowledge and appreciation of coffee. I recommend the Ethiopia Adisu Kidane.

Lovely coffee tasting flights and a must try deconstructed latte are highly enjoyable experiences.

Great atmosphere, excellent pastry and brilliant coffee!

If you know you know. Google coffee at large if you dont