First Avenue Coffee
1011 W 1st Ave Suite B, Spokane, WA 99201
The neon sign facing the street proclaims, ‘damn good coffee’. I say, Damn Straight! But it’s more and better than just that. As the retail shop of sister company, Roast House Coffee , First Ave Coffee takes obvious pride in serving a unique, full throated, high quality coffee/consumer experience.
Coffee:
Post inquiry, the barista replied, “Our Viva La Roche is a dark roast, super smoky, like being in a campfire, and it tastes like you’re licking an ashtray - in a good way. And our Coast to Coast is the other end of the spectrum. It’s a blend of Ethiopian from an all-woman producer in Columbia that tastes like Fruit Loops and Coco Puffs, with just a hint of coffee.” I think I’m going to like this coffee, I said to myself, but for sure, I love this barista. I was right on both accounts.
My drip was from their Viva La Roche beans, a single origin, “party of darkness” from Honduras which I found tasting intensely dark - almost burnt but void of any bitterness - and chocolaty, with a wrapper of smoke. It was both different and delicious. My cortado was made with their Coast to Coast, and while citrus, jammy, and sweet are not my preferred coffee adjectives, it had a chocolate overlay which collectively, made for a pleasant pairing with my cortado’s whole milk. Alternating between these gave me the sensation of a first sip, time and again, and I loved it.
Barista:
As described earlier, he was engaging and informative and he definatly dropped a lump of goodness into our cups. Equipment was clean and attentively managed.
Vibe:
Upon opening the door, I was overtaken by an aroma that was both comforting and curious, both warm and vibrant. As I stepped inside the visuals of the interior space were much the same, welcoming me in while beckoning me to explore. A seating space with comfortable lounge chairs and an overhead mobil of brass instruments sits between the entrance and a very spacious barista station. Merch was excellent, both coffee accessories and apparel, and their logo had me buying multiple stickers for myself and friends. The retail space measures about 3,000 sq ft including a mezzanine level and a separate coffee tasting bar where a free, first tasing experience appears to be a constant offering. As you make your way back into the space you come to an enormous, one piece, walnut slab table, and its right about there that the coffee aroma is overtaken by their in-house baked goods made in the back of the store. Food offerings were freshly made and featured excellent sweet, savory and protein options. Wall art featured a local photographer and other adornments include a large rendering of their very cool logo and a huge mobile of brass and percussion instruments hanging from the ceiling. Bathrooms were large, clean, and of first order. This is an interesting and comfortable space, that invites you to explore. In my view, more of a hang out and visit vibe vs hole up and work. Its cool enough to be rentable as an event space, which is one of their offerings.
Make You Better:
Nothing stood out as needing improvement at 1st Ave Coffee.
Adding to its many attributes (they roast their own, they brew their own, they bake their own, hell, I dunno, they probably roll their own) is a convenient location, just off the expressway, ten minutes from the airport and right next door to Gonzaga University. Overall, a damn great coffee experience.
~Clyde <3