Milstead & Co.
754 N 34th Street, Seattle, WA 98103
A wedding womple found us in coffee centric Seattle where, after numerous ‘mid’ experiences, we found a shop that rocked our coffee world. Under the Aurora bridge, just six hundred feet downhill from the Fremont Troll, sits Milstead and Co, a carefully curated multi-roaster of uncompromising quality and imminently worthy of excursion.
Coffee:
Milstead buys beans from a handful excellent roasters (during our visit, Idle Hands, Camber, Olympia, Heart, Sweet Bloom, Stamp Act, Ruby, Broadcast, and Kuma) and rotates their offerings regularly. We started with a Kuma espresso that delivered a velvet chocolate fig syrup without a hint of acidity. Gorgeous! Clyde’s coffee was a Guatemalan Arcoins by Stamp Act that tasted of toasted nuts and milk chocolate. It was so good, Clyde ordered a second. Each cup of coffee is individually brewed using an Aeropress and exacting precision.
Barista:
Founder, Andrew Milstead, has knowingly commented that, ”Good service can make a good product great, but bad service can make a good product bad." We heartily agree and readily understand why, “People come here for not only the coffee, but the service too.” Our experience began with a description of the flavor profiles of their four current offerings. We found this to be a refreshing turnabout from the half a dozen other coffee shops we sampled in Seattle. This sommelier-like introduction, void of any snobbery, was a tip off that Milstead is committed to an elevated experience. The Aeropress barista freely offered up full details of their brew protocol. They were engaging and informative, and served an educational experience along with heaps of barista goodness into every cup.
Vibe:
Modern, clean lined and comfortable. The space is defined by loads of glass and natural light creating an airy feeling among the mix of high top and low top wooden tables. The glass garage door facing their garden patio was closed but we’d love to visit again when it opens to Troll Avenue, the greenery of their outdoor outdoor patio, and the vibe of Fremont. Music was really well curated for a Sunday morning; think alternative folk (Fleet Foxes). A glass case presented a selection of about two dozen different bakery items.
Make You Better
Some alternative, comfy seating in the back would be nice. And we’d also suggest a replacement for their metal stools on the high tops. They may encourage people not to make a day of it in their sleek space, but of that particular stool, we are not fans. The stickers were tremendous (animal themed), but merch was sadly limited. The logo is fab and presents a real opportunity (T-shirts, we are in Seattle right?? And hats please!)
Eminently worth a pilgrimage on its own merits, you can easily tie in a Milstead coffee with the Fremont Troll, and perhaps the fabulous Fremont Brewery (top notch merch!!!), or a Sunday shop at the fabulous Fremont Farmer’s Market. Top to bottom, this place is special.
~ Matt & Clyde <3
