Makeworth Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Bellingham

In the months since my original review I've made Makeworth a regular stop on my trips downtown. The coffee is still great, the bakery selection is still great, and the overall ambience of the space is developing an identity that is uniquely Makeworth in a city like Bellingham. A friendly, approachable staff ties the knot on this fantastic cafe.

It's now constantly filled during the busy afternoon hours, so I'd say come early if you're looking to secure a good spot to work, especially if you need a jolt of power to charge devices. The natural light and the staff selected music is definitely a boon to creative workflows and focus.

To be frank the mercantile aspect of the space still eludes me, but others might be tickled by the offerings. I'll probably still look to buy direct from local craftspeople when I'm in need of such things.

On food: I'm a huge fan of the breakfast frittata sandwich, it's well done, reasonably priced and delicious. I still haven't tried the toasts. I probably should by this point, but overall their offerings have expanded and I'm happy to see that. In addition to food, their wine and beer selection has also found a refreshing rotation of offerings. Definitely a good bunch of booze.

I'm happy to see what Makeworth has become and I'm excited to see where it continues to go. It's breathed life into a corner of downtown that has been plagued with cafe closures in the past. It's definitely refreshing to see it thrive.

Cheers!

Original Review:

Makeworth offers a bright and beautiful communal space that ultimately ends up feeling a bit blank. The space is a Pinterest masterpiece that I hope (and believe) will grow into something great.

The staff is friendly and the coffee was fantastic, but I must say that of all the americanos I've ordered, the three I've ordered at Makeworth were notably the slowest.

For food they have (pricey) toasts and a selection of outsourced bakery offerings. I have yet to try anything on the toast menu out of a cost-value principle, but the bakery is well stocked and I'll likely continue to stop by for my scone fix.

In their curated gallery of products I would love to see a more local-first mindset, or at least an expansion with their selection. I know there are some well crafted products coming from makers in Bellingham that are of the same if not better quality than some of the products coming from out of state.

Overall I wouldn't say Makeworth offers a bad experience, but I don't find that it offers a memorably unique one either. I'll keep my eyes peeled and an open mind and will do my best to update my review if my feelings change. I am excited for the potential of the space, and hope to see it succeed...

This review is going to be a bit lengthy as it will include the cafe as well as the Makeworth coffee that is roasted and brewed on-site, both of which are deserving of the 5-star rating. The cafe is one of Bellingham’s “must visit” locations. It is one of those places that bridges the gap between cafe and social club where anyone is welcome. The menu of both food and drink will have something for everyone. But may I recommend the autumn vanilla latte for first-timers, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Lastly, I must make mention of the staff. Rarely do I find a spot where everyone is nice, warm, welcoming and knowledgeable. They literally have a “dream-team” and make this establishment the truly incredible place that it is. And now the coffee: usually when a cafe decides to venture into roasting its own coffees there is that learning-curve time where they get used to the equipment and the process. A good coffee to come out of that “breaking in” time is a rarity. But having purchased and tried every bean they offer, the coffees have been nothing short of exquisite from day 1!! I’m not sure what sort of dark secret incantations are infused into their coffees, but I am amazed. Two favorites would have to be the Ethiopian and the anaerobic...

I've been coming to Makeworth since shortly after they first opened. It's a bright, lively (if noisy) place with friendly servers and expertly roasted coffee. Unfortunately, they've lost a fair amount of quality as they've gained success. Originally, they offered freshly made food that was exceptional, but (a couple of years ago) they had to switch to Starbucks-style convection ovens and pre-made wraps and baked goods to keep up with increasing volume. Understandable but still a bummer. I kept coming anyway because I'm a coffee snob and I could get outstanding pour-overs at MW. But today, my pour-over was watery, which surprised me until I noticed that they don't do pour overs by hand anymore--they switched to a Moccamaster machine that pours the water too quickly and likely doesn't include a bloom. On top of that, the barista forgot all about my pour-over, so it sat for quite a while after it was ready. If you're into espresso drinks like lattes and such, none of this likely matters-- you'll love the place! But if you're looking for exceptional coffee and food, I have to honestly say that it's dropped from excellent...