Caffe Ladro - South Lake Union Fairview — Restaurant in Seattle

I use to love Ladro... the people... the espresso. Not thrilled with my last 2 morning visits. Today the seal around the portafilter failed, water dripping around and into the extracted espresso. I asked the barista to pull another shot and I got attitude. Yesterday... as the barista was pulling a shot for the only other person in the store, while still in line, I decided to look at the merch.... thinking I need to support Ladro not only with an espresso purchase but with a $20 travel mug. At this point the barista was still chatting with his "known" customer... 3 other guests appeared forming a line behind me. When it was my turn, the barista basically accused me of cutting in line 😲 but the other customers said I was here when the they got in line... behind me.

Well... I'm not giving up. I'll try again in the AM. Maybe the barista was just having a...

Can't recommend Ladro coffee enough. I order huge quantities of their Ladro and Diablo (medium and dark roast) beans for home brewing on my Gaggia Classic, but will occasionally swing through this cafe if I run out or just want something special. Baristas are always good, knowledgeable, and quick.

Keep in mind this is not a sitting cafe - very small, though you can go just south and sit at the open tables for Bar Harbor, if you need to.

Highly recommend ordering a Medici if you're not sure what to do! Espresso, chocolate, and orange peel. Good lord it's wonderful.

They sell coffee drinks, some light food, beans, and various accessories (which all look lovely - I just don't have space for more coffee...

I feel like a bit of a jerk. I travel a lot, work out of a lot of coffee shops, visit restaurants in bulk, and I like to write reviews. It occurred to me awhile ago that because of this volume, not every place can be five star. So for Ladro, I originally gave a 3 star review, which maybe was unfair. This is a great coffee spot. It’s in a unique building, the staff are great and the coffee is top notch. So while it’s not a religious experience, it’s a fabulous spot and you should...