Fuel Coffee & Books — Restaurant in Seattle

Full disclosure, I do cafe hopping reviews for Atmos for working, Internet, and Tea (not coffee, sorry).

Tea: Fun! They have proper loose leaf leaves, and even a few blacks and an oolong. Definitely a better tea game than the avg Seattle cafe. As a person who often orders tea at coffee shops, I would recommend this over a lot of other places that use tiny dustings of small bagged standards like Bigelow. haha. I ordered Ambrosia Black Tea, the flavor notes are unique for sure! The tea comes in an unbleached pouch and I can steep it as long as I want to my liking. 👍🏻

P.s. The mugs! Love. They chose to stock a fun to pick up mug that has a perfect sized resting place for the thumb and a very natural curve for the rest of the hand and fingers to the bottom. Holding the mug is effortless and fits like a glove - a small detail of pleasure I wasn't expecting :)

Atmos: Great! There are 3 standard tables up front + window seating, and in the back past the book cases is a giant L couch + 4 standard tables + 1 large group table (seats 8ish). The lighting is nice and warm colored in the back. Music does play, alternative, almost too loud in the back but I think I can still focus for work.

Internet: Decent. I have about 50-65% quality on the wifi symbol. I had zero issues using it for basic actions. I cannot speak to any video quality if that's what you're hoping for.

Overall a great cafe and decent chance I would keep it in my cafe...

One of the awesome cafes of community in Wallingford. I should mention a heartwarming episode at Fuel that happened during last summer — It was one of heat wave weeks in Aug and I was escaping from my apt with no A/C (!) as room temperature was almost like 89 degrees.

Exhausted, I finally arrived at Fuel coffee and ordered an iced latte and then realized I forgot my wallet because my brain was half-baked, too. I told the barista that I needed to go back to my apt and it would take 20 min, and he showed the most humane action to me — “No, it’s okay, take it with you. You can pay later anytime you want. It’s crazy boiling outside and anyway we’re closing in 30 min.”

Was that a halo behind his head? I could not thank more than ever because I was almost dying in my sweat at that moment. That latte literally helped me to get alive back.

The very next day I went back to the cafe, and ordered the same drink (like in the picture) and paid double. I wish I knew the kind guy’s name, but definitely he earned good karma. I guarantee it.

And yeah, their coffee is high-end because they roast their own beans, too. So I don’t need to cross the bridge to head Elm or Anchorhead when I need...

I never write bad reviews, but couldn’t ignore the attitude of the staff at this place. I came here twice and the first time baristas were just not friendly, but the second time they were rude. I came in with my dog and sat down to quickly eat my food, while one of the baristas came to me and asked if my dog was a service animal, I said no, and they just said that I have to leave and can’t stay inside. Don’t get me wrong, I totally respect the ‘only service animals’ policy (which I didn’t know this coffee shop has) and happy to leave if that’s the case, but I do think that the staff has to communicate it nicely and politely. After the way I was talked at though, I don’t want to come back even...