Snohomish Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Snohomish

sighs I don’t want to make my honest review as I’m rooting for this new business but I have some grievances and I hope as a new business they will take this into consideration as they move forward. If improvements are made I will be more than happy to change my review.

First, customer service could be better. Look I get it, but it’s Snohomish. Some amount of friendliest is expected. And if you’re going to be defensive with a customer you better be in the right- I know this is your baby. And I know what it’s like to be in coffee and deal with uneducated customers (I did my time). But even the approach is VERY off putting, you can educate your customers with kindness (also don’t try to school them when you aren’t 9000% sure you’re right cough cough cortado). Everyone I have gone with has said something about the attitudes of people behind the counter. Look you don’t have to make conversation but a smile is nice? Also make sure your counter person is educated on their products and not just going off their script. It doesn’t seem they know all the products all that well and can’t discuss it outside of general knowledge.

Second, pricing. Do you not want us to tip? Because I paid $8 for a cortado- granted it was with milk alternative but in a cortado charging $1.25 for a different milk when it’s literally 1-2oz of milk is actually just a little insane if you ask me. I did tip with this cortado because I expect to tip. I understand cost of may be business is high but you seem pretty busy and I was just in NYC and paid less for coffee and matcha (w/ milk alternatives & only third wave coffee). If the prices were more reasonable I would probably come 3x a week. I just can’t do that right now- your coffee is more of a “splurge”. And if I’m splurging I’m probably opting for better options.

Lastly, the product. If we’re all paying $10 for a drink it better be worth it. Unfortunately, the price point isn’t matching the quality. Is it an improvement from Looking Glass- yes. But that ain’t saying much. Now maybe I’ve gotten unlucky on the days I’ve come but also that means you’re lacking consistency.

—The drip coffee. The coffee beans you could tell were good but it was a bit too watery also there was coffee grounds in it. Not great.

—The matcha/tea lattes. What sugar are you using cause my god they were so sweet that I had to dump both of them out (once a London fog, once a matcha) and I said 1 pump and it was crazy sweet. The matcha is either a “matcha latte mix” or it’s culinary grade matcha because it’s too sweet, doesn’t have the right color and it doesn’t taste like ceremonial grade matcha. Matcha latte mixes- suck. Matcha drinkers be warned you will be extremely disappointed by the Matcha. UNLESS (which I suggest) you guys change it to “ceremonial grade” matcha. barista at the counter could not answer what grade of matcha it was just that it was form everything tea. If you aren’t willing to educate yourselves on your product don’t sell it.

— decaf: your decaf sucks, I’m assuming you’re not sourcing your own? Though I didn’t ask. So bitter. I know decaf is a league of its own but I’m telling you invest in a good decaf and learn to pull it correctly. Which leads me to my last point.

— Espresso: I did have a good cortado so to me it did seem there is potential to have good shots. But I have had a disappointing espresso there so it seems to be hit and miss. We live in 2025 there is no reason you shouldnt know how to pull a shot. If you aren’t already you should be dialing in your espresso every day. You should be weighing your espresso in the portafilter after you grind it. IMO you should be weighing and timing your shot. Weighing maybe at least while y’all are still getting the hang of it- timing is a nonnegotiable and I definitely watched someone pull a 10 second shot.

Oh also the seating could be improved- giant table with too many chairs for the amount of space. I personally could do without the kids toys makes it too...

This space has previously been a meeting hub for the town. It’s unfortunate for a business to hold the rent on this huge community space, and close it so early in the day before most people in town are out of school or work. I kept trying to visit only to find it was already closed for the day.

When I have managed to get in on a weekend, the food has been flavorless and the coffee is watered down. I’ve given it multiple chances, but it’s too expensive to keep trying. Service has been incredibly slow. Orders take forever and the lack of flavor is disappointing.

The character and charm of the previous establishment has been replaced with cheaply made plywood fixtures and spindly stools that are only comfortable if you’re 19 and 120lbs. There’s no privacy for folks who want to meet to talk over coffee. Everything is shared seating, shared benches, shared counters. Previously, there was a nice blend of shared seating and more private seating options in this space. An open layout of this historic space strips away the coziness and intimacy many folks seek out in a coffee shop, which is a shame because it’s such a great space for everyone when it has comfortable seating and individual tables.

I’ve held off giving a review, but I’m tired of folks sharing honest experiences of this new shop only to have their reviews immediately and swiftly counter-corrected within the hour by 1-3 rapid five star reviews. It’s a small town. That only works in big cities. Many in town can recognize some of the names and faces and their connections to the business and understand what’s going on here. I’m sure several five star reviews will appear moments from now to counter balance this review, but nothing can outrun bland coffee and bad food. The reviews can’t be fixed by family and friends forever. Folks are trying to explain where the business is falling short and not serving such a large meeting space crucial to Snohomish.

In Washington, there are too many options to have subpar coffee, I expect they will fix that well enough on their own. But at the very least, please bring on a chef or someone who has better food experience. The food options are truly abysmal, they’re not at a professional level. Previous reviews (folks can scroll down to read, they’re still there) have been answered by the owners telling customers to leave and go to the nearby bakeries in town instead? …What? Who would make multiple trips for coffee and a treat, that’s the purpose of going into a sit-down coffee shop. Reading those responses, it feels like their business model would be better as a coffee stand. Part of holding the rent on a space this large is to offer a fully functioning coffee shop. Unfortunately for this business, that includes food options. This isn’t a drive thru, people expect an indulgent treat with their coffee in a sit down shop, not granola bars and $4 muffin bites.

It’s clear friends and family are keeping the review rating up, but at the very least, someone needs to tell them about the food if you truly want them to succeed. Please bring someone in to save the menu and bring it up to a professional level. Narrative Coffee in Everett is a great model to look to for what a coffee shop holding a larger space should offer its community. Their prices are a little steeper than some, but the food merits it. They’re not serving tiny squares of birdseed to folks who want to spend an afternoon enjoying a coffee and something tasty. I would love to see a coffee shop succeed in this space. I’ve missed the previous coffee shop in this space very much, especially the coziness, quieter atmosphere, more comfortable seating, and good food appealing to the whole community. Reviews won’t fix that this shop is too expensive and unpleasant to...

7/13 update… I find it odd how every honest review giving this place a critical & low rating is instantly outweighed by a surplus of hyperbolic positive reviews from people who only have one or two other reviews, not local even, to their name. Nothing screams fake reviews more loudly than this 😅 Heard Visible Coffee is opening soon on First, and they have AMMAAAZZZIIINNGGG coffee and stay open late — hallelujah!!

Update: gave it another shot today and it’s shockingly worse. They now have “White Chocolate” … it’s not though. It tastes like alcohol tinged cough syrup, bitter and gross. The barista remade my drink ($7+ for a triple Americano with flavor) but there was literally zero difference — the “vanilla” has the exact same acrid flavor. I advised the barista I couldn’t drink it. Was told “sorry” and not offered a refund despite only having been able to drink 4 sips. (Coffee flavor itself is ultra weak and lackluster.) Left my very full expensive drink there and bought a new one at another coffee shop in town. Avacado toast was on an anorexic peice of bread, too much chunky balsamic glaze, and was just meh 😑 Will not be back. ….

The quaint, cozy, vintage atmosphere has been destroyed, replaced by a generic bleak minimalist neutral look, replete with hard furniture, bright lights, and the typical super high prices that always seem to accompany minimalist lifestyle shops. The coffee tastes like a light roast Columbian blend, like Folgers, not a high quality single origin SE Asian Arabica or Ethiopian, which pull the best espresso shots in my picky barista opinion. To make matters worse, the shots didn’t have crema and sat for too long before being poured, thus were expired and dull tasting. No white chocolate. They said it’s because they make their own syrups and haven’t developed a recipe for it yet, which is cool and all — but yikes! $12 for a quad 16oz Vanilla Latte is exorbitant. Really. Couldn’t afford food at that price point even if I wanted it, which considering their meager and bland offerings,...