Arctos Coffee and Roasting Co. — Restaurant in Spokane

I walked into the warm and inviting roasting area of Arctos Coffee in Spokane, Washington, and immediately liked the vibe. The room was kept at a comfortable 74°, which made it nice. I didn’t have to sit and freeze my backside off.

They featured gentle coffee shop jazz and pop with mostly female vocalists. There wasn’t anything annoying or distracting, which was really nice. It was exactly the ambience you want for a coffee shop. It was something to touch off gentle conversation and add some feeling to the place without being overwhelming.

One table at the entrance, coffee roasting area at the beginning. It’s a little bit different setup where you walk in and then find where to sit. One super-connected, great long table in the center of the store. There were Gonzaga people sitting there. Clearly everyone else was doing the laptop lifestyle. Two other people were actually chatting. A rare moment for sure.

They’ve got their own labeled Arctos Coffee, and they’ve got fun-labeled mugs, glassware, hats, ground and roasted coffee, and other kitsch for sale. They do have baked and made snacks by the bar.

In the entryway, they have nice commercial vinyl plank that looks like real wood flooring. However, inside the main sitting area is a classic smooth concrete floor. The interesting thing is, there’s enough in the room that it’s not loud at all. A lot of times, these concrete-floor places are loud, but Arctos Coffee seems to have figured out the magic. It makes it fun to listen to the barista create her own form of music without being too distracting.

They’ve got flags and stickers for Gonzaga and all sorts of other fun college ideas to sticker up your laptop. It’s definitely a college location with some professors as well. They have a ceiling fan running to get a little bit of air circulation. During the summer, they have the garage-door roll-up style windows that they can open to cool things down. The one downside would be the road noise, but that’s a trade-off.

They had fun holiday decorations, since I came here in the fall. Pumpkins, leaves, and themed decorations. It was very nice. They had flags for Washington State Cougars, University of Washington, Northwestern University, Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University. They definitely have great representation here.

I had a hot chai tea latte and asked for it to be foamed with a little bit of sprinkles on top. Totally perfect. The amount of foam was incredible, and the taste was excellent. The advantage to the foam is that it keeps the drink warm, so that’s very nice.

The young lady running the cash register was sweet and totally attentive. Even though she was busy with two other drinks, she engaged me and started asking what I wanted. She guided me to a menu so I could get going while she finished up the other people’s orders. While I was still kind of looking around the coffee shop, I was surprised she had already finished my drink. It was way faster than other stores.

This is definitely a place where my thriller characters would come to quietly discuss things. I would have no trouble writing a chapter here. You don’t talk too loud because others are very respectful. This is more of a quiet location, which is pretty nice. You can have a conversation without having to yell over anything. That’s really nice compared to some places.

They do have a restroom with a security code, so make sure you buy something. They have a refrigerator with some cheese, snacks, chai drinks, applesauce, and other sundries. Their grab-and-go menu is pretty extensive, so if you just need to snag something and punch out, you can do it.

This coffee shop definitely has the Gonzaga vibe written all over it, which is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a place with college energy, but still silent studying for students working on their aspirations and hopes. I love that style of academic energy where everybody is in the same place, in the same boat.

When I’m in Spokane, I will definitely return here. The vibe is great, and the hot chai tea latte...

★★★★★ Best Café Latte of My Life – and That Pistachio Latte? Unreal.

I can’t say this enough—Arctos Coffee & Roasting Co. is phenomenal. I’ve had a lot of coffee over the years, but their café latte was truly the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly smooth, rich, and balanced, with expertly steamed milk and a shot of espresso that was bold without a hint of bitterness. Absolutely flawless.

And the pistachio latte? Just wow. Creamy, slightly nutty, and subtly sweet—it was comforting and luxurious without being overpowering. It’s one of those drinks you think about long after you’ve finished it.

On top of the world-class coffee, the vibe here is warm, welcoming, and full of character. The baristas are friendly and clearly take pride in every drink they make.

If you’re anywhere near Spokane and love good coffee, this place is a must. Arctos doesn’t just serve great coffee—they set the bar. Highly,...

This is a difficult review because I love everything about this place EXCEPT for the service. The employees are great - but they aren't staffed properly. Saturday morning, as busy as it gets, line out the door, and one person making coffee. Well, two, but one has to run the register so basically one person served at a time. I feel bad for the employees because it's not their fault they don't have any more help. This isn't an unusually busy time during a normally quiet day - it's consistently busy every Saturday morning yet they can't staff appropriately. Just a fair warning for those who don't have 30 minutes to wait in line just to order. Then another 5-10 to...