Ghost Note Coffee

"You can find hand tampers, steamer wands, and baristas who think they’re too cool for you at any Seattle cafe. But at Ghost Note, cocktail shakers are also part of their toolkit. There’s a lot of precision that goes into their caffeinated drinks—there’s even a cold espresso infused with smoked grapefruit rosemary syrup that’s served neat in a coupe. We’re big fans of the mocha shake that comes with chocolate shaken with espresso and toasty malt, complete with orange rind for zing. But the greatest concoction under their roof is the espresso float. It’s an iced latte cut with local root beer, vegan cream, and root beer bitters that has a great combination of stiff coffee and sarsaparilla spice, which then gets calmed down with a touch of creamy sweetness." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley

"Most flavored espresso drinks add something sweet to balance out (or mask altogether) the bitter coffee taste. But Capitol Hill’s Ghost Note takes it up several notches of sophistication with concoctions like the Lush Life, a cold drink that features almond milk and orange blossom honey to smooth out the espresso, and then — Emeril-style BAM — throws in some grapefruit aromatics to add an edge of tart citrus. It’s an incredible summer beverage, and all of the drinks here have that same level of elevated flavor alchemy. (They look good in photos too.)" - Mark DeJoy, Eater Staff

"You can find hand tampers, steamer wands, and baristas who think they’re too cool for you at any Seattle cafe. But at Ghost Note, cocktail shakers are also part of their coffee-making toolkit. A lot of precision goes into their caffeinated drinks—as evidenced by a cold espresso infused with smoked grapefruit rosemary syrup and served neat in a coupe. We’re big fans of the malted mocha that comes with drinking chocolate and orange rind. But the greatest concoction is the espresso float. It’s essentially a creamy iced latte cut with local root beer. There isn’t much space to spread out, but a drink to go will be the best thing to happen to your car’s cup holder." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"Ghost Note’s espresso tonics, lattes, and other offerings are an elevated experience. The Lush Life, with its hint of grapefruit, is the heavy hitter here but this is a cafe that benefits from repeat visits to sample the menu. Try the Spring Tonic: tonic water, espresso, a nonalcoholic apertif, and lavender bitters. Or ask for a suggestion, because the menu is always evolving." - Rachel Hopke, Harry Cheadle, Eater Staff

"The most exciting NA concoctions are the ones that break the molds established by traditional cocktail culture. Like the Sun Ship, one of the signature drinks at Ghost Note. It’s technically a coffee beverage, but you would be forgiven for forgetting that there’s espresso in it — there’s also coconut water, lime, and smoked grapefruit rosemary syrup. It’s refreshing with strong citrus notes, but the rosemary adds a deep herbal aroma to it. At the cafe, it comes in a coupe glass garnished with a hefty sprig of rosemary." - Harry Cheadle