A Seattle For All Seasons

As Seattle Coffee Company continues in its conquest of the city, Windhoekers will be happy to know that the stylish little coffee shop has recently opened in a new location.

Brewing one’s fancy of cappuccinos, con pannas and caffè breves at 324 Sam Nujoma Drive in Klein Windhoek and increasing the number of city stores to a cool five, there is truly a Seattle for all seasons.

On Independence Avenue, the feel is fast-paced and on-the-go. Situated across the way from The Pantry at Avani Hotel, Seattle Coffee welcomes a mishmash of tourists ahead of excursions, business people ducking in for a quick cup and me grabbing a beverage and a slice of warm, melt-in-your-mouth banana bread, before settling into a salon chair around the corner at King’s Plaza.

Seattle at Hilltop opposite the Grove Mall in Kleine Kuppe is similarly grab-and-go. More a kiosk than a bona fide coffee shop, the quaint little stand plies its caffeine trade just outside Food Lover’s Market and is the pick-me-up and final stop after a hefty grocery shop.

While for some that’s an iced coffee, for my mum it’s a creamy hot chocolate and a baby foamy for my little niece. Fast and functional, this Seattle is a little different from the one just a few metres away.

In Grove Mall, Seattle is the best of both worlds. Offering ample seating in an aesthetic, well-lit and spacious interior for those keen to linger but certainly buzzing with shoppers who prefer a carry-out, Grove’s take on Seattle has a sexy city feel and is the haunt of teens chasing legal highs, digital nomads making the most of the Wi-Fi and shoppers taking a break or simply enjoying a treat of freshly made quiches, cupcakes or pastrami sandwiches before heading home.

Meanwhile in Wernhil, we have arguably the least impressive Seattle of the bunch.

Though swanky leather couches and general franchise elements are present, the uncharacteristically disinterested barista, apocalyptically empty store and odd view of the pineapple specials in the Food Lover’s down below leaves one somewhat wanting.

So, after popping in one afternoon and shuddering at the thought of staying, I make a beeline for Seattle’s newest jewel.

In Klein Windhoek, I settle into the kind of Seattle I know and love and which I’ve enjoyed since I was a teen. Back then, Seattle was partnered with Exclusive Books and I’d spend hours enjoying coffee and literature (two of my favourite things) at the company’s South African flagship store in Cape Town’s Cavendish Square.

Though there’s no book store at the Sam Nujoma Drive shop, the place is ripe for reading.

Outside seating teases a caffeinated summer and inside, comfy couches extend an invite below a mirrored statement wall. A row of solo seats face the busy street including Klein Windhoek Police Station, as you thank your lucky stars you’re not in its seemingly endless certification queues.

Seattle’s signature big blue mugs provide a homey feel and the zippy, open Wi-Fi is a boon for work from home types in need of a change of scene.

Happily operating under the tagline “the way you like it”, Windhoekers are certainly spoiled for choice when selecting a Seattle. Look forward to friendly and energetic baristas, great coffee and stylish scenes as the city’s spirited caffeine conquest welcomes a new contender.

– martha@namibian.com.na ; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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