Development on a micro scale grabbed my attention months ago when I began to notice quirky little coffee huts in parking lots beside Hwy 410 and 169. The other day, I counted 18 on my way to my daughter’s house in Maple Valley— about one coffee kiosk every mile. To be clear, these aren’t Starbucks (Starbucks began here at Pikes Market); they’re tiny one-person drive thru stands. Coffee is a big deal here! In the winter it gets dark at about 4:30 when daylight savings time ends; locals call it “The Big Dark.” The PNW coffee culture is about staying awake! Here’s a sample of roadside bean roasters that I see almost daily. I haven’t tested them all, but I may yet become a coffee connoisseur.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”2″ gal_title=”Coffee shops”]