A Seattle neighborhood is defined by its independent coffee shop, perhaps more than any other eatery. We are a city known for our espresso - while Seattle may have fame as the home of a particular global coffee shop empire, most Seattle natives will eschew these offerings in favor of a locally owned and operated cafe. My favored source to feed this ubiquitous Northwest addiction is Wayward Coffeehouse, a unique Greenwood coffee shop. 
Like any other small business, each local coffee shop has a personality. Some specialize in the chrome-and-wood upscale ambiance, some are more well known for their baked goods than their beanjuice, and some are comfortable enough to remind you of your own living room, full of comfy couches and intimate seating arrangements.
As a self-described dork, Wayward quickly won my heart with their application of (admittedly nerdy) terminology for their drinks. Nothing puts me on edge going into a cookie-cutter coffee shop and feeling like the barista is going to throw a portafilter at me for lowering their property values if I show up "as you are" on a Sunday morning. If I feel like coming in for coffee wearing vorpal bunny slippers, pulling up a chair in the corner with my laptop and spending three hours cranking out character sheets for my next D&D game... then dangit, that's what I'm going to do. A cafe shouldn't stress you out, it should be a place you're comfortable. This Greenwood coffee shop lends itself well to a relaxed feel.
For some folks, including myself, coffee shops are a special blessing when trying to get things done at home just doesn't work. If I have some emails to catch up on or some sketchbook pages to finish, I'm going to have much better luck at a coffee shop because I won't have a pile of dirty dishes in the other room screaming for attention - and I know I'm not the only person who's the same way. Take heart, my easily distracted locals! This Greenwood coffee shop has a plethora of tables and more homey seating arrangements in addition to their coffee, tea, and sandwiches. It's the next best thing to home, especially when being home means pushing a vacuum around for three hours.
Not everyone is a fan of straight espresso (which, even at its best, can have a certain "I feel like someone just punched me in the face with a shot glass full of jet fuel!" quality) and this coffee shop has a varied selection of delicious latte and mocha flavors handily recorded on the 
whiteboard for your drinking pleasure. Whether you like it sweet, spicy, or strong - you'll find your drink here, as well as tasty sandwiches and berry-frosted sugar cookies. Yum! My favorite drink at this unique coffee shop is the Muad'Dib latte, which is full of spicy goodness like real ginger and wakes you up faster than any straight espresso drink could dare attempt. For those of you who have read Dune - fear not - while the addictive deliciousness may bring imaginary desert spices to mind, it does not actually taste like sand.
This coffee shop is also more than bit of a neighborhood nexus. If I spend more than fifteen minutes at the coffee shop, instead of just running in for a drink and then running back out to catch the bus, I almost always run into someone I know. Who doesn't love that? If your solo study session has turned into a gabfest, you're likely not going to get much work done, but at least you're having fun, right?
So, whether or not you're part of the Bene Gesserit - whether or not you know what a Browncoat is - and whether you just need to get some work done or you're hoping for an impromptu game of Apples to Apples: let this Greenwood coffee shop love you, and your friends, as you are.
Wayward Coffeehouse
8570 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle WA 98103
Phone: (206) 706-3240
http://www.waywardcoffeehouse.com
An Independent Greenwood Coffee Shop
Open 7 days a week, 6:30 AM to 11 PM M-F and 7 AM to 11 PM on weekends
Sci-fi & fantasy film viewings on the first Friday of the month
Check out Wayward and other great independent Greenwood coffee shops on Indie Coffee Shops!
This is a great resource for the diehard supporters of local coffee shops who can't go a day without their fix.
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