Pioneer Coffee Roasting Company

Their proprty owner has flat out refused to resign the lease and they have until March 31 to get out. I’ve heard that it’s basically an old grudge of some sort and some concerns about how busy they get during the summer (For the record I’m not stating this as fact, just bits and pieces I’ve heard).
It’s a shame that a property owner can be so narrow minded as to get rid of a reliable tenant. This is going to leave a large hole in the neighborhood and reallly no good option to buy coffee from a local business on Alki. This place has a very loyal following of people who come for excellent coffee and the welcoming and efficient baristas.
For my part I will come here as many days of the week as I can right up until the bitter end. They say they’re trying to find some place nearby to rent and I hope they do. But they will be very sadly missed.

Wonderful cozy and comfy atmosphere with waterfront view and fireplace, great coffee, decent prices, and the nicest baristas ever!
Gluten free alert: They have gluten free scones here. The raspberry with slivered almond ones are good enough to make you question why you would want to eat regular wheat-​filled scones.

Alki Beach is home to many, many coffee shops. Pioneer, while cozy and popular, would not thrive in any other location. I went here five times during my stay in Washington. The black coffee almost seemed like it was brewed incorrectly — wrong proportions of water and grinds was what I always tasted. The lattes were ok, but handed out in paper cups even when they were ‘for here’ — it was your job to put your own lid on. The whole process seemed silly and precocious to me.
I just wasn’t impressed, but I had this impression that they didn’t actually care how I felt about the place anyways.
What I did love about Pioneer was that it had plenty of open seating and was extremely kid friendly. The baristas, while not entirely chatty, were friendly enough and had a good rapport with the locals. And the food they sold, sandwiches and pastries alike, were delicious and reasonably priced.
I wished it stayed open later than 7 pm on the weekdays, but I can see why they shut it down that early. Not busy enough to make money, I suppose.

We stopped in here on a typical, summer Saturday and what a nice surprise! We attempted to hit Slices but after a 15-​minute wait in line, still 8 people in front of us, we decided to go elsewhere.
The gals working at Pioneer Coffee were so friendly to my entire family. We ordered a bucket of beers ($ 12 for 5 Pacificos!), a cookie and a sandwich. The cookie tasted a bit off but I think it was gluten-​free. The sandwich was awesome but a tad on the expensive side.
We will definitely be back for beverages. Great, friendly place.

I can’t think of a better place to caffeine on Alki. Skip Starbucks and Tully’s and visit the best baristas on the beach. Their service and quality are always on point and they always remember my order. They have the cheapest beer on the strip as well!

I struggled with giving this place one or two stars but finally decided on two for the view. Below are more specifics:
1. Coffee: bitter and acidic, even when cut with milk
2. Music: loud, and top-​40, perfect if you are between 18 – 22 years old
3. Ambiance: FREEZING, door swings open often letting the ocean air in so its hard to focus on anything else.
I won’t be coming here again!!!

I’m a total jerk and a coffee snob, so unfortunately I have to deduct a couple stars because the coffee (and the music) is pretty dubious here.
But the baristas are amazingly fun and friendly and — woah, look at that view. What’s not to love about that view?
Bottom line: I plan to be here a lot during the summer, mediocre coffee be darned!

Delcious coffee in a charming little building that looks out onto Alki beach. What more do you need? The heart they make out of foam in your latte is a nice touch

I got thirsty on the way to the car and decided to stop here.
WIN.
This place has a really chill vibe. Pepper and Jack Johnson were playing. They have Sangria and Mimosas and tons of beer choices. (I’ll be back for a Sangria.) I was also surprised at the snack choices: pastries, sandwiches, desserts…
I ordered an iced raspberry mocha… seriously that thing was one of the best iced lattes I’ve ever had. Smooth. Loved it.
The ladies at the counter were super sweet, too.
…Not that coffee is necessarily the best way to quench thirst… But I’d do it again! Mwahahahaha!

Amazing location and ambiance! Friendly service and quick coffee… but it was really bad-​tasting coffee. For two flavored soy lattes I paid about $ 9. I understand that rent’s probably not cheap and coffee is always way overpriced at coffee shops, but my vanilla soy latte didn’t even taste good. And that’s where I am disgruntled.

Good drip!

I drop in on this place about once a week now, friendly barista, good coffee, fantastic location overlooking alki beach, and a cozy atmosphere.
Also has the best free WiFi in West Seattle. Can get a little noisy sometimes, but not too bad. Looking forward to trying out there outside seating when the weather warms a bit.
Best in Alki for sure.

Good coffee, great staff, very desent working space & sitting flush on Alki… yeah, this place is good!
Oh, they’ve also got some pretty decent coffee-​shop food to boot.

A terrific little coffee joint right across the street from where all the volleyball and rollerblading and pitbull walking action is on Alki Beach.
This little coffee shop serves up powerful cups of smooth, yet rich coffee. The inside is a cozy atmosphere that is perfect for working on your laptop while watching the ferries go by. This place also has front patio with ample chairs so that you can sit in the sun while enjoying your favorite cafeinated or non-​caffeinated beverage.
The serviice is good but due to the limited seating inside, you might find that you will be ordering your coffee to go, contrary to your initial intentions. Great coffee in a great location.

No doubt in my mind. If I want coffee at Alki, then Pioneer is where I will come. Forget about Tully’s and Starbucks down there on the beach. I was elated and surprised how much I liked Pioneer mocha.
Pioneers has the cozy feel of a beach cabin, or even a boat. And I like the birch paneled walls.
They should call this a beverage bar, because they also stock ample pops, juices, ales and beer.

Decent little coffee shop with awesome view of the Sound. There’s decent seating space, and if the weather’s crappy you’ll have better luck parking so you can stare moodily out the window at the haunting beauty of the water and mountainscape.
I have nothing to say about the previous reviews’ comments about music, if there was music playing, it didn’t register in my brain as I was busy having a conversation with a friend.

This place is very nice in the Summer, all the windows open, able to people watch. Get a coffee, beer, or wine. However, they lose 2 stars for playing CRAP music on a consistent basis. Listening right now to the Devinyls «I touch Myself» and before that some crap Alanis Morisette track. They are usually playing top 40 ‘90s or top 40 current music which blows. I’ve requested better music from them, and was told the owners have specified this junk music be played. Pioneer; you guys have satellite radio, play some cool tunes, you’ll get bettter customers.
EDIT: They just played «Bust a Move» to give you an idea of the music here…

One star for the view, another star for the pleasant counter service and decent croissant. That’s all this place deserves: it’s a coffee shop that offers the peace & quiet of a sports bar, with the culinary selection and prowess of a coffee shop.
I came to meet a friend to study together — it *is* a coffee shop, right?
Within an hour, someone cranked up the football game on the big-​screen really loudly — so loudly we could barely even hear each other. Customers kept complaining and lowering the volume — the staff just kept raising it again. Did it occur that they had paying customers who thought they were paying for a coffee shop, rather than a sports bar?
My friend and I finally left for Alki Bakery — much better food, pleasant ambiance, and no blaring television.
If you want a coffee shop to meet a friend or get stuff done, don’t even think about coming here. I’d even go to Starbucks or Tully’s down the road first.

Awesome location across from Alki but as one of three coffeehouses on the beach (along with Tully’s and Starbucks) my brows are furrowed.
I’ve gotten chai latte here before, A-​Ok. I’m no kind of coffee snob so when I ordered an 8oz American, drank about an inch down, and didn’t want to finish it I started thinking. Hmm. Tasted too bitter and acidy to my palate and that 8oz beverage cost me $ 2 before tip. Can’t remember the last time I had an Americano that I couldn’t finish. Is it just me? No tapas until summer when there’s more continual customers. You can buy booze here though. The space is small and if you want quiet check here first of the three coffeehouses on the beach. There’s a stand-​alone fireplace but I’ve never seen it working and I’m not even sure it’s real. Anybody know? Aside from that a weird vibe. I never really feel *welcome* here. Hmm.
I normally like to support the indie biz but I think their roasting just isn’t for my taste buds. Tully’s is going to continue getting my coffee dollars, plus I get .50 off with my Primecard and that adds up. Has free wi-​fi.

Two words: Coffee with a view! Ok … so that’s, like, three words (or four if you count «a» as a word. I myself don’t consider indefinite articles in my wordcount; but this is a discussion for another time).
Pioneer opened up in the little space on the beach that used to be occupied by Alki Mail & Dispatch, which moved to a location on Admiral (and, by the way, serves a mighty fine cup of coffee in their own right, I must say). I held out hope that this would be a nice place within walking distance of my lair to go enjoy a latte before/​after strolling the promenade … a place, that is, NOT named Starbucks. Nothing against the big green siren and her corporate machine, it’s just that I prefer, when given the choice, to patronize more intimate, one-​off coffee houses that brew and pour a unique cup. And Pioneer is just that. I understand they roast their own beans, although obviously not at this location, as the cozy quarters don’t allow room for the apparatus necessary for said roasting. I think they must roast in Cle Elum — Pioneer’s only other location, according to their website.
They made great use of the limited space here. The décor is warm and inviting. Lots of use of wood veneers; it’s almost like you’re in the cabin of a boat or something. And the quaint little restroom quarters really make you feel like you’re in the cabin of a boat (about as much room as an airplane bathroom, except without the obnoxious bi-​fold door and temperamental sink/​faucet that never ceases to spray your mid-​section, making it appear as if you wet yourself before taking the walk of shame back to seat 23B in the main cabin.) But I digress.
We found the baristas at Pioneer to be attractive, friendly, and in possession of the critical skill of latte art. (Another reason to seek out REAL coffee houses. I mean, when’s the last time your green-​apron-​wearing «bearista» served you up a caramel latte with a perfect likeness of a fraximus profunda on top?)
Whether it’s a leaf or a heart adorning the top of my cup of frothy goodness … more important is that the coffee itself is good. And Pioneer delivers. Latte: delicious. Alexis S. is more of a purist and, after enjoying a cup (or three) of their House Blend, ended up getting a pound to take home.
Looking forward to my next stop by Pioneer while in Seattle (and my next latte dressed with the silhouette of a pterostyrax hispida … I dare ‘bucks to top that!)