In Seattle, coffee is practically a birthright. Although the city is the home to the original Starbucks outpost, there are a band of scattered boutique cafes for the less-corporate-inclined coffee drinker. Ballard Coffee Works, located on North West Market Street, is a family-run shop that initially began as a roasting house. The cafe is divided into two sections: “The Express Bar,” geared to the on-the-go crowd, and the “Slow Tasting Room,” which is where you can sit and enjoy the flavor like a fine wine. There, you can witness the science behind roasting and brewing, sip new blends, and improve your taste, which seems fitting for the gourmet coffee town.