Sifting Through Coffee options on Vashon
By Savannah Butcher, Social Media Editor

Vashon has a plethora of coffee shops, enough that some may considered the island to be “over caffeinated.” But how do islanders decide where to go to, and how do they know if they’re making the right choice?

I visited five cafés on the island and tried the same drink: a 12 ounce hot mocha. I’ve ranked all the cafès and have included the highlights below.

At Thriftway we find an espresso stand featuring Café Umbria coffee. They have a clear menu and selection of pastries.

Their mocha had a good balance of coffee and chocolate flavor without being overpowering. I’d give it a 8/10 because it was a great drink to grab on the go and was very refreshing.

The next coffee shop is a new addition to the island Pollard. There are assorted pastries and a refrigerator full of drinks available. They also have their own roasted beans for sale including Costa Rican blend, Espresso, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Iroito French, and Decaf.

Pollard’s mocha had a great balance with just enough chocolate flavor. It was a tad bit watery but all the flavors were good together and overall I thought it was a great drink, ranking a 7.5/10. The service is fast, and the renovations look fantastic.

Heading out of town along the highway, is AJ’s Espresso, a favorite among commuters for not only it’s convenient location, but amazing drinks. The service is great — just the right amount of energy for an early morning. AJ’s uses the Vashon Coffee Company’s beans.

AJ’s mocha was the best drink out of all of the cafes, ranking a 10/10 — the only one achieving this score. The mocha had a prominent coffee flavor but it wasn’t overpowering.

In town, we also have the Vashon Baking Company. In my opinion, they have the best pastries on island, and their mocha is also very good. It has a sweet flavor which complements the coffee without overpowering it. I’d give it a 9/10 because of the balance. The service there is also incredibly friendly and fast.

Finally, we have the Roasterie, a favorite among students due to its proximity to the school and the wide selection of food and drinks. It is a great space to get together with people for fun or work.

Their mocha rivaled AJ’s. It had a strong coffee and chocolate flavor, and got better as I drank it. I’d give it a 9.5/10 and highly recommend it.

In my opinion the best place to get a mocha on Island is AJ’s, although the Roasterie’s was also very good and because it’s close to school it’s easier for some students.

Overall, I was very impressed at the coffee options on the island and encourage everyone to step out of their normal comfort zone and try new drinks this winter.