Coffee with a Friend: Brown's Cafe

Brown's Coffee has closed but Neil Brown continues roasting coffee and selling it online.

Vicki Michels is a woman on a mission - and that mission is to find every coffee shop in the area where you can get a good cup of coffee and sit down to enjoy it with a friend. She has consumed many mocha mint non-fat sugar-free lattes and raspberry muffins in search of information to share with our readers.

Brown's Coffee. The Arabella Apartments are across the street.
Photo by Vicki Michels

Brown's company car in front of building
Photo by Marc Weinberg

Brown's Coffee

19042 15th NE, North City

(East side of 15th NE, across from the Door store, and just south of Les Schwab)

206-367-2070

(website is under construction)

By Vicki Michels

This is a warm, friendly little shop that roasts their own coffee and serves great food.

The big draw here is probably the food. They serve a full menu for breakfast and lunch, including Eggs Benedict with a proper hollandaise sauce, and home-made corned beef. The sandwich chef won “best sandwich” prize in Seattle when owned his own shop in the University District.

There are the usual baked goods, lattes, teas and coffees. They roast their own: see the large roaster prominent in the middle of the room! Fresh coffee is for sale by the pound. The owner takes great interest and pride in his place.

Family breakfast at Brown's
Photo by Vicki Michels

I talked to a woman with three kids (niece and two nephews, she said) devouring breakfast. She’d eaten there once, and was so impressed she brought more family. (Mumbled spontaneous editorial comment from one boy: "mm, mm, mm, mm, UMMM!)

There is a small stage, with piano. But it is not used. Apparently the noise is a problem for the other tenants in the building.

HOURS:

Open - Mon-Fri 7 a.m, Saturday 8 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m.

Lunch - served all day, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Close - 5:00 p.m. every day

FOOD:

Great breakfasts, yummy lunches, and snacks and baked goods. Coffee drinks are served, along with teas, juices, soft drinks, and the usual array of bottled beverages.

Owner Neal Brown is in the middle of the process of getting a license to serve beer and wine. Then he plans to stay open for dinner and expand the menu.

PARKING:

Big drawback: Parking is terrible! There are maybe six spaces. Adjacent storefronts have posted parking for only their own clients. I cheated and parked in a lot belonging to someone else. Even street-side parking is limited, but can be found if you don’t mind walking a block.

Tables and chairs come in all sizes
Photo by Vicki Michels

SEATING:

There are a couple of booths along the window, perhaps ten tables. This is not a large place, and is generally quite busy. There are folding chairs available for additional seating if you need more.

COMPUTER/INTERNET:

There is free WiFi access, so of course you can bring your own computer.

In general, I look forward to returning here some morning for a yummy breakfast with a special latte!