If you are walking down the street at one o’clock in Seattle， you’ll see a lot of people are outside for lunch at that time. Maybe you’ll see a woman who is holding a white and green paper cup. Then you see another person. He is also holding a cup in his hands. You see another and another. Everyone has a cup in their hands！ What are they all drinking？ You smell the Seattle air. It’s coffee！
People in Seattle love coffee. Some say it’s because Seattle has many rainy days and people need coffee to be happy. Others say coffee shops are popular because Seattle people are very laid-back and relaxed①.
Coffee shops in Seattle are a lot like teahouses in China. In Seattle， people go to coffee shops to talk to friends， read， play games， work on the computer， or relax. Coffee is an important part of people’s day.
The world’s largest coffee shop chain， Starbucks， first opened in Seattle in 1971. But Starbuck is not the only popular coffee shop in the city. There are other large chains， like Seattle’s Best Coffee， Caffe Ladro， or Tully’s. Seattle also has many small neighborhood coffee shops. Everyone has their favorite.
The best coffee shops in Seattle is “Bauhaus Books and Coffee (Capitol Hill)”， which is a great place to spend an afternoon. Floor-to-ceiling used books and paintings on sale. Sit at a table downstairs and use the Internet or sit outside on the balcony②. Enjoy the great coffee！
There is another coffee shop named “Espresso Vivace Sidewalk Bar (Capitol Hill)” which provides Seattle’s best coffee. Vivace motto is “Una bella tazza di caffe.” It means “a beautiful cup of coffee”. People wait in long lines for Vivace famous espresso③. This is caffeine④ with class！
Victrola Coffee and Art (Capitol Hill) is what everything a coffee shop should be. High ceilings， lots of room， and art on the walls. There is free live music a few times a week. Here you can enjoy great coffee， friendly baristas， wonderful carrot cake and wireless internet.
① relaxedadj. 不严格的，不拘束的
② balconyn. 阳台，包厢， (戏院)楼厅
③ espresson. (蒸汽加压煮出的)浓咖啡
④ caffeinen. 咖啡因，茶晶兴奋剂
西雅图的咖啡文化
如果你在下午一点沿着西雅图的街道闲逛，你会看到这会儿有很多人都出来吃午饭。你可能会看见一个女人，她手里拿着一个白绿色的纸杯。接着，你又看见另外一个人，他手里也拿着一个杯子。再看其他人，每个人手里都有杯子。他们都在喝什么？闻一闻西雅图的空气——原来是咖啡！
西雅图人喜爱咖啡。有人将这归之于西雅图气候多雨，因此人们需要咖啡来保持心情愉快。也有人认为咖啡馆之所以风行是因为西雅图人生活闲适、惬意。
西雅图的咖啡馆和中国的茶馆很像。在西雅图，人们到咖啡馆与朋友交谈，在那里读书、做游戏，携带电脑工作，或者休息、放松。咖啡是大家一天生活的重要组成部分。
星巴克，这个全球最大的咖啡连锁店，1971年首先在西雅图开张。不过西雅图知名的咖啡馆不止星巴克一家。还有其他大型连锁店，比如西雅图极品咖啡，Caffe Ladro和Tully’s。另外这里也有许多小型社区咖啡馆。每个人都有自己的最爱。
西雅图最好的咖啡馆是“Bauhaus书籍和咖啡 (国会山庄)”，它是消磨午后时光的好去处。满墙都是低价出售的二手书画。在楼下找一张桌子坐下，畅游因特网，或者在露天阳台里找个位子。尽情享受极品咖啡吧！
西雅图还有一个叫做“Espresso Vivace街边吧 (国会山庄)”的咖啡馆，这里提供西雅图最好的咖啡。Vivace口号是：“Una bella tazza di caffe”，意为“一杯美丽的咖啡”。人们排着长队等Vivace著名的意式浓缩咖啡。这可是经典咖啡因饮品！
“Victrola咖啡和艺术 (国会山庄)”具备了咖啡馆的一切要素。高大的天花板、开阔的空间、墙壁上挂着艺术画作。每周都有几次免费音乐表演。在这里还你可以享受香醇的咖啡、友好的服务生、美味的胡萝卜蛋糕和无线网络。