Before the Starbucks Coffee Company was at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, the Filipino Coffee Company, ca. 1909 was there!
Seattle’s Filipino Americans have had a continued presence in the Public Market for generations. Many people take a leisurely afternoon to experience the colorful culture of the Market. For snacking in the afternoon you can find longanisa with a local Filipino soap opera attitude. There are giant bouquets for sale by the Ilocano flower vendors here. Also, there’s the great Seattle past time of watching people throw fish at each other to experience .
The above image shows “Batango” blend coffee, which is likely a transliteration of Batangas. Kape Barako is still grown in the Philippines today. Whether Filipino beans or Starbucks, Seattle still has some of the best coffee around.
by Devin Cabanilla
(user photos via Flickr Creative Commons license)
FANHS - Greater Seattle Chapter 