Pullman is stuffed to the gills with coffee. As a function of our quaint agricultural town, also housing the second-largest university in the state, students demand caffeine and the 12 coffee shops in this 11.12-square-mile municipality supply it.
Pullman has a diverse range of locally owned coffee shops, each with unique features and best visited under specific circumstances. Luckily, I’ve studied, driven through and tasted a lot of what Pullman has to offer in terms of caffeine.
For my heart health and bank account, I only visited eight coffee shops: Gypsy Java, the Daily Grind, Neill’s Coffee and Ice Cream, Roost Coffee and Market, Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, Pups & Cups Cafe, Knead Café and Patisserie, the Well Coffeehouse and Crybaby Café. I stuck to local and regional shops because the four Starbucks need no introduction.
My go-to coffee order fluctuates between a basic drip to a more luxurious iced vanilla latte. The true measure of a coffee shop, however, is the quality of its espresso, so for this tour, I stuck to doppios and Americanos. For the non-coffee drinkers, I brought along a friend who is coffee-averse and offered reviews of the Lotus, Red Bull and chai beverages.
Starting with the drive-through coffee stands. Gypsy Java and Daily Grind Espresso are perfect for quick stops on your way to campus, coming into town after a long drive from the west side or on your way out of town for breaks or weekends away. Both are open from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. and offer quick, friendly service. Both have a decent selection of baked goods, but Daily Grind offers more diverse savory breakfast options.
The Well, in the lobby of Real Life Church, is a little out of the way and caters more to church patrons than those seeking a traditional café. The coffee was not bad, and their beans are from local roasters in Colfax. They are a nonprofit and donate a percentage of their profits to local charities.
Knead Café is also more out of the way for students, except for residents of University Crossing. Their espresso is excellent and they have a decent selection of baked goods. When we visited, Chase, the brother of the Instagram-famous WSU Dash dog, was also there, and while I can’t promise that amenity is consistent, it was worth mentioning.
Crybaby Café is in the heart of the Greek neighborhood. The service was fast and the coffee was OK. The real draw is the outdoor seating and diverse drink menu, including alcoholic beverages.
For a more traditional café experience, there are four on Main Street to choose from: Roost, Thomas Hammer, Pups and Cups and Neill’s Coffee and Ice Cream. These four are the more traditional sit-down cafés, frequented by students and community members alike.
To start, Neill’s has a similar energy to a beachside souvenir shop. Their coffee is decent and there is plenty of room for studying and connecting. I visited at 8 a.m. on a Monday and accidentally walked into a book club meeting.
Moving down Main Street, Thomas Hammer is the most corporate of the “local” coffee shops. They have 18 locations in the Pacific Northwest, but with expansion comes consistency. Their coffee is excellent and the location is large, ensuring nearly everyone has a place to sit and study or read or chat on busy weekends.
Pups and Cups is distracting for an entirely different reason. Between their great drink menu and food options, the endless parade of dogs is not conducive to locking in, but is conducive to joy. They also have live music and community events and, most importantly, dogs.
Roost is the best place to go for quality baked goods. Their croissants and scones are the stuff of dreams and they have quality espresso to match. It’s underneath Hills Church, so on Sunday mornings, the roof sounds like it’s about to cave in. While it can interrupt your workflow, it is a fun human moment when a particularly raucous worshiper hits the floor and everyone’s eyes flick up and a chuckle sweeps the room before everyone returns to their drinks and laptops.
These Main Street coffee shops reflect the soul of Pullman. You can experience the diverse social scene—from fellow harebrained students to first dates and business meetings, friend catch-ups and family reunions. If not for the coffee, visit one of these shops to experience Pullman and its people.
