Tacoma, WA

On days like today, when I’m too lazy or gas-stingy to drive to Tacoma, I head to Poverty Bay Café for Federal Way’s best coffee. It’s like my little secret 10 minutes out of Tacoma, tucked in back of the Safeway on 320th. I’m almost tempted to delete this post to prevent overcrowding, but they deserve better than that for many reasons. The reasons I should spill the beans about my favorite spot are the very simple qualities that keep me and my family coming back and why I’m submitting this post at Poverty Bay right now with their free WIFI. Federal Way has its share of Starbucks and other coffee chains, but with Poverty Bay Café, I have no need for that.

Reason number one, they are local roasters with a variety of beans. I don’t have to drink coffee that came from roasted beans shipped across the country. I bought my favorite today, the Alki Point medium roast, which I like to buy by the half pound. And unlike the chain competition, they don’t charge for extra espresso shots! So, I go ahead and shamelessly order a 16 ounce, 4 shot, nonfat mocha. Their Americano is a simple testimony to their quality and craftsmanship of their roast; they don’t need any doctoring to cover up bad coffee. I like it just perfectly with their breakfast sandwich, the Poverty Bay Scramble with pepper jack cheese. My husband INSISTS that their waffles are better than mine. Deep inside, I know that they are, and plus you can’t beat the price. Most places are pretty costly, but at Poverty Bay, my husband is eating the double waffle for $5-ish along with his drink of the week.

Double waffle order with maple syrup

Poverty Bay Breakfast Scramble

Reason number two is the great service by their experienced baristas. They are runner up this year as Federal Way’s ‘Best Baristas’. They always remember my brother’s drink since he’s a regular. And they pacify me as I order my toddlers ‘soy mocha’, or kids hot chocolate, and remember to add whip cream. Today, as usual, they have no care as my daughter sits on their counter, playing with their pens as I wait to pay. It’s pretty admirable to see the baristas/servers catering to the large senior groups that come in, they are always lovely no matter how demanding the group is! A couple of the baristas have been there for years now, and it’s comforting to have the same barista create my espresso beverage.

I take my visitors here, and recently took my new tenant to Poverty Bay, because I just can’t let anyone go anywhere else in Federal Way for good coffee and free WIFI before knowing this jewel exists here. Usually I don’t like to share my secrets, in case that too often I’ll come and someone is in ‘my seat’. But I guess the mocha and my barista’s smile is persuading me to be unselfish!

Poverty Bay
1108 S 322nd Pl Ste A
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 945-0012
*lot parking
*bathrooms
*WIFI