Seattle’s Best: May Smoother Coffee Bring Smoother Days

My sister randomly sent an old photo of 2010 versions of me and my siblings at Seattle’s Best. Memories instantly flashed back, and I remembered how we were frequent customers of Seattle’s as early as when I was ten years old. Back then, whenever we checked in at Binondo Suites, now Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel, we’d always stop by the Seattle’s Best branch right in front of it.

Fast forward to today, Seattle’s Best has finally opened its first branch in our province, and I got to try its food and drinks again whenever we pass by Calapan. It was a mix of nostalgia and curiosity.

For those unfamiliar, Seattle’s Best Coffee has been around since the 1970s, originally founded in the U.S. as a competitor to other major coffee chains. It made its way to the Philippines, positioning itself as a café that offers premium yet approachable coffee.

Caramel Latte with Oat Milk  | Double Choco Walnut Cookie

For this drink, they use Oatside oat milk, which made a difference in texture and flavor. Comparing it to the regular latte, which my husband ordered, the oat milk version was definitely better. However, both drinks had more milk than coffee, and the caramel flavor wasn’t as pronounced. Perhaps, it was overshadowed by the cookie I had with the latte. The Double Choco Walnut Cookie bothered me with its texture that was almost like cookie dough. The sweetness was just right, but there was a distinct flavor in the dough that kept it from having a deep dark chocolate taste.

Java Chip | Beef Wrap with Scrambled Eggs

Java Chip is a nostalgic order from my younger years, but my taste preferences have changed. The drink felt sweeter than I remembered, with fewer chips compared to Starbucks’ version. It had more liquid than chocolate bits, making it a smoother but sweeter experience. On the other hand, the wrap was unexpectedly good. The beef had a natural umami BBQ taste, was cooked to tenderness, and paired surprisingly well with scrambled eggs in a wrap. I didn’t know that scrambled egg in a wrap was possible. It’s a simple yet amazing combination.

Raspberry Mocha Kiss | Chicken with Honeyed Apple Panini

I appreciated the sweet and savory combo of this panini. However, the panini itself was heavy on cheese, making it difficult to taste the chicken, apple, or even the honey’s sweetness. The chips on the side were enjoyable, reminiscent of Calbee. The Raspberry Mocha Kiss was too sweet for my liking. The first sip was overwhelming because all the syrup had settled at the bottom, and even after mixing, the sweetness remained overpowering. While it had a rich chocolate flavor, the coffee was too mild to balance it out. It’s not something I’d order again.

Hot Chocolate | Garlic Herb Everything Bagel

Their Hot Chocolate was marketed as premium because of Ghirardelli chocolate, but for me, it signaled that it would be more sweet than rich. And it was exactly that. It’s a good chocolate drink, but I prefer richer cocoa flavors over sweetness. It’s a good thing I had a great bagel here. A surprising touch was the option to choose flavored butter fillings, making the bagel even more appetizing. I appreciated that they heated it before serving, bringing out the herby flavors. Some parts were slightly bitter, but overall, it was a great choice.

Cold Brew | Matcha Green Tea Latte

Their default cold brew is black, but I found out that the milk is free when I requested for a splash. That’s good! And I appreciated the outcome. In fact, I liked this better than their classic latte, which tasted blank. The cold brew process brought out a stronger coffee flavor. Thankfully, they didn’t put too much sweetness on their Matcha drink like they always do. There was still a tiny hint of sugar but it was tolerable, especially with the bitter taste of Matcha. It can pass for both creamy Matcha lovers and earthy Matcha lovers

Iced Classic Horchata | Vanilla Milkshake

I tried their limited edition drink because I love Horchata. But this didn’t taste like traditional horchata. The initial cinnamon hit was overpowering, and instead of a rice milk taste, it leaned more towards corn. The heavy use of condensed milk or sweetener further masked any true Horchata flavor. After trying multiple drinks at Seattle’s Best, I realized that their drinks are consistently on the sweeter side. And finally, this was the one drink where that sweetness actually worked. The vanilla milkshake was rich, creamy, and indulgent.

Regular Breakfast 1

The bacon looked satisfying with its thick and wavy cuts but it didn’t taste like the usual bacon. It lacked the smokiness and signature bacon taste and ended up being an ordinary market meat. It was like tapa or tocino that doesn’t taste good. The egg was bland but likely left unseasoned for customization, as salt and pepper were provided. There’s nothing special with the toasts but at least, they were okay. For a second, I thought that they missed adding the marmalde in this breakfast set. And I saw that small blob of jam just under the toast. It would barely fill a slice of a toast.

All Meat Skillet

The essence of an “all meat” dish was somewhat lost because there seemed to be more non-meat ingredients than expected. However, the meats, which, I assume, consist of bacon, ham, and sausage, were well-seasoned and flavorful. Their combination with potatoes worked well. As always, potatoes have the power to redeem a dish. However, the dish was excessively oily, with the ingredients practically swimming in oil. I know it is a sizzling dish but still, it shouldn’t have this amount of oil. By the end, it became too heavy and satiating.

Cajun Pasta

The Cajun Pasta was a pleasant surprise! The chili blended well into the creamy sauce, giving the dish a nice kick. The inclusion of bacon and sausage added richness. This combination actually reminded me of Vienna sausage-topped Buldak Carbonara Ramyeon recipe going around on TikTok. Perhaps, the only problem I have here is the linguine pasta that wasn’t cooked al dente. But that was a minor issue. Moreover, the well-toasted bread on the side had a pizza-like flavor that complemented the meal.