Songwa Estates Gallery at Seattle's La Marzocco Cafe.
I never miss a coffee at the La Marzocco Cafe when I'm in Seattle. Situated within the KEXP radio station at Seattle Center, the cafe is chockablock with nods to La Marzocco's history as well as its best offerings - think Linea Minis and GS3S machines plumbed up and ready for you to test run. Add to that, the backdrop of the KEXP booth going live to the airwaves - it's light, buzzy, caffeinated and sounds awesome.
On a recent coffee purchasing trip, over a Quills cappuccino, it was a delight to take in a thorough gallery on their project at Songwa Estates.
Along with Mahlkönig and Probat, in 2007, La Marzocco established Songwa Estates, a non-profit endeavor aimed at:
educating staff, clients and all those who work in the coffee sector on the numerous intricacies involved in growing, harvesting and processing green coffee
providing support to the local community whose livelihoods depend on coffee, financed in part by the project “Hands for Songwa”
In addition to empowering the lives of those in the industry, the partnership between these companies and the community has led to the reconstruction of two school buildings to house upwards of 300 young students in facilities that are sanitary at a minimum and elevating on the daily.
If you know us at all, you know this is our jam. Kudos to everyone for not only tracing soil to cup but working to improve each step along the way.
La Marzocco Cafe - KEXP - Seattle Center Campus - 472 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109