Ballard’s Slate Coffee Bar is unique: There’s no line of people at a counter contemplating a big blackboard of options, but instead table service with an explanation of a very short menu. The best way to experience Slate is to do a coffee flight. This can be customized to your desires, but on a recent visit, barista Kyle served his favorite introduction to coffee: first, a comparison of two house-roasted beans brewed pour-over style; next, one of those beans served iced to compare to the warm one; then a deconstructed latte, which highlights the quality of both the espresso and the milk; finally, a dessert tasting. Overall: quite the sweet experience.

5413 Sixth Ave. N.W., 701-4238, slatecoffee.com

Read all of our picks for Food & Drink, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.