How many coffee shops are there in Seattle's busiest areas?
We counted 273 coffee shops within 1 km of the centres of 10 Seattle areas. Downtown is the most crowded at 27.4 per km²; Georgetown is the least, at 0.6.
Mapped
273
in 10 areas
Busiest area
27.4/km²
Downtown
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Coffee shops by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown4.4★ average | 8627.4/km² | 27.4 | 4.4★ | HIGH |
| Capitol Hill4.5★ average | 4414.0/km² | 14.0 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| University District4.3★ average | 4012.7/km² | 12.7 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| South Lake Union4.4★ average | 3611.5/km² | 11.5 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Ballard4.5★ average | 216.7/km² | 6.7 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| Fremont4.6★ average | 154.8/km² | 4.8 | 4.6★ | LOW |
| West Seattle4.5★ average | 134.1/km² | 4.1 | 4.5★ | LOW |
| Queen Anne4.4★ average | 82.5/km² | 2.5 | 4.4★ | LOW |
| Columbia City4.3★ average | 82.5/km² | 2.5 | 4.3★ | LOW |
| Georgetown4.3★ average | 20.6/km² | 0.6 | 4.3★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- GeorgetownLOW
2 coffee shops within 1 km (0.6 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
8 coffee shops within 1 km (2.5 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
- Queen AnneLOW
8 coffee shops within 1 km (2.5 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
Fewer coffee shops is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 273 coffee shops in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up151 (55%)
- 4.0 to 4.487 (32%)
- 3.5 to 3.914 (5%)
- Below 3.57 (3%)
- Under 10 reviews14 (5%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Starbucks Coffee Company19 outlets · 6 areas
- Victrola Coffee Roasters4 outlets · 2 areas
- Monorail Espresso3 outlets · 1 area
- Coffee TAB2 outlets · 1 area
- Anchorhead Coffee2 outlets · 1 area
- Cherry Street Coffee House2 outlets · 1 area
- Café Hagen2 outlets · 1 area
- Cafe An'Clair2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
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Questions
Is Seattle saturated with coffee shops?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 0.6 per km² in Georgetown to 27.4 per km² in Downtown. 1 of the 10 areas counts as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Seattle area has the most coffee shops?
Downtown, with 86 within 1 km of its centre (27.4 per km²). Next come Capitol Hill (44) and University District (40).
What is the average rating of coffee shops in Seattle?
4.4 out of 5, across the 259 coffee shops with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Fremont (4.6), the lowest Columbia City (4.3).
Which coffee shop chains are most common in Seattle?
In the areas we mapped: Starbucks Coffee Company (19 outlets in 6 areas), Victrola Coffee Roasters (4 outlets in 2 areas), Monorail Espresso (3 outlets in 1 area).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every coffee shop on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Seattle.