Coffee & Treats in Kirkland

Most people like to have a say in what they’re eating—hence the popularity of buffets, build-your-own-burger joints, and smashed-open gumball machines. Fueled by an understanding of this fact, the Chilly Wave Yogurt staff rotate 15 flavors of self-serve soft-serves, including root-beer float, snickerdoodle cookie dough, and a tart peach mango. Guests can swirl their creations into cups and pile on more than 40 toppings, from Andes mints and marshmallow cream to mandarin oranges and trail mix.

The nonfat and low-fat yogurts are rich in calcium and loaded with probiotics to support healthy digestion, among other nutritional benefits. They contain between 100 million and 400 million live and active yogurt cultures per gram—and the National Yogurt Association only requires 10 million cultures per gram to earn its seal of approval. Except for a single flavor, the kosher-certified yogurts forgo high-fructose corn syrup, and many varieties are gluten-free.

Brewing tea has always been a pleasurable exercise in the art of putting things in hot water. Thoughtfully dip your teabag into a cherished mug with today’s Groupon: $10 for $20 worth of tea and pastries at Teacup, a teashop on Queen Anne hill that has been serving up locally-sourced pastries and tea, commonly known as “nature’s water,” for two decades. America: FootballEngland: Not football

When the moon first tasted the thin buttery layers of a croissant, it was so inspired that it changed from a quadrangle into a slivery crescent. Today's Groupon makes like the moon with $15 worth of pastries, desserts, and espressos at Upper Crust Bakery for $7. Tell your tired morning toes that there's a reason to get out of bed and the reason both smells and tastes delicious.

Long waits and harsh lighting are just two inconveniences that can plague a standard trip to the post office. The process leaves little room for relaxation, let alone time to kick back and enjoy a freshly made latte. That's what Sip and Ship hopes to remedy. The family-owned business combines two different worlds—the post office and a coffee shop—into an operation that runs as smoothly as its coffee goes down.

The process is both friendly and simple: customers bring in items they need to send far away, such a piece of art, an old-fashioned letter, or a cursed monkey's paw. The Sip and Ship team wraps, packs, and ships it—all while customers wind down with organic, locally roasted drinks and homemade cookies and scones. In between all the sipping and shipping, customers can squeeze in some shopping, too; the store stocks its shelves with bottled wine, bath products, and even children's toys.

At locations dotted all over the Pacific Northwest, Black Rock Coffee Bar’s baristas dazzle patrons' taste buds with their simple and elaborate coffee creations. Served in ink-black cups emblazoned with their understated lowercase logo and red stars, their hot drinks range from brewed coffee to chai-tea lattes to flavored mochas. The baristas infuse the mochas with extras—including white chocolate and caramel to create the caramel blondie and hazelnut to concoct the blackout mocha, which, unfortunately, will not make you black out for the entire workday. On the chilly side of the menu, their blended drinks include shake-like delights made sweeter with Oreos, mint chips, and chai, as well as smoothies and icy coffee granitas.

The ovens at Laura's Gourmet Bakery gild the edges of both traditional and gluten-free pastries. When sliced, coconut-ring cakes reveal an inner layer of chocolate, and red-velvet-cake sandwiches embrace mascarpone frosting. Gluten-free selections include cinnamon-raisin scones and caramel-pecan brownies. Cups of Victrola espresso or blended fruit smoothies complement the sweet flavors better than eating a spoonful of salt between bites.