Photo courtesy of General Porpoise’s website
Author: Sofia Sayabalian
Ever since my first visit to Seattle, there has been one coffee & doughnuts shop that I have been constantly going back to: General Porpoise. You truly cannot go wrong when it comes to fluffy, cream-filled donuts and smooth lattes. It’s not uncommon that I come here more than once a week. For me, it’s more than a grab-and-go spot. Of course, for some, General Porpoise can be. However, for me, this coffeeshop is a relaxing place. One where I indulge and remind myself that it’s the little things in life that make me happy.
I have many great memories at this coffeeshop. As I mentioned, when me and my family first visited Seattle to tour colleges, this was a place that unexpectedly made it on our agenda. Now, my parents cannot visit me without going to General Porpoise at least two times. The truth is, there are a gazillion coffee shops in Seattle. And my experience with General Porpoise may be a little bias because it reminds me of a nostalgic time in my life. But those early memories aside, I have yet to come across anything that really compares to the exquisite duo of latte and doughnut that General Porpoise has to offer.
General Porpoise has a very simple menu. They have their classic doughnut flavors (vanilla custard, chocolate marshmallow, and lemon curd) and two additional seasonal flavors which are rotated out every month or so. Then, they have a coffee & tea menu, which includes everything from a cold brew to a caramel latte. Their menu reflects their vibe–simple yet irresistible.
My go-to order is as follows: an 8-oz oat milk latte with a vanilla custard doughnut.
Usually, one of their seasonal flavors will be a jam-filled donut. At the current moment, they are serving a frutti di bosco jam doughnut, which is made with a blend of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. A few of my past favorite seasonal flavors have been apricot jam, peaches & cream, and salted caramel cream. While I like to step outside of my comfort zone of the classic vanilla custard from time to time and try a seasonal flavor or two, there is something about their vanilla doughnut that is suspiciously delicious. The doughnut’s soft and airy exterior pairs wonderfully with the smooth vanilla bean cream (which has the most perfect amount of sweetness). Dipped in coffee? Now that’s a match made in heaven.
If you live in the Seattle area, General Porpoise is a gem of a coffee shop to try. They have four locations across the city, but the Capitol Hill one is where you can find me–enjoying life.