Photo borrowed from Porchlight’s FacebookIf I had to choose a coffee shop based solely on the wit and well-spaced nature of its Tweets, I think I might be forced to choose Porchlight Coffee in Capitol Hill. The Seattle Weekly has already been here, sure, and Porchlight was already awarded a “best of” as a result, but considering the number of times (and counting) yours truly has ended up stumbling in the door at mid-afternoon caffeine crash, horribly indecisive and bitter toward the world, I feel it merits a little extra attention. As far as the Seattle coffee shop scene goes, Porchlight gets a category all its own, being half coffee shop and half record store (plus, one mathematically defiant extra quarter “record label owner” as well). Sparsely furnished, featuring airy colors unlike those you’d find in most record stores, and cool music uniquely unlike that found in most coffee shops, Porchlight offers free wireless, locally roasted Herkimer coffee, and the impressively longsuffering listening skills of owner Zack Bolotin. Although my personal preference has yet to be swayed in favor of a couple extremely popular Seattle coffee roasters, Herkimer being one of them, I have to say that there are a small handful of independent locations serving coffee from one of those roasters which I really enjoy regardless. (For another example, Citizen Coffee in Queen Anne.) If that is poor coffee reviewing, I apologize, but I’m finding lately that there may prove to be elements in coffee shop selection that are more pertinent than, and actually, on special occasion, outweigh preference for or against a roaster. Barista skill figures in heavily, as do general atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff… This stands to reason, since any of these things can ruin even the best coffee, but I am wondering in some sincere level of insecurity if this realization challenges my right to be considered a coffee snob (a notion I once rejected, but have increasingly embraced with caffeinated glee). Whatever the case, and in light of the fact that I am likely one of about only four people in this city who dislikes Herkimer’s coffee, you should check out Porchlight next time you’re on The Hill. It’s located between Pine and Pike on 14th, and its full use of the online world demands notice as well. Because it is oft entertaining, yes, but more importantly, because while Porchlight’s normal hours are only 7 am – 6 pm on weekdays (8-5 on weekends), live music events will keep it open later, and are always posted via tweet, facebook status update… and also by blog, just in case you missed the other two. “Live at Porchlight:” their most recent post reads, “(as in live music, not an invitation to come live here…unless the price is right…)”