Taste Test: First Avenue Coffee

Who: First Avenue Coffee

What: Café with “damn good coffee” in downtown Spokane

When: For casual work-related meetings to start

Where: 1011 W. 1st Ave., Spokane

Hours + website: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week; https://1stavecoffee.com/

Notes: Owner Deborah di Bernardo’s First Avenue Coffee says that it is “coffee for the greater good,” and a neon sign at the entrance boasts “damn good coffee.” It’s a hearty agreement on both fronts.

Recommended by a supervisor the first week on the job as food editor at The Spokesman-Review, the first visit to First Avenue Coffee was kismet.

Obsessed would be a word to describe hibiscus, and the special of the day, Hibiscus Fashioned — a hibiscus-infused Nitro, the hyper-caffeinated concoction for which First Avenue is known — was ordered. Despite the name, it is (sadly) alcohol free but (not sadly) delicious.

Treats run the gamut from vegan and gluten free to keto and “everyone else,” and the first visit included a sweet, as in awesome, pecan bar. The décor is modern, cozy and welcoming, and there is artwork aplenty and a cool second floor in the back loft space.

A return visit Thursday morning to meet with Gonzaga Class of 2019 graduate John Rosenberg featured the special Grapefruit Rosemary Fashioned (pictured here), again without alcohol and again fantastic because all things grapefruit are fantastic.

First Avenue Coffee says that it is Spokane’s only certified green café. #LovesThis Add First Avenue Coffee to the Obsession List.