I was on a mission to find the best whole bean coffee in Seattle. After doing some research on local coffee roasters, I set out to sample some of the beans. Slate coffee was on the list, and I was pleasantly surprised with their careful selection of beans and the humble, authentic shop atmosphere. Sometimes, it’s the little things that count, like bagging the coffee using the metric system. On this afternoon, only a single barista was at work. Dirty coffee equipment lined the counter from a busier time earlier in the day. This is a barista’s mess. This is an artist’s palette.