Hoodsport Coffee Co.

We didn’t expect much from a small café off Route 101 in Hoodsport, Washington, a town with a population just over 360. But we were pleasantly surprised by the food and coffee put out by the two hardworking girls of Hoodsport Coffee Co. This local establishment offers a few lunch and dinner items along with custom sandwiches and salads. We enjoyed a BBQ pork sandwich, a bowl of chili, an apple muffin, and a dinner salad.

The pork sandwich was flavored nicely between to two halves of a warm and soft ciabatta roll. The chili was under-spiced but still tasty, coming with a large portion of beans and a heaping amount of ground beef. Fortunately, the meat didn’t leave the chili too greasy or heavy and went well with the apple muffin we got as a side. This delicate muffin almost stole the show; it is rich and sweet and topped with a delicious cinnamon finish. Our salad was small and simple, a layer of spinach and greens mix with our selection of added meats and cheeses.

We knew that we hadn’t come for a great meal, but rather for the coffee and the ice cream that the cafe is known for. Out of a wide selection of fall specialty drinks, we were compelled to try the bourbon caramel mocha — a cafe mocha with a new in-house syrup. A generous amount of foam, light chocolate flavor and a bourbon twist, this mocha embodied the essence of autumn with a taste of the local coffee shop. A must try.

After coffee and before leaving this hometown shop, even if you don’t have much of a sweet tooth, you MUST try the ice cream. The flavor variations practically overwhelmed us, leaving no category untouched. From simple flavors like vanilla, chocolate, mint, and strawberry cream all the way to huckleberry swirl, pistachio cherry chip, and Kentucky pie, this place has it all! We enjoyed a scoop of the chocolate chip cookie dough, blackberry ribbon cheesecake, double chocolate brownie rocky road, and some chocolate chip. Each was baseball sized and bitter cold; possibly the coldest ice cream we had tasted, as it barely even melted while we ate it. The vanilla base on the blackberry cheesecake was extra sweet and the chunks of cheesecake crust mixed with the cookie dough were incredible! The chips in the chocolate chip scoop had a stronger flavor than regular milk chocolate but dwarfed in taste  next to the rocky road. Nuts, marshmallows, brownie, and more all contrasted with light chocolate ice cream for a magnificent dessert.

Be sure to beat the locals and snag one of the 3 parking spots out front on your way through. This cafe will bring the heat with its coffee then cool you down with a scoop of your favorite treat!