Rodgers and Hammerstein. Martin and Lewis. Riesling and Thai food. Some pairs are timeless. And yet no duo is so ubiquitous as that most quintessential of American breakfasts, coffee and doughnuts. General Porpoise Doughnuts in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood might have perfected that pairing.

In a city with a specialty coffee shop on every block, it helps to have a concept that sets you apart. General Porpoise’s concept is succinct and to the cream-filled-point: a small selection of house-made yeast doughnuts and a simple but perfectly executed coffee menu.

When we visited there were five doughnut options, ranging from classics like lemon cream to a seasonal rhubarb. Together our group sampled every possible option and two emerged as run-away favorites. The majority of our party preferred the chocolate marshmallow while a vocal minority found the churro to be a head above the rest. Regardless of your preference, we trust you’ll find even the pickiest of doughnut snobs leave General Porpoise satiated.

For their coffee program, General Porpoise brews an impressive array of local and national roasters. We opted for a cup of the batch brew: a Honduras from Santa Cruz’s Verve Coffee Roasters. It was sweet, juicy, and impeccably dialed in. It seems strange to say the best cup of filter coffee we had in Seattle was at a doughnut shop, but we would be lying if we said we were served a better cup elsewhere on this trip. Patrons looking for an espresso drink will be served from General Porpoise’s all-pink La Marzocco Strada. This splash of color makes a smart juxtaposition with the marble countertops- and perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the café. General Porpoise manages to be playful and refined simultaneously.

For too long hungry coffee snobs have been forced to choose between good coffee and fresh doughnuts. General Porpoise is proving this shouldn’t be the case. If you only have enough time for one cup of coffee in Seattle, you might want to let your stomach pick the café.