Hotwire Coffee in West Seattle, known for taking an innovative approach to marketing is doing it again by making it possible to brighten your mood while you check your email.

Lora Swift owner of Hotwire had one of the first internet cafe/coffee house combinations in West Seattle, and later introduced texting ahead to order a latte. She did research into the benefits of full-spectrum light, something lacking during Seattle's gray dark days of winter. She found that researchers had discovered a direct relationship between lack of sunlight and Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. It's more than just feeling down. The lack of sunlight can alter your internal circadian rhythm, which affects your ability to regulate serotonin, a neurotransmitter necessary for both mood and the sleep wake cycle. It’s been proven that "heliotherapy" (or light therapy), infuses vitamin D into the body, giving the person the necessary light to lift moods and raise serotonin levels.

Hotwire, as a result of her research, now has a small light therapy panel next each of the computers. It's an opportunity to get a light boost with your coffee.

“You’ll be able to get 15 minutes of free light therapy with any beverage purchase” said Swift “That’s in addition to the 15 minutes of Internet surfing we offer too”.

Hotwire is located at 4410 California Ave SW.