Dec. 12, 2004

Coffee in Ventura

A good cup of coffee improves the day, and a bad one can send the whole day into a total funk. I still remember two of the best cups of coffee I ever had, which might strike some as odd, considering the circumstances.

The best cup of coffee I've ever had was on an island hop of Aloha Airlines 15 years ago, while I was flying to spend a couple of days on the Island of Hawaii. I know it was Kona, but beyond that, I don't know what made it so special. I remember that some of the water I drank on Oahu tasted just like tap water in LA, but my sister lived on the backside in Kaneohe, and the water from the tap rivaled the best bottled water I'd ever had. I don't know if the airline coffee was because of the water, the airplane, or the coffee beans, but it was excellent.

The next best cup was from a dirt track raceway in Santa Maria, CA. I had gone with a friend and his future father-in-law, mostly because I had seen the track from the freeway on my many trips from San Luis Obispo to LA and back, and I thought it looked cool. It was served in a Styrofoam cup, and my buddy's father-in-law also commented on it's excellent flavor.

Just so you all don't think I'm some instant-coffee hack, I must emphasize that I try coffee where ever I go, including such coffee meccas as Vienna and Budapest, and will travel some lengths to where beans are freshly ground. As a reference, I take my coffee with two sugars and cream, mixing it until it matches the color of my Mexican skin.

Coffee in Ventura leaves something to be desired. We do have the requisite coffee house chains, including Gloria Jean's Coffee Bean and Peet's, and at last count some 8 different Starbucks locations.

January 6, 2005

In the last two weeks, I've hit two of the neighborhood coffee houses. Both use Santa Barbara Roast coffee beans, so the similarities are great and the differences few.

First up-Caffrodite-Located at 1876 Main and adjacent to Fresh Grill, Caffrodite serves a 16 oz. cup of joe for $1.85. My initial complaint about this place is the coffee was never hot. They've fixed that problem, but it still seems a bit overpriced. The counter people have never struck me as overly friendly either. If it were a bit cheaper, or a bit friendlier, I'd probably be there all the time.It's only two blocks from my house, an easy walk on a winter day, but I just don't feel all that welcome there. It seems like every time I'm in Caffrodite, the counter folk are always engaged in a heavy conversation with someone else, and I'm interrupting. They serve coffee, tea, and some baked goods.

Next- Full O' Beans- A block off the water at 1124 S. Seaward, Full O' Beans might well be the friendliest coffee place in town. I was in there a few months back with my daughter, and we ordered a couple of ice cream sundaes. The owner made us two great ones, and then one for himself. He joined us at a table, and we talked the whole time. Unfortunately, I'm terrible with names, and don't remember his. I haven't seen him the times I've been by in the morning, but the counter service is both quick and friendly. The worst thing about this place is that you can't park close by to run in for coffee on your way to work. They serve coffee, tea, baked goods and ice cream.

February 1, 2005

This morning was Latte 101, in the Von's shopping center on the corner of Victoria and Telephone. My wife and I go there every now and then, and I always find it pleasant. There are comfortable chairs, checkers and some baked goods, as well as 8 different types of coffee, 6 basic and 2 changing daily. The 16 oz. was only a buck fifty, (refills $.50), the bargain of the coffeehouses I've been in. They brew their own coffee, the House of Jaren Gourmet Coffee, and I tried the "Coffeehouse Blend." It was excellent, a rich, full flavored coffee that I might go back for tomorrow. As it stands, it's the class coffee act of the city. Latte 101 also has evening entertainment.

March 31

Palermo is a little bit of everything: A coffee bar in the front, a gift shop in the middle and a wine bar in the back. It's another place that serves Santa Barbara Roast, as well as a few others. I tried Torrrefazione Italia, some sort of Italian blend, which wasn't bad at $1.50 for 16 oz. The selling point for this place is the location at 321 Main Street in the heart of downtown, and the look, which combines the vintage brick of the storefront with a vaguely tropical feel. Between the two bars they sell interesting knick knacks, such as faux fir blankets, Tommy Bahama table cloths, pineapple candles and vintage style martini glasses. In the morning the place was filled with regulars discussing the affairs of the day. They also serve pastries and teas.

As a side note, I've been by Palermo in the afternoon and the wine bar is jumping. I had my kids with me so I didn't get to go in, but they do have daily specials and what appears at a glance to be a good selection of local and imported wine.

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