If I tallied up all the money I’ve spent at Starbucks over the years I’m
sure I’d be a bit embarrassed at the expenditure.
Consider, for example, that I’ve probably spent a sum there exceeding my
total charitable donations (over my entire life, not just in the last tax
year). And I’m certain that I’ve paid the haunt’s green apron-clad baristas
way more than I earned during an entire hard-working summer as a waitress
before I left for college.
But seen another way, I’ve earned tremendous returns on my Starbucks investments.
My many sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Lattes (hold the whip, keep the sprinkles)
have fueled countless all-night paper writing missions, an ambitiously undertaken
but never completed senior thesis, late-nighters at an Internet start-up
after college, an entire two grueling years of graduate school, and a book.
Were it not for caffeine, none of it would have been possible.
But before I kowtow too much to the Starbucks gods, it bears noting that
the ubiquitous coffee haunt isn’t the ONLY place to score some beans. In
fact, true caffeine connoisseurs will tell you that it’s the off-brand spots
that sell the best juice. And in wine country, it just so happens that there
are way more off-brand beaneries than ‘bucks, which it turns out is just
your luck.
Score the best beans in wine country
The following coffee spots can be found tucked into some Northern
California’s cutest wine country towns.
Sonoma
Who can resist a latte from a beanery with a name like Barking
Dog Roasters? Besides serving up freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, and
a full roster of espresso drinks, Sonoma’s only on-site roastery plays
host to live music, knitting clubs, and open mic nights. Roastmaster Greg
Grabow describes the ambiance at both the original location (on West Napa
St.) and the new Barking Dog (on Sonoma Hwy.) as “charming, homey, and
rustic.” Grab a cup of the Caliente Blend, Greg’s most popular roast combining
beans from Costa Rica, Columbia and Sumatra, and catch up on your email
courtesy of both locations’ free wireless Internet access. Dog not included.
201 West Napa St ., Sonoma, CA (707) 996-7446 & 18133 Sonoma Hwy.,
Sonoma, CA (707) 939-1905 barkingdogcoffee.com
Healdsburg & Santa Rose
Flying Goat Coffee takes its name from the goats that reputedly
“discovered” coffee long ago in Ethiopia (apparently after eating the
coffee plant’s red berries, which conceal the beans, the goats turned
hyper, natch). With three retail locations and a growing wholesale business,
Flying Goat is quickly taking off with its artisanal approach to roasting
and dedicated following. The original location on the plaza in Healdsburg
manages to pull off a warm vibe in spite of its industrial sheet metal
cabinets and contemporary art-lined walls, and savvy surfers can often
pick up the free wireless Internet signal from the adjacent plaza.
324 Center St. & 419 Center St., Healdsburg, CA & 10 Fourth St.,
Santa Rosa, CA (800) 675-3599 flyinggoatcoffee.com
Ukiah
Woop, let’s give it up for Mendocino! The trendy northern California
wine region is fast gaining attention for its wonderfully balanced wines,
but savvy travelers still remember to score some joe before they hit the
tasting trail. Not only do The Coffee Critic owners Jeff and Monica Sayad
roast their own beans on-premise, they offer free wireless Internet access
to patrons. Plus, the Sayads and their daughters are enthusiastic supporters
of local charities, which means patrons can score their caffeine and do
their part for society at the same time – which translates to the ultimate
high.
476 North State St., Ukiah, CA (707) 462-6333 coffeecritic.com
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