Sacramento Coffee Reviews

La Bou, Truxel and Arena Blvd, North Natomas

2008-06-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

For the two people who ever went there, the Arena Grill and Waffle House has closed and reopened as a La Bou. It's a comical story actually... the Inderkum family used to be affiliated with the La Bou on West El Camino in Natomas. They left to open the Inderkum Cafe which they sold. The new owners turned it into the Arena Grill and Waffle House which is now a La Bou. What goes around comes around.

The new La Bou location has been open just a few days and it shows. We've been twice now and they seem to be struggling to work out the pastry kinks. All of La Bou's normal delicious pastries are on the menu but the North Natomas location is lacking in volume. On our last trip we found the pastry case with less than 10 items at 8am on a weekday. Time to up the order friends!

In our group we had a turkey and cheese croissant, a ham and cheese croissant and a chocolate chip muffin. Both croissants were served warm, light and flakey and delicious. The muffin was overpowered by some serious almond extract. There was no hint that it was a chocolate almond muffin on the tag or when we ordered it. We wondered if someone has messed up the recipe. It was so decidedly bad that the five year old with us wouldn't touch it.

The coffee was La Bou's typical fare, steamed well and served at a delightfully drinkable temperature. On our first trip, the barista poured my latte into a for-here mug and topped it with an inch of perfectly frothy foam. On the second trip, my drink was served in a to-go cup, despite me specifically asking "for here." The coffee was still done very well but the barista obviously had recently transferred from a different coffee house. While steaming milk, she asked a coworker "Do you put one or two shots in your americano here?" and "Do you put whipped cream on your mochas automatically." I think the for-here mug was a completely new concept for her.

The standard La Bou lunch menu has been slightly pared down at this location. According to the menu board, you can get a few sandwiches and salads but not the larger selection. We hope they choose to expand to the full menu when the location has been open longer.

This La Bou location is only open during the day and closes up shop at 3pm. If you're looking for a casual business meeting, a nice and quick weekend breakfast or grab and go on the way to work, this is a decent option. The building has windows on 3 sides, making for a perky location to read the Sunday paper. Parking is plentiful and as in the past three rotations of the place, it's not crowded.

Coffee

Food- (for the croissants... no cups for the muffin!)

Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Buckthorns, Rush River Drive, in the Pocket

2008-04-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

I've been by Buckthorns several times on my way to one of my favorite places for a lazy mom, Super Suppers (which by the way, is a great place to grab dinner and pretend you cooked). Yesterday I had some free time so I stuck my head in to see what Buckthorns has to offer.

Buckthorns could use a little remodeling inside. It had a slightly old, dingy feeling and looked like a fresh coat of paint would serve it well. I obviously bothered the barista by coming in to order a drink. She paused her conversation with friends just briefly for an abrupt "Yes". I ordered an iced tea and checked out the rest of the shop.

Buckthorns serves Java City coffee and appears to also have Bella Bru bakery goods. They also had some individual slices of cakes in clamshell packaging. The desserts looked fine, but nothing really jumped out of the case and enticed me. The bakery case was nearly empty with a few sad muffins and scones left from the morning. If you're hunting down some Gunther's fruit freezes or ice cream, and don't want to drive to Franklin, here's an option.

My iced tea arrived un-iced. I'm not sure if they made hot tea and dumped it in the cup and melted the ice or not. It had one small piece of ice floating on the top. I turned to ask the barista for more ice but she had already gone in the back again to finish chatting with friends. I decided to go ahead and take my warm iced tea instead of bothering her again. The fixins bar was dirty and had sugar spilled all around. I quickly grabbed a straw and hit the road.

Buckthorns offers free wi-fi and had many empty chairs inside and out. Overall, it seemed that you could go in and use the wi-fi and order or not. Nobody seemed to care about much of anything inside.

Unless you're at Super Suppers and need a drink or you're desperate for free wi-fi somewhere, I'd skip a return trip to Buckthorns.

Coffee

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Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Java City 18th and Capitol, revisited

2008-01-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

I've been slacking, I know. Most every day since November has been consumed with toy shopping for Not Made in China. Now that the holidays are over, I'm back out and about again reviewing coffee for the greater good of Sacramento.

Per a loyal reader's request, I visited the Java City at 18th and Capitol again to check out the remodel. Our previous review of this Java City was lukewarm at best but we discovered shortly after that the store was about to undergo a full remodel. So to be fair, here we are again.

The new look has a very modern, crisp feel inside. It is updated and no longer reflects the banana republic sort of cargo coffee feel. There are high bar tables near the windows as well as several couches and comfy chairs. The free wifi is a huge bonus, as are the plugs scattered around the walls for plugging in your laptop. The new espresso machine is sleek and clean and the layout by the registers is much easier to navigate than before. The bakery and chilled case are nearly identical to the Java City Natomas and have a decent selection of premade sandwiches and salads. Assuming they follow the same protocol as Natomas, they are all premade early in the same day so you can grab and go for work.

My cashier was very friendly and in a great mood for the morning. She was polite and friendly without slowing down the line. I ordered my usual nonfat latte and a raspberry scone. When I mentioned I was staying, she put the scone on a plate, a nice touch over the paper bag. I was disappointed however, when my coffee still came in a paper cup. If my scone is for here, can I have a for-here cup too please?

My latte was traditional Java City fair. I do like the thick foam with tiny bubbles that the baristas painstakingly produce for each drink. But consistently across the brand, the espresso leaves me feeling like it was not nearly as carefully crafted. The shots tend to be bitter and heavy, overshadowing the richness of the milk.

I loved my scone. I don't know who the new baker is but the scone was delectably delicious. I finished it and wanted more just to pop the crusty sugared top in my mouth. It was completely worth the extra hours of yoga I'll have to put in this week.

Overall, the new remodel was worth the money and effort- bringing Java City into the newer, upscale midtown feel. It'll be a great place to finish up a date night or hang out after a show. Enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area and wrap up the night with a coffee and your date will thank you. If you're in the area in the mornings or looking for a place to work, the atmosphere during the day was very conducive to plopping down your laptop and getting busy.

Coffee

Food-

Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Ettore's, Fair Oaks Blvd.

2007-11-25T17:58:00.000-08:00

Ettore's is a long time favorite of many locals who are in search of delicious pie, baked goods and wedding cakes. Inside you'll find a very local atmosphere with lots of people who hang out every weekend or have reoccurring work meetings there. I happened to be one of the people having a meeting at Ettore's. I was stunned at how busy it was at 8:45 in the morning on a Thursday. The parking lot is small and it was really difficult to find a place, but it was totally worth every trip around of the lot.

The pastry selection alone is enough to send you into a happy breakfast coma. You can choose hot breakfast like eggs or omelets or stick with the pastry case chock full of cinnamon rolls, turnovers, muffins, danishes, coffee cakes and more. Much more. I opted for my standard blueberry scone and I was not disappointed. It was full of fresh blueberries; no frozen little drops here. The texture was a perfect doughy but not too crumbly consistency.

The one place I think Ettore's could have done a little better was with directions inside. I wanted a pastry and a latte but I honestly couldn't figure out how to order it. One counter with a register said "Bakery", the other with a separate register appeared to only be "Express". I tried to order a latte, clearly confused the woman behind the register and quickly switched to regular coffee. She handed me a cup to fill myself but was still very obviously confused. I stayed for my meeting and still didn't see anyone order espresso. Yet there was a very lonely espresso machine behind the counter.

The coffee was fresh brewed, hot and in a thermos, not a warming pot, which is good. It was passable but nothing really exciting- just a cup of coffee. It would have been a fine accompaniment to any of the scrumptious desserts in the case.

I have to recommend Ettore's for the desserts and pastries, despite not actually trying their espresso. The lunch and dinner menu was surprisingly varied and they have wine by the glass or bottle as well. It would be perfect for families on the weekend, a take out pie to pretend you made yourself, or the perfect finish to a great date.

Coffee

Food-

Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Coffeeworks, Folsom Blvd.

2007-10-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

I've been to Coffeeworks before but it's been a long, long time. In fact, it was probably in early 2000 when it had just opened the new building. Now that we don't live in East Sac anymore, I don't get down to the neighborhood much. I thought I'd pop my head in and see what had changed and what was still the same.

My first impression of Coffeeworks was that it reminded me exactly of the coffeehouses I spent many hours studying in college. Going to school in Portland, OR, had distinct caffeine advantages. Coffeeworks looks like a warm, friendly place to study that won't bother you if you hang out for hours if you're drinking coffee. There wasn't anything overtly fancy or special, just a feeling. This month they were featuring an artist from Afghanistan and had beautiful woven rugs all over the walls. It really felt like home.

The bakery case was very inviting and had lots of options but I didn't have time to really study since I was the only one in line. I settled on a chocolate chip scone that was about the size of a small dinner plate. It looked delicious and fresh and it was on top so I went for it. I was not disappointed. The scone followed a more traditional English scone fashion- dry and crumbly and not very sweet. Only the chocolate brought a hint of sweetness to it and the drizzle on top was almost, but not quite, too much. It was perfect for a Sacramento fall day.

Coffeeworks roasts their own beans and uses a traditional espresso machine. No cappuchinomatic for the baristas here. My latte was steamed to a perfect temperature with beautifully tiny little bubbles on top. They didn't go into fancy latte art but it was exactly the way foam should look. I was so impressed with the temperature and the foaming, that I was taken aback by the slightly alcoholic undertones of the coffee. I got used to it after a few sips but I was surprised. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad... just surprising and a little weird. I had a moment where I wasn't sure if I'd ordered an irish coffee.

Based on the number of open laptops, I assume Coffeeworks has free wi-fi but there wasn't any obvious signage. The only downside I could really find was that Coffeeworks closes at 6pm. My perfect place to reminisce college studying actually isn't open late enough to study. Which means that while it's a very relaxing and peaceful place to hang out, your date night will have to be a date morning instead.

Coffee

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Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Cafe Milazzo, Folsom Blvd.

2007-10-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

We used to live just a few blocks from Cafe Milazzo and spent many a Sunday morning reading the paper on their sidewalk and drinking coffee. I drove by today and decided to flip a very illegal u-turn on Folsom Blvd. to go back and check it out again.

The interior hasn't changed much in the past few years but the menu has changed pretty dramatically. When we had considered having our wedding rehearsal dinner there in 1999, the menu was fancier, more upscale Italian for lunch and dinner. They always had the most delicious pumpkin muffins and a wide selection of yummy baked goods for breakfast.

The chalkboard menu now makes me think more of Crepeville than upscale Italian. The board is dominated by sandwiches and salads with a few dinner selections thrown in. I was also disappointed to see that the pumpkin muffins are long gone and that the bakery selection had dwindled to nearly nothing. There were a few muffins and a few scones, but nothing looked really delicious. I opted for a blueberry scone that looked quite crusty on top but I figured I was here, might as well try it.

The scone was a more traditional English scone- dense, heavy and begging for Devonshire cream. The top had a nice sugared crust but there were only two blueberries in my entire scone. Just two sad lonely blueberries.

On to the good news- my latte was great! The barista foamed the milk perfectly and while it was slightly hot for my liking, it was well in the middle of a comfortable drinking range. I let it sit for just a few minutes and it was perfect. I was impressed that for a cafe with such a varied menu, the barista appeared to be well-trained in espresso.

Cafe Milazzo seemed to be a mid-level Italian restaurant that is family friendly and happens to coincidentally serve up a great latte. I wouldn't go back for the scone but I'd stop for the coffee if I were in the neighborhood. If we still lived in East Sac, I'd probably have to find somewhere else to walk for Sunday breakfast.

Coffee

Food-

Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Pacific Roasting Company, Fulton and Hurley

2007-10-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Pacific Roasting Company is tucked back in the corner of a small strip mall with a Goodwill, 24 Hour Fitness and a grocery store. It is really nondescript, with a small sign that is mostly obscured from the street. Unless you went looking for it, you probably won't know it's there. I've noticed the sign a few times but wasn't sure if they were a retail or wholesale outlet.

Pacific Roasting Company is small-batch roasting in store, which makes them relatively unique in the specialty coffee business. There are a few others who roast in store, but not many. They weren't roasting this morning but there was still a very nutty smell of roasting beans lingering in the air.

There were a few things that I enjoyed about Pacific Roasting- they have a nice fireplace (turned off right now) and a cozy area for reading, studying or just chatting. They have free wi-fi and seem to not mind if you actually use it. The one major downside to the decor was the large plasma TV over the fireplace playing Fox News very loudly. Their coffee and tea menu was vast, but slightly overshadowed by the huge neon smoothie menu.

I really wanted to like Pacific Roasting... I really did. Locally owned, controlled local roasting, interesting interior... but overall the coffee did them in. Their "about us" states that they use espresso within 10 seconds of pouring but I watched my shot sit for at least one minute while the barista made another drink for a regular customer. It was quite possibly one of the worst shots of espresso I've ever had. It was bitter and oily, leaving a very medicinal aftertaste. I left wondering if perhaps the shot had been reused or not a traditional espresso blend. Maybe I got the shot the other guy was supposed to get? Their only saving grace was the beautiful foam on my latte and the perfectly steamed milk.

The cold case was filled with some delicious looking sandwiches and salads that made me hungry for lunch. But look up in the bakery case and you're left with a weird selection of Costco muffins. Maybe the baker was sick today or delivery didn't come. But I know a Costco muffin when I see one. There were two other squashed looking cheese danishes. I generally cave to any pastry but nothing in the bakery case was even remotely tempting.

Overall, my review of Pacific Roasting is trying to do it right but they just didn't succeed this morning. Perhaps they are worthy of another visit another day.

Coffee

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Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Boudin Bakery, Loehman's Plaza Coffee review

2007-09-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

So on my last visit to the Boudin Bakery, the espresso machine was broken and the coffee pots were empty. I'm happy to report that my return visit was much more successful! I found a delightful young lady at the counter who was very happy to be at work at 8am (rare among some!) and very pleasant. I ordered my latte and a chocolate croissant again.

Just like last time, the croissant was perfection in every bite. Yum. I really can't say more than Yum... each time I think about it I drift into a chocolate induced daydream.

Boudin is hand-steaming milk which I appreciate. Their counter clerks are also making coffee and they could use a little more training. In the coffee world, when your milk is "screaming" that's a bad sign. Screaming is that high-pitched whine the pitcher makes when you hit the side with the steam wand. Essentially, it means you didn't "stretch" (bring your milk up to temperature slowly) your milk, you just plopped the wand in all the way to the bottom and turned it on. My poor milk was screaming bloody murder.

That being said, the shots pulled at exactly 20 seconds and despite being way too hot, the milk was creamy and had foam on the top. Not much, just a dollop and it wasn't very pretty, but it was there.

Their baristas could use some serious training in coffee but they've got the customer service part down already. I'd go back for the croissant, the customer service and have a latte to go with it.

Boudin Bakery, Loehman's Plaza

2007-09-19T07:42:00.000-07:00

I've been anxiously anticipating the arrival of the Boudin Bakery, not so much for coffee but for piping hot sourdough bread and clam chowder. Just the scent from outside makes you hungry and demands you go in for something to eat! They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can actually eat there all day if you like.

On the sourdough front, I was not disappointed. Our loaf was crunchy, golden brown on the outside and soft, dense and delicious on the inside. I also ordered 2 chocolate croissants that were perfection in a bag. I closed my eyes for a minute and I was in Paris letting the croissant and chocolate just melt in my mouth. I think I'd go back just for the chocolate croissants, even if they were out of bread. The rest of the bakery options included huge stacks of cookies, muffins with big, big crunchy muffin tops, scones and more.

To be fair, Boudin just opened a few days ago and the kinks are not worked out yet. The espresso machine (cappuccino-matic machine actually) was flashing 'Please Wait' while the manager tried to figure out what was going on. He had no luck and went off to call the repair man. They had Columbian and French roast coffees, both of which were self-serve and empty. I had to tell the cashier they needed rebrewing but she was too busy at the register to do more than holler to the kitchen. The few squirts of coffee I did get were well made- not too hot and not burned from sitting on a heater too long. But it wasn't enough to give a just review.

So in the short run, Boudin has deliciously perfect bread and bakery goods. Anyone with a hankering for fresh, hot, homemade sourdough should stop by. I'll keep my coffee-review for the next time when hopefully they have a machine working somewhere.

Coffee (not reviewed)

Food-

Parking Location

Overall Appeal

Cafe La Boca, Fair Oaks Blvd.

2007-08-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I've had a chance to review a new place so after dropping my son off at school, I popped my head into Cafe La Boca. The coffeehouse/wine bar/panini place is located at the corner of Fair Oaks and Monroe, directly across the street from Peet's.

My first impression of Cafe La Boca was that it was cute, quaint and local. There were several businessmen having a meeting on the outside patio and a few people inside reading the paper. It must be a favorite of Sac State students because there are several signs reminding students to sit outside to use the free wireless and limit their table time inside if they're not buying anything. The staff was friendly and warm though not overly welcoming.

The cafe carries a small selection of breakfast goods including bagels and some cinnamon rolls. They also have a breakfast panini and lunch paninis and salads. The gelato looked really good but even though it's already 82, I couldn't be talked into ice cream at 8am.

I ordered a small iced latte (again the heat!) and watched her make my drink. Like a professional barista, she iced the cup first, then added about half the milk. Pouring espresso directly over the ice causes it to melt making a watery drink. Adding it into cold milk cools it faster and keeps the ice from melting too fast. However, her shot pulled in about 37 seconds- way too long for a good shot. You should shoot for between 18-25 seconds, I personally find mine best at 20 seconds. The shots were bitter, over extracted but in cold milk they blended in just fine with a stir.

If you're a Sac State student looking for a place to have coffee and study off campus, this looks like a good option. I didn't try the free wireless but someone in the store was playing WOW, so it must be pretty fast. Coffee refills are 50 cents so as long as you're buying and drinking, you can hang out for a long time.

Cafe La Boca seemed to have a bit of an identity crisis serving wine and beer. Their food menu was to sparse for me to really see anyone ordering wine. I did a quick count and saw 7 paninis and 3 salads. I suppose one could have a panini, salad and wine for dinner but it didn't really fit with the atmosphere.

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Parking Location

Overall Appeal

The Good Eats "Espress Yourself" review

2007-08-20T07:36:00.001-07:00

So last night I curled up with a nice bowl of cereal and watched Alton Brown do his culinary magic on espresso. I'll admit it, I'm totally addicted to Good Eats and know all sorts of random food trivia from the program. Where else can you see a food anthropologist on TV discussing the history and cultural role of food in society?

The "Espress Yourself" episode of Good Eats is chock full of useful information on how to pull a good shot at home. He begins with a discussion of beans and the roasting process used in most commercial roasters. He reviews the gadgetry you need, including a style of machine and grinder recommendation. I loved the little bits of Italian espresso history woven into the episode and particularly enjoyed Alton's funny viewmaster sequence.

My only beef with this episode? Why would you put your bathroom scale on the kitchen counter to learn how to tamp to 50lbs of pressure? It seriously grossed me out. If you are genuinely interested in hand tamping shots, please buy a new scale for your counter. The one from your bathroom is nasty and should not touch your kitchen counter!

"Espress Yourself" Food Network Style

2007-08-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

If you're wanting to learn more about espresso, curious how to make better coffee at home or just how those coffeehouses turn out such a good cup check out Espress Yourself sometime in the next few weeks on Food Network. I have it on Tivo but haven't watched it yet. However, having seen as many shows of Good Eats as I have, I'm sure Alton Brown will demonstrate his expertise, show a few tricks and tell you what gadgets you do and do not need!

Trailside Cafe, Monterey

2007-08-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

On vacation and in search of good coffee and breakfast, we stumbled upon the Trailside Cafe and Coffee House in Monterey. We were pleasantly surprised to find a small, quaint little cafe with a nice outdoor patio overlooking the bay, just a few blocks from the aquarium. Even more wonderful was the quick, easy and free parking lot next to the building. For some odd reason, most of Cannery Row is under construction during the peak tourist season, making parking a nightmare.

Our party of four included a cup of coffee, a latte and a mocha as well as a breakfast combo, beignets, blueberry pancakes and a scrambled eggs and bacon combo. We made the mistake of saving the beignets for last and while they were still scrumptious, they would have been best the moment they hit the table. Still, the sweet doughy treats were a welcome surprise on the breakfast menu. I had the blueberry pancakes and they were chock full of plump little blueberries that popped in your mouth when you ate. However, $8.95 for just pancakes and nothing else seemed a bit overpriced. The other breakfast dishes were unremarkable, just fine but not spectacular.

On to the coffee... My latte was beautifully presented in a glass mug with perfect layering of milk, espresso and foam. I didn't order it but I loved the sprinkle of cinnamon on top that added a little extra warmth to the drink. The mocha came presented in the same way but with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. House coffee was serve-yourself at the coffee bar and the staff seemed to struggle to keep the bar refilled fast enough, even on a Wednesday morning. The only downside to the latte and mocha was that it was served with breakfast, so we had to wait for our coffee until food was served.

If you're in Monterey and looking for a quaint breakfast location that is not a chain, the Trailside Cafe and Coffee House should be a perfect stop. As you go in, grab a menu and order at the counter. They'll bring the food to your table. You're on vacation after all, so kick back and relax a little!

Coffee

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Parking Location(in Monterey)

Overall Appeal

Cafe Bernardo- Midtown

2007-08-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

In celebration of my sister-in-law's birthday, our gang hit Cafe Bernardo for breakfast this morning. We arrived a bit ahead of the crowd at 8:30, which was a good thing because by 9 the line was nearly out the door.

Cafe Bernardo requires you to order at the front counter and they bring your food to you. It's similar to a few other midtown restaurants in this way, most markedly, Crepeville. We sampled a wide variety of the breakfast choices among us. I decided on the black forest ham omelet, others had the amaretto french toast, scrambled eggs and the apple sausage skillet. Everyone was happy with their choices and the service was quick, friendly and approachable. The atmosphere was slightly loud but perfect for breakfast chatter. I could easily see how the restaurant turns into a hip and interesting people-watching spot later in the afternoon or evening. They're open until 10 on weeknights and 11 on weekends, making it a decent spot to grab a bite to eat into the evening.

On to the coffee. 2 points for the for-here cup... minus one for the odd bowl! My latte was beautifully foamed, smooth and delicate. The espresso was done exactly right, not too bitter, not too strong- just a perfect shot. The milk was also steamed to an immediately drinkable temperature, which seems to be hard to find in many places around town. The latte would have easily been 5 stars except for the very weird bowl it came served in. (That's not the exact bowl, but similar) Without a handle, you were left to hold the bowl with two hands sipping like a tea ceremony or the dredges of a really good soup. It came on a plate with a white doily that stuck to the bottom every time, making it a little awkward. You had to decide to either leave the doily on the bottom or figure out how to knock it off before tipping back your drink.

However, the bowl was huge and for the price of $3.00 you got a beautiful, yummy latte that went perfectly with my hearty breakfast. I was thoroughly impressed with the barista's ability to move quickly behind the bar, take orders and still deliver drinks to the tables quickly.

My first choice of full-breakfast locations would still be Fox and Goose, but Cafe Bernardo is now a close second in my mind. The line at Fox and Goose seems to form earlier, so if you're running a little late on the weekend you may want to go by Cafe Bernardo first.

FYI- the entire area is under construction for the Sutter Hospital expansion so parking is a total nightmare!

Coffee

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Parking ( NO CUPS!) Location

Overall Appeal

An Afternoon to Remember, Newcastle

2007-07-30T07:57:00.001-07:00

I'm breaking a rule. I'm writing about tea. I know... tea is not coffee and tea rooms are not coffee houses. I promise not to do it again... until I do it again.

Yesterday we visited An Afternoon To Remember in Newcastle. A short 30 min drive on 80 towards Reno and you will enter another world. Downtown Newcastle is a tiny little dot on the map, hardly worth even noticing. Except for this quaint little tea room.

We had three types of tea chosen from close to 100 varieties. I was particularly fond of the Voodoo tea with just a hint of coconut. Southern Hospitality and Creme Brulee were also delicious but not quite as powerful as the Voodoo. We started with black forest ham quiche and a chilled strawberry soup. The quiche was perfect, crunchy on crust, finished nicely in the center without any goo in the middle. The soup seemed to have a bit of an alcoholic aftertaste that I didn't really enjoy. On a hot day outside maybe it would have hit the spot better.

Our tea tower had a chicken sandwich, a cucumber sandwich and a sesame on rye sandwich. I've been to many tea rooms and these were not my favorite sandwiches. Each was either a bit overpowering of the tea or lacking in flavor. However, the anniversary scone and the jamaican lime scone made up for any problems with the sandwiches. The lime scone was finished with a pecan rum sauce that would have been amazing on pancakes. The anniversary scone was a raspberry white chocolate, packed densely with raspberries. Both were very large, almost too large for a tea scone.

The dessert level included a cappuccino brownie, lemon drop cookie and a peach cobbler. All three were interesting and varied in taste but not very exciting. While I especially liked the dollop of frosting on the brownie, the brownie itself left something to be desired.

Overall, An Afternoon To Remember was a fun place to hang out with the ladies on a weekend afternoon. There are other tea rooms closer but the adventure was half the fun. For a more local experience, try out Treasured Tea Time. Although it is smaller, the food has always been delicious and the staff is very knowledgeable.

No coffee cups today, I'm sure they wouldn't be shamed into holding tea!

Fair Oaks Coffee House and Deli

2007-07-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were in Old Fair Oaks for the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival's version of Treasure Island. It was cute and funny for little kids, as intended, but I would not recommend it for a group of adults only. If you have kids 4 and up, head to Fair Oaks and see this great cast for just $4 each.

On our way to the theatre, we stopped and got some coffee from the Fair Oaks Coffee House and Deli. They serve Java City coffee and my iced latte was made just perfectly- not too much ice, not too much milk, just the right balance. They were very fast and organized and I was impressed with their staff. We didn't have time for breakfast but the cinnamon rolls looked heavenly. They were big and fluffy with a ton of icing dripped on top. I saw several people on the way out having them and they all looked very satisfied.

The Fair Oaks Coffee House is mostly deli and probably deli should go first in their name. They have a variety of sandwiches, breakfast food, sliced deli meat and a case of dairy items like milk, eggs and cheese. They had several boxes of beautiful, locally grown, heirloom tomatoes for sale by the pound. It appeared to be quite the local hangout with many neighbors enjoying their coffee and breakfast and chatting. We went back later for lunch and the place was packed with late risers and a good mix of people. The conversations were quaint, local and interesting. Our sandwiches were served on fresh, delicious bread but otherwise, were just sandwiches.

It's hard to believe that the Fair Oaks Coffee House is plopped down just a few miles from major shopping, busy streets and the freeway. It looks and feels more like a small shop you'd find up Highway 49 in the gold country. If you're looking to spend some time antiquing or want to go to the theatre festival, stop in and grab a cup of coffee on your way.

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Overall Appeal

Peet's Coffee and Tea, Fair Oaks Blvd.

2007-07-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

People either love Peet's or hate it and those that love it, are really obsessed with it. I know a lady who lives in Natomas and works downtown, but drives all the way to Peet's on Fair Oaks "on her way" to work. That is dedication. I happened to be in the area today and thought I'd pop my head in. To be fair, I didn't actually have any coffee since I'd already gotten my caffeine for the day. I promise to go back to Peet's soon and try the coffee!

I did have an iced tea and it was fine. Plain, unflavored and a little boring but very refreshing. I would have liked a flavored option but their flavored teas were either sweetened or green tea (not my favorite.) I also tried the ollalieberry scone. It was slightly crunchy on the outside, stuffed with very large, sweet berries and had just the right hint of sweetness without being too sweet. It was no Fox and Goose scone, but it was good enough that I'd order it again.

The most interesting thing about my trip to Peet's were the 3 grown men discussing the future of Harry Potter in book 7. They were having a very intense, philosophical discussion relating the conflict between Harry and Voldemort to the final showdown of God and Satan. It was quite funny to hear them so seriously debating a children's book in the middle of the day in a coffeehouse. All three were dressed in suits and I kept thinking "Don't these men have to get back to work?"

Overall, Peet's was fine. It wasn't spectacular, had no flair or "specialness" about it. It was essentially a Starbucks in a different shell. I do enjoy Starbucks and I'm not knocking Peet's or Starbucks for their replicatable box feeling. But despite all the raves about Peet's, I found it to be ordinary. Perhaps when I have a latte, I will change my mind. I doubt it, there were no for-here cups!

This particular location had horrible parking. I had to drive the lot three times to find a spot and it was very difficult to squeeze my Prius into it. Leave your Escalade home, you won't have anywhere to put it.

Coffee (n/a- next time I'll review it)

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Freeport Bakery, 2966 Freeport

2007-07-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've been to Freeport Bakery before to pick up cakes but I've never stayed more than a few minutes. I was already in Land Park anyway and desperate for coffee so I figured I'd give it a try. I was not disappointed!

If you've read a few entries here, you'll know that I really enjoy for-here glass mugs for coffee. I honestly believe coffee tastes better in glass but I really can't prove it. Freeport Bakery has for-here glass mugs! That would be reason enough to stop in for a cup of coffee!

My latte was beautiful in its mug. The foam was stiff and flowed over the top in perfect little peaks. It was served at a perfectly drinkable temperature and layered amazingly well in the glass. Their espresso machine is old- no cappuchinomatic here. It's loud and clunky which I think is a sign of a good machine. Occasionally you'll find a machine like this and still get bad coffee. That is entirely the barista's fault. Freeport has clearly trained their baristas to foam milk well and extract shots nicely.

My cinnamon snail was simple and fantastic. It was not trying to be anything fancy, upscale or newage. It was just a perfect cinnamon snail. The dough was iced but not gooey and a little crispy on the top. The cinnamon was warm and sweet without being overpowering or too heavy-duty for a baked good. Had it been warmed slightly, it might be the best cinnamon snail I've ever had. As it was, it was served at room temp out of the bakery case and it was still extraordinary.

The Freeport location is perfect for those in the neighborhood for school or heading to the park. It's a little off the beaten path for a stop on your way to work, unless you live in Land Park. The atmosphere beckoned for a Sunday paper and a lazy day on the patio. They're not open late enough for a date night, but you could certainly impress a date with a cake or a morning stop here on your way to a daytime adventure. The hustle of the store, combined with the noisy espresso machine, makes it an uninviting place to hang out and study or work. You're better off to grab a treat and go to the park with your picnic blanket.

Overall, I was highly impressed with Freeport Bakery. Some places cannot seem to multitask and do coffee and baked goods. Freeport has mastered both.

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2007-07-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

On my neverending quest to scare the wasps from my yard, I ended up at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op this morning. I hadn't had coffee or breakfast and their cute little cafe called to me!

The bakery case is filled with yummy treats mostly from Old Soul Bakery but a few other local bakers as well. I chose the pumpkin muffin from Old Soul this morning and I was very satisfied. It was spicy, warm and had just the right amount of pumpkin without tasting too "healthy." I love muffins. I understand they are not very good for me. Old Soul found the perfect match with the pumpkin muffin. Just a little dab of cream cheese on top with a big muffin top that was crunchy around the edges and soft in the middle.

My latte was just okay. The milk was foamed perfectly with little tiny bubbles but it was way too hot. I expect coffee to be hot, but really, you shouldn't get over 180 ever, no matter how much the customer whines. I like lattes served about 145 but I can take it at 160 or so. I think my coffee today was at least 180. I honestly didn't drink it for one hour.

The other important thing you need to know about buying coffee at the Co-op is that you won't find your usual chemical sweeteners. You get sugar... sugar... and sugar. Me- I'm a Splenda girl... I trade the extra calories for a little bit of chemical so I can eat my pumpkin muffin!

The muffin was worth the trip alone and I wish they'd had several packed up and ready to take on the road. Overall, if you're already shopping, the coffee will cure your headache but otherwise I'd skip it.

Now if the mint oil works on the wasps, that'll make the whole adventure a huge success!

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Butch N Nellies Coffee, Midtown (19th and "Eye")

2007-07-05T21:03:00.001-07:00

First of all, it was hard to get excited about coffee since it's 9pm and it's still 100 degrees outside. I was thrilled when we selected Butch N Nellie's and I saw they had gelato. That had to make 100 degrees feel better!

I was so pleasantly surprised that I can't even begin to describe how wonderful Butch N Nellie's was. They have a large varying menu of paninis, sandwiches and soup for lunch, delectable desserts, gelato and a huge coffee menu. The atmosphere was welcoming, hip and friendly without trying too hard. The eclectic mix of customers included us moms out for a girls' night, a few teenage skateboarder guys, some young teens having a birthday celebration and several guys on laptops.

For dessert, I had a gelato ice cream sandwich. The chocolate chip cookies were sublime- perfectly chocolatey, crunchy and soft at the same time. The vanilla bean gelato was thick and creamy with just a hint of vanilla. Not too chemical like some vanilla beans and not too subtle. My friend had affogato that looked beautiful and perfect in the cup with just the right amount of whipped cream. The bakery case also had a perfect looking carrot cake, some amazing chocolate mousse, several cookies and some scones that I would have gobbled up in a second. Everything looked yummy and ready to eat.

It was far too hot for my standby latte so I went iced instead. While I prefer hot anyway, the iced latte was done nicely with a good mix of espresso and milk over ice. I liked that they did not pour the espresso directly over the ice first. This melts the ice and makes the drink watery. Good baristas fill the cup with milk at least halfway first, then add the hot espresso. I didn't see him do it but I could taste that he had done it right. The only downside to the drink was the to-go cup. The ice water my friends ordered was served in a for-here mug, why not my latte? Bummer.

I loved the added touch of the lego pirate ships around the bar. It brought a funny, light side to the place. I could easily recommend this as a date night spot, you could sit for hours in the chairs or the couches without being bothered. It closes early- 9pm- so you wouldn't be able to go after a show at Music Circus or Community Center, but it could be your destination. Dessert was good enough to skip wherever you're having dinner downtown and go straight there. Parking was easy on a weeknight but it may get difficult on a weekend or during the day. The location was great for midtown, but difficult for walking from most downtown work buildings in the dead of summer.

Thanks to the poster on the (now defunct) Sacramento Food Forum who suggested I check out this location, it was worth the drive downtown!

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The Flour Garden, Grass Valley

2007-07-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's not technically Sacramento. But we were on our way back to town early and I really needed some coffee so we pulled off in Grass Valley and found a bakery and cafe. We visited The Flour Garden in Grass Valley. We didn't know at the time that The Flour Garden has three locations, two in Grass Valley and one in Auburn. They also have a Cyber Cafe section inside a Longs Drugs in Grass Valley.

Upon arrival, we noticed this is clearly a gathering place for locals. On Sunday morning, many outside tables were filled with people reading the paper, chatting and talking to the employees. The talk of the morning seemed to be where two of the female employees were going to college and when they were departing.

The inside is more bakery than cafe with a large glass bakery case, a separate glass dessert case and a reach-in for sandwiches etc. It has a feeling of an old-fashioned soda fountain and gift shop. They also have a very large, heavy-duty espresso machine that both employees handled with great skill.

I was impressed with the quality of the coffee at Flour Garden. My latte was a 12 oz double, which is generally too "coffee" and not enough milk for me. But the shots were perfect, without some of the bitter, burned taste often get. There were no "for-here" cups, which was surprising for a local coffeehouse and a bakery with organic coffee, touting green living.

The baked goods left me a little disappointed. My raspberry scone was too dry and honestly, tasted like a Bisquick biscuit with raspberries in it. The cinnamon twist was delicious, light, flaky and very full of cinnamon flavor. The chocolate crinkle cookie tasted heavily of alcohol that buried the chocolate flavor and made the cookie too moist and gooey. I found overall that the baked goods were overpriced for what you got and certainly overpriced by downtown Sac standards. We had two small lattes, a scone, a twist and a cookie for $14.96.

I wouldn't make a special trip back to The Flour Garden but if you happen to be in Grass Valley, the coffee was worth a trip into town. Perhaps some of their other bakery goods are also worth it, but what we sampled did not make me want to drive 60 miles. I'd drive 60 miles for a Fox and Goose ollalieberry scone... so it's not totally out of the question!

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La Bou, Roseville- Douglas Blvd.

2007-06-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

I happened to be out in Roseville for a meeting this morning and needed a way to kill 30 min before it started. I used to frequent the La Bou on K St. downtown when I worked nearby but I haven't been in a long time. As I was driving around, I spotted a La Bou at Douglas and Santa Clara in Roseville and thought I'd see if it was still good.

First off, this is not a date location. It opens early and closes early- I believe 3pm is the latest on the weekends, and maybe 4 on the weekdays. They open at 6am to catch commuters. It's a place to have an informal lunch meeting, grab food on the way to work or stall before a meeting (like me).

The pastry case was full of treats like croissants, a delicious looking apple streudel, several varieties of cookies, lemon bars and an apple cake. I opted for a warm turkey and cheese croissant. It was perfectly flaky, warmed exactly right and obviously fresh-made today. It was a perfect breakfast croissant if you wanted something savory. The chocolate croissant was calling me from the case but I resisted. The lunch side of the case was chock full of salads and sandwiches to speed up the lunch service. It was 10:30am and they were just stocking the case so the food hadn't been in there very long.

If you visit this La Bou (and all La Bou locations I believe), your espresso drinks will be served in a glass mug if you order them "for here." Just like I like it! The coffee is more beautiful when you can see the separation and I swear it makes it taste better. My latte came in a mug with about one and a half inches of perfect foam on top. It was like a picture in a magazine it was so perfect. The milk was exactly right, not too hot, not scalded and not lukewarm. The small had only one shot which seemed to mess up the milk to espresso ratio a tiny bit, but otherwise it was a perfect latte.

The staff was very friendly and recognized many regulars in the store. A gentleman came in behind me with lots of questions and the cashier was more than patient, answering every question about the ingredients in the salad dressing. She was knowledgeable, calm and polite.

The only negative to this location is its lack of visibility from Douglas. It's in the Mervyn's shopping center but you have to go looking for it to find it. I happened to be driving around looking for something. I was impressed with the offerings but not enough to go back specifically for them. However, if you are in the area of any La Bou, you can count on good coffee and delicious pastries.

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Java City 18th and Capitol- the original redone

2007-06-17T20:04:00.001-07:00

Popped my head into the redone Java City at 18th and Capitol and wanted to let you know, it's open again and worth a revisit! The new interior is clean, crisy and modern. I didn't have coffee, as we were on our way to dinner, but the design and new layout was very inviting. The colors pop, there are nicer chairs, a bar setup facing the street and new outdoor furniture. They've dropped the banana republic safari motif in favor of a newer, cheerier modern look. Worth a stop next time you're out to dinner for sure!

Steamers Coffee and Tea, Old Sacramento

2007-06-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

It wasn't on the list of the next places to visit, but it was convenient since I seriously needed coffee and we were standing right there.

I should have walked right on by. It was hot so I ordered an iced latte- so disappointing! The espresso was so over-extracted that I thought they might have used the same shot twice. Either the barista was poorly trained or they're trying to save money because my cup was so full of ice that the milk to coffee ratio was completely off. In a good hot or iced latte, you want 2/3 milk to 1/3 coffee. I had about 1/2 and 1/2 and a whole cup full of ice.

It's nice to have a non-chain coffee place right in Old Sac but they could seriously improve. The breakfast and lunch menu looked really yummy but the sandwiches people were eating were not nearly as appetizing as the descriptions. I saw several people making serious attempts to bite through their sandwich bread with little luck. There were no bakery goods or desserts to be seen. To be fair, I did not try any food but nothing encouraged me to spend any more money.

The decor could use a little modernization but it fits with the historical theme of Old Sac. Some tea crates decorate the room in the late 80's sort of "shipping warehouse" coffee motif. The staff was abrupt but quick. They looked like some college kids who were none-too-happy to be stuck in tourist hell.

Since the coffee options in Old Sac are limited, you might be stuck with it when the family is in town and you feel a little touristy. I'd suggest hitting your local place first before you find a place to park.

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Making the best coffee at home

2007-06-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you just need to roll out of bed and smell a delicious cup of coffee without going anywhere. But how is it that just about any coffee house can put out a better cup of coffee than you can in your own kitchen? Like a naughty magician, I'm about to reveal some secrets to making a decent cup of coffee in your own house.

Step 1- Water. Coffee is more than 98% water. If your water is nasty, your coffee will be nastier. Do you enjoy the tap water in your house? If so, you should be able to make a decent cup of coffee. If not, consider using filtered water or buying a purifier for your faucet. All quality and specialty coffeehouses have internal filtration systems that leave exactly the right amount of calcium and minerals in the water. If your coffee is not as delicious, it's your water.

Step 2- Good beans. No matter what anyone tells you NEVER, NEVER put your beans in the freezer. Coffee hates moisture, air and light. The humidity in your freezer will destroy your beans. Keep them stored in a dark, airtight container and grind just before using when possible. The most recently roasted beans will have the best flavor and the most concentrated oils.

Step 3- A good machine. The features you need depend on what you're doing with your coffee. You should never let your coffee sit on a burner- so if you often brew a big pot and drink it over a few hours, invest in a thermal-carafe brewer like the Capresso MT500 or a cheaper model like the Braun Impressions KF600. If you're drinking one cup at a time, a pod maker may be your best shot at a great cup of coffee. I like the convenience of the Krups KP1010 because you can brew into travel mugs, use any type of pod and make hot tea as well. If you're going to have a lot of coffee quickly or you don't mind making a few cups at a time, I recommend the Mr. Coffee Programmable 12 cup model. We use this at home and only brew 6 cups at a time (two large muds). This is a burner type model, don't let your coffee sit or it'll burn!

Step 4- Grind. If your home coffee tastes bitter, it's likely not the quality of the beans but the amount you are using. Before you throw the maker or the beans out, try a coarser grind of beans. If you grind your beans too finely, the water sits too long and overextracts the coffee flavor. If your home coffee tastes weak, use a finer grind. If you're really serious about coffee, you'll want to invest in a burr grinder that you can easily adjust the coarseness of the grind. Blade grinders are good if you're not picky or if you grind lots of spices at home.

Go forth and brew!

Starbucks will make you skinnier

2007-06-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Starbucks is switching the default milk in all drinks to be reduced fat 2% milk by the end of the year. Your venti caramel macchitto will go down by about 80 calories, allowing you to buy a nasty breakfast sandwich and have one bite. Or instead, you can have one petite vanilla scone which tastes about 1000 times better than the breakfast sandwiches and smells better too.

Where to go next?

2007-05-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite coffee place for a date night, study spot, early morning cup or a place to meet friends? Saccoffee is taking suggestions for new options to add to the list. So far next up are Tower Cafe, Naked Lounge, Beantree and Peet's. Throw in your favorite to add to the list and help Saccoffee grow!

(To those who have asked why there are Starbucks reviews here- many reasons.... not the least of which is I live in Suburbia and started moving outward in circles from my house. I've also found that some Starbucks are different and deserve note. And really, Starbucks made coffee a household need like Kleenex or WD-40 and like them or hate them, they deserve a bit of space too.)

Seattle's Best Coffee, Borders Natomas

2007-05-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

There is something about coffee inside a bookstore that is always appealing. Maybe it dates back to the hours I spent in college wandering the mecca of books, Powell's Books in Portland. Maybe it's simply that drinking coffee while wandering through books makes one feel educated, enlightened and enriched. Regardless, the Seattle's Best tucked inside the Borders Natomas is perfect for all of the above.

I particularly like that this Seattle's Best opens before the Borders. At 7am, you can wander in, savor a latte and read the New York Times, or quickly grab your coffee and run. There is never a line at this hour. The service is always friendly and pleasant. And while they occasionally let their espresso shots sit a little too long, the milk is always foamed perfectly to soft little bubbles.

They have the most delicious cinnamon chip scone here that I've only been able to find elsewhere at the Starbucks inside Targets. But they usually only have two, so you'll have to beat me there if you want to be sure to get one! The desserts are mostly from Selma's Cookies with a few other choices in the bakery case. I haven't tried their sandwiches but they smell a little weird- like the breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks. I think I'll skip them.

Many may not know that Starbucks bought Seattle's Best not too long ago. They were able to keep their label and the store design but otherwise, it's basically a Starbucks with different colors. If you're opposed to Starbucks, you should probably begin skipping Seattle's Best as well.

This location works well for a late night date or a great location to meet a friend and study. You can feel free to wander through the stacks while sipping your drink or settle down to chat in one of the couches, barstools or tables. It's usually quiet (except on storytime mornings), peaceful and surrounded by books, movies and more. Occasionally, you'll even stumble on a concert, poetry reading or special event. Wednesday nights at this Borders are classic movie nights, another interesting date night prospect when you've been everywhere in the Sacramento Top 50 already.

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Java City, Natomas

2007-05-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tucked in a weird location next to a tool sharpening shop, is the Java City Natomas. This location used to make more sense when the entire rest of the building was occupied by Java City headquarters. Now it's just a little strange, plopped right at the corner of Del Paso and Northgate. The location is really only ideal for people heading to work and not a good date location or study spot. They do have free wi-fi so if you're in the area and need an email fix, pull up a chair. It's a decent spot for moms to have coffee while the kids watch the hundreds of delivery trucks that roll on by in the mornings.

This location also appears to be where Java City tests out new espresso machines. In the 5 years or so I've been going, they've had no less than 15 machines. Some are bigger, automated machines, some are smaller, more quaint, traditional machines. The quality of the espresso really depends on the machine they're using at the time. Currently, I'm not a fan of the machine. The grinder is huge, loud and makes it difficult to order. The boiler probably needs adjusting because the espresso comes out a little cold, a little sweet and under-extracted.

Java City also recently changed bakers and it shows. Some of the product (the scones in particular) are better, more traditional and full of berries. The muffins have shrunk and the croissants are less flakey, more crusty. I love their BLT salad and often buy coffee in the morning and snag a salad for later. Grilled Paninis were recently introduced but I didn't give them a try.

The service at this Java City is polite, friendly and what you'd expect of a store that is probably 90% regulars. The staff calls most everyone by name, knows their drinks and rakes in the tips because of it. It's a pleasant experience, quick and easy in and out.

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How desperate are you for coffee?

2007-05-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

Not quite a review, but an interesting topic! According to techdirt.com, ad researchers in Japan are experimenting with a coffee vending machine that plays 30-second ads. If you stand and watch the ad, in exchange you get a free cup of coffee. Employers may consider using the ad revenue to fund the office coffee pot.

My thoughts? You have to be pretty pathetic to suffer through advertising for a cup of vending machine coffee. I can't think of a time when I needed caffeine so badly that I couldn't either make it myself or walk a few blocks and buy some.

We've been found!

2007-05-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you Sacramento Food Forum for finding and noting our blog! We're having a good time and we're glad you enjoyed it too!

Panera Bread Sacramento Gateway.

2007-05-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

While Panera is primarily a bakery and lunch spot, the coffee is also worth noting. We stopped in for a quick breakfast with the kids one morning and I thought I'd give it a chance to make it on the review. Surprisingly, Panera earned high marks in many categories. The atmosphere is casual, comfortable and bright, while encouraging you to stay. The free wi-fi brought in several students and business travelers, but the place was large enough to allow for some noise without bothering anyone.

Panera suffers from the same problem Bella Bru has- only two sizes! I settled for a latte in a "for here" cup and was pleasantly surprised that the "for here" was a large white ceramic mug. My foam wasn't finished with the finesse of latte art, but it was full to the rim and beautifully creamy. It was served hot but not too hot, probably around 150. I was able to enjoy it when we sat down without burning my tongue.

While Panera is a bakery, it lacked many suitable breakfast options. The muffins are relatively small and most of the pastries have a french glossy dough that leaves them looking more fake than delicious. I nibbled on my son's cinnamon scone and tried my coffee buddy's orange scone but didn't want more. True scones do not need heavy layers of frosting to be yummy, they should stand alone. The orange frosting was way too much for me. I didn't sample any of the bagels at our table but they were devoured quickly and certainly looked better than the other breakfast options. They seriously lack dessert choices except a few cookies and a chocolate cake/brownie looking thing.

Overall, Panera's coffee was fine for a breakfast meeting or as an add on to your afternoon lunch. You could study there, meet a book group or friends for a chat. I wouldn't recommend it for a date since most of the tables are large and not very cozy. But if you had few options, Panera would be... just fine...

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Temple Fine Coffee and Tea

2007-04-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

Temple Fine Coffee and Tea is part of the newly revitalized and developing downtown area. These parts of town used to go dark at 6pm and you wouldn't want to be there much later after that anyway. But thanks to some major developments, city focus and a renewed interest in urban living, Temple had a bustling, happy and diverse clientèle on a Friday night.

The location is the old Levinson's Books building on 10th street between J and K. I loved that they kept the old sign and the exterior with only minor modifications. Inside you can choose from tables, couches or booths with comfy cushions. My coffee buddy and I chose the corner booth area and sat on what was almost as comfy as a couch, but not quite.

Temple is relatively unique in that it serves organic, fair trade coffee and does it well. All their baristas are either the owners, or highly trained people who take their coffee seriously. This is not a place for messing around and there was no automatic cappuchinomatic in sight. Temple baristas are so confident in their skills that they recently hosted a local "coffee-in" for a spot in the regional barista championships. They know their coffee, they steam their milk perfectly and my latte came with a perfect latte art heart on top. It was perfection served in a ceramic mug.

I only wish that Temple had a few options left on the food selection. The sign said they have cinnamon blackberry scones and fresh strawberry scones but only cookies were left in the case. Our barista told me they're hot commodities and to get a scone you have to come for breakfast. The cookies looked fine... but they didn't call to me. My coffee buddy had a packaged biscotti that was good, but not amazing. I decided to stick with my latte and go without dessert for the evening.

The location was perfect for an after-dinner downtown coffee and the crowd would have allowed for you to bring a date or mom and dad, neither would be embarassed or embarassing. They participate in 2nd Saturday and support local artists. It appeared from the many computer users, that they may have free wi-fi, but I didn't see a sign... it's possible it's a not-so-well kept secret. It was prom so parking was a nightmare, but I'm cheap and refuse to use a garage. After 4 circles, we found something about 2 blocks away.

Overall, Temple was a fun adventure that I'd do again soon. I savored every last drop of my latte. Next time, I'd just have dessert first.

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Bella Bru, Natomas

2007-04-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'll admit right now that Bella Bru in Natomas is having and identity crisis. It's a little fancy, a little casual, a little confused. You can stay for a decent and relatively fancy meal for a shopping center, or get a coffee and scone to to. I almost always opt for the to-go option. Today was a small latte, add shot with a boysenberry scone.

I'm not a small latte person. I like two shots, in a medium cup. Bella Bru still hasn't gotten with the mainstream coffee world- you get one shot in a small cup (12 oz I think) or two shots in a HUGE (I think 20 oz but maybe bigger!) cup. This irritates me so much that it's almost a reason not to go to Bella Bru at all. I enjoy the perfect mix of two shots of coffee in milk that you get in a 16 oz cup.

Regardless, my latte was steamed perfectly with a nice creamy foam on top. Two shots in their small cup was fine since the shots were pulled correctly they weren't bitter or overpowering. The boysenberry scone had a sweet, crunchy sugar topping but it was a little burned on the bottom. The scone still had lots of berries and was perfect except for a little crusty bottom. They need some Silpats.

I live close by but I still skip Bella Bru most of the time because the parking is horrible. It's hard to navigate the lot, crazy people drive there and it's full of high school kids before and after school. It's really not fair to Bella Bru because their coffee and scone was worth the trip. I didn't have any today, but the deserts in the case looked beautifully tempting, begging me to come back some evening.

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Fox and Goose Pub and Restaurant

2007-04-10T08:02:00.000-07:00

A little weird to find the pub on the coffee house reviews, I know. But Fox and Goose has a special place in the coffee world of Sacramento! Fox and Goose opened in 1975 in an old warehouse and shipping building at 10th and R downtown. The building is a really eclectic brick with bright blue awnings. The interior is decorated in a British pub theme and really high ceilings. It's a bit dark but perfect for a sleepy Sunday morning when the sun is just a little more than you can take.

What makes Fox and Goose special for coffee? They serve espresso drinks layered perfectly in glass mugs! The foam is dotted just beautifully on the top of the frothed milk and espresso. It's almost too beautiful to drink. I'm not sure if serving the coffee in glass actually makes it taste better, but it brings a special "stay awhile" feeling to each drink. Most true coffeehouses in Portland and Seattle still serve coffee this way, encouraging you to linger and chat with your neighbors. Even their brewed coffee is delicious and served with a smile. I've never had a cup that tasted like it'd sat on the warmer for hours and hours on end. It's fresh and wakes you up with the first sip.

In addition, Fox and Goose has the absolute best scones anywhere in town. Where else can you get a warm ollalieberry scone, smeared with Devonshire cream, that melts in your mouth? The pub grub is also worth trying- the omelets are dense and well packed with goodies. If you have a braver soul in your group, the pub grills come with a variety of choices ranging from normal (bacon) to adventurous (bangers).

Fox and Goose is hands-down my favorite breakfast place, serving up one of the best and most beautiful cups of coffee in town! It's an excellent place to take your family in town, your friends or your date who stayed over last night. Since their breakfast is so delicious, I'm sure their lunch and dinner is comparable for a late night adventure too!

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Maestro Coffee, Natomas

2007-04-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Supporting the neighborhood coffeeshop is a great idea, the little guys need a strong client base, good word of mouth and a niche to fill. I wish I could say my experience at Maestro Coffee was amazing and send you there for a delicious cup. It was so horrid that I actually went back again hoping that maybe I just had bad luck. The second time was worse.

The primary problem at Maestro is the owner/barista is hand-tamping espresso shots. This leads to a huge amount of inconsistency and a complete lack of quality control. Hand-tamping can be a perfect way to create exactly the right amount of crema with a delicious finish to the shot. More often than not, it results in a poorly packed shot that either over or under extracts every time. Maestro has overextraced and burned my shots both times. My medium latte wasn't tolerable without 4 sweet and lows. (they don't carry Splenda- another complaint of mine!)

My coffee partner this time ordered an iced tea. The owner insisted that she try the iced chai instead, which she said she did not want. He practically demanded that she try the chai and said he'd give her an iced tea if she didn't like it. For chai, it was a little too creamy and was lacking the warm spicy taste I like in chai. She hated it and returned it for iced tea. Maestro doesn't brew iced tea, so they made hot tea in a hot cup and dumped it over ice. Probably the reason he didn't want to sell it to her in the first place...

Not all was bad at Maestro. They don't make their own pastries but their baker makes a to-die-for cheese danish and the blueberry muffin was pretty good too. The decor is warm and inviting, with a nice leather couch and collection of magazines. I wanted to hang out longer but I didn't want to drink anything! The wi-fi was free and the people were very nice. Can you bring your own coffee to a coffeehouse?

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The original will be redone

2007-03-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

After my not so friendly review of the original Java City at 18th and Capitol, the word from The Bee is that the store is being redone. The rumor on the street is that they will serve free coffee out front while the remodel is being complete. No word yet on how long the remodel will take or how it'll end up. I know they can't improve the parking, the interior needed some updating but mostly, I think some staff training would have been the best remodel!

It's A Grind Coffee House- Natomas

2007-03-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's A Grind is the neighborhood coffee house, packaged up and sold as a corporate vision. If it's your first visit, you notice the warm colors, nice big, cushy armchairs and live music on the weekends. If you visit several, you'll notice that they're all the same and only the size varies. What's important is that it makes you feel like you stumbled on to a special treat in your neighborhood.

The It's A Grind in Natomas is the only one in the city of Sacramento and it's quite large for an It's a Grind in general. It's a warm, inviting and friendly place that works well for a date night, business meeting or a study spot. Many students spend their late evenings curled up there enjoying the free wi-fi and cramming for tests.

On most of my visits, the staff has been friendly, a little edgy and a little "Seattle." The owners are usually on site and go out of their way to meet new customers and greet them. The blended drinks are deliciously tempting and a dessert in their own right.

What I find lacking here is the consistency of the coffee. Sometimes it's too hot, too burnt, over steamed or the milk is scalded. You never know unless you're familiar with the barista, how it will turn out. The atmosphere makes it worth the visit but I suggest skipping hot drinks all together.

Early mornings bring a selection of breakfast and pastries. It's a Grind toasts your bagel and puts the cream cheese on for you so you don't have to slop it on your pants on the drive to work. The evening desserts are mostly bars and cookies with a few cakes. They're all perfectly sized for one person and my favorite Mocha Bar is delicious with a hot cup of tea.

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Desserts/Food-

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The Starbucks that thinks like a neighborhood store

2007-03-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to cover my very favorite Starbucks for a few days but today's experience sent me straight home to write. I LOVE the Starbucks at Natomas Crossing! Since they opened several years ago, they've focused on being a neighborhood coffee shop, not a coffee box. Today was no exception!

I probably only visit this Starbucks once every other week but the staff always remembers me, my drink and something interesting about me. They are friendly regardless of the line out the door and always take that extra second to see how you're doing. They even post a daily trivia question for a free shot which is usually pretty challenging. The Starbucks regional team should spend a few days with these folks watching them work and replicating it around town. It's the only Starbucks I've seen in Sacramento that works this way and it works!

The atmosphere includes two big nice chairs inside and other tables and chairs, several outside tables, which unfortunatly face an ugly parking lot, and a small kids' corner. Depending on their success, they often have fish in a little bowl on a table between the chairs to create a soothing little corner to drink and read a book.

Like all Starbucks, this is not a date place. It's a nice place to grab coffee on your way home from an event at the arena, or after the movies, but not a destination.

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Starbucks at the Promenade, Natomas

2007-03-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

Yeah yeah, I know. Starbucks isn't that great to add to a review. But it's new, it's close and we were a little tired. This is one of the new formats for Starbucks, including a nice seating area with some bench seats, couch chairs and a bright cheery atmosphere.

Starbucks staff usually at least has a pretend cheer, if not real cheer. These two gentlemen working left a lot of cheer at home we thought. They were slow, uninterested and quite grumpy. Maybe they were just bitter about working a Friday night.

The coffee was predictably Starbucks, though one of the three of us had it a little too hot. My latte was smooth, perfect temperature and the espresso was just right- not over or under extracted. The atmosphere was a little too bright, lacking in the cozy factor, for a date night. It was perfect for three ladies having a laugh over coffee.

Dessert... this is something Starbucks everywhere really needs to work on. Cookies and a few crusty cupcakes are not dessert. We all bypassed dessert tonight and just had coffee.

Overall review:

Coffee

Desserts/Food- no cups :-(
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Java City 18th and Capitol- the original

2007-03-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

For our first official coffee review, we decided to start with a Sacramento original, the first Java City located at 18th and Capitol. The store is on a nice corner next to Paesanos, across the street from Zocalo and close to Aioli, Crepeville, 55 degrees and other big name Sacramento restaurants. It seemed like the perfect place to close a Friday night dinner with friends or finish a date.

Our first impressions were not amazing. Finding a parking place took 2 trips around the block and navigating a tiny alley parking lot with a small car. Anyone with anything larger than a compact would have had serious trouble parking.

The shop itself is large for a coffeehouse, bright and has the traditional Java City wicker furniture. We arrived about 7pm on a Friday night and were disappointed to find that the desserts were already wrapped in plastic, making them rather unappealing. Still, I went for the marble cake and a small latte, while my co-reviewer had a dipped shortbread and a mocha. The customer service was mediocre at best. The counter service lacked any enthusiasm, personality or any personal greeting at all.

Our desserts were handed across the counter and both desserts were served on a plate but still in plastic, cold straight from the fridge. My latte was so hot that I instantly burned my tongue and had to leave the lid off for 5 minutes before it was drinkable. My co-reviewer loves hot coffee and she also thought it was served way too hot! Other than the scalded milk, the latte was pleasant and foamed properly but unremarkable.

The persistence of one homeless man to harass customers inside the store was a major detraction from our evening. We were distracted by him moving throughout the store all evening and couldn't really concentrate on our conversation. We were surprised that the staff allowed him to use the restroom several times and didn't flinch as he interrupted many customers.

The highlight of the evening was the large group of men on Harleys who arrived for an evening cuppa joe. They squeezed into the parking lot and one had to help us back out so we didn't knock over their bikes. Very friendly group!

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