In talking with Bailey, I discovered the shop stands by a very simple and rather popular formula for success: fresh coffee, good conversation and a family-type atmosphere. It's a philosophy that founder Sue Anne Van Epps put in place when she opened "The Bear" in 1991, and it still holds true today. "It's a family first and a business second," Bailey says.
Not to say Great Bear doesn't do great business. Even during recent hard times, Bailey says the shop has seen little if any drop-off in sales. It even receives orders from out of state and ships its special blends to all points across the U.S. "The Bear" roasts all its own coffee (in fact it employs a designated roaster) using only aribica beans mainly from Africa and South America. It specializes in a South Beach-style coffee, which is a longer, darker roast, Bailey says.
Physically, the shop is moderate in size and has a pleasant feel. There are plenty of seating options --tables and counter space indoors or sidewalk seating outdoors. It's definitely set up for socializing but also caters to students and professionals with free wireless connectivity and plentiful plug-ins.
Another plus: "The Bear" doesn't take road travelers too far off Highway 17, whether they're looking for a nice place to charge up before heading over the hill to the coast or a spot to recharge on their way back from a long day at the beach.
Signature coffee: Blue Note, an Italian dark roast blend containing beans from Guatemala, Ethiopia and New Guinea.
Signature drink: Chocolate Coffee Cream, basically a chocolate milkshake with caffeine that uses cold-filtered coffee and real ice cream. People can't seem to get enough of this concoction. Says Bailey, "During the summer, we'll go through 25 three-gallon jugs of ice cream in a week."
Amenities: Free WiFi, local artists on a monthly rotation.
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Great Bear Coffee19 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 395-8607
Map
i love it there.
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