Dana Street Roasting Co. -- Mountain View

Set up more as a neighborhood shop, Dana Street Roasting Co. is not only out of the way for road travelers, it's also a couple of blocks off the acclaimed main drag of Mountain View, Calif. -- Castro Street. (I found out later, as I was chugging it back to the light rail station, that there was a shop on Castro I overlooked. So I probably will be returning to Mountain View sometime soon).

As for the Dana Street shop, it reminded me a bit of Barefoot Cafe with its neglect for providing a comfortable, relaxing place to sit and talk, do work or just take a break from a busy day. Like Barefoot, much of the furniture looks as if it came from Goodwill (not that there's anything wrong with that) and a portion of the seating area is dominated by the roasting equipment and wooden pallets holding yet-to-be-opened coffee bean sacks. Some of the tables are so small, I could barely fit my 15-inch laptop next to my drink, let alone set any books or papers alongside. If you order a sandwich or a pastry, forget about it -- either find another table or start shuffling your stuff around.

I'm sure the coffee itself is exemplary -- a Best of Mountain View winner in past years, according to its Web site -- so that appeals to the pick-up-and-go crowd. I didn't bother hanging around for a taste test, but I was there long enough to figure out that Dana Street Roasting is a locals' place -- perhaps even more of a night spot for many -- and not really a must-go shop for those passing through.

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Dana Street Roasting Co.
744 W. Dana Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 390-9638
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Bean Scene -- Sunnyvale

Smack dab in the middle of a vibrant restaurant district in downtown Sunnyvale, Calif., Bean Scene seems to be the go-to coffee house for locals, no matter what time of day it is.

The shop is set up well as a pick-up-and-go place or as a sit-down spot for the mobile business community or working lunch crowd. In addition to its variety of gourmet coffees, the shop makes sandwiches, salads and soups as well as fruit smoothies, Italian sodas and teas. Bean Scene lists about two dozen coffee blends and recommends trying the Black Forest Mocha.

Plenty of seating options are avaliable, including sofas and easy chairs as well as outdoor sidewalk tables. Some indoor spots, however, are a bit cramped and even block entering patrons who have to reach the back of the shop to get in line (it's a much easier navigation for those using the rear entrance).

I arrived during lunch -- after I finally parked a few blocks away -- enjoying a turkey sandwich and a Gritty Kitty (chocolate shake with small chunks of espresso beans blended in) while watching a stream of business people march through the shop. Service was quick and courteous, and the product was decent.

Bean Scene's decor is bright and pleasant -- light oak tables and chairs, large blackboard menu, vast glass display case holding various modern and antique coffee accessories, not to mention tasteful art displays and large front-of-store windows to allow plenty of outside light and views of the busy street activity. The hum of conversation was constant during the hour I spent there, so if you're looking for a quiet spot, this may not be it.

There's little doubt Bean Scene is a spot for locals, for socializing and for enjoying good coffee and eats. However, if you're passing through the region by car, it's a bit out of the way from U.S. 101 or I-280 and may take some time to find.

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Bean Scene

186 S. Murphy Ave.

Sunnyvale, CA 94086

(408) 738-4523

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Barefoot Cafe -- Santa Clara

A cool name and logo, an outstanding online presence and no doubt a quality product make Barefoot Coffee Roasters the model of brand management among independent coffee producers in the area. Sadly though, the company's lone retail outlet, located on Stevens Creek Boulevard at Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara, Calif., leaves a lot to be desired.

Granted, I seemed to have caught the shop on a bad day -- I observed what appeared to be a transitioning of the wall art and overheard customer/employee commentary to support as much. But bare walls aside, the shop's secondhand furniture (some of which sparked flashbacks to my community college cafeteria days), stained and cracked concrete floor and overall lack of coffee shop ambience didn't offer me good cause to stick around.

Frankly, I was little surprised at the cafe's drabness. In researching Barefoot online, I found its comprehensive Web site inviting and perhaps even a little intimidating for its knowledge of and passion for producing quality gourmet coffee. The bean roasting and wholesale distributing side of the business certainly is not lacking, as Barefoot supplies coffee to several markets, coffee shops and restaurants in the area. The Web site makes special mention of these resellers as well as Barefoot's producer partners. It harps on crafting quality coffee and the importance of freshness. It goes out of its way to give equal time to all its "people."

Maybe I'm missing something, but it makes me wonder why they don't put the same time and effort into making the shop equally inviting.

On the plus side, there is free WiFi and open mic night every Wednesday, the latter of which I know only from perusing the Barefoot Web site. Aside from the friendly employees, there is little, if any, communication (signage, business messaging, bulletin board, expanded menu) of what the shop is all about or why you should come in to sample the coffee and the surroundings.

For road travelers, Barefoot is just off I-280, so if you're looking for a place to pick up expertly brewed coffee on the run, by all means proceed. But if you're wanting a comfortable, relaxing spot to recharge before getting back behind the wheel, you may want to look elsewhere.

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Barefoot Cafe
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 248-4500
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Great Bear Coffee -- Los Gatos

"The Bear" is a shop I visited some time ago, long before this blog was born. I mention it because it's another one of those spots that hooks people and keeps them coming back. Located on Santa Cruz Avenue near Main Street in downtown Los Gatos, Calif., Great Bear boasts a loyal customer base that essentially makes it immune to competition, according to general manager Eric Bailey.

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 Coffee
19 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 395-8607
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Crema Coffee Roasting Company -- San Jose

Spacious is the first quality I noticed about this family-owned stand-alone coffee house on the fringe of downtown San Jose, Calif. Crema is one of those ideal spots for so-called mobile professionals to plant themselves for a few hours -- or even the whole day, if they so choose -- without feeling crowded.

Unfortunately for road travelers passing by on main thoroughfares such as I-280, I-880 or Highway 87 (closest in proximity), this shop is not the quickest or easiest option. But if time is on their side, they'll probably find it a worthwhile break from driving.

Located on The Alameda at Morrison Street, Crema knows a little about making fresh coffee, too. A full-scale roaster, owner June Tran prepares 17 types of beans and stores them conveniently in self-serve dispensers. Customers help themselves or ask for assistance from any of the shop's friendly employees.

Tran converted the former radiator shop in August 2007, saying it took "a lot of work" to transform the lot into what it is today. She and her husband then conducted extensive research, did a lot of coffee tasting and made a special trip to Idaho to nail down the finer points of roasting. They generally prepare fresh-roasted beans every other day, although the popularity of the espresso beans for the shop's many blended offerings requires a daily roasting, Tran says.

Tran considers herself "very lucky" that business at Crema has been on a slow but steady climb since its opening. Along with its regular stream of professionals taking advantage of the roomy seating and free WiFi (with purchase), the shop also serves surrounding college communities -- students and professors from San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, Mission College in Santa Clara and De Anza College in Cupertino, Tran says.

The moment you enter, there's no question it's a hangout shop more than a pick-up-and-run place, and Tran wouldn't have it any other way. It's divided into three separate spacious seating areas:

Front of the store. Large windows, eight two-person tables and a bird's-eye view of the daily morning roast.

Back of the store. A dozen or so tables (some larger for bigger parties/meetings), additional counter and stools (about 6-8) a big-screen TV and art-adorned walls.

Patio. Another dozen small tables under umbrellas spread out on stone tiles framed by flower beds, hedges and a lemon tree. Plenty of shade and set away from the street and sidewalk.

If you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur or you simply have a fondness for special coffee houses, this is one of those can't-miss spots.

Signature blend: Caramel Almond Royal (Vietnamese)

Most popular drink: Toasted Coconut Mocha

Amenities: Free wireless connection with purchase (daily code is provided on receipt); big-screen TV; patio seating; self-serve bean dispensers; monthly rotation of art from local artists

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Crema Coffee Roasting Co.

950 The Alameda

San Jose, CA 95126

(408) 295-5690

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Zizzo's Coffee -- Campbell

Although probably not the first option for road travelers because of its location, Zizzo's is definitely set up well for local traffic. And if you are passing by on state route 17 or Interstate 280, it might be worth a look-see.

The Campbell, Calif., Zizzo's is a small shop cut into a fairly new condominium complex -- one of those upscale urban living monstrosities that seem to be popping up everywhere. I happened in at a time when the co-owners, Joe and Joanne Mazarweh, were working, and they were quick with a pleasant greeting. Joanne said the shop is doing well with help from the adjacent Chipotle Grill, and she expects business to improve if and when the Onyx condo complex reaches capacity (she said its presently about one-third full).

The shop's European decor is inviting, although a little reminiscent of Peet's. The aquarium is a nice touch, there's a flat screen TV and the music adds to the ambience. Free high-speed wireless is available but there's little room to spread out or settle in for a lengthy work session. Since I was in the shop at lunch time, I could only imagine how cramped the place gets during the morning rush.

Zizzo's offers dozens of hot and cold drink options, the most popular being the Blackberry White Mocha. It also offers more than 20 coffee varieties, among which Joe's Blend -- the owner's secret recipe -- is the top seller. Bagels, pastries, sandwiches and yogurt are available, too.

Signature drink: Blackberry White Mocha

Signature coffee: Joe's Blend

Amenities: Free WiFi, flat screen TV, patio seating (shared with Chipotle)

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Zizzo's Coffee

1819 S. Bascom Ave.

Campbell, CA 95008

(408) 377-1737

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Hot Java -- Morgan Hill

This is a quaint little shop in downtown Morgan Hill, Calif., on the southern edge of Silicon Valley. Unfortunately, its location takes it off the beaten path of the Valley's infamous commute. I've often driven past it myself only because I happen to have other business in Morgan Hill.

Physically, the shop is relatively compact, but it is tastefully decorated -- burlap coffee bean sacks, abstract paintings, wooden ceiling fans with blades carved into leaves -- and comes with plenty of sidewalk seating.

I had the opportunity to speak with barista-on-duty Mary Connolly, who was very forthcoming about what Hot Java has to offer, starting with 26 varieties of coffee, all of which are organic. She explained to me how lighter-roasted beans retain more caffeine than darker roasts, and therefore result in a stronger brew, a common misconception among coffee drinkers. All of Hot Java's beans are purchased locally from the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company. "Zoom" is a one of their more popular light roasts and "Heart of Darkness" is a popular dark roast option.

The shop's motto is "Hand-crafted one cup at a time, just for you," referring to the brew bar, where customers can essentially get their very own customized cup of joe. Connolly "three-poured" me a cup of Brazilian Santos, the featured coffee of the month. She said some customers who prefer a stronger brew will ask for a "single pour." Connolly also let me sample a chocolate-covered espresso bean and a "Mexican Chocolate," a strange but pleasant combination of chocolate, peppers and cinnamon that's used to make a Mayan Mocha.

Hot Java also has a variety of teas and offers several cold drink options, including fruit smoothies, specially blended coffee drinks and flavored sodas. They'll even make sno-cones and slushies for the kids. True to its small-town setting, Connolly said the shop welcomes customer suggestions on new blends or flavors and will even offer taste tests, as time allows. Mochas and Italian sodas are the shop's most popular drinks.

Owner Bill Quenneville is a down-to-earth, old-school coffee connoisseur. A self-proclaimed Kona-holic, he speaks with much pride about the time and work that go into Hot Java's recipes and how important it is to keep the coffee flavorful. His business philosophy basically boils down to if you find a good, independent coffee shop, patronize it, and if that shop happens to be Hot Java, you're not just a customer, you become part of an extended family.

Among the shop's amenities are free high-speed wireless and live music every other Wednesday. One drawback is a relatively early closing time most days -- 6 p.m. Monday though Thursday, 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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Hot Java
17400 Monterey Rd. Suite B
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
(408) 776-0571

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