A cup of Jo(se)

Coffee. My hand feels uncomfortable without a cup in it. My desk feels naked when no cup sits on it or near it. My brain feels fuzzy without the comforting buzz-i am no longer clear exactly what would happen in a day without coffee to fuel me. Ah, the mournful call of the addicted.

i go through phases-regular coffee with a little milk/soy/cream-whatever-, lattes, cappuchinos, americanos-and always about a pound of sugar per cup. Friends and strangers shy away as i fill my cup with sugar and add a splash of coffee as a compliment (truly, this is only a slight exaggeration).

So, if you love your coffee you must search out your city's offerings. Once you get through the pot of coffee at the house in the morning, there still has to be a good working knowledge of where to get your subsequent cup(s) throughout the day. Since San Jose is still a fledgling city (it doesn't quite know how to be a city- it is stuck between an orchard and a mini mall and can't qutie grow up) searching out coffee that is drinkable is important. Decent coffee shops do not abound.

Follow me on this girl's tour of coffee (mostly) in downtown San Jose. i'm not actually endorsing any of them-i tend to be an equal opportunity sipper, but each has a distinct style that appeals to the varied coffee drinkers who reside inside me, and i'm guessing in you too.

Roy's in japantown is quickly turning into a favorite for a few reasons. The people who works there are all really nice (if annoyingly good looking). The coffe and tea selections are yummy. They also have food and treats and I suspect they are fresh each day, and not your totally typical run of the mill coffee shop stuff. It's also relatively new and hip, without being tragically hip-which is nice. Best of all is the large outdoor seating area-something most coffee places and restaurants in San Jose don't get to have, which is ridiculous considering our amazing weather (this city has some of the most ridiculous limitations). It pours rain in Portland Oregon 3 days out of 4 and you can sit outside at most places in there.

Peet's (any Peet's really) enjoys the distinction of being pretty consistent no matter where you find it. I have favorites at Peet's and also find that they know how to make soy milk foamy in a way that many places don't. Of course every Peet's looks the same and you have to love your classical music, but familiarity is sometimes comforting in it's predictability.

Trieste serves good coffee and feels kinda hip. The color scheme is a little country for my taste, but I am happy as a clam with the new outdoor area and the genral funkiness of the 1st street "residents" who wander about. It almost makes me feel like I live in a real city! They also serve beer and food and keep adding to their menu. They post local events and change their music regularly which is lovely

Philz should grow on me, but the jury is still out. It' s on the slowly developing little paseo de san antonio, and it is definitely the hangout of fixie riders and hip hipsters. That being said, it isn't quite cutting edge enough in it's decor to match it's super cool clientele, the lights are usually too bright and the music a bit loud. The staff however, are amazingly friendly and helpful


Cafe do Canto in little Portugal is just so European, right down to the smell. Walking in reminded me of every small Spanish cafe i have ever been in (i've spent tons of time in spain rather than portugal, so that's my reference) and i felt instantly happy. This place is right in my general neighborhood and most of the clientele are Portuguese men speaking Portuguese. i almost always feel that i am not in California anymore when i hang here. Something to be said for that.

Of course there is always Starbucks and Tully's-two places i see alot but rarely go to. i unhitched myself from Starbucks when there started to be more than one per mile, and Tully's never really grew on me.

Please add to this blog-i am forever on the search for coffee, and appreciate ideas.