Lauren Hobar
Staff Writer
lack coffee is so sad when it is alone. But the coffee shop has changed its lonesome look for good. Coffee has become more than a drink: it is atmosphere and warmth and Ella Fitzgerald and pleasing aromas and green-dragon colored aprons sifting around a cozy, couch-filled hot spot.
At least that’s what Starbucks owners banked on when it premiered as a top-40 big business. And many other coffee shops have been around a lot longer — they just haven’t been as loud about themselves.
Starbucks first took off in the Pacific Northwest where independent coffee shops are a favorite pastime and line the streets with their inviting quirks and vibes. People pay for a place to sit and mingle. Coffee drinking has always been social, it was just not as obvious as it is now. Coffee makes people do things — it encourages conversation with the guy reading the paper or the woman studying her books.
It is a stimulant after all. And with a little sugar, chocolate, caramel, fudge brownie, cinnamon or nutmeg, coffee tastes good to almost everyone.
Coffee drinking isn’t really about drinking coffee, so deciding the best place to grab a cup ‘o joe can be a process. The right coffee shop is an economic equation: the pleasure of the taste is lessened by the pain of the price.
Starbucks Coffee
Starbucks doesn’t pretend to be unique. It is obviously a big-business corporation. The customer gives money, the store gives the customers just what they like. It’s predictable, a quality that is sometimes appreciated.
People are very particular about taste, one of the very sensitive areas, up there with mom jokes and politics.
“People like our coffee just like they like a McDonald’s hamburger,” said Timothy Rittenhous, assistant manager of the Malibu Starbucks. “They know their latte will be exactly what they want no matter which store they get it from, what time they get it or who is making it.”
The Malibu Starbucks is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers seasonal items such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Peppermint Mocha. The soy chai tea latte is one of the most sought after Starbucks drinks, according to Rittenhous.
With mostly indoor seating and a blend of business types and students, Malibu Starbucks has a more sophisticated feel. Though it is not as personal as the other coffee shops, the tables are spread out and its open space makes it easy for the customers to do their own thing.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The Malibu Coffee Bean is alive during the morning and afternoon as the seating is canopied by sunlight and extends out to the playground that nestles behind shops and restaurants. Customers enjoy their coffee while doing homework, reading or just watching interesting Malibuites.
The espresso and blended drinks are made with Coffee Bean’s own powders, available in chocolate and vanilla with either full-sugar and no-sugar added, and the drinks have an almost malty consistency. The vanilla latte is a big request, and ice-blended mochas and teas are popular as well.
Shift Supervisor Toni Ganier said the coffee at Coffee Bean is the best.
“We take great pride in our coffee,” Ganier said. “We use Swiss water and import specially made organic coffee.”
Hanna Chu, a junior and Coffee Bean barista, agreed.
“I really like our teas,” Chu said. “We put just as much emphasis on tea as we do on coffee, so people who don’t like coffee aren’t left out of the whole coffee-shop experience.”
Another perk of the Coffee Bean is the pink card, a frequent-buyer perk. The drawback is it’s a long haul and a lot of money on coffee and tea to reach the free beverage, lucky number 13.
Diedrich’s Coffee
Deidrich’s serves up coffee and tea while hinting toward its Central-American roots. The shop has quicksand couches and chairs that suck you in for hours, as well as tables, bar seating and a lot of outside seating. The high ceilings and wood-paneled walls inspire a ski-lodge feel. The Mayan mocha is a different taste, blending the flavors of a Mexican hot chocolate with espresso. Another specialty is the peppermint tea, costing only $1.34 with the Pepperdine-student discount.
The cozy setup gives Deidrich a student-friendly environment. The only problem with studying here is the temptation to socialize the entire time, but it does have a bathroom, which makes sticking around a lot easier. The shop is set up to invite customers to sit and relax, which most do.
Santa Monica Coffee Shops
Though Malibu’s coffee shops are close and convenient, taking a drive down Pacific Coast Highway is worthwhile. The cruise by the ocean is nice when one has the time to take it in, and it is enhanced by the promise at the road’s end.
Santa Monica’s Main Street, which is parallel to Ocean Avenue is lined with independent décor, including organic coffee shops that sell real coffee, in all varieties.
On Main Street between Ocean Park Boulevard and Hill Street, Amelia’s is a small shop owned and run by the Diaz family. Amelia, her husband and their son serve many regulars who come sometimes twice each day. The air was friendly and Italian music was playing as families and singles enjoyed coffee and pressed sandwiches. The large windows and open doors let the bustle of the ocean-side town inside.
“We really want to reach out to the community with our place,” said Amelia Diaz. “We want it to be like a home away from home.”
The Diaz’s take pride in their special touches, as they drizzle chocolate in the shape of hearts on drinks and put up a festive display when the season calls. The coffee is imported from Italy, as is the family.
Groundworks is a proud hippied-out organic store located on the corner of Rose and Seventh Streets with a mini version on Main. Though there is no seating, the coffee selection is tremendous and the atmosphere is friendly.
“You can try anything you want and nobody is looking over your shoulder or pressuring you to buy something,” said frequent customer Elizabeth Hofstatter.
Groundworks has coffee taste cups set out for customers to taste the different blends, such as Peru, Kaui or the organic blanco blend.
Coffee shops explode with community. Whether through mellow music, comfortable seats, personable service or straight-up good coffee, shops all over Malibu and Santa Monica provide a place for people to come and take a break. The first step is breaking the news to Folgers.
01-13-2005
