Handlebar Coffee Roasters 02-23-12

Hey SBCSOP'ers.  Hanging today at Handlebar Coffee Roasters on Canon Perdido and Santa Barbara.  It is in the old 3 Pickles Deli location.  I have seen this place just driving by.  It's huge with the cycling crowd for some reason.  Lots of tight biking jerseys here on weekend mornings.  Must be a connection with the name and all.  Three cyclers just rolled in on cue.  They have a real small and basic inside area with no seating.  All of the seating is outside in the alley next to the old Jimmy's.  Great today since its 72 and sunny.  Not a bad spot to hang out on a warm day.  Nice view of presidio.  Coffee is really nice.  I'd put it #2 so far after French Press.  Grades:  Coffee: A, environment A+ if sunny and warm NA for cold/rainy.

Hoping to gain some member momentum after the unsanctioned coffee blog promotion party on Tue.  Sign up dammit.  Stay tuned next week when SBCSOP goes on the road!

Starbucks on Carrillo 2-16-12

Back at you from the newest Starbucks in Santa Barbara.  My goal was to avoid major chains because it's boring and who hasn't already tasted Starbuck coffee?  But my coffee shop mentor, Melissa Zannon, has this place firmly in place as her #1 coffee shop for working.  Her criteria?  Free parking, warm environment (and I mean she likes it physically warm) and different seating options.  You might have heard about the sign that they put up here and how the city asked them to take it down.  Well Z saw them take it down about 20 min ago.  You heard it here first!  SBCSOP brings you breaking news as it pertains to Santa Barbara coffee shops.  All of the good couchy seating was taken so we are sitting at a high table in the back corner.  Not too shabby.  Nice view of the Carillo and DLV intersection.  Shocker that taquito place never made it huh?  As for grades...why bother grading the coffee?  Work environment is a C+.   It's frickin Starbucks...

Good Cup 02-13-12

Hello SBCSOP followers.  That means you JP...  Live from Good Cup today on the Mesa.  Here with my first guest blog contributor.  The one and only Melissa Zannon.  I am learning quickly that she knows Santa Barbara coffee shops really well.  I am humbled.  I definitely plan on tapping into her vast knowledge for my future locations and general input.   Good Cup has a pretty nice setting.  We are sitting in some comfy loungy chairs which always helps.  Coffee is good.  They gave me a to go cup which doesn't help.  I guess they assumed I was taking it out.  This is never gonna be my "go to"because of the location.  I really like downtown.  Either way it is nice to try something different and I would come back if I am ever on this side of town.  Grades:  Coffee is a B- and setting is a B.

Cafe Zoma 02-10-12

Reporting to you live from Cafe Zoma on State Street today.  I figured what I would do is just park downtown and walk on State until a good looking coffee shop appeared.  It took about 30 sec to see the sign for this place.  I have read a few good reviews about it on Edhat.  There is one in Goleta too I think.  They have a nice combo of tables and couch area.  Pretty comfy.  The perfect location just next to Canon Perdido intersection.  I got a latte and some zucchini bread.  Coffee is very good.  So far I am thinking...Coffee:  B+, Work Environment: A-.

Muddy Waters 02-08-12

Today is the day that I put this silly blog together and therefor is the first day that I am reporting live from the coffee shop dujour.  Day three brings me to Muddy Waters on Haley Street in the Funk Zone.  This is probably the one place that I have already been to more than any other.  That is because it is located right next door to my favorite smog check place.  That process leaves just enough time to not go home so getting a coffee here is my little routine.

I got a Cappuccino today.  I feel like I am having milk overload.  It was good but came in a funky cup.  The ambiance here is very casual.  Lots of couches and different sitting areas.  Also very low foot traffic.  I think that as I go along, I will want to spend more time in the downtown area.  Just more activity and people.  I like the idea of throwing on the headphones and working but a little people watching can't hurt.   This place feels just a little bit like a nightclub that is open during the day.  Just a little bit dirty.  Good spot but not gonna win this contest... GRADES: Coffee C+, Ambiance C+

Coffee Cat 02-06-12

Day two of the coffee shop tour and I felt like going somewhere I had been before.  Coffee Cat seems like a really popular location so that made it great for coffee shop 2.  The central location is great and obviously a go to for lots of downtown workers. I went after lunch and there was quite a bit of open seating.  Although the best seats are definitely the benches and booths.  I think I am learning that comfort is a big component of a place to actually work.  So seats with cushion, as opposed to a table and chair, are going to draw me in.  I ordered a latte.  At first I thought that I should get the same drink at each location, but that is going to get too boring.  Either way the coffee was good.  I get the feeling you are going to hear me mention French Press a lot because their espresso set a really high bar.  The setting is great for people watching.  Not too good on getting a seat and I think lots of people coming in and out makes it a little less calm.  Grades:  Coffee B, Ambiance B

French Press 02-05-12

So for the selection of the first location on the coffee shop gauntlet I wanted to make the right decision.  Do I start at the bottom and work my way up?  Maybe organize the order geographically?  Why not kick things off with a bang?  So I went straight to the Independent yearly award list and found the best coffee house section.  Number one on the list was French Press on State St near the intersection with Anapamu.  There was also a EdHat listing where someone asked for coffee shop referrals and lots of people were hyping French Press.

The coffee did not disappoint.  I ordered a regular latte.  The foam came out with the very top burnt.  Almost like they hit it with a creme brulee torch.  Really good.  The ambiance is good.  Clean.  Lots of hipsters.   My grade for the coffee is A+ and ambiance for working C+.