Runway Cafe at SLO County Regional Airport

Okay, so this is something different.  Where can you go for a cup of coffee at 5 A.M.?  The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport!  We ventured to the Runway Cafe there this morning.  The airport is located at 903 Airport Drive, off Broad Street, just down from the Marigold Center.  The Cafe is run by Achievement House, which is an organization devoted to providing work experience to local adults with special needs.  It is located just inside the terminal.  No TSA required!  The menu includes several espresso drinks, tea, hot chocolate, and coffee, cold drinks, as well as breakfast and lunch items.  Sheila got her usual regular small coffee, which was $1.95.  The Runway Cafe uses Dark Nectar coffee, out of Templeton, California.   It was very smooth, not at all bitter, and all in all, a delicious cup of coffee.  Joan had a small caramel macchiato with soy milk.  The cost was $3.95.  She said it was extra sweet, which she enjoys, and fully caffeinated.

                               Snacks and gifts are also available at this small establishment.

                                                       Refills are a mere 50 cents!

                          We would both definitely visit this awesome coffee spot again!
Think About It: If you have a chance to take a trip this summer, whether for one day or longer, just do it and enjoy whatever it brings.

Emily's Cinnamon Rolls

Emily's Cinnamon Rolls is best known for its delicious cinnamon rolls, but it also has several coffee choices, which compliment these light and fluffy treats.  It is located at 588 California Blvd., in SLO, of course.  We would definitely go back, not only for the variety of cinnamon rolls, but for the several coffee choices.  They also have teas, juices, milk, and water.  Parking is easy in this small complex close to Cal Poly.  There are a couple of benches and stools to sit on, but most people take their coffee and rolls to go.  We sat on a bench and enjoyed not only the coffee and yes, we had to sample the cinnamon rolls, too, but had a nice conversation with one of the owners, a friendly fellow named Kyle, who is also Emily's dad.  Sheila had a French press coffee, which was $2.  Joebella is Emily's coffee roaster.   It was a great cup of coffee!  Joan had a caramel latte with almond milk and sprinkled with cocoa powder on top which was $4.  She describes it as having a mild caramel flavor which gave it a nice balance of sweet and robustness.  (Is that a word?  It is now!)

                                      Emily's has gluten free products, too. You can also find them at Thursday night's Farmer's Market in SLO, and Friday's Farmer's Market in Avila Beach.

The cheery, colorful decor will brighten your day!

                       Think About It: ➡️

Barnes and Noble Cafe

The view from the second story Barnes and Noble Cafe at the Downtown Centre in SLO is not to be missed.  It opens at 9:00 A.M.  and serves a variety of breakfast choices and Starbucks coffees for your early morning pleasure.  Joan went "fancy" with a tall caramel macchiato with nonfat milk and nonfat syrup with a caramel drizzle.  With all that nonfat going on, it was practically dietetic!  Ha!  It was $4.25, not too sweet, and with a slight hint of caramel flavor, which, Joan said, got more flavorful as it cooled down.  Sheila had her usual tall regular coffee, no sugar, no cream, no nothing, but that's the way she likes it.  Maybe someday...  Anyway, it was very satisfying and with her Barnes and Noble membership it was 10% off and cost $1.75.  Menus on the tables conveniently let customers know what drinks and food selections there are.  These include baked goods, desserts, sandwiches, soups, and quiches.

                                 The view out the window is fun and great for people watching!

 There are a number of comfortable chairs and tables for enjoying a coffee respite during your busy, or not so busy  day.

     

                             Think About It: The following is a link to a free and excellent e-newsletter called Just One Thing, which suggests a simple practice each week for more joy and peace of mind. We highly recommend it.  rickhanson.net 

Black Horse at Uptown Espresso and Bakery

It's been awhile since we did our SLO Coffee Crawl but we're happy to say we are back. Sometimes life has its own agenda...
Early this morning we visited Black Horse at Uptown Espresso and Bakery at 1065 Higuera Street in downtown SLO.  It was established in 1995 and was formerly known as Uptown Espresso.  It is the second Black Horse we have been to in SLO.  Joan enjoyed the Caramello coffee drink so much at the Foothill Black Horse that she ordered it again.  She had a tall size with soy milk and it was $4.95.  It did not disappoint her!  The homemade caramel really makes it delicious.  Sheila had a regular tall light roast coffee which cost $1.95. It was smooth, rich, and very satisfying.

 This Black Horse has a variety of baked goods, panini, breakfast items, and many coffee and tea drinks to choose from.

 There is an indoor/outdoor fireplace, and plenty of chairs and tables inside and outside to enjoy the great weather in SLO.

 Clientele included business people, students, and seems to be a popular meeting place for people of all ages.

Think About It:  Relax, enjoy, and keep your sense of humor!

Breaking Bread Bakery

Breaking Bread Bakery is located at 1074 Higuera Street in SLO.  You can enter from Higuera Street or go down the alley between Buona Tavola restaurant and the county government building.  We stumbled upon it this morning and were glad we did.  They feature Green Star coffee and a wide variety of teas.  They don't have the "fancy" coffees that Joan usually has, so she fancied up her Paradiso Roast with some Half and Half, and thought it was an exceptional cup of coffee.  Sheila felt the same way about her Italian Roast regular coffee.  The small is only $1.50.  We decided to pair our coffees with a sampling of their delicious looking baked goods, made right there on the premises.  The Orange Morning Bun was lightly flavored with orange, and was flaky and satisfying with just the right amount of sweetness.  We also tried the Carrot Cake Muffin, which was moist and complimented the coffees nicely.

There are several seating options at Breaking Bread.  There are numerous outdoor tables and also counter seating, an outside patio, and indoor seating as well.  They have a wonderful breakfast and lunch menu and freshly baked breads daily.

 Think About It: Don't be afraid to start out your day without an agenda.  You might just open yourself up to a new passion, or, at the very least, discover a great cup of coffee! 

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SLO Grind at Whole Foods Market

Today we ventured out to SLO Grind at Whole Foods in San Luis, located at 1531 Froom Ranch Way.  The atmosphere there was friendly and inviting.  We weren't sure what to expect from a coffee place located in a market, but were pleasantly surprised.  The combination of excellent coffee and comfortable seating made for an enjoyable coffee experience.  Sheila had a 12 oz. regular cup of Winter Roast coffee. It was smooth, delicate, and delicious.  The cost was only $1.75.  Well worth it! Joan had a 12 oz. Turkish latte with soy, hazelnut syrup, cinnamon, two shots of espresso, and cardamom, of all things!  Joan pronounced it bold, strong in a good way, and robust.  The cinnamon was evident, but not overpowering.  It was $3.50.  She said she would definitely order it again.

Seating includes tables, a counter, a comfy couch and easy chairs.  Outdoor seating is also available,

a great option for warm SLO days.

 SLO Grind has a good variety of hot and cold drinks, as well as teas.  They also offer wonderful pastry items.

 Think About It: Your circumstances do not dictate the quality of your life.

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates

Even though Mama Ganache, which is located at 1445 Monterey Street in SLO, is primarily known for its wonderful artisan chocolates, it does have coffee, tea, and cocoa drinks.  We enjoyed a delightfully different coffee experience here.  It was a pleasurable coffee ritual, with our coffees served to us on a silver tray, while we sat comfortably on a sofa by the window.  There is also a table outside. Joan had a small latte with soy milk, chocolate peppermint, and cocoa.  It was $3.50.  It was mellow, foamy and smooth.  The cocoa made it very unique in a good way.  The regular coffee was also $3.50, a little more expensive than most places, but it was French press coffee, made very fresh, and absolutely delicious.  It is a charming place, with brightly colored furniture and displays of wonderful looking chocolates.  They provide assistance to cocoa farmers in Ghana, Cameroon, and Cote d'Ivoire.  Their chocolates are locally made, organic, and fair trade.  Go to their website to learn more about this earth friendly, very special shop.

A great idea for you and your loved one, or for a gift for Valentines' Day or any time, is the Truffle Flight, a pairing of your choice of chocolates and a coffee or cocoa drink. 

 Think About It:  Don't hesitate to go for a cup of coffee all by yourself. It's okay to just sit and think and enjoy your coffee, no devices needed.