coffee

I'm a coffee shop snob. For me, it's not so much about the coffee that I'm drinking (because I do tend to break down and drink from the big green mermaid every so often) but more about the atmosphere. I like me a good relaxed, quiet, friendly coffee establishment where people can get into a good conversation and kick back on a sofa for a few hours. I have such a place in Vancouver. It's called River Maiden coffee. River Maiden used to be part of the Vancouver Farmer's Market, until the Markets' governing group of resident idiots decided to cast away the businesses who had made a successful go of it in the new FM building in downtown Vancouver. blah, blah, blah…

At any rate, River Maiden, and its owners Melissa and Aaron have become a tradition for me, and I don't intend to lose them, even though I don't live in the same state anymore. That never stopped me from going to the Blue Pepper in Salem! (another great coffee stop for the weary traveler).

I enjoy my usual Saturday morning cup of Hair Bender, and listen to other coffee drinkers harassing the ultra-liberal customers who drive Prius cars and spout off about traveling to Eqypt. I mostly sit and take it all in, while others there engage in these crazy, interesting conversations. After awhile you have 5 or 6 people sitting across the room from each other, invested in a conversation about one or another social issues plaguing our country, city or town. It's great. I love it. And you have to go to a place like River Maiden to experience these types of conversations. Places like Starbucks or Seattle's Best, or even Tully's are just too stick in the mud (or stick up the butt depending on what town you're in), and you cannot have a decent conversation with people. If you do, it's very rare.

That's why I'll always search for a little niche coffee joint (like Java Mama in Beaverton) where there are regulars, and an owner who actually makes coffee, and tells you "the Indian roast is really good today", that's the kind of flavor we need in life to keep us going. A place where you can go enjoy a good cup of coffee, and some great conversation with a friend.