Hanging out California Style
Most people who come out to SF don’t leave. For most, it was the hope of striking it rich out west. In the 1800s, hordes of people rushed out to “The West” for gold. The recent IT boom drew people from all over the world to relocate to the Bay Area… many of whom have struck it very rich and have remained in the area.
SF is a city that accommodates, that includes, a real melting pot of many cultures and walks of life. SF is where people want to be. The city is visually beautiful, the climate is agreeable, the food is good, the cultural scene is alive, the music is groovy, there’re lots of choices for sports and the couches are super comfy.
There’s a café on almost every block in SF. The café per capita in this city is probably 1 in 10? Maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but I’m probably not that far off. I drink a cup of coffee every 10 years. I’ve had more coffee and bagels in this week than I’ve had in my lifetime. And I think I’ve identified the “pull” factor: super comfy couches.
Almost every café has at least one super comfy couch. They make it impossible for you to leave. You sink down in the couch and start sipping on a big mug of coffee, soft music playing in the background. You’re allowed to stay as long as you like. The morning crowd comes in for their caffeine fix and read the San Francisco Chronicle. Some people bring in their laptops and type at it all afternoon. Mothers come in with their prams and chat if Huggies is better for boys or girls. Some plonk down with a book to read…
And me? I read and I knitted. I’ve read to my heart’s content on this trip. My DH is saying in the background that I have also shopped to my heart’s content. Yes – this city definitely makes it easy for one to rest the sore feet. There’s literally a coffee place on every block! Cafés (and shops) are where I’ve parked myself for the past week.
Coffee to the People” is one café that I visit every day. It’s low-key and right off Haight Street. It serves coffee and chai teas. The coffees and teas are organic and sourced fair-trade. I salute the effort to be fair to the coffee farmers. I also like the large bookshelf right by the comfy couches. “Coffee to the People” is where I catch my breath before I climb up the steep slopes back home.
Coffee to the People
1206 Masonic Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94117
Click here for the website
Comments
This account of SF makes it sound suspiciously like Melbourne :) I have heard a fair bit about the food scene in SF, I only hope I'm fortunate enough to visit it one day!
Posted by: Ellie | September 12, 2006 11:28 AM
Ellie: Many thanks for your comment.
You're right. SF is a lot like Melbourne and Perth and Sydney in many ways... :-) It also has a more diverse group of cultures living together. There are more cafes and each cafe has its own "style" and different groups that hang out.
Hope you will get to visit it one day too! The food scene is excellent and the shopping is fantastic. I think the best time to visit is September/ October, when the city has plenty of sunshine!
Posted by: LPC | September 12, 2006 07:24 PM
Great blog! The photos are really nice.
I've been to that Coffee To The People place and I agree, it has a nice vibe and cares about the environment and workers, and seems really homey and home-made, in a good way.
Posted by: Justin | October 12, 2006 03:19 AM
Hello Justin,
Thanks for your comment and your support!
I felt that same way about Coffee to the People too. I wasn't sure if this
was a "great" caf=E9 by SF standards, but we definitely don't get comfy
couches in French caf=E9s nor the homey feel, as you say.
Take care,
LPC
Posted by: LPC | October 12, 2006 10:49 AM