Coffee’s An Indoor Experience In Boise

This town doesn’t have drive-up espresso huts.

That’s right. Those handy little huts that seem to be on every corner up north are a rare curiosity in the capital city. In weeks of cruising most of Boise’s major commercial and commuting routes, I’ve spotted only two.

But don’t think you can’t get strong Italian coffee here. Boiseans just prefer to go to a cafe where they can sit down and sip their espresso amid atmosphere.

There’s plenty of it around.

At one coffee emporium, nose-ringed servers mix your brew while you sink into a comfy couch. At another, fliers and pamphlets laid out for coffee-sippers include titles like “Discover your spiritual destiny.”

Look inside another, not far from the Capitol, at 10:30 a.m. and it’s wall-to-wall suits and gray hair.

The building that houses the S-R’s downtown Boise office contains not one, but two cafes that serve espresso. Hyde Park, a two-block shopping district in the city’s North End, has four with another on the way.

“We haven’t had a lot of interest in the little hut driveups,” said Wayne Gibbs, city planning director.

Most of the cafes also serve food. Some have live music.

Jerome Eberharter, a partner in Moxie Java, the king of the Boise espresso scene with 11 locations around town, says, “A lot of people like to sit down for a little while. They want to come in, have a latte, have their scone.”

But for those of us who like quick caffeine on the way to somewhere, Boise has its disadvantages. I gave up recently after waiting in line at my neighborhood cafe behind five teenage girls, each ordering her own elaborate Italian ice. Then, when I tried to leave, the cars in the parking lot were backed up six deep to get out.

Eberharter says, “Coffee brings people together.”

Party picks

There’s been some conjecture as to why so many (eight) of Gov. Phil Batt’s appointees have been state legislators. One theory is that Batt had trouble coming up with people to appoint because he’s cut the salaries for the top jobs. Conventional wisdom has it that Republicans make more money than Democrats. If so, the appointees would all have to take pay cuts. Those who’ve been dallying in the Legislature, however, are more likely to have the political credentials without the big salary history.

Baby, you can drive my car

There’s less crossfire across the Capitol’s second-floor hallway now that both the governor and lieutenant governor are of the same party. Former Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus recalled his years of serving with GOP Lt. Gov. Butch Otter when he needled Otter at a recent banquet: “Butch, this is not a tight-fittin’ jeans contest tonight.” Otter, of course, drew flak for winning just such a contest, along with a 1992 DUI. Voters brought him back anyway. Andrus finished up his barb, “But I tell you what, I will drive you home.”

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