Want good coffee? Shop for it

Sometime in 1991, well before the coffee craze spread widely throughout the Inland Northwest, I was invited to a dinner party. I knew only a few of the people in attendance, and I was only relatively comfortable with the table talk. You know, politics, food, travel, etc., the kind of atmosphere that makes most guys I know dream of a good sports debate.

Anyway, sometime after dinner was over, and we were relaxing over coffee, the question of what constituted “good” coffee came up. Remember, this was well before most of us knew that you didn’t spell espresso with an “x.” In fact, Starbucks was still relatively unknown this side of the Cascades. But Starbucks, of course, came up.

“Hmpf,” a young woman said. “Starbucks is the McDonald’s of good coffee.”

I thought that statement was precious then, and I still do. OK, maybe Starbucks is the mainstream of good coffee. But when you grew up, as I did, with Folger’s being the mainstream standard, Starbucks is a pretty good alternative. And I drink it to this day. Willingly and often.

Starbucks coffee, though, is hardly the only brand of coffee I drink. Following are five of my favorite espresso spots:

Jacob’s Java : Quick, friendly and not liable to break your budget.

The Shop : Another reason to visit the Perry neighborhood, especially when Joe Thomsen is pulling.

The Rocket : My favorite of the local chain is located on Main St., across from the Saranac Building.

Brews Brothers : One of my regular stops when I still worked at The Spokesman-Review.

Starbucks : Among my regular stops are the location on Main across from Riverpark Square, on Grand a block north of 14th, and just off Hamilton in the Gonzaga district.

Enjoy.