Coffee Shop Journal

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For the first time during our stay here the sun has popped out and it is a beautiful, early June day in Lexington, Mass. I celebrated by walking to the center for a cup of coffee all by myself. Robbie Seay Band playing on the iPod, a new book in my bag and no one caring where I wandered. That is my idea of a good day.

I headed immediately to Starbucks, thinking that I would get my Iced Doubleshot Espresso with Energy, a good breakfast drink if there ever was one. Starbucks was suspiciously quiet. No espresso today, the machine is broken. Sorry. This was delivered in a casual, I don’t care if it bugs you kind of way. Very irritating to a woman needing an energy fix. No offers of a coupon for a free drink (which I believe is Starbucks’ policy when they are unable to offer a standard item). No sympathy. Most importantly, no energy.

Two doors down in this wonderful coffee-loving little town is Peet’s Coffee. Alfred Peet, the founder of Peet’s who died last year, is credited with starting the “coffee revolution” in the United States. He worked with the founders of Starbucks, and taught them how to roast coffee. When Starbucks began to grow, he chose to part ways as he wanted to keep his chain small and local. Obviously since that time the company has spread across the United States. Nevertheless, it is interesting to find a Starbucks and Peet’s in such proximity.

I enjoy the roast of beans at Peet’s, even more than my normal predisposition for Starbucks. They have a great Kenyan roast that we’ve really enjoyed on our trips here. In addition, they will sell it in 1/2 pound bags, which helps short-timers like us. My double espresso was good, nicely delivered with a good crema. It was a little fruity on the finish, but I’m getting picky. I also ordered their Jasmine Tea Lime Cooler, a delicious iced drink that actually tastes like the Jasmine flower smells, if you can imagine that.

I sat in the shop for about an hour, and enjoyed the ambiance. I noticed a couple of cultural oddities in the usual coffee shop crowd. For instance, not one soul in the whole time I was there was working. Not a single computer in sight. I would have felt odd even pulling out my computer. Now that is weird. Most of the people were in pairs jabbering away as if the whole world is on vacation. This coffee shop is located in an area where I would have expected a few rogue real estate agents (every other storefront in town is an agency), bankers or other workers. To test my theory I walked through Starbucks, too. No computers, no workers, not even any readers. Decidedly odd. Also, both stores had a complete lack of comfy chairs. Peet’s didn’t even try, though they had two great bars to sit at overlooking the main street, Massachusetts Avenue. This is, by the way, that same street Paul Revere rode down and which I mentioned in an earlier post. Finally, the baristas made no attempt to engage in conversation, although they were friendly when I was ordering. They looked at me periodically as I sat reading my book, as if to wonder when I was moving on. I did not feel rushed to leave, I just felt like an oddity.

All in all, a great day in Lexington.