beans: red rock

When I saw that a coffee shop opened in the Safeway strip mall on Iris and 28th, I thought “Hm. What a weird place to put a coffee shop. Who would ever go there?” I would, as it turns out.  Red Rock is a chill place, clearly off the beaten path and with much less hustle and bustle than you’d find at a coffee shop on Pearl Street.  It’s quiet, clean and filled with people working on their laptops or talking quietly amongst themselves. There are even a few comfy leather chairs up front.

This is a great place to come and chill, or have a conversation you don’t want half of the city of Boulder to overhear. You probably won’t run into anyone you know at Red Rock.

That said, I saw three people I know today…but I was there for a long time.

They make a very good cup o’ Joe, too. And I know the difference now, as I can no longer doctor it up with cream to my heart’s content. Red Rock has all the weird milk you desire, too. Soy, almond and rice for an extra charge, which is fine by me. And bonus points for the “Truvia” sweetener.  And lots of other sweeteners, as luck would have it. This is an impressive selection, even by Boulder standards.

(Truvia, Organic agave, simple syrup…oh my! There’s also honey, sugar, raw sugar and splenda. How sweet it is!)

The people who work here are very friendly, they usually have a pretty good Pandora channel on the small stereo on the counter, so the music is on in a background kinda way. Red Rock also features beautiful photography on the wall….like these:

I also like the large selection of gluten free goodies. More than most. I tried a slice of the poppyseed bread….pretty good, not too dry and crumbly and it actually resembles a tasty treat and not something you’d put in a birdfeeder.  Not bad, considering it’s gluten and dairy free…..

Another thing I like about this place is they seem to be very supportive of local companies, such as Mix1, Breeze, Breadworks and such…. Nice. And don’t forget to shop at your favorite small business on “Small Business Saturday” after Thanksgiving, by the way. Easy to do in Boulder.

(Red Rock doing its part to support local business!)

Red Rock also features a variety of loose teas for your sipping pleasure. Lots of them. And some come with suggestions on the best way to enjoy them. “Great with cream and a little sugar” says the canister of Assam, a black tea from India. Good to know. My favorite is this one, though. I’ll have to try it one of these days. Just so I know what a “monkey picked white tea” tastes like.

(Names as clever as any local dispensary….or so I’ve been told)

I’ve been here with a couple of sidekicks, both of whom had a few critiques. My chai-drinking friend says her chai was mostly a glass of milk. Another pal ordered a breggo and was disappointed when they threw it in the microwave. He prefers the press thing. Can’t say I blame him as I am sure breggos, like anything, get a little mushy in the microwave. He was also bummed out there was no blender. To this I say “Sorry bud, but I refuse to go to a coffee shop with a GUY who wants a blender drink. Get your frozen frappuccino at (gasp!) Starbucks and leave me out of it.” I’ll pay for that sass, but I stand by it. If it’s a smoothie you want, there’s a Jamba juice in the Safeway right around the bend. If it’s a blended frozen coffee drink you’re after, I won’t be a party to that. I’m sorry.  I don’t love it. If you want a milkshake, go to Glacier. We are drinking coffee here.

My girl has a point on the way diluted chai, and I agree the microwave is not a perfect heating option for your breggo, but I’m ok with the lack of blender on the premises.  That’s what is so great about being the author of this blog. Editorial power.

I like Red Rock. It’s quiet, chill and clean. The bathroom is spotless. The coffee is tasty, milk, sweetener and gluten/dairy free options abound.

Oh I’ll be back.

I’d like to take a moment to discuss a ray of sunshine on an otherwise dark and dismal day in college football last Saturday. While most of the news was sensational, shocking and sad, the happenings at Folsom Field deserve a mention. I was there in the wind. And I HATE the wind…more than most people do. But I was out there freezing my tailfeathers off and cheering the Buffs on to an awesome victory over Arizona! Well done, Buffs!! And congrats to all the seniors, including tailback Rodney “Speedy” Stewart who had an amazing game and even threw for a touchdown.

Proud to say my favorite 7 year old Buff fan knows ALL the words to all the cheers and chants, including the fight song. And yes, I even taught him the one with the F bombs in it…nothing he doesn’t hear at home on a fairly regular basis…though he is forbidden to yell it out unless and until he finds himself in the student section. Big congrats to the Buffs, coaches and fans….and of course Ralphie….for a great victory on Saturday!

beans: folsom street coffee

Beans and suds is so happy to be back after an unscheduled hiatus. My apologies to those who have been waiting patiently for my take on all things caffeine and cocktail, but sometimes life has a way of keeping you from things you’d rather be doing.  I will not bore you with the details.

Since you heard from me last, I have discovered I am allergic to both gluten and soy. If that were not bad enough, add dairy to the list.  On the upside, I feel my dietary restrictions make me much more “Bouldery” than I was a few weeks ago. And while the gluten ban puts the brakes on my beer consumption, I am happy to announce that tequila is NOT on the restricted list! Nor are tortilla chips, salsa or guacamole. So all is not lost.

And I can drink milk. As long as it’s not cow’s milk or soy milk. Almond milk works. So does coconut milk, if I can figure out how to get the off-putting lumps out of it. Ideas, friends?

Folsom Street Coffee has almond milk! And whatever this is that I’m eating.  A gluten and dairy free millet triangle of some kind or other.

My point here is while I’d rather be eating any one of these….

…or sharing what my sidekick is eating….

Folsom Street has you in mind, my food-restricted friends!

I like this place, even though it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to head north out of the parking lot most times of the day.  Do not be put off by it’s unimpressive exterior, it’s full of good stuff!

Folsom Street is a great place to come and enjoy a quinoa crumble with a pal, who is enjoying his sour cream coffee cake even more.  Also a great place to come get some work done, read a book or just look around at all the cool stuff on the walls and hanging from the ceiling.

Like this….

Which, if you believe the lady who told me so when she asked why I was walking around a coffee shop taking pictures, are creations of a local artist who once lived in the building in the alley behind Folsom Street Coffee (a building I was also told is in danger of being torn down). Amazing the things you learn when you wander around with a camera in your hand. (Note to self: this could be another blog idea….I just take the camera around town with me and take pictures of things most people don’t. Like the insides of coffee shops. Imagine the possibilities…..)

Water pitchers. And glasses. Nice touch, Folsom Street. Eating baked goods is thirsty work indeed. And this saves me from: a. having to bother the barista, b. having to buy a bottle of water, c. listening to my sidekick tell me about how he’s dying of thirst and could I please get back in line and get him some water?….see what I mean?

Speaking of baristas, these guys are way friendly. I told them about the blog and they thought it was cool….or they made me think so anyway, which is really the same thing as far as I’m concerned…. AND they didn’t make me feel like a jackass for ordering almond milk. Thanks, guys.

And I do feel like a jackass. I’m sorry, but I feel like the guy on “LA Story” who orders a “half caf, double decaf with a twist.” And I guess now that I’m ordering milk made out of nuts I can no longer roll my eyes when my brother orders his “wet cap with extra foam and caramel sauce” and I should probably stop asking “what is wrong with you?” Because it seems hypocritical of me now. And I guess I’ll have to stop my aggressive sighing when the person in front of me orders “a 150 degree soy mocha with an extra shot and lotsa whip”….which I still, for the record, think is a little silly.  The problem is I am no longer the guy on the moral high ground who orders an “americano with room.”

I’m really going to have to figure out how to drink my americano black, to spare myself the humiliation of putting some poor barista through this “Yeah, hi. Ummm, after conferring with my naturopath, my acupuncturist, my intuitive, my therapist, my trainer, my astrologer, my cranial sacrial worker, my yoga teacher, my meditation instructor, my guru, my hairdresser and my tea leaves reader, we have all come to the conclusion that I simply cannot make due with your milk offerings.  I am actually my best self when I stick to kangaroo milk.  It’d be awesome if you guys had that for my americano.” It doesn’t matter that none of that is what comes out of my mouth. It just sounds like that in my head.

Important note here:  do not think that if you can’t drink regular milk I view you in this way. The voices in my head judge me by a much, much different standard they do outsiders. If you’re cool with ordering your fairly high maintenance drink with a nonconventional milk, my hat’s off to you. I just can’t do it.

Black americanos from now on.  I’ll give extra credit to coffee shops that carry “Truvia,” which is  a sugar substitute made from the stevia plant. Hahahahaha!! Oh my God! Now even my sweetener order is getting difficult. Sugar? No can do. Artificial sweetener? Ew. Why don’t you just offer me a “Tab” while you’re at it? It’ll kill me faster.

My apologies to Folsom Street Coffee for my rantings, but I think  it’s a side effect of bread and cheese withdrawal……

In short, Folsom Street is a great little place to get your fix. I’m going back for sure…because there I don’t HAVE to drink my americano black. This funky place has a chill vibe and friendly baristas. And good food and drink options. I like it so much I’ll even think of something to do to the west, east or south of here when I’m done!

Oh yes. And I finished “War and Peace.” Yes I did.

And I have also started “An Ideal Husband,” because I LOVE Oscar Wilde.  He is definitely tops on my list of “people dead or alive that you’d want to have coffee with.” I imagine our time together would be full of witty banter, he’s a pro. And there’s nothing quite like an Irishman with an audience. I think happy hour would be better for us two, though….

beans: piece love and chocolate

We are going to do things a little differently this time.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” the saying goes and it’s very true when it comes to “Piece Love and Chocolate.”  So this blog will feature bigger pictures and less words than usual, but don’t worry I’ll be back with all my snark soon enough.  I took a lot of pictures to give you a sense of the sinful bits of heaven you’ll find inside the walls of this little shop on West Pearl.  Taking up space with words would ruin it. I gotta say, I like the bigger pictures….might have to go with this from now on…..

The only thing better than looking at all these goodies is tasting them….

Scrumptious truffles filled with delight not your bag? No worries…Piece Love and Chocolate has a pastry chef as well…..feast your eyes on these….

Yes. Mousse. Filled. Cupcakes.

This is most assuredly not your average, every day coffee shop. It’s like some little fairies decided we didn’t have enough decadence in this town, so they flew down and created Piece Love and Chocolate while we were all asleep one night.

(Evidence that fairies were somehow involved)

Turns out chocolate is like wine, or cheese….and these are a few of my favorite things…there is an entire process behind the making of these delights. And apparently your palate can be trained to know the difference between them. And how to pair them properly with different wines for maximum tastebud joy and seratonin optimization.

(It is an amoire filled with exotic chocolate bars)

And the people who work at “Piece” are happy to show you around and describe the display case full of truffles, many of which look too good to eat….but eat them. Because they are AWESOME.

I chose a salt caramel, which is one of my all time favorite treats. I told the helpful gal behind the counter to pick another one for me. She chose one of her faves, a basil truffle. Told me to put it in my mouth and just let it melt. Wow. I can’t even explain how basil and dark chocolate come together in this little candy, but it works. Bigtime.

(My assistant showing you the inside of a salt caramel truffle…just in case you’re not yet sold on this place)

Oh and if you’d like to place a custom order for baked goods or cakes, Piece Love and Chocolate can make that dream a reality.  And I think they serve coffee and tea…and mocha.

And if anyone out there is still undecided on what to get me for Christmas this year, how about this? You know I’ll love it….

beans: brewing market

There are three Brewing Markets in Boulder. The original is on 13th by Conor O’Neill’s, there’s one in The Village Center by McGuckins, and another in the BaseMar shopping center on Broadway and Baseline. But sometimes I have to get out of Boulder, if only for a couple of hours, so I decided to go to the Brewing Market on 95th and Arapahoe in Lafayette.

I discovered this little gem when I came out here to watch my favorite 7 year old play flag football one Saturday morning after a Friday night happy hour outing.  I was hoping the caffeine would help. It did not. Never does, actually. I couldn’t hang that day, but I vowed I’d come back. Soon. To hang.

Wow! This place is so totally worth the trip. I am adding it to my regular rotation.

This place is so full of fab, I almost don’t know where to begin.  Let’s start at the beginning. I’m sitting here.  There are big, comfy chairs and couches…a lot of them so you don’t have to fret about not getting “the” comfy seat.

The choices for coffee/tea drinks are numerous. Hot or cold, you name it, they probably have it here. They also have five or six kinds of chai….I have a friend who loves a good chai, and now I have a good excuse to get her out for coffee. I’m feeling inspired to branch out from my usual iced coffee/hot americano thing and try something different today.  I order a “cambric,” which is essentially a latte made with tea instead of espresso.  (Pekoe makes these, too and they’re really good).  But not so fast…do I want black, green or herbal tea in that? Herbal is out, I need caffeine. I opt for green tea, thinking I’m done making important choices. But alas, there is “regular” green tea, or other kinds of green tea…like plum or cherry.  Straight up green tea sounds good. And it is!! Warm and creamy and a little less aggressive than the caffeine kick you get from the espresso version. Don’t get me wrong, I love that as well, but sometimes I can’t handle it. Like when I have an empty stomach, like I do now.

This is not a problem. If you’re hungry, The Brewing Market has you covered. Well covered.

There are glass containers full of very homemade looking sweet things…biscotti, cookies, etc.  Also on top of the display case full of lots of other awesome looking food is a selection of “Bobo’s Oat Bars” such as I have never seen. Who knew they had 8 different kinds to choose from?

And bregos. If you like bregos…and who doesn’t, really? The Brewing Market has lots and lots of bregos. Five different kinds, to be exact.  Normally I don’t, but I may have to get something to eat here today.  Something with gluten in it, because on Thursday I’m meeting with a holistic nutritionist who is going to change my life, fix what ails me, and right things I didn’t even know were wrong.  Based on our initial consultation, I fear the first thing she’s going to say is:

“No more gluten for you, sister.”

She might not say the “sister” part, but I plan to eat as much gluten as I can between now and then, possibly making myself sick in the process, so that when she utters that directive I’ll be ready to commit to it.

Where was I?

Bregos, burritos, hummus wraps and sandwiches, all cozied up to another fave…Noosa yogurt.  They have all kinds of pastry too….scones, zucchini bread and lots of other “loaves” and muffins, too. I’m getting really hungry, and it’s past lunchtime. I opt for the turkey sandwich with lemon dill aoli, crunchy red peppers, cucumbers and lettuce.  And yeah!! It comes on bread, so I’ve got that going for me as well.  I love that about sandwiches.

Got chocolate?

(So much chocolate I almost couldn’t fit it all in the shot)

Oh yes. Yes they do. Massive selection.  Good chocolate, too….everything, from Lindt, Chocolove, Perugina, Drost, Sharfenberger and many more…if it’s chocolate you want, they’ve got it for you. And truffles. I’m not a fan, but if you are this should put a smile on your face….

(Love that they tell you what’s inside each one, so you don’t have regrets after the first bite)

I had a chat with the barista, mostly to explain why I was walking around with a big camera taking pictures of the chocolate, and he told me how they make their pumpkin pie latte. If pumpkin pie latte sounds like something you like, I will explain how the Brewing Market makes theirs, and perhaps you’ll be compelled to try one!  So they actually make pumpkin pie filing and reduce it down to its spicy essence and use THAT in their pumpkin pie latte. Get one and report back to me, I am not a huge fan of pumpkin but I’m dying to know if it’s as good as it sounds.

If syrup is more your style, they have plenty of that, too, The Brewing Market does.  If you’re a do-it-at-home kinda cat, they sell virtually everything you’ll need. Bulk coffee, teas, teapots, presses, mugs…..

(Syrup. I wasn’t kidding)

They also have cards in case you just realized it’s someone’s birthday you care about….or if you just wanna pen someone a letter…old school. Who wouldn’t love that?

And who wouldn’t love this place? I’ve been to the other Brewing Markets, but usually just to grab a drink and go. I think I’ll loop back and check them out again, too!

Bravo, Brewing Market!

I don’t have much time before I have to leave here and get back to the real world.  I’ll read a little War and Peace. I only have 150 pages left, but it feels like the closer I get to page 1388 the further away it seems. Like it’s mocking me. I don’t know if I’m going to make it, but I will die trying. I’ve committed way too much of my life to this book over the last year to quit now.

Damn you, Tolstoy and those long Russian winters!

beans: saxy’s

I like Saxy’s Cafe. I like it a lot. Great location on 10th St between Pearl and Spruce leaves you lots of options after you’ve had your caffeine.  Hanging out at Saxy’s is like hanging out at someone’s house. Someone who has a really expensive espresso machine and will use it to make you whatever you want to drink.  Today it’s an americano for me. For here, because one of my favorite people is coming, and we’re going to hang.

(This americano was so pretty I had to take two pictures of it)

And oh happy day, the former occupant of this couch, where I really wanted to sit, just vacated.

If you’re not here to lounge around with one of your besties, you might prefer the high, paramecium-shaped table in the middle of the room, the preferred seating area for those with laptops and possibly work to do.  And there is an outlet under the table next to every chair.  They also have a few tables outside if you’d rather soak in the sun and watch the people go by while enjoying your cafe…

(Beautiful day to sit outside….near this strangely phallic umbrella. There, I said it)

Saxy’s has lots of coffee options. And teas. A great selection of “Two Leaves and a Bud” teas, the ones with the fancy, silky tea bags. And two chais, bhakti and third street, both caffeinated and decaf. Which I guess means they offer four kinds of chai.

If you get hungry during your visit to Saxy’s, you’ve got a lot of great choices. They have all the standard pastries, croissants, bagels and muffins you’d expect. They also have some things you may not expect, such as egg sandwiches and breakfast paninis, made and grilled to order. If it’s closer to lunchtime, they have a host of other creative paninis you might enjoy and salads, too! They’ll also make you a smoothie. I might go tomorrow for breakfast. And stay for lunch.

Like many coffee shops in town, Saxy’s features the work of local artists.  Sidekick C…..the original sidekick from long before the blog…and I loved the featured artist, Jennifer Shephard. Her stuff is colorful, quirky, creative and fun. And very reasonably priced in case you want to take one of her works home with you.  My favorites

(It’s even called “Say Anything.”  If you’re not getting this, rent the movie. It’s so good.  At least it was in 1989. It might be time to put this one in my Netflix queue)

(And I love this one, too! He’s called “Frustration” and I might have to buy it, so next time I am freaking out I’ll look at it and it’ll make me smile)

There are a lot more tiles, all great. Get to Saxy’s and check them out.

(Great work, Jennifer!)

This morning I had a great coffee with a great friend under the tin ceiling and funky chandeliers at Saxy’s. Sidekick C and I have been like nomads wandering Boulder without a “place” the last few months.  We used to work out at the same gym and see each other almost every day. And we’d even get coffee sometimes on our way to or from the gym. We also got together every Thursday night for tequila and dance. C and I need a “place.”

Saxy’s might well be it!

I think Saxy’s is so great, I’m going to give them a pass for the interminable Doors playing in the cafe.  I know a lot of people like the Doors, and Sidekick C says it brought her right back to the eighth grade. Not so for me.

Had Saxy’s chosen Pink Floyd…..

Facebook friends, you can stop reading now. You all know about the resurrection of my love for 1973 Dave Gilmour, brought on by the cover story of the most recent Rolling Stone. The article chronicled the creation of “The Dark Side of the Moon” and how it doomed The Floyd.  After reading it, I was inspired to watch “The Making of Dark Side of the Moon,” and now I can’t stop listening to the album. I won’t be right for weeks. Dave was young and beautiful, and the coolest rock star on the planet.

“For long you’ll live and high you’ll fly. The smiles you’ll give and tears you’ll cry. For all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.” My senior quote in high school and still one of my favorites.

Lyrics by Waters. Delivered with smooth by Gilmour.

Thanks, Floyd.

beans: pekoe

I realize it’s about time for a “suds” blog. One is coming soon, as the sidekicks and I plan to head out on Friday evening for a little happy hour action. But it is “national coffee day” after all, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t give you the lowdown on a place to get some today….or tomorrow if like me you need to carefully monitor your afternoon caffeine intake.

Pekoe Sip House, whose slogan is “sip. relax. enjoy.” I love it already, Pekoe.

Don’t mind if I do. I’ll let Pekoe explain the philosophy in their own words, which will undoubtedly be more eloquent than if I tried to do it myself.

Sip is a metaphor for the less hectic. We encourage people to sip, to create quality time. Time to catch up, not on the “to-do” list, but on the important things that are not on the “to-do” list. Because too seldom do we enjoy these activities.

I don’t know about you, but I am ALWAYS up for something that gives me an excuse to blow off the sisyphusian “to do” list, even for an hour.  Ok, I don’t know if “sisyphusian” is a word, but I use it here to explain the feeling I sometimes get when faced with my never-ending list of chores. You know Sisyphus, the guy with the boulder. No, not the guy from Boulder.

Relax.  Often it is the little things that enrich our lives. We fulfill people’s need for enrichment with our tea, food, and social experience. Our service enables people to blossom and, best of all, it’s not a retreat to a yoga spa, it’s part of their everyday experience.

They do have yummy food offerings, including the Noosa. No need to elaborate here, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll refer you to the “Ozo” review. I needn’t bore my regular readers….all of whom are awesome….by reiterating my feelings about Noosa.

Enjoy.  We enable people to explore the rich world of tea: its wide selection and its plethora of flavor. Sweet, spicy, or smooth, tea is an indulgence. Enjoying tea is a special treat, a simple splurge from the everyday.

They have a LOT of tea at Pekoe, more on that later.  Fret not, coffee drinkers, they’ve got you covered as well!

There are three Pekoes in Boulder, one by Ideal on Broadway and one in the Steelyards on 30th..there’s also one on the CU campus, but I haven’t been. The one on Broadway is bigger than the one at the Steelyards and (I think) a better place to hang. Plus when I’m done sipping, relaxing and enjoying, I can make my daily trek to the grocery store without having to move the car. Ideal is a couple of doors down. That said, I have spent a lot more time at the one on 30th because of its proximity the gym I went to for years, which made it a convenient spot for a little caffeine before or after a workout.

(Both Pekoes have outdoor seating as well)

The people who work at both Pekoe locations are really friendly and also happy to help you with your beverage choice. They have a lot of teas to choose from. I kid you not.

(The wall of tea canisters behind the counter. Some of the tea canisters. They have many varieties of green, black, rooibos, white, mate, herbal and oolong for your sipping enjoyment)

And you can take your favorites home with you.

Pekoe has coffee and espresso drinks galore and really creative and delicious concoctions you won’t find elsewhere.  They have “bubble tea” drinks, which are supposed to have great health benefits….if you can get past the slimy tapioca pearls. (I can’t, but my hilarious friend Jo can, and we had a lot of juvenile laughs over the tapioca balls).  Pekoe has a variety of iced teas…blue eyes is my fave…it’s an organic green iced tea with pineapple and papaya flavors…delicious! They make Pekoe “signature drinks” like mocha and latte made with black tea instead of espresso, and other “wellness” drinks and “frozen indulgences” which I have not yet tried. Pekoe also has four different kinds of chai (house, mate, spicy green and rooibos) if that’s your thing.

You could spend weeks just working your way through this menu, which can be found on their website. If you’re headed to Pekoe after a workout, which I often do, I recommend the “Casablanca”…..a delicious, refreshing and hydrating drink of coconut water and mint tea. This is making me thirsty for Pekoe.

And as I mentioned earlier in the post, the employees at both locations are really friendly. When last I stopped in for an icy “Casablanca,” the barista was putting the finishing touches on my drink and asked “Whatcha got going on today?” I replied “Really?” To which he responded “Yeah, what’s up?” I told him, he listened. And when I was done he said “Sounds like a great day. And I love your boots.” And I love you right back, Pekoe guy.

Which brings us to the place in the blog where you get caught up on whatever else I feel like talking about, unrelated though it is to coffee or adult beverage.

War and Peace. Damn you, Leo Tolstoy, for your verbosity!!

I started reading this weighty tome a year ago and my goal was to finish it within 12 months. In order to avoid failure, I’d have to read nearly 300 pages before the end of tomorrow. That’s not going to happen. I am so close, but yet so far….

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great read. It’s a slog, but it’s worth it. I’ll let you know WHEN I finish.

Maybe I should rethink my current strategy, though….I typically leg into the book at night, after I’m exhausted by the day. I read it on my ipad, while in the supine position in my very comfortable bed, listening to the the “New Age Beats” station on Pandora.  Sleep comes quickly, and it’s a challenge to get through a book like this if you do it three pages at a time.

New logo, courtesy of my girl Chris…what do you think? I love it! I’m going to use it until I get a “cease and desist order” from it’s creator.

beans: ozo on pearl

I feel it’s important to state here that beans and suds receives no compensation or promotional consideration from Ozo, its owners, or any of its subsidiaries. I am about to begin what may seem an “Ode to Ozo,” and I want to make it clear I have no ulterior motive.

There are two Ozo Coffee Co’s in town. The original is on Arapahoe, out by 55th and the new one is on Pearl…1015 Pearl to be exact. The two Ozos have such different vibes that I think they need to be discussed separately.  Here we are talking about Ozo on Pearl.

When I heard Ozo was moving into the space on Pearl vacated by Bart’s CD cellar, my reaction was “Oh great. Just what we need in Boulder. Another coffee shop.” (Which, oddly enough is almost verbatim what my best friend of over 20 years said the first time she met me. It was my first day as a waitress at the River House restaurant in Humarock, Mass, and the manager was introducing me to everyone.  It went like this….manager: “Patsy, this is our new waitress, Kathy.” Patsy: “Oh great. Just what we need around here, another f*%&ing waitress.” It wasn’t until we both got the same lunch shift, a fate worse than death at a restaurant on the beach in the dog days of summer, that we became besties, after I failed to get someone to take my shift because I was afraid to work with her.  We laughed the whole time because there was nothing else to do, and shared a lunch of sauerkraut sandwiches….no sense wasting more than one thin sliver of corned beef on the employees.  And the rest, as they say, is history.)

(Humarock beach, where I met my two best friends, Patsy and Kristen,  who is the quiet one)

I’m getting off topic again…thanks for your patience.

So I was unmoved upon hearing the news of the arrival of Ozo on Pearl.  I’ve always liked the original Ozo, but I am rarely in the environs of 55th and Arapahoe. Given gas prices and the fact that I’d probably pass 25 other coffee shops along the way, it seems silly to go that far for caffeine, even if it is really well executed.  So I felt no real connection to Ozo.

But I must say, the guys at Ozo have got it all nailed down. They offer all the usual coffee and tea selections your heart desires, and it’s all good. Ozo has a LOT of food options, too, stuff even I would eat. Like salads, wraps, sandwiches, breggos, burritos.  And as one of the sidekicks pointed out, heated properly for you…NOT in the microwave, but under that press thing that resembles a waffle iron without the little squares. They even carry Noosa yogurt. Yeah, you heard me. I love Noosa! If you haven’t had the pleasure, get yourself some before the sun sets on this day.

Go to Ozo on Pearl and have some there.

(some, but not all, of the food options at Ozo. Note the Noosa, top shelf, lots of choices)

I went yesterday with not one, but three sidekicks…and we all loved it. Ozo on Pearl is huge, and way urban hip, with its shiny concrete floors, cool lighting and a funky..and also huge…counter.  There is all kinds of stuff for sale here, too in addition to the drinks and the nosh. Bags of different kinds of coffee, travel mugs, boxes of tea, french presses, little espresso cups (the technical term is  “demitasse” or half cup, en Francais. I took AP French in high school and even got a 5 on the exam. Don’t get to use it much anymore….quel dommage!)

The girls working behind the counter are great….very friendly and there are a lot of them, so the service was really good, too.  One of the sidekicks went in to refill her iced green tea- a nice perk, one free refill of the icy green…and on top of that they give you little lemon slivers to go with…good god, is there nothing these cats at Ozo haven’t thought of?

Anyway,  when the sidekick went in for her refill the girl at the counter greeted her with “whatcha need, babe?” Let me tell you, be it by a cute guy or a cool, hip chick working at a cool, hip coffee shop, most women of my…um, demographic…..love to be called “babe.”  Almost as much as we hate to be called “ma’am,” as in “how can I help you, ma’am?” Well for starters, you can stop calling me ma’am.

(Ozo counter where the cool chicks who call you “babe” work)

The front section of the funky new Ozo is the social area.  Separated from the chatty front by the aforementioned huge counter and walkway where you order and wait for your drinks, and possibly shop for household items, is the back seating area, which is decidedly more quiet, full of people on laptops, reading, writing and generally looking more busy and serious than the people up front. We sat outside in the beautiful morning sun, lucky as we were to nab the limited seats out on the sidewalk. Great spot for people watching while you enjoy your Ozo.

Turns out Ozo on Pearl is pretty awesome, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. There wasn’t an empty seat in the place when we stopped by.  So I guess I was wrong when I thought there wasn’t room in Boulder for another coffee shop. But then again, Ozo on Pearl isn’t just another coffee shop.