Coffee Break Coffee Shop (experiment)

Village Roots Project
5-25-07
Arcata, CA

If you are outside of walking distance, or biking (which is unlikely, it seems, in this Bike friendly town), visiting the Coffee Break coffee shop may mean parking in the large lot beside it, which also serves a large chain hardware store, a family martial arts studio and a laundromat among others. Coffee Break, it seems, has snuck into America. What a gift. Outside, in a small patio is a small raised-bed herb garden, and inside you’ll find a deli-style rotating cake display (coffee cakes, muffins, pastries). Complementing the display is a mixture of formica 50’s style tables, round wooden tables, counters, and a Baldwin piano. Not interested in the piano, you can play games and read children’s books. They are on the back wall. The mix of music is certainly hand picked, and just as I’m questioning why I’m here, Carlos, the barista, calls out, “John, you feel like playing chess today?” The response, in affirmation, comes from a man in a fisherman’s hat, with grey beard and an inside out flannel shirt. They sit down to go at it, pausing at the moments when Carlos stands up to help someone who is just walking in. He greets everyone the same, “how may I serve you?”, despite the fact that it seems as though nearly everyone knows him, and each other. He seems to enjoy saying it, and I cant help but smile when he asks me. I chatted with Carlos, who turned out to be the owner. After twenty-six years in the county (most of that time spent in radio, and with the voice to prove it) he bought this coffee shop six and a half years ago. He wanted to see a place for people to come and have community; his shop hosts open mikes, and local events in addition to being a social and wireless internet hub. The night before he had hosted, after business hours, a course on how to care for orphaned kittens, and the place was packed. He buys his coffees from local source roasters who are committed to organic, shade grown, fair trade. The only other coffee he brings in is from costa rica, he’s friends with the plantation owners family. I had looked around at the dozens of flyers on the wall for local events, the artwork and photography on the walls, the shelves with handmade ceramic mugs, postcards, magnets, teas and award winning cookies. These are all locally crafted and sold through this hub. Carlos told me that when he had opened an artist came in and asked for space and had been given a month. Now the Coffee Break has a waiting list for local artisans to use the space as a venue. “When you open up the space, the community comes through.” Carlos tells me. Our conversation was cut short by a hoard of middle school kids coming from around the corner. “See, “ Carlos said to me conspiratorially, ”the other coffee shops don’t want the kids around, they’re too…whatever. But me? I want them here.” His words sound almost fatherly, as though he means ‘safe’ instead of ‘here’. Just business as usual.