Blogging from Mr. English Coffee Shop
01/12/08 14:17 Filed in: Restaurants
I am sitting here blogging in a specialty coffee shop
in Los Altos called Mr. English, where not only do
they provide some the best, freshest-roasted,
organic, fair-trade certified coffee (how is that for
a value proposition!), but also free wifi access.
Unlike the Peet's Coffee down the street - which has
no wifi --- and Starbucks down the other street --
where it costs money, Mr. English provides the
perfect combination for a Saturday afternoon in
Silicon Valley. Great coffee and Internet access.
To quote their Web site: "We specialize in roasting 100% certified organic Arabica coffee of the finest caliber. We believe in certified Fair Trade, Rain Forest Alliance, Shade Grown, Bird Friendly, and use exclusively Swiss Water decaf brands. Our catch phrase "Gourmet Coffee for Connoisseurs" describes our fundamental dedication to specialty roasted coffee, and freshness to an extreme."
In addition to great, socially-responsible coffee, the highlight of the visit is to talk with the proprietor, Thomas McBay, who has an undying passion about coffee and interest in chatting about almost any subject. Forget about trying to get that kind of enthusiasm from a Starbucks barista. Don't expect assembly line treatment at this place, but rather a specialized attention with excellent coffee and flavors. At a busy time, they may become bottlenecked and require a little wait. Also, they typically serve European-sized espressos so don't expect the bitter, over-drawn espressos that you would get a major chain.
Thomas is known as Mr. English not because of coming from the United Kingdom -- he does not ---, but rather because he has spent may years in Japan teaching English and running a coffee company there. His wife, who also works in the store, is from Japan. Consequently, it has also become a center for Japanese people in the Bay Area to visit when in Los Altos. Having a great yakitori place Sumika nearby definitely helps, but that is another post!
Next time you are in Los Altos, CA, pass by the Starbucks on Main Street and the Peet's on State Street and head to Mr. English Coffee (also on State Street). Their address is 325 State St., Los Altos CA and are open from 7 days a week from 7:30PM to 5:30PM.
http://www.mre-coffee.com/
To quote their Web site: "We specialize in roasting 100% certified organic Arabica coffee of the finest caliber. We believe in certified Fair Trade, Rain Forest Alliance, Shade Grown, Bird Friendly, and use exclusively Swiss Water decaf brands. Our catch phrase "Gourmet Coffee for Connoisseurs" describes our fundamental dedication to specialty roasted coffee, and freshness to an extreme."
In addition to great, socially-responsible coffee, the highlight of the visit is to talk with the proprietor, Thomas McBay, who has an undying passion about coffee and interest in chatting about almost any subject. Forget about trying to get that kind of enthusiasm from a Starbucks barista. Don't expect assembly line treatment at this place, but rather a specialized attention with excellent coffee and flavors. At a busy time, they may become bottlenecked and require a little wait. Also, they typically serve European-sized espressos so don't expect the bitter, over-drawn espressos that you would get a major chain.
Thomas is known as Mr. English not because of coming from the United Kingdom -- he does not ---, but rather because he has spent may years in Japan teaching English and running a coffee company there. His wife, who also works in the store, is from Japan. Consequently, it has also become a center for Japanese people in the Bay Area to visit when in Los Altos. Having a great yakitori place Sumika nearby definitely helps, but that is another post!
Next time you are in Los Altos, CA, pass by the Starbucks on Main Street and the Peet's on State Street and head to Mr. English Coffee (also on State Street). Their address is 325 State St., Los Altos CA and are open from 7 days a week from 7:30PM to 5:30PM.
http://www.mre-coffee.com/
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