Some Coffee. Some Thoughts.

One never struggles to find caffeine treasures when in Seattle. A quick work trip lent itself for Java discoveries ….

In the charming downtown of Poulsbo, WA, I enjoyed the Cafe Cocina’s iced latte in the spacious seating area while watching a live feed from an Ohio cat rescue.

In addition to coffee shops, there are plentiful offerings of drive up shop circa 1970’s FotoMats. This morning, it was Good Vibes Espresso.

Both with friendly baristas and sized large cups that were indeed large. Quad shots. 🫶☕️

Also, I learned it’s common for Vietnamese restaurants to use
Cafe du Monde’s chicory coffee for their coffee drinks. The more you know!

Be extraordinary.

This morning’s coffee shop find in Gig Harbor, WA was Kimball Coffeehouse. This lovely space is also a music room featuring local acts on Friday nights. This morning and I suspect others on the regular, they were host to pedalers, possibly peddlers, but more likely pedaler.

Comfortable space with plenty of seating …. Definitely perfect for caffeinators, pedalers / peddlers or music enthusiasts.

Their latte was one of the BEST, although, I’d encourage a quad … as I don’t think 2 shots in a large would be enough. Four was definitely right for me!

Tasty breakfast Sammie - egg, bacon, cheese on an Asiago bagel … delish.

Friendly staff who were sweet while hustling through the morning rush.

Great spot …. Wish I was planned to be here on a scheduled music night …. Undoubtedly, it would be nice.

☕️🎵☕️🎶☕️

Be extraordinary.

On Sunday, when we were on our way to the first of the 2026 season for the Pickers Market in Litchfield, IL, we stopped by this lovely coffee shop between the highway and downtown.

Bright …. vibe, decor & staff! All definitely gave reason to RISE!

It was Mother’s Day, so there was a lot of Mom love being shared throughout … inside and through the drive thru window.

Our iced drinks were delicious and couldn’t ask for friendlier people behind the counter.

Definitely added to our places to caffeinate.

Be extraordinary.

Good Morning Caffriends & Caffiends!

Waking up way before morning o’clock, I know it’s likely a 3-4 cup morning.

May your morning be gentle and your coffee be strong.

Be extraordinary.

Busy work travel week bouncing between Dallas and Fort Worth with a chance to enjoy a handful of coffee shops ….

- Union Coffee in Oak Lawn, TX (the Gaybourhood). Sweet barista, great coffee housed in a great indoor / outdoor space. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
- Pic Coffee in Weatherford, TX offered up friendly and tasty in a fun space with lots of seating for the morning work crowd ☕️☕️
- Day Dream Coffee in Burleson, TX was a lovely, quaint space with lots of pink flowers inside & out. It felt comfortable with very small town / downtown vibes. 🌸🌸🌸
- Harvest Coffee + Kitchen in Fort Worth is a fair based space serving up kindness and the best avocado toast I’ve enjoyed in a while. 🥑🥑
- Wrapped my week in South Lake, TX at a favorite very yellow and very LA shop …. LaLaLaLand. Very hip. Very trendy. And did I mention very yellow. 🟡🟡🟡

Great week. Great coffee. Great spaces.

Be extraordinary.

Good Morning Caffriends & Caffiends!!

Today’s coffee mug was found in the wilds of Savers’ shelves - Be Yourself!

Please, be yourself …. No one can do you better than you.

But first, coffee.

Be yourself …. Caffeinated.

Be extraordinary.

Caffriends! Caffiends!

I’m back …. Well, I haven’t really left. I’ve been lifing and haven’t posted much here lately.

So true to what I tend to do, I’ll post a lot then maybe disappear for a bit.

Know that even when I’m absent from the page, I’m still enjoying familiar and new coffee shops and snatching pictures of interesting coffee mugs found in thrift stores, flea markets and antique malls.

This mug seems to capture me.

Thanks joining this caffeinated journey.

Be extraordinary.

Hey St. Louis Caffriends & Caffiends !!!

A couple local coffee shops to check out in the “central corridor” ….

Pass the Past, in the Central West End is a unique blended retail and coffee shop space. Your steps into the store take you through a very curated eclectic presentation of vintage and antiques. In the evenly shared space, there is a coffee shop in the back with espresso bar offerings. Enjoyed our first visit and will be back ….. although, check their hours as they are a morning and early afternoon destination.

A three-peated stop at E61 in DeBaliviere billed as the first Greek Coffee house in St. Louis. Their latte was wonderful with a “large” that felt like a large. And it can’t be a Greek Coffee shop experience without enjoying baklava - delicious!! Friendly baristas and comfortable space to study, have a conversation or enjoy quiet personal time.

Check out both …. You won’t be disappointed!

Be extraordinary.

What a wonderful surprise!

We were on the east side of the Metro area and the clock was ticking close to “afternoon coffee” o’clock, so I consulted Yelp - Steel City Cheesecakes (& coffee lounge).

Lovely space with a lot of charm as comfortable as your Grandma in a house dress living room but as fancy as visiting your Grandmother in a starched collared blouse and pearls.

Plenty of seating for casual chatting and equally appropriate for an elevated afternoon’s high tea.

Regardless of tea or coffee and hot or iced, the perfect pairing of cheesecake in mini’s, tins and slices ready for mixing & matching and tasting & eating with a few in a bag to go for at home sweets later.

Definitely worth the drive to discover and enjoy this delight.

Be extraordinary.

WHOAH!! Let’s just slow it down a bit might we??

Wake up? Sure. If we must.

And be happy?

“And be happy” doesn’t just happen. One does not merely wake up and be happy.

If you’re “Wake up and be happy” kinda folks, then you do you boo!

For some of us it’s a process.

Perhaps we make some teeny tweaks …..
Wake Up.
Drink coffee.
And be.
Happy.

Okay, Caffriends & Caffiends….

Be extraordinary.