“Coffee is truly  
a brain stimulant.”
Voltaire

The posted question asked, “How old were you when you started drinking coffee?” Well, I’m 71 now. I’ll be 72 in June. I’m unable to answer the question, because I still have not started drinking coffee. I am repulsed by the taste, though I thoroughly enjoy the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. Go figure.

With that said, I savor opportunities to hang out in local coffee shops. I’m sorry, but Starbucks, Peet’s, and Phils’ just don’t do it for me. I have mentioned in previous blog posts about my love for the two Java Beach Café locations in San Francisco. Here in the South Bay, my favorite local coffee establishment is Orchard Valley Coffee in downtown Campbell.

Similar to what I have experienced at Java Beach, Orchard Valley has a unique vibe which seems to attract good people. Most, I would think, go for the coffee. I’ve heard that it’s very good. Others spend time there visiting with friends, reading, or writing. Of course, they serve more than just coffee.

When I’m there in the morning hours, I normally order hot tea. Every now and then, I’ll treat myself to a hot chocolate. Later in the day, I enjoy a cup of their cold Italian soda, into which they infuse one of a wide selection of flavors. Yesterday, for the first time, I tried coconut. I think I like the mango flavor better.

Orchard Valley offers a dangerous variety of baked goods, as well as a nice assortment of sandwich options. The prices are reasonable, the service is exceptional, and (yes, this is important to me) the rest room is clean. With tables and wooden chairs, comfortable cushioned chairs, and even a large couch, the options for seating offer something for everyone. There is even an option to sit on a bench or at a table with chairs outside the café on the sidewalk. 

Over the past few years, I have done a fair amount of reading and writing at Orchard Valley. It’s a little different than my Java Beach experience in that it’s unusual for me to run into people I know. Every now and then, I’ll see a familiar face, and from time to time, I have the opportunity to meet someone new. For the most part, however, people who visit Orchard Valley alone seem to prefer being alone, and those who arrive with friends devote their time and attention to them. This makes for an ideal writing venue.

Yesterday was an amazing day in downtown Campbell. At 2:00 in the afternoon, the outside temperature was 73º, so some of the large, sliding windows of the café were open, allowing fresh air to permeate the environment. I sat at a table near one of the open windows. With my Italian soda and a chocolate chip cookie on the table to my right, I enjoyed two hours of uninterrupted writing.

Getting back to Voltaire’s quote at the top of this piece, I wonder if coffee is a brain stimulant only when consumed,… or if just the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee might have the same effect?