Sonoma: coffee country

Sonoma, of course, is famous for wine and us locals certainly do our best to sip it any and every chance we get.  Thing is, us Sonomans are also pretty coffee-obsessed.  We take drinking our morning brew seriously, gathering at any number of the amazing coffee-centric spots around town for coffee and catching up.  Find my list of favorite local spots for caffeinating in and around town below.

Best overall: Sunflower Caffé

It is not often that I declare my undying love for something or somebody, but y’all take note because this is one of them.  I love a Sunflower Caffé latte.  I truly, utterly adore their heavenly combination of warm milk and strong espresso.  I am undoubtedly addicted to them.  Coffee crack.  I don’t allow myself to indulge in one as often as I’d like, but anytime the girls and I yearn for a leisurely morning of coffee and catch up, you’ll find us sitting in the sun here.  At the Sunflower, the staff have perfected the art of not only perfectly steaming the milk, but designing lovely little leaves and hearts expertly sculpted from the foam.  421 First Street West, the Sonoma Plaza.  sonomasunflower.com

Best when you need something sweet: Crisp Bake Shop  

At Crisp Bake Shop, the smell of toasted sugar, the gentle wooshing sound of milk steaming and the quiet, fluttering sound of newspaper pages turning all envelope me like a long, warm hug as the glass door swings open.  The lattes here are heavenly, expertly crafted and served in cozy, big-as-a-bowl mugs.  I opt for mine plain, with rich, creamy whole milk, but the house-made syrups are an addictive addition.  The dark chocolate ganache-filled mocha is an absolute special occasion must, with fresh whipped cream, of course.  It is almost impossible and a real shame to have coffee at Crisp without one of the insanely beautiful pastries.  Everything is decadent, although I am partial to the not-too-sweet walnut scone or a fresh blueberry loaded, sugar-topped muffin.  Visit Crisp online at crispbakeshop.com or why not just pop in at 720 West Napa Street, across from the library.

Best in the Springs: El Molino Central

Find local cult coffee roaster, Blue Bottle’s, beans ground and brewed here.  Perfect espresso drinks and dark, rich drip coffee is prepared alongside El Molino’s addictive, restorative, morning Chilaquiles.  Cinnamon and sugar dusted crispy fritters, arranged artfully on a pedestal by the register, beg to be nibbled on while your coffee is crafted.  It is nearly impossible to pass this cheery, scrumptious, spot without popping in for a lovely coffee and some mind-blowing tamales sent straight from heaven.  11 Central Ave., Boyes Hot Springs, primaveratamales.com and bluebottlecoffee.net.

Most fun: Café Scooteria

I love a place that is so cute you ultimately could care less what they are selling.  For a hefty dose of atmosphere settle into one of the hightop café tables in the soaring garage at Café Scooteria.  The large doors of this old gas station are rolled open daily to allow the golden morning sunshine in, while hip, thoughtfully curated music provides a hip soundtrack as you sip your coffee and watch the lines of motorists whizzing thru to grab a coffee on the go.  Scooteria’s coffees are yummy, whipped up from a hulking espresso machine attached to the back of an old Italian scooter.  The lattes are peddled in the same space as new and vintage scooters.  A smallish selection of pretty pastries will satisfy your sweet tooth, while hefty breakfast burritos or egg sandwiches, are comforting and belly filling.  455 West Napa Street, in the Safeway parking lot.

Best drive-thru coffee: Dutch Brothers  

Nowhere in town will you receive a more delicious coffee with a bigger dose of cheer and good vibes than at Dutch Brothers.  I am not sure what sort of happy pill the charming staff here ingests daily, but you will not only leave with a coffee that is perfectly prepared, you will certainly drive away smiling and in better spirits.  The coffee menu is lengthy and filled with fun, flavorful options, but I am addicted to their simple, hand-roasted espresso and their gi-normous, cream-filled ice coffees.  Here, it is utterly refreshing to see a group of people having so much fun while working, it must be the coffee.  711 Broadway, 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., dutchbros.com.

Best for quiet conversation: Sonoma’s Best

This atmospheric little market not only has a generous array of tasty goodies for sale, but also makes one of the most perfect cups of coffee in town.  Using Blue Bottle beans, the coffee and espresso drinks are always dark and richly roasted.  The staff always steams the milk to perfection and serves it with a smile.  The space is enough off the beaten track to avoid the chaotic weekend crowds and allow for quiet conversation, where the cozy front window seats are a heavenly spot to soak in the warmth of the morning sunshine while chatting with friends or snuggling into a good book.  1190 East Napa Street, sonomas-best.com.

Opening soon: Coco Coffee Cart

More coffee goodness is coming soon to Sonoma.  Opening any day now, and located in the parking lot of the 76 gas station on the corner of Napa and West Second Street, the charming little Coco Coffee cart will offer drip coffee and espresso drinks utilizing beans from the super fancy single origin coffee specialty roasting company based in Sacramento, Temple.  Stay tuned for my full report.

Foodie find: Guayaki Yerba Mate

“Guayaki,” pronounced gway-uh-kee, is a small company in Sebastopol that produces and imports yerba mate.  And what, I can hear you begging, is yerba mate?  Yerba mate is a drink made from the dried leaves of a South American holly tree.  It has been sipped by rainforest tribes for centuries out of these cool, traditional, hollowed out gourds.  The company touts yerba mate as having “the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate,” dude.

My whole milk latte addiction is pretty fierce, although I have never been a big fan of the caffeine-induced jitters.  The groovy list of virtues yerba mate boasts has left me considering ditching the lattes altogether.  With a bunch of vitamins and minerals, a handful of amino acids, and abundant amounts of antioxidants yerba mate leaves the drinker feeling invigorated and surprisingly focused.  Yerba mate is traditionally steeped in hot water and served simply, like tea.  Guayaki has developed a whole collection of creative ways to enjoy yerba mate.  The company packages the dried leaves in individual bags and loosely for brewing.  Although the yerba mate-filled sparkling beverages infused with fresh juices and are sold in pretty little cans are easily my favorite.  The company’s bottled choices come in a massive array of flavors, all blended with herbs, juices and other immune-building ingredients.

I cannot seem to be able to ween myself completely off the coffee, a Sunflower latte is a pretty hard habit to break, ya know.  I could use a little less-stressing and more chilling out myself, so I will continue to incorporate this ancient, tasty brew into my life.  Find Guayaki products locally at Whole Foods and Sonoma Market.  Find more information about yerba mate online at guayaki.com.