Appendix E-J

Would you like to see the beginnings of something? Here you go:

Over the past year, we have been forcing ourselves to think more creatively about the idea of being non-profit. One manifestation of forced creativity are our Coffee & Goodness events. They are great and we have one in development we will announce very soon.

Another manifestation that we are very excited about are Benefit Beverages. The Dickens Chocolatte was the first of these – with all profits going to CoCOA: The Colorado Coalition Of Artists.

The time has now come for a second beverage which is near and dear to our hearts…and delicious.

A couple months ago – as part of our Other People’s Coffee series – we profiled Sola Coffee Bar in Scottsdale, AZ. It is non-profit. It is volunteer powered. It is a place of relationship. It is run by people we sat and talked with when it was just a hope in their hearts. It is in the desert.

You know what else is in the desert? Agave.

The picture of beginnings up there is the beginnings of the Sola Agave Latte – our next Benefit Beverage. Just a bit of agave nectar goes a long way. We find that when it is factored into a latte, it is astoundingly tasty. And when all the profits from the drink go to Sola Coffee Bar, it tastes even better.

We now encourage you to come in and enjoy. The Sola Agave Latte will be available for a limited time. Try it hot. Try it iced. Try it for your mother.

FURTHER:

• Other People’s Coffee: Sola Coffee Bar
• Sola Coffee Bar official site

Popularity: 2% [?]

A quick note about this one…

We have a lot of conversations with folks about opening a shop like Everyday Joe’s: non-profit, volunteer powered, a place of community and love and Truth that loves nothing more than good relationship. All the convos are enjoyable, though rarely does a shop come out of one. The conversation with the people of Sola happened one year ago and the shop opened in November of 2009. Rejoicing is happening in our hearts right now.

Coffee Shop: Sola Coffee Bar

Location: Old Town Scottsdale, AZ

Drink: double capp, hot chocolate, chai tea, hario v60 drip (’twas a family outing)

Drinkers: Chris, Jessica, & Thomson Hess

Every year the family & I spend one week in Scottsdale, AZ where my parents have a place we can stay free. Vacations with free lodging, a fridge full of food, and a delightful assortment of beverages for the drinking are the ones to take. Oh, and free babysitting thanks to the grandparents.

Last year I used one afternoon of my vacation week to sit and talk with two fellows: 1)Matt, who is a member of the Everyday Joe’s family whom moved to Scottsdale a few years ago and met a lady and got married & 2)Jared, who is a fine fellow with nice hats and a good heart. We sat and shared pizza and cheese fries and conversation about Everyday Joe’s and how it operates. Because, you see, Old Town Scottsdale was screaming for a place like the one Oldtown Fort Collins has. Jared heard the screams, and ignored those saying he shouldn’t spend too much time on “this coffee house thing.”

Before returning to Scottsdale this year, the thought ran through my mind to call Matt and see if the shop we talked about ever opened. I called once we got to town. The shop was open. It is called Sola Coffee Bar. I became happier.

BUT…

I was a little apprehensive. The coffee & espresso bar culture is different than the cafe culture. Coffee bar’s don’t generally encourage hanging around for too long. It is a place to sit and drink a craftful drink, talk for a bit, and then move on. Some pretentiousness might also be thrown into the mix.

HOWEVER…

Upon arriving at Sola, and being greeted by volunteer barista Johnna, these thoughts were erased from my mind. We, as a family visiting a place for the first time, were at ease. The room was at ease. Two long tables with seating for about 12 sit in the middle of the room. A small couch area by the window. It felt like home.

Sola has two paid employees – the afformentioned Jared and Toby, the latter of which soon joined Johnna behind the bar. We talked coffee and Sola/Everyday Joe’s for a bit…then moved on to other things: dropping out of college, vinyls, churches, serving. It was good. It felt like home.

My good lady Jessica enjoyed a chai. My firstborn Thomson enjoyed a hot chocolate steamed to perfect kid temperature (a task that seems simple but can – for some unknown reason – can be hard to do). I enjoyed a double cappuccino to start, and then moved on to a selection from their drip bar, which uses the Hario V60 pour-over. Sola brewsthe beans roasted by Cartel, which are delcious. Johnna & I had a brief convo concerning the stewardship of the beans we pay for and the expression of service through drinks that are well-made. Her thoughts on the matter translated right into my capp, and Toby’s right into my Hario drip.

I could continue to sit here and gush over this place, but I will stop after communicating two things:

• If I lived in the state of Arizona, I would be a regular at this place and get to know the people behind the counter because they are simply that lovely.
• If you live in the state of Arizona, you should be a regular at this place and get to know the people behind the counter because they are simply that lovely.

We’ll be back in AZ in June, and will again imbibe some bevs at Sola. Until then, please visit in my stead.

It feels like home.

 FURTHER:

• Sola Coffee Bar official site
• Follow Sola on Twitter
• Other People’s Coffee: Cartel Coffee Lab

Popularity: 2% [?]