Put a Little Zing in Your Life

by Jamie Menaker

If you are a coffee lover, you know the feeling—that first early-morning taste of warm, dark, coffee beans is so heavenly, you just have to let out a sigh of contentment. As coffee has been reincarnated in so many different forms—mochas, lattes, Americanos, cappuccinos—so have coffee houses become more popular, with their many coffee creations. And it’s not just coffee anymore. Today’s coffee shops have expanded their selections to include teas, blended drinks, smoothies, and more. Here’s the buzz on some of our favorite local San Joaquin coffee shops.

Barista’s

112 W. 10th St., Tracy
(209) 830-6050

Never empty, Barista’s, owned by husband and wife team Harish and Nalini Patel, is a hub of activity in historic downtown Tracy. The motto, “Good friends, Great coffee,” stands true, and Barista’s custom-made coffee blends are quite tasty. The snacks here deserve a mention too, with fresh bagels and croissants, as well as all sorts of sweet smoothies and blended creations.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Iced coffee, with coffee
                        ice-cubes so it never gets watered down

 

Bean and Leaf Café

1254 Lathrop Rd., Manteca
(209) 239-2326

Open for upwards of thirteen years, this spot is well-stocked. Enjoy fresh bagels daily from Bagel Express and muffins from Toot Sweets (both in Stockton), fresh fruit smoothies, soft serve ice cream, and about fifteen different coffees to choose from. Bean and Leaf also features a rotating coffee-of-the-day and specialty drink-of the-day to make your selection a bit easier, and a house tea blend, only found here.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Milky Way mocha, with espresso, mocha,
                        and caramel—we’ve been told it tastes
                        just like a Milky Way candy bar

 

Exotic Java

526 W. Benjamin Holt, Stockton
(209) 474-9046, www.exoticjava.com
Adjacent to the Legacy Imports tattoo shop (which is owned by Exotic Java’s co-owner), it is not uncommon to see heavily-tattooed coffee lovers sitting alongside businessmen, enjoying the comfortable dining area and free wireless internet. The shop is meant for convenience also—in addition to call-in orders, customers can place an order online or through text message thanks to www.gomobo.com.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Bay latte, with espresso,
                        caramel, vanilla, and milk

 

Empresso Coffee House

1825 Pacific Ave. (Miracle Mile), Stockton
(209) 941-0072
Located in the building that houses Stockton’s Empire Theatre, Empresso has a funky flair all its own, complete with an eclectic selection of music anytime you visit. You will see many “regulars” here, sitting in the coffee shop’s repurposed theatre space or on the covered patio. Empresso can make just about any drink you can think up.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Grasshopper Frappé, a mocha blended
                        with crème de menthe and topped with
                        chocolate sauce and whipped cream

 

Eureka Coffee and Tea

249 E. Louise Ave., Lathrop
(209) 858-4900, www.eurekacoffee.com

This coffee shop is quite large, with plenty of room for any size party to relax with a cup of their finest coffee. Eureka even has games, books, and free wireless internet to encourage patrons to enjoy the cozy shop. Want to stay longer? They also offer comfort foods like wraps, paninis, bagels, and soups, just perfect for that blustery January day. Most Friday and Saturday evenings you will find live music here as well.

                       TRY THIS!
                         Ghirardelli mocha, with espresso, milk,      
                        and Ghirardelli chocolate

 

House of Coffees

239 N. Ham Ln. (Lakewood Mall), Lodi (209) 368-2611

Owner Debi Goni keeps the focus of this coffee shop on its local roots, creating an atmosphere where everyone knows your name, and homemade baked goods are offered from local Lodi bakeries Specialty Cakes and Bon Appetit. House of Coffees also has the biggest selection in Lodi of Torani flavored syrups, to make any coffee, tea, or Italian soda filled with flavor.

                        TRY THIS!
                        White peppermint mocha, with
                        Ghirardelli white chocolate,
                        peppermint Torani syrup, milk, and espresso

 

Java Makers

835 S. Tracy Blvd., Tracy, (209) 839-9800

This coffee shop seems to have everything—great coffee, and an ideal space for meeting friends or getting work done. Expect a fairly bustling spot at peak hours, with diners enjoying gourmet coffee creations and simple, well-made food like the popular Oriental chicken salad and fresh bagels.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Polar bear, a blended
                        white chocolate mocha

               
Jitterz

149 Lincoln Center, Stockton, (209) 956-3229
www.jesusmountaincoffee.com/jitterz.htm

Jitterz is a great meeting spot after browsing the unique shops that Stockton’s Lincoln Center has to offer. They have a large selection of coffees from around the world, including Jesus Mountain Coffee from Nicaragua, produced by a trio of Stockton-based gentlemen. The grilled paninis here are also notable—we love the veggie panini.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Pumpkin spice latte, with espresso,
                        milk, and pumpkin spice flavors

 

Roasted Bean

69 W. 10th St., Tracy, (209) 229-8327

Located in historic Tracy, this shop is an eclectic mix of Asian inspired offerings, coffee, teas, and really darn good sandwiches. The Samurai sandwich is a favorite with chicken and sweet teriyaki sauce, lovingly prepared by the friendly owners. They also have a wall of loose tea offerings to choose from, and a creative selection of coffee drinks, boba teas, and smoothies.

                        TRY THIS!
                        Black and white, with espresso, white
                        chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk