The Writing Desk of Jakebe Rabbit

This is a dark roast that has a short, sharp punch, and then it's gone. It reminds me of unsweetened chocolate, only it's nowhere near as bitter. Though it doesn't linger on your tongue, there's a lot of stuff going on while it's there, though it all moves by so fast you'll miss it if you blink. This is a good coffee to drink if you don't want to think about drinking coffee; it'll wake you up, it tastes good and strong, but it's not harsh or sour.

The coffee scene in downtown San Jose is kind of pitiful. We don't have too much in the way of good coffee shops; Peet's, Starbucks and Illy (which is damn good, but expensive) are the only games in town, and if you're not a terribly big fan of any of them then you're SOL. Until now, that is.

Philz Coffee has invaded from San Francisco, setting up a little shop on the Paseo de San Antonio, next to Quickly and Beat the Bookstore. I thought I'd give it a try, since I miss all of the neat little coffee shops in downtown Mountain View something fierce.

The space is really nifty. There isn't a hard-backed chair in the place, so everything looks super-comfy. Besides a small selection of pastries and juices right up front, the counter is entirely devoted to the massive stock of different beans they have.

The first time I went there, the barista (do they still call them that?) asked me what I wanted. When I told him I had no idea, he said "No problem," made me a cup of coffee and handed it over. It was delicious. :9 He then explained what it was (Tesora, their house blend) and we got to talking. Within five minutes, I knew that this was going to be my personal coffee house for as long as I working downtown.

Philz has about 25 different blends of coffee, and several different kinds of tea. They grind the beans to order, which is just awesome; I'm sure other coffee houses do this, too, but here they make it all in front of you. You can taste the oils from the beans really well here, too. The consistency of the coffee is unlike any other place I've been to, even Barefoot. I've made the decision to try all two dozens of their different coffees, and I'll be making notes here on each one I taste. Here's what I have so far.

Tesora. This is their "house blend," and it's a really great introduction actually. It's a medium-dark roast with a really smooth 'opening' that strengthens into a strong, bitter taste at the back of the mouth. It has a great, lingering finish that leaves the impression that you've tasted something dark. This was served to me with a mint leaf, which I wanted to chew after I was done with the cup but didn't. The mint leaf made the flavor more complicated, 'bulking up' the taste in a really good way.

Soooo Good. This one is another medium roast. Smoother and 'quieter' than Tesora, so the flavor is sweeter (I was reminded of caramel and chocolate) and the bite at the end is smaller. The mint messes with this one a little more, so I'd recommend getting it without it. Still, a good, strong cup that I'd recommend for people who aren't a fan of strong coffee. You could probably get away with dousing this one in sugar and creme without sacrificing too much of the taste.

Silken Splendor. Holy cats, this is the best cup of coffee I've ever tasted. It's listed as a medium roast, but it comes across *so* light and smooth. Goddamn. It's silky, and wonderful, and it just kind of glides along the tongue, kissing your taste buds until it hits the back of your throat. There's no bitter after-taste, just a buzz and a glow. Get it without the mint leaf, and with just one spoonful of sugar and a splash of cream. It's a bit more expensive than the rest, but once you taste it you'll know where that extra money went.

Philtered Soul. I hate the name of this coffee, so maybe it made me dislike it unfairly. Well, dislike is too strong a word; after the orgasmic high that is Silken Splendor, anything I would have afterwards is likely to be a let down. Still, this one was the strongest, most bitter I've tasted yet. The customary one spoonful of sugar didn't help to cut the strength much, and even the mint leaf didn't factor in. It's still pretty smooth as far as coffees go, though there isn't much to it besides the bitter, caffeinated kick.

That's all I've got for now, but I'll be trying a different cup every day until I run out. They even have the Jamaica Blue Mountain, which is apparently the infamous coffee bean that's digested by mountain cats first. I can't wait to get to that one. ;)