Sep 29
2009

Hello fellow coffee lovers!

Today, I will be sharing with you another one of my favorite coffee shops called the Sleepy Monk.  The Sleepy Monk is located in Cannon Beach, Oregon on the north Oregon coast.

Cannon Beach is a wonderful seaside community nestled in the coastal range in NW Oregon.  The Oregon coast sports some of the most picturesque beaches on the Pacific Ocean.  Cannon Beach is most famous for Haystack Rock which can be viewed from just about anywhere in Cannon Beach.

The Sleepy Monk is housed in a small house in South Cannon Beach, a little away from the mainstream of art galleries, boutiques and specialty shops, but still close enough to be within walking distance.  It is on the east side of the main street of town.  You will see the Sleepy Monk insignia on the outside of the shop.  You can smell the wonderful coffee roasting before you see the building.  The Sleepy Monk is not a drive-thru coffee shop.  You must park your car to enter the shop or walk to this destination from your hotel or stop by after a walk on the beach.  (My personal favorite.)

The Sleepy Monk is always very busy.  They roast their own blends of coffee so they are not only a coffee shop, but also a place where you can purchase fresh roasted coffee.  They are only open to the public Friday through Sunday.

hotpourUpon entering the Sleepy Monk, you will be greeted by a rustic “old” air feel, but greeted at the counter with the usual and not so usual coffee drink menu.  They also have a wonderful array of fresh pastries in their display case to choose from.  The coffees served are divine and choosing from the pastry case can be a difficult choice….. so why not take two?

While I always enjoy my usual espresso when I visit the Sleepy Monk, my usual routine is to order a few pounds of their fresh roasted Organic coffee as it is much less acidic and more user friendly.  However, you can order as bold as you like.  The only drawback is the torture of smelling the fresh roasted coffee on the trip home!

Again, this is a friendly, family run operation always eager to please their customer.  There are a few tables inside for seating and they sport a few chairs outside on their porch so that you may savor your coffee as you view the people passing by, the beach beyond, and listen to the crash of the waves as they smash against Haystack Rock.

Visit the Sleepy Monk:  http://sleepymonkcoffee.com

Tags: , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Coffee Shops  


Sep 16
2009

Coffee-Cabin-P9150200_011

 

 

The Coffee Cabin is an obscure little drive-thru coffee house located in Castle Rock, Washington off the I-5 freeway at Exit 49.

As I have occasion to travel frequently throughout Washington and Oregon, I often stop for coffee to brighten my day.  One of my favorite places to stop is the Coffee Cabin.  The small log building is designed to fit in with the local outdoor theme.  Because a great deal of traffic is generated by tourists visiting the blast zone of Mt. St. Helens, many of the names of their rich, decadent blended drinks were inspired by events resulting from the volcano.

Coffee Cabin P9150201

The Coffee Cabin offers monthly specials on their hot drinks which can be viewed on a small blackboard as you drive up to the drive-thru window.  There are usually four offerings for the month, usually themed around a particular event or holiday for that particular month; for instance, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and the like.

Upon arriving at their window, I have always been greeted cheerfully.  They quickly take my order and set about serving up a delicious coffee drink.  They have even remade a cup of coffee when the barista felt that the humidity had made the coffee smell too acidic – (without even asking).  So far, I would have to say this is some of the smoothest coffee I’ve had.

If you have a sweet tooth as I do, the Coffee Cabin is definitely the place to go.  They never skimp on the ingredients and the drinks are always rich and decadent.  They also serve every hot drink with a chocolate covered coffee bean.  Usually, by the time you’ve completed paying and getting back on the road, the bean has melted to just the right consistency to really enjoy.

A real treat is the blended drinks that they serve.  One of my personal favorites is the Toutle River Mudslide, a compilation of Kahlua, chocolate and caramel with plenty of whipped cream.  This is a special treat I allow myself a few times a year as I’m sure it’s packed with plenty of calories, but well worth the sin.

The Coffee Cabin also offers up regular coffee, simple espresso, the traditional blended juice smoothies and milkshakes although those are not the drinks I choose to purchase.

If you are in a huge hurry, you’d probably better go some place else.  This is a small, friendly business determined to serve a quality drink.  My personal feeling is the coffee is well worth any wait you may encounter.  So if you are ever traveling in that particular direction, be sure to stop by and visit!

Tags: , , ,



Trackback  •  Posted in Coffee Shops