Around Town: Coffee choices have improved locally
Lucky for La Cañada, the coffee options have improved.
If you don’t want to stand in line at Starbucks (475 Foothill Blvd., Suite M), go a couple of doors away to Trader Joe’s (475 Foothill Blvd., Suite D). Trader Joe’s gives out free mini-cups.
If you don’t want the free Trader Joe’s mini cup, the Starbuck sisters at Goodie Girls (637 Foothill Blvd.), sell mini cupcakes, latte, espresso and plain java.
Local options are limited for the obsessive craft coffee aficionado. Gelson’s does sell Stumptown and Intelligentsia in the bean, but the roast dates vary.
Intelligentsia is in Old Town Pasadena, but Around Town has been on the lookout for better coffee options, ever since the Reimann family’s investment firm, JAB Holding Co., acquired whole or majority investments in Stumptown, Intelligentsia, along with Krispy Kreme Donuts, Einstein Bros. and Noah Bagels, Peet’s and Keurig.
Stumptown and Intelligentsia say that nothing will change, that each is a separately managed subsidiary, and that quality will never suffer. Despite the assurances, it’s good to have a backup plan.
Not that we’re against globalization, but even Rep. Adam Schiff, a tea drinker, should be concerned about the corporatization of third wave coffee.
Schiff told Around Town a couple of years ago that “I have never been a coffee drinker, and apart from having a cup forced on me by the Slovak Attorney General when I was working for the Justice Department, I’ve never even tried the stuff.” Schiff should be concerned because JAB recently acquired a stake in Mighty Leaf tea.
That leaves us with Jones Coffee Roaster, now located at the Pasadena Vroman’s (695 E. Colorado Blvd.), LAMILL (1636 Silver Lake Blvd.) and, the newest arrival — Philz!
Philz! It’s amazing.
In 2003, Phil Jaber founded Philz, at 24th and Folsom, not exactly the best neighborhood in San Francsico. The first Philz was funky, hipster and crunchy, complete with worn out sofas.
Jaber’s philosophy of “one cup at a time” drip preparation, and opinion that baristas should be “coffee artists,” earned him a cult-like following.
By 2003, Peet’s had expanded and appeared more corporate. Philz was a throwback to 1966, when Alfred Peet opened up the first Peet’s in Berkeley.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Philz’s reputation grew. A diverse group of coffee purists followed. One brew was called “Code 33,” a “special blend made for the San Francisco Police Department to keep them alert while keeping our great city safe, now available for the world to enjoy.”
The Pasadena Philz (146 S. Lake Ave., Suite #106) is in the small plaza with Soul Cycle, Lemonade and Williams Sonoma. It’s a clean, bright and airy venue, not as crunchy as the stores in Northern California. Parking can be rough, but Philz opens at 6:30 a.m., and despite the infernal meters, the street parking is free until 9 a.m.
Philz sells light, medium and dark roasts. Unlike Trader Joe’s, Peet’s and Starbucks, the Philz dark roast beans are never oily when we grind them at home. The brew is never bitter.
Good to know that as the corporate craft coffee wars heat up, there are still some local options.
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ANITA SUSAN BRENNER is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and an attorney with Law Offices of Torres and Brenner in Pasadena. Contact her at anitasusan.brenner@yahoo.com. Follow her on Instagram @realanitabrenner, Facebook and on Twitter @anitabrenner.