Not Just Java: A Refreshing Brew of Cool and Pool

In these parts, coffeehouses are no more a new trend than shaved heads and pierced bellybuttons (both styles that have become mainstream among O.C. kids). But restrict the list to coffeehouses that are truly an alternative to nightclubs, and the names of qualifiers barely fill an espresso cup.

Further narrow that list to places that are also alternatives to traditional post-club hangs like Denny’s or we-never-close Norm’s, and you’re likely to spend the hour between 2 and 3 a.m. stuck with a low-grade cup of joe and greasy chow.

Tired of such a predicament and the indigestion that goes with it, longtime club promoter Dan Barrett (Indigo, Avalon, No White Pumps and disco Thursdays at Roxbury South) decided to do what he does best: identify a good thing and improve on it. This month Barrett and partners Robert Hamparyan and Tony Lopez debuted their new concept in coffeehouses: Not Just Java in Newport Beach.

On the edge of hot Lido Marina Village (home to Visions, Atlantis and the soon-to-reopen Bacchus), Not Just Java combines the Bohemian cool of coffeehouses with nightclub elements that have become de rigueur in the ‘90s: a luxe interior complete with Roman statues, nonalcoholic beer and bottled water, pool tables and a sound system spewing out alternative grinds--via CD, of course.

Unlike most nightclubs, Not Just Java doesn’t charge exorbitant hourly rates to play pool (games at the two tables are $1), lets you satisfy the munchies throughout the night, and, best of all, doesn’t kick you out at 2 a.m. On the weekends, this coffeehouse closes around 3, or whenever patrons disperse; during the week, closing time also depends on the crowd, anywhere from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Barrett and Hamparyan say they wanted to provide more than the average coffeehouse, which is usually the choice for a mellow night out.

So far, Barrett’s intentions have manifested themselves into the energy and attitude found in nightclubs, and the fashionable set that sometimes comes with it. But patrons can talk without screaming over the music or without the influence of alcohol (although a triple espresso can animate a conversation).

On that note, coffee drinks start at $1 and can rise to $5.25 for a triple dose. The cappuccino is among the lowest priced in town, at $1.50 for a small, $2.65 for large; come in between 6 and 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and pick one up for 99 cents. The popular house drink is the ice-blended mocha at $3.25; house-flavored coffees also sell fast, at $1 for a small, $1.25 for large.

Truly decaffeinated drinks are also available: herbal tea, $1.25; bottled water $2; Snapple, nonalcoholic beer, fruit juices and chocolate milk are $1.50; sodas and milk are $1.

If the mochas don’t satisfy your sweet tooth, indulge in the cake and pastry selection. Most come courtesy of West Coast Productions, the pastry supplier for Bistro 201, Diva and Topaz.

If it’s real food you’re hankering for, try the sandwiches, meat or vegetarian, from $4.50 to $4.75. Salads, lasagnas and quiches will join the menu soon.

The 2,000-square-foot space also boasts a small boutique (about 600 square feet) filled with handcrafted items for home and wardrobe: sarongs, bustiers, unisex shirts, picture frames and jewelry. Open the same hours as the coffeehouse, the shop has rung up some of its biggest sales late at night--especially for swimsuits. The wee hours always did give one a different perspective on the world.

Instead of offering acoustic entertainment or poetry reading sessions, as other coffeehouses do, Not Just Java will follow the cue of many clubs and hold weekly pool tournaments (a regular night will be announced shortly) and theme nights, such as Harley-Davidson Sundays, which kicked off last weekend.

* NOT JUST JAVA

* 3636 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach.

* (714) 675-3718.

* Opens weekdays at 6 a.m., weekends at 8 a.m. Closes depending on the crowds, Sunday through Thursday between 11 p.m. and 1 am., Friday and Saturday around 3 a.m.

* No cover.