When Coffee Was Just ‘Joe,’ Not Status Symbol

Marnell Jameson must have been born in the ‘70s. Long before Starbucks was around, there were coffeehouses. Think back to the ‘50s when places like Pandora’s Box in West Hollywood was there--sure it was also known for pot and good beat music that the flower children used to go to.

Let’s say it like it is: All those strange-sounding names are nothing more then status symbols for the snobs. Coffee is coffee, pure and simple. Give me a cup of java any day and I will add my own sugar, thank you.

Redlands soon will have its snobbish Starbucks, and I don’t look forward to the people it will bring here. Just more of the “in” crowd bragging about how much they made, or what kind of car they just leased. Who cares!

JON FLEISCHER

Redlands