Current Issue Articles

A COWGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE
COFFEHOUSES OF THE VALLEY

By Jessica Schley
Photos by Wolcott Schley

Biscotti makes a great horse treat. Just don't feed your steed the chocolate kind, because I hear it makes them sick. In the Valley, we have some great eats, and some great java.

Whether you live here, or are just visiting, and are hankering for a good strong brew, there are coffeehouses to serve you, your horse, and even your cow-dog.My grandpa used to say that cowboy coffee is not at all like the mocha-lattes or cappucicinos people like now days. He said cowboy coffee's so strong, it makes your spoon stand straight up in your cup. But if what you are looking for is smooth cup of Joe, French or Italian, cream or no, come along with me as I tour the Valley's best spots for brewing up what my grandpa called greenhorn coffee.

The Roasted Bean, next to the Post Office on Sagunto Street in Santa Ynez is a great place to start your day. After feeding the cattle at daybreak, you can take your cow-dog on down to get a hot, cream-filled mug of whatever you like and fresh pastry or muffin.

My dog Jones, who's not a cow-dog at all but a Boston Terrior, tags along and saves a seat for me outside, so I can watch the valley wake up, or maybe chit-chat with the Roasted Bean’s local celebrity spokesman, Bob Eubanks. When I’m in Buellton, there’s another Roasted Bean in the Albertson’s Shopping Center that’s just as good, and has very convenient parking. Both have free Wi-Fi, if you need to check your email.

Another great place to go in the morning is Santa Ynez Coffee Company. When I’ve got a real tough day ahead fixing fence or mucking corrals, I head in to Solvang to pick me up a scrumptious breakfast burrito and a mochacinno to go.
Sometimes I pull into the parking lot in the Nielsen’s Shopping Center with my horse trailer in tow, and usually in the early morning there’s plenty of room to get in and turn around without any hassle. I can even order one of the Santa

Ynez Coffee Company’s delicious sandwiches to stow in my saddlebag for lunch. And I like to get a bag full of biscotti for my trusty horse, Java. She’s got a lot of kick and is also pretty wired most of the time; hence the name. But when she’s ridden right, she goes down the trail nice and smooth, the way a good cup of coffee should. Although I take my liquid java with cream, I prefer my horse black.

	Sometimes in the afternoon I like to go to the Bulldog Café on Mission Drive with my dog Jones, read a book from the Book Loft next door, or check my e-mail with my laptop on The Bulldog’s free WiFi. Jones enjoys it too because he can sit with me inside, and even get a sip from
the canine watering hole. I like to drink espresso in the afternoon, because it keeps me going for the rest of the day. There’s no place to park my horse trailer, but I can usually find a space for my truck in the parking lot behind the building.

Current Issue Articles

A COWGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE COFFEHOUSES OF THE VALLEY

A COWGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE
COFFEHOUSES OF THE VALLEY