California Part 2: Hardcore Espresso

Hey there.

Today's blog will again be brought to you by myself, and the sunny state of California.

So on we move, to...

California
Part 2: Hardcore Espresso

So, there is this place in California that I absolutely love.  It's one of those little tiny café/coffee shop/bakery type places that we have all been to at least once in our life. The kind of place that steals your heart the second you step foot inside. The kind of place that you miss when you have to leave, and that you can't wait to get back to one day. The kind of place that makes you feel like no one you know will ever stumble upon, so it's like your dirty little secret...

 It's called Starbucks.

Teeheehee. Nah, I'm just yanking your chain. 

This little magical place of mine is called, Hardcore.

 

 

This place is literally, an open air shack on the corner of the highway in the little town of Sebastopol.  I suppose you can't even really call it a hole in the wall, because it has no walls...

 

...well, technically the tiny corner that the two baristas nestle into is against a wall, but it's the wall of a condemned, roof caving in, bum-housing building that I'm actually quite shocked is even still standing.   

 

The "coffee shop" itself, is outside, against one wall of the aforementioned death trap. They have a makeshift roof/awning type ceiling made from tin scraps, and a few posts that hold it up on the corners.

 

I get a little nervous whenever there's a slight breeze.

 

 

 

There are layers upon layers of old and new flyers from any and all events that have ever happened in the area. Concerts, farmers markets, fundraisers, shop openings, hippie reunions, and even Zombie Prom 4. I tell you, if it's happening, you can read about it on a random post at Hardcore.

 

 

You can also do a little junking while you're waiting for your most perfect cup of the hard stuff.

 

 

Yes, the folks at Hardcore like to help out those of us in need...

 

....apparently those of us in need of a 1984 Green Giant cookbook, old jeans, or a copy of Time magazine explaining why that cute Asian baby on the cover is going to live to be over 100.

 

They're practically Doctors without Borders.

 

Hardcore also likes to stimulate the ole' thinker by writing trivia questions on a dry erase board for you to ponder while you wait. They have 3 or 4 new questions every day, and I have yet to EVER get one right. I'm not sure where or who they get to generate these brain busters every day, but I always leave there feeling just a little bit dumb...

 

 

 

...but then I sip from my 20 oz. Vanilla Double Shot Lattucino and I don't feel bad about myself anymore....

 

...just stupid and happy :)

 

Hey, I didn't do too shabby on the sample Mensa test in the back of the Skymall magazine on the plane. 

 

But enough about the trivia questions, the junk shop, or the constant fear of being buried alive under scrap metal, flyers, and coffee grinds.

 

Let's talk espresso.

 

Hardcore makes the best cup of espresso or any espresso related drink that you can imagine. I'm not sure what kind of rigged up machine they have back in that little corner, but it puts out some seriously perfect stuff.  Every cup I've ever had, is always strong, but smooth. It has just a hint of sweet and always has perfect crema on top...

 

Crema: the foamy stuff on top of coffee drinks that cool baristas draw leaves and hearts, and little ghosts into.

 

It's just the best coffee ever. There's really nothing else I can say. If you want to add some stuff to it from their high class coffee condiment table, feel free, but it really doesn't need it.

 

 

 

Oh Hardcore. I can't wait to visit when I arrive, and I miss it terribly when I leave.  I always enjoy trying to conquer the Trivia board, and when that fails miserably, I love people watching.  There is always a very interesting cast of characters hanging out at this place. The last time we went before we left there was a construction worker, an old hippie woman who I think dabbled in sorcery, and an extremely tan 70 year old biker guy.  They were sitting together chatting like they'd known each other forever and a day. 

 

It's the espresso that brings them together.

 

...and maybe the half smoked doobies laying everywhere..

 

But for the sake of keeping this a family blog, we'll stick with the espresso theory.

 

 

:) Ashley

 

 

On a side note:

 

I would have loved to have seen the expression on my husbands face when I yelled to him from across the house...

 

Me: "Honey!"

Him: "yeah?"

Me: "How to do you spell Doobie?!"

 

*crickets*

 

Him: *with a serious, unaffected tone*..."Like Doobie Brothers? or like a joint?"

 

It's official... My random, off the wall questions can no longer shock him....