Hello Cafe

{a display in front of a Chinese ramen place in Milpitas. i took a picture of it while waiting for someone who couldn't find the right plaza. we didn't go eat here and i wouldn't try going in because it is empty and it is a Chinese ramen place which means it might not be good... or it is from a package}

{I don't know why there is a blue line towards the bottom. I apologize for the poor picture quality. Obviously I don't have the best camera phone.}

What are the perfect components for a great cafe according to you?

For me- the perfect cafe needs to entail the following elements:

-comfy vintage couches

-great soothing music like Damian Rice

-really fresh strong coffee

-roomy and clean

-lots of natural lighting

-fun snacks & pastries available

-stamp cards to reward coffee lovers with a free coffee after 10 purchases (a must according to me)

-grumpy baristas who complains about their love life and personal lives

-baristas who have an interesting & eclectic sense of style (after all, I don't just go to cafe to drink coffee- I go to gawk at people too. That's right, I gawk)

-cute organic plants on the side

-a cafe that supports their community

-eco friendly (another must)

-lots of seatings for people like me who want to work there

-great artworks by local community members

-their own roasting machine

-stamp cards (I just love collecting my stamps)

I am actually describing my favorite cafe, Zocalo. I love it! It has everything I ever wanted and it is close by my house. Not that close- but I will make my drive here. It seems the really cheery baristas are hard to find these days. You can find them in the frou frou high tech internet cafe. But classic cafe like the one I described is a gem. Today, I overheard a conversation between the barista guy and girl discussing the origin of the drink, Fanta. Did you know Fanta was created during WWII by Coca Cola?