The Ojai Post

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, which absolutely puts me in the minority here in Ojai. Even in the heat of summer, Ojaians love their coffee. Or do they just love the social aspects of coffee; the see-and-be-seen draw of a well-roasted bean? The camaraderie, the chance meetings with familiar faces, the friendly exchange with the barista who knows your name – all good reasons to seek a cuppa Joe.

About once a week, I’m good for a decaf, nonfat something-or-other. These days I’m partial to decaf ice blendeds – either a Brown Sugar Latte at Full of Beans or a Caramel Latte at Coffee Connection.

Matt long ago inspired a price check on milk on Radio Ojai, which followed with martinis, so it was only natural, in keeping with the liquid culture theme, that we would get around to coffee. You can tune in for the results here, including Matt’s preview of the newest place to get caffeinated: Blanche Street Coffee & Tea.

Local Smitty West (some know him as Scott Smith) recently told me he is a huge coffee drinker, adding “My family is trying to get me to go to CA….Caffeine Anonymous, but I know I can quit at any time so I don’t need to go.” Between sips of coffee, he released his new CD “Your World.” This is the first video from the CD, from the single on track three, “Sequoia,” which he wrote while camping in the Sierras and seeing the destruction of a forest of Sequoias that had been logged more than a hundred years ago:

You can hear another one of Smitty's singles from the CD, an ode to Ojai called "It Ain't Mine," and learn more here.

So, Ojai, what’s in your cup today?

More Dishing Ojai columns here.