Best coffee shops n Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel?

[hhc]

Planning a day trip to Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel. Any good coffee shops in the area for latte & hanging out?

[toodie jane]

Sweet Elena's in Seaside, just a smidge north of Monterey proper. Yikes! out of this world European pastries, savories too. Great coffee drinks. Locals hangout. Hip artsy vibe. Not in a tourist area. A bit hard to find due to a one way street, but google it and it's simple.

p.s.: coffee shops as in food, or coffee houses as in espresso?

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Sweet Elena's Bakery & Cafe
465 Olympia Ave, Seaside, CA 93955

[hhc]

Thanks Toodie Jane. Coffee Houses w/ espresso is what I'm looking for, but I do like desserts.

[gmk1322]

East Village in Downtown New Monterey may fit the bill...I've not been down yet.

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East Village Coffee Lounge
498 Washington St, Monterey, CA 93940

[toodie jane]

Gayle's Bakery in Capitola--dessert central. Not much coziness for hanging out, it's a very busy take-a-number place. Savories too. Nice display cases--they take a lot of care.

There's a couple of decent places in Aptos, on Soquel Ave, on either side of St Park Dr. One in the Safeway shopping center, and one in the block to the north, towards SC. Both good.

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co in both the Barnyard center(Highway 1 and Carmel Vlly Rd) and in Carmel Valley center (Safeway)--not sure about fancy pastries, but dang good coffeh! Dog friendly so usually several pooches hanging about.

There's a newish high falutin coffee house/roaster in SCruz, Verve.
http://blog.vervecoffeeroasters.com/

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Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay Ave, Capitola, CA 95010

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co
319 Mid Valley Ctr, Carmel, CA 93923

[hhc]

We ended up in Downtown Santa Cruz and went to Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting. B. likes espresso so he got it, he paid $2 total. I think they do latte art but didn't get one.

I saw they sell Starz Cupcakes from Capitola $3.25 - guy working there likes them.
Organic donuts from People's in Berkeley $2.25 ea

Live music on Fri & Sat - they have a piano.

Lot of tables & counters to sit & relax.

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Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting
1330 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060