Open Cup Coffee and Tea – downtown

This location has long been a prime spot for the assorted state street café loungers, I certainly was one of them back in my surly goth high school days which was a helluva long time ago. Regardless of the name of the café, or the management, there was always, *always*, an assortment of beatnik folks idly sitting out front, all day, every day. A writer, or independently wealthy, or disenchanted youth? Probably all the above and then there’s the guy sitting next to him.
It always gave off the impression to me that this was a gruff local’s joint, and the locals were the gauntlet you had to run to get inside for a coffee or Italian soda. I stayed clear.
But then I heard with the Open Cup, the coffee, tea, and pastries coming out were top notch, under the precise direction and vision of its new owner. The espresso machine is a Strada from La Marzocco, which Gizmodo called the barista’s wet dream. For tea, he keeps three vessels of water at different temperatures for the optimal infusion depending on your tea (yeah, I asked!), not unlike having a cuppa at the Samovar in San Francisco, sans the bells and whistles of a slick tea house interior, this is still Santa Barbara, after all.

Again, my long-held bias about all the cafes that resided here in the past held me back from even peering into the pastry case. I’m so glad I finally looked. Exquisite looking lemon tarts ($4 ea), brown butter almond shortbread, perfect little palmiers ($1 ea), stuff I used to buy as small treats in Europe. Most recently I had an apricot puff pastry thingie, and to my delight there was a layer of almond cream filling hidden in there.

Santa Barbara’s coffeehouse scene is definitely improving. There are several other places I happily give business to, and each has its unique perks. Hipster artisanal vibe is at one, locally roasted is at another. Open Cup has a worldly international feel to it to its product while still retaining its rough edges that come with its proximity to de la Guerra plaza and the peanut gallery of gutter punks outside. Turns out, they’re mostly harmless and more concerned about their crossword puzzles than giving me any hassle. You want European coffee and a little pastry that’s so perfect it hurts, and without leaving Santa Barbara? This is the place. And if the owner is around and you want to talk food, he might be down to join the conversation. This is how a good hour of mine disappeared over summer solstice weekend.

Open Cup
728 State Street
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