Wondering What's Brewing in Walnut Creek?

I’d like a triple grande, half caff, half-nonfat, half-soy, no foam, no whipped cream, extra hot white mocha, please.

Oh, and one of those blueberry scones too. 

If you’ve been asleep for 40 years and have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s time you woke up and smelled the coffee.  According to Wikipedia, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse in the world — like we didn’t know that — with more than 17,0000 stores in 50 countries.

And right here in Walnut Creek, I know you think there are tons of Starbucks Coffee locations, but believe it or not, there are only six. Not counting the Starbucks counters at grocery stores, Target or Barnes and Noble Booksellers, there are only six free-standing, full-menu, bean-selling Walnut Creek Starbucks. 

I know; I was surprised, too.

These six are affectionately known as: 

The Broadway Plaza Starbucks

The Pottery Barn Starbucks

The Starbucks across from The Cheese Cake Factory

The Starbucks by Lunardi’s

Countrywood Starbucks

That Starbucks on North Main by Walgreen’s

Perhaps I’m going out on a bit of a limb, but I bet if you live or work in Walnut Creek, you have been to at least half, if not all, of these.

Did you ever notice that each one has its own personality? Its own culture? Its own character? 

You may not notice this if you double park your car and run in to grab your coffee on the way to work. But if you meet someone for coffee, you know what I’m talking about. Once you determine if you want Peet’s or Starbucks, you start calculating based on time of day, traffic and parking, which Starbucks that should be.

The Broadway Plaza Starbucks. 

Bottom line: you don’t want to go there if you’re having a bad hair day because chances are you’re going to run into someone you know. This Starbucks is by far the best place to people watch – and, like Broadway Plaza, attracts all ages. Some mornings it’s Stroller City and afternoons are Valley Girl North, but it’s always a delightful place to stop and catch your breath or rest your feet.

The Pottery Barn Starbucks

This is a great place to have a first date – be it business or pleasure. It’s downtown, but not front and center. At least it doesn’t feel like it’s front and center. Even if there’s a line, there are enough people taking their coffee to go that you usually can find a place to sit. It’s big and the bench inside makes it comfy to squeeze over just a tad. This Starbucks is always busy but for some reason you can hear yourself think – or hold a pleasant conversation.

The Starbucks across from The Cheesecake Factory

Morning, noon and night – this is one hopping Starbucks. With the movie theater, casual restaurants and eclectic shops nearby, it attracts every age group. I love to parallel park. If I get one of the few spots in front, I’m one happy camper.  The music tends to be too loud and most days it’s colder than a meat locker, but it’s a great place to meet.

The Starbucks by Lunardi’s

This is the perfect example of a real neighborhood Starbucks. It’s like the coffeehouses we used to have before Starbucks took over the world. This Starbucks is my favorite for many reasons but if I tell you why, you’ll all go there and I won’t be able to get a seat. Basically, it’s very calm and friendly. The same people are there all the time and it reminds me a little of my neighborhood pub when I lived in England. No one really cares what you’re wearing or what you’re drinking as long as you’re friendly.

The Countrywood Starbucks

This Starbucks is different than all the other Walnut Creek locations because it doesn’t have any inside seating. None. It’s like Starbucks Island, if you will – located on a beautiful redwood deck surrounded by trees and a stream – it almost feels like you’re in the middle of nature instead of between a Safeway and a Noah’s Bagels. And the people who sit outside are not fair-weathered friends. No, they are out there sipping their coffee, come rain or come shine. The staff couldn’t be nicer but maybe it’s because they don’t have to put up with customers camping out inside for hours on end.

Which brings us to the last one. 

That Starbucks on North Main by Walgreen’s

Who goes there? People who are getting on Interstate 680 or those who need a late-night cup of coffee and free WiFi? Weekday mornings, you’ll find lots of construction workers and out-of-town business people. Weekends, it’s Harley Davidson central. It’s more or less a stop along the way – but it’s not a place where you’d meet and hang out with your friends and then take a walk or go shopping.

One thing that all the Walnut Creek Starbucks have in common is that the people buying the fancy-schmancy coffee drinks seem to be the teenagers. But when you consider that a Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino and an Outrageous Oatmeal Cookie are more than 1,000 calories, and cost $8, they are the only ones who can really afford it.

There still are independent coffee shops in Walnut Creek and let’s hope they are here to stay. But when you leave Walnut Creek and grab a Starbucks anywhere in the world, it always feels a little bit like home.

I’ll drink to that.