It’s common knowledge that caffeine fuels the newsgathering trade, but few journalists actually buy a coffee shop for ready access to their favorite brew. One young scribe, the Sun’s own calendar editor, has done just that, adding another job description to his crowded résumé.
Joe Payne and his fiancée, Candice Merás, recently became the proud owners of Coffee and Company, a cozy coffee shop that has dispensed java in Santa Maria’s Town Center West for 24 years. Curiously, the shop originally opened on Oct. 25, 1985, the day before Merás was born.
“That seems kind of cosmic to me,” Payne said with a laugh, “like it was meant to happen.
“It’s the longest-standing coffee shop in Santa Maria,” he continued, “and once Candice saw it, she fell in love with it. She knew it was something she could run herself.”
Merás, who grew up in Grover Beach, has a long history with the roasted bean, having worked at most of the coffee shops in the area. She even spent three years as a barista at Starbuck’s, where she learned to make every kind of customized coffee beverage imaginable.
“I love coffee,” Merás beamed. “It’s my passion. Preparing and tasting coffee and tea really is an art. Coffee’s the new wine!”
While his parents once owned a coffee shop, the now-closed Moody Brews, Payne has had little experience behind the counter.
“I wrote press releases for them,” he said, “but this is my first time actually working in a coffee shop. I’m getting good at the cash register. I sweep, mop, wipe the tables, and take the trash out. And if I may toot my own horn, I’m a damn good dishwasher!
“Candice is going to train me to be a fully fledged barista,” he added. “I’m going to learn all of it.”
New on the menu at Coffee and Company is an array of iced and creamy blended coffee drinks made with Java Frost, available in flavors like chocolate, white mocha, caramel, vanilla, and Mexican mocha (reportedly a favorite of this paper’s executive editor). Merás’ signature creations include toffee chocolate topped with crushed Heath Bar and peanut butter mocha.
“We actually offer dollar cups of coffee and tea,” Payne said. “I think we’re the only place on Earth that does. You get a diner-style mug and saucer, and for a quarter a refill, as much coffee as you can drink.
“All our tea and coffee,” he added, “is 100 percent organic and fair trade. We try to use organic wherever we can, because it’s better for the Earth and for our customers, too.”
Edible offerings include scones, muffins, and cinnamon rolls, and soon, made-to-order sandwiches. Merás whips up a luscious cream cheese frosting for the cinnamon rolls, as well as cream cheese bagel spreads flavored with real strawberries, garlic, or jalapeño peppers.
Both musicians, Payne and Merás met in a music theory class at Allan Hancock College. To honor two of their favorite teachers, Dr. Ann Lucas and Dr. Marcus Engelmann, the couple named Coffee and Company’s art space the Lucman Gallery.
“We feature local artists,” Payne explained, “a different one every month. We don’t charge a hanging fee or ask for a percentage of their profit. It’s a completely free gallery.”
As further evidence of their commitment to supporting the creative community, the couple plans to donate a portion of their sales to fund a scholarship for music students at Allan Hancock College.
Against one wall of the cozy space stands a piano that Payne often plays, tickling out a delightful variety of jazz, blues, ragtime, and classical tunes. Patrons are welcome to join the fun by strumming guitars and singing along.
“You can come in and there may be a full-fledged jam session going on,” Payne said. “We want this place to be kind of a community gathering place for Santa Maria.
“We want to do stand-up comedy, screenings from local film makers,” he continued, “and for it to be like a cultural hub. We’re trying to provide not just a relaxing place to get a cup of coffee and hang out, but a place where people can express themselves.”
Meanwhile, Payne practices the art of brewing tea and frothing lattes, while giving music lessons through Nipomo’s Music School 101 and continuing as the Sun’s calendar editor, a position he’s held since 2006.
“I dove into journalism after my favorite writer, Hunter S. Thompson, [died],” he said.
“I’m fortunate to have such a good job with such good people,” he added.
Coffee and Company’s new owners promise to transform the venerable establishment into a cultural hub by fostering music, culture, and local talent, all fueled by one of the world’s favorite brews.
K. Reka Badger fosters food culture with her weekly columns. Keep her up to date by e-mailing comments or ideas to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Nov 12-19, 2009.