‘What’s to Love?’ is a weekly article featuring interviews of hand-picked locals to find out what people love and hate about downtown Olympia. Our city has recently won multiple awards. Now we’ll ask the locals what they love about this place. This week’s WTL focuses on downtown coffee shops… and features an interview with one of our newest coffee houses, C&D Gourmet Coffee Company and a tour of the Batdorf and Bronson Roastery, as well as some local opinions. Also, what’s the difference between a coffee shop and a coffee roaster? Let’s find out!

C&D Gourmet Coffee Companyis one of the newest coffee shops in downtown Olympia, and one of the only that has made a lasting impression on me. (Not such an easy task.) The owner, Charles Lampard, reached out to his community and has the drive to get involved and make things brighter.

When you visit his shop, not only will you be subject to his positive energy, but you will also be graced with the presence of Emma. “She is my pug and greeter at the store. She is one year old and has been “working” with me since she was six week old when she came to live with me,” Charles said.

And now- the interview:

When did you open downtown?
“I opened my downtown Olympia store in mid June of this year. I have been in the espresso business for the last six years, opening the first store with my sister in the South Bay. Discovering [that I'd] found my niche, I bought my first store in Lacey three years ago. I learned from my brother, co-owner of Jake’s on 4th, that there was a store available down town. The rest is, as they say, history.”

What are your reasons for choosing downtown?
“I had been looking for a downtown location for a “sit down” store for a while when I found my new store. I became a member of the Thurston Chamber and became excited about downtown. I have lived in the Olympia since 1960, attending school and graduating from Olympia High in 1971. I remember a vibrant and busy downtown and want to be part of its rejuvenation. Olympia needs us who love her to believe, invest, and reinvigorate her. I want to be a positive participant of that.”

How do I like it here? Best things? Worst things?
“I am excited being down town, right down town. The Security Building is so beautiful I am lucky to be able to have my store in it. I enjoy the diversity of my customers. I am enjoying learning the “flow” and energy of downtown.”

“I believe that some of what I would refer to as” the worst things” and what I would like to see changed could be one in the same. I am empathetic for the numbers of homeless people. I do not have an answer whether housing or services is the answer here. Maybe a civil service program (community service) in exchange for housing and assistance? I have noticed that too many of the “street-people” are children though.”

What would I like to see changed in downtown?
“I would like to see the empty store fronts occupied. I would like to see more shop owners take more pride in the appearance of their store fronts and sidewalks. I would like to see more foot patrols of our police department and positive interaction between them and the citizens. I would like to see politics take a back seat to development and growth in the core of Olympia. Olympia needs mixed use buildings downtown. Olympia needs people to want to and then be able to find housing downtown. The isthmus is a place to start. Olympia needs to reconnect to the feeling/attitude that was prevalent thirty years ago. Olympia was alive with small businesses, family owned and operated, families who had stake in the success of their city.”

Your business in a nutshell??
“C&D Gourmet Coffee Company’s goal is to carry on the tradition of great coffee houses with our own unique style and ambiance. The concept is home town friendly. Business people, students, shoppers, and families find at C&D Gourmet Coffee a comfortable location to study, complete work, surf the web on free WI-FI or just take a break and read the newspaper all the while enjoying the finest and carefully prepared espresso and non-espresso beverages. ”

“We offer a variety of espresso-based beverages as well as French pressed coffee, blended beverages, pastries baked fresh daily in our store, and light lunches. All of our beverages are created individually; never from a pre-mixed package. When possible (while in season) we use fresh locally grown fruits and berries in our smoothie beverages. Locally grown means fresh and reflects our continuing commitment to support our community based small businesses.”

“The customer service and values of C&D Gourmet Coffee is Old World Style as well. Customer satisfaction is the highest priority, with an emphasis on quality and attention to detail every step of the way. The overall emotional feel is of “relaxed energy” and “friendly recognition”. Our Baristas know their customers by name and favorite beverage.”

“My attitude or feeling towards my employees goes one step further and is stated best in my business motto: ‘Assisting others to realize a purpose and through that purpose live winning lives.’ ”

“I believe I am the only gay owned and operated coffee house in Olympia. Not that we cater to any group of people over another. Not that my sexual orientation has any thing to do with anything out side of myself. It is just another bit of the diversity that will make downtown vibrant.”

C&D Gourmet Coffee Company is currently open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday, but they are thinking about “testing the waters” by extending their hours to 9:00 pm and opening Saturdays 10:00 am to 5:00 pm in the near future.

BATDORF AND BRONSON: A special tour.

I walked into the B&B office expecting a few small answers to a few small questions, and instead I was whisked away on a tour of the roastery. It was amazing, and interesting, and so much more than I expected. They told me so much that I can’t possibly remember and recount it all for you, but I would strongly suggest going on a tour if you are interested. They were unbelievably friendly and excited about what they are doing.

They showed me the ‘green beans’ which are like raw coffee beans, and the picture for this article is of their roasting machine where someone (not a machine) cooks the coffee. Then I was taken to the tasting room, which is open to the public and run by two more friendly people. I’ll bet that if I tried to think of questions they couldn’t answer, I would lose my own game ever time.

Thank you Batdorf and Bronson! My experience at your roastery changed my opinion of you (for the better) forever.

OLYMPIAN OPINIONS: Favorite spots and shots?

No real conversations were struck this week, but I have managed to at least get enough answers to put together a small survey.

What is your favorite coffee shop downtown? (I am not including favorite spots that received only one vote, or any votes towards Starbucks…)

Cafe Vita: 4
New Moon: 2
Sizizis: 2
Batdorf: 5

I found that most people I talked to were quick to call themselves ‘regulars’ of their favorite coffee house. This is interesting to me because with past WTLs, talking with people from the ‘bar scene’, far less people wanted to claim a bar. “Oh, I go all over,” most would say. Coffee drinkers, on the other hand, seem to have their space, and are proud of it. And I have to admit that one of the New Moon votes… was mine.

Happy Caffeination!