Woke up this morning at half past four...

Insomnia and coffee consumption might have some relationship, or so I've been told, once too many times, but I know that jet lag from my Turkey trip is still ongoing. I have had two full nights of sleep since I landed in California 8 days ago. My wife, by contrast can sleep anywhere at any time, so this has not been an issue for her. I have been awake, reading the Economist, the Huffington Post, and have skimmed some of my kindle books - all in anticipation of waiting for the sun to rise so I can take a walk to get some coffee. Since most coffee houses don't open until 7 a.m., the two hours or so that I have had to "wait" finally occurred to me, that I could be at my usual, working week coffeehouse that opens at 6 a.m. everyday of the week - Central Coffee, Tea, and Spice.

I discovered Central CTS last summer in search of new cafes when I decided to find new cafes in NOPA, north of the PAnhandle that separates Oak and Fell out my front door to the street. I have lived here for almost 21 years this September, but not once have I visited this cafe that has been in business as long. In fact, I didn't even know it existed in my conscious mind.

If someone told me that I could go to a cafe that was two short blocks from my house that opened one hour before I had to be home at 7 a.m. to take a shower and get ready for work, well, I imagine great things would have happened to me in my life. I constantly think of what my life would have been like if I could have had that truly religious experience of waking up with a great espresso drink in a near empty cafe with cool music softly lulling me awake in the morning for the past twenty years. Who knows, but I am happy to have finally found Central CTS.

It is one of those "it is never too late" moments that are usually reserved for people getting married at 45 for the first time, or going to medical school at 50, but I will be sufficiently satisfied to know that I am one of the few people in my world who drinks coffee in cafes at 6 a.m., that it seems as monumental as getting a PhD in something that I know I am eminently qualified to have been awarded. My imaginary honorary PhD, gladly accepted, as I delivered that now famous commencement speech, inspired scores of the best and brightest of our future generation to go forth, but to not forget the sunrise. I mean, literally, get out of bed at 5:30 a.m. and take a walk to Central CTS as they are opening their doors to treasure those golden moments of the first fumes of the arabica bean as they take you into the realm of consciousness. There is plenty more that I can expound on about the nature of this metaphysical reality, but you'll have to find the speech on Google.

Central CTS uses Mr. Espresso beans, which yield an excellent chocolate flavor in a macchiato. The cup can sit for over an hour and each sip maintains its original flavor. The cafe's decor is very minimal and the layout fits around two large steel framed bay windows, that are perfect for watching the street as the sun rises, or just for people watching of this neighborhood establishment. I have gotten to know a few of my coffee breathren here, and have noticed a loyal clientele of locals who frequent the place as part of their morning routine. Several bicyclists stop here, one block away from the major entrance to Golden Gate Park, as well as many dog lovers, who stop here before or after a walk through the Panhandle with their loving canine.

Location:Central Coffee, Tea, and Spice