Need coffee??

For those of you who need a cup of espresso to get going in the morning, Alaska has an amazing number of great places to get both regular coffee and espresso. Almost every town - and even a couple of home businesses in the middle of nowhere along the highways - have a variety of great espresso shops to choose from.

When traveling in the Fairbanks area, one of my all-time favorites is the "Alaska Coffee Roasting Company." This wonderful coffee shop has a large variety of gourmet coffee's to choose from - primarily from South America and Africa - and you can also buy whole beans if you have your own coffee grinder at home. Not only do they have exquisite coffee and espresso, but they make some delicious food items as well. From breakfast quiches, muffins, and bagels, to their outstanding "flatbreads" that they bake in a traditional open-fire pizza oven, this shop is a favorite local hangout for a quick breakfast or lunch. The traditional "flatbread" that they make in the pizza oven is one of their specialties. It comes with a variety of toppings, from German Black Forest Ham and Swiss Cheese, to more exotic toppings with feta cheese, Kalamata Olives, artichoke hearts, and more. I can attest to the fact these flatbreads are absolutely delicious and after one bite, you will be hooked!
The "Alaska Coffee Roasting Company" is located at 4001 Geist Road, in Fairbanks. (It's in a small strip mall behind Pizza Hut.) For more information on "The Alaska Coffee Roasting Company", check out their website at www.alaskacoffeeroasting.com Just a note - you can buy their coffee beans online!

Another espresso shop that is a favorite with the locals and college students, is the "College Coffeehouse" located below the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus at 3677 College Road. This is a small coffee shop, but has a nice variety of coffee and a good selection of bagels and muffins for a morning snack.