Inklings Coffee & Tea | Pleasanton, CA
To the outsider, it's not hard to pick up that Pleasanton is a nice and quiet town right off the bat. It's a quality I truly appreciate having grown up here, but as a teenager, I often found myself having trouble finding places to spend time with my friends other than breaking out the good ol' Super Nintendo at someone's house. Pleasanton is the type of place where its name accurately describes its most prominent feature; It's pleasantness. Established in 1894, our downtown still harnesses the charm and quaintness of days old. However, one thing I always thought we particularly needed was something that catered to teens and young adults. It was a desire that still prominently lingered until (from the time of this writing) effectively one day ago. My wish had finally been fulfilled. A sanctuary for such a demographic is here. In fact, late night dwellers, coffee lovers/enthusiasts, kombucha connoisseurs, social butterflies, and book readers alike finally have a place to claim as their own, and it's arrived in the heart of downtown Pleasanton in the form of the locally owned and operated Inklings: Coffee & Tea.
Named after the creative writing group that consisted of legends C.S. Lewis (Author of Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity) and J.R.R. Tolkien (Author of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), Inklings seeks to recreate the same ethos and pathos the group had in the past within this new space. So far, I'd say they've been extremely successful. Fashioned much like a hybrid between old English pub and library, the atmosphere has a lot of charming quirks and details that will draw your attention as you take your first steps into this warm but rustic coffee house. Incredible thought and foresight has gone into curating the type of environment that Inklings is and it shows... right down to the subtle words that hang over the main lobby that reads "To Seek the Good in the City," to the SECRET bookshelf door (WHAT) or the vault room that struts window seating, a plush couch, and an even greater collection of books. It's safe to say that Inklings will become the medium for social gatherings of all ages. In the days to come, the Inklings team seek to use the rest of the space as a venue for poetry slams and musical performances, potentially making this new addition to our town an even greater community hub than it already has established itself to be.
Serving Stumptown Coffee, coffee lovers can rejoice in the fact that no longer do you need to travel to L.A. or Portland, OR to enjoy their delicious offerings. Although a recent subsidiary of Peet's Coffee and Tea, it is important to note that Stumptown's history is nothing to discount. Much of their reputation in the specialty coffee scene has credited the company to revolutionizing coffee business in general. The Stumptown owners have stood by their unrelenting desire for quality by personally visiting farms and paying 4 times as much as the fair-trade price in pursuit of the best beans out there. Inklings does a good job of handling the coffees and offers cafe classics such as the traditional cappuccino and macchiato. Those who enjoy something a little sweeter will be relieved to know that they also offer the classic vanilla latte and a delicious lavender latte made with house-made lavender syrup. Those who may not enjoy coffee as much can check out the plethora of other options that include various kombucha drinks on tap, nitrogenated drinks, and teas.
Pastries here aren't something to ignore either, made by local baking company Top Knot: Bake Shoppe, the high-grade ingredients used in their tasty treats shine through whether it's something savory or sweet that you might be eye-balling or craving. News of toast being served is also on the horizon. Generally, this is a sweet place to get work done and enjoy some high-quality beverages and treats. Next time you find yourself passing through downtown Pleasanton feeling weary, craving a treat, coffee, tea, or just want a place to check out...be sure to stop by Inklings before leaving. You'll be extremely pleased with the experience. Surely this place will become a Pleasanton staple for years to come.
- Johnny (Location and Hours posted below.)