As a newspaper reporter, I needed caffeine to get through early-morning school assemblies or evening city council meetings. Many mid-day meetings happened in coffee shops, too. Some interviewees worked out of their homes; others worked in traditional offices but just preferred to meet elsewhere.
So I got pretty adept at scoping out two types of coffee shops. First, I sought the grab-and-go or drive-through stands, for those times when I was rushing from one assignment to the next. To actually sit down for coffee with someone, I'd hope for a clean table, comfortable seating, adequate lighting and subdued background music.
Coffee shops here in Northern Nevada are not so ubiquitous as in Western Washington. It might have something to do with living in the high desert instead of a temperate rainforest. And while I'm not on the same hectic schedule as I was in the Pacific Northwest, I'd still like to find South Reno's best spots to get good coffee on the run or to sip at leisure, perhaps while reading a book or magazine.
I've tried a couple coffee places in the Walmart shopping center at the intersection of Reno's South Virginia Street and Damonte Ranch Parkway. Both have drive-up windows and limited seating.
Doughboys Donuts, 57 Damonte Ranch Pkwy., is more about doughnuts than it is about coffee. I rarely eat doughnuts but for those with a sweet tooth, Doughboys has a large and delectable array, including glazed, frosted and jelly-filled varieties, priced at 85 cents to $1.00 apiece. A dozen assorted doughnuts cost $8.99, or a half-dozen sell for $4.99.
Other pastries are plentiful at Doughboys, too — fritters, bear claws, cinnamon rolls and so on. There's a small selection of bagels and breakfast sandwiches, plus milk, juice and hot chocolate (for kids of all ages!) and a few types of coffee. I'm not a coffee snob; plain black coffee works for me. So this is not a deal-breaker. And I'll confess that the Doughboys Donuts logo is cute.
Kiddy-korner across the parking lot is the Starbucks at 191 Damonte Ranch Pkwy. Like every other Starbucks, it specializes in fancy or frothy coffee drinks. After you've had your fill of syrup and whipped cream, Starbucks also has some healthier menu options, such as fresh fruit, salads and sandwiches made with egg whites or reduced-fat meat or cheese.
My lukewarm response to both of these coffee shops stems from the scarcity of seating and the noise levels. At Doughboys, the TV is turned up too loud. At this Starbucks, the problem is more with a lot of people, in close quarters, shouting into their cell phones.
Maybe you're thinking, "Well, what do you expect? It's a coffee shop, not a house of worship!" As a point of reference, one of the most relaxing coffee shops I've found is SoulFood Books and Cafe in downtown Redmond, Washington. The store sells spiritual and metaphysical books and music, while the cafe has a gallery for local artists and a small stage for open mic nights and other events. One of SoulFood's owners is a musician and sometimes would break into folk songs on a whim.
I know, it sounds like something from the "beatnik" era. But don't knock it until you've tried something like it! To learn more about SoulFood, visit
Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...
Doughboys Donuts has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Doughboys-Donuts/280432278634534?rf=162718637085638
or call (775) 853-6844 for information.
The Starbucks at South Virginia and Damonte Ranch answers to the number (775) 851-2233. Or visit http://www.starbucks.com/store/9242/
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