It’s bewildering how bad the coffee is. They’ve even gone and put cute little coffee cups on the backs of their new chairs after a recent expansion/remodeling. They taunt me; they laugh at me with their petite, shapely curled handles like some deranged character from the tea party scene in Alice in Wonderland.
I ordered my much needed caffeinated elixir. Iced tea or soda just doesn’t cut it, especially after a night of holiday prosecco and wine drinking. I mentally prepared myself for the terrible cup of Joe, one step up from day old coffee in some dusty Exxon station off some forgotten desert highway. But, even bad coffee is better than none.
The food on the other hand was incredible, always is. I ordered “Juan’s Favorite,” which is a winning combination of a three-egg omelet filled with veggie chorizo, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, jack and cheddar cheese, and topped with avocado. Veggie chorizo is scrumptious. I’m not vegetarian, but this stuff is even better than the original mystery meat product. It’s not that I’m afraid of sausage—I even ate haggis when I was in Scotland—but veggie chorizo takes away the unfortuitous findings of weird gristly bits; it’s way less greasy and is pure delicious crumbled soy joy. I got a side of grilled Serrano peppers (one of those spicy and tasty decisions that might later be regretted on the other end) with enchilada sauce and sour cream to slather on top of my omelet. With a side of flour tortillas, the meal essentially became a build-it-yourself breakfast taco. It was awesome. I highly suggest trying this combo.
One thing that I really love about this place is all of their sauce options. I’m a saucy gal. I sometimes feel that food is the vehicle for sauce, like a chip and dip relationship, a union designed by the Gods. The Coffee Cup Café offers three mouth-watering sauces to accompany their south-of-the-border inspired dishes. My favorite is the green guy.
My friend Angela went with old trusty huevos rancheros. Two over easy eggs on a corn tortilla with refried beans, topped with enchilada sauce, cheese, and sour cream. They do a terrific job with this dish here. I’ve eaten and enjoyed it numerous times. She had the potatoes (as did I) that are often undercooked and underwhelming. If you’re feeling like stepping it up, you can substitute battered and seasoned fries for the boring breakfast potatoes at no extra cost.
My boyfriend Phil went with his usual: “The Combo,” a straightforward American breakfast feast with choice of two pancakes or French toast, two eggs and two slices of bacon, sausage or fruit. Phil always goes with the pancakes, even though the French toast is truly spectacular here. I’m a savory, not-so-sweet breakfast eater, but I felt compelled by a force greater than myself to sneak a bite of his buttery-syrupy pancakes (and of course bacon). I am only human.
You get a huge amount of high quality food here for a great price. They have lunch items that are wonderful as well, like the Torta sandwich. But if you go to the Coffee Cup Café looking for a good cup of coffee, prepare to be sorely disappointed.
The Coffee Cup Café is located at 3734 E 4th St, (562) 433-3292
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