Keeping Up With The Coffeehouses: Beyond the Bridge Cafe

By Jennifer Johnson on September 14, 2010

NOW WITH ALCOHOL AND MUSIC >>>

Neighborhood: Sixth Avenue Business District

Address/phone: 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.9199

Website: Click here

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday

Noshing/Sipping: Old-school chicken noodle and vegan black bean with zucchini soups are made in-house and served with a roll. More soups will be offered soon. All for less than $5.50, eight different bagel sandwiches are ramped up with stellar in-house made honey french or red pepper sauce, pesto, cranberry and spiced marinara. Garlic, parmesan, jalapeno cheddar and plain bagels are from Puyallup’s Bagel Boyz. Various sweet pastries are currently provided by Corina Bakery. BBC owners have a goal to be making and baking their own muffins, scones, granola and chocolate chip cookies within two weeks. They’ll offer some gluten-free items at that point.

Not after a coffee, latte, mocha, cappuccino or other coffee bean based beverage? Grab a fresh fruit smoothie, hot cocoa, flavored milk steamers, hot or iced tea, chai, or signature drink – the Sunrise Sunset made from black tea with orange juice and strawberry and raspberry.

Newly added, the BBC serves beer and wine! As of Sept. 13, South American malbec and chardonnay wines are from Salsa de Tango and beers are bottled Dead Guy Rogue, Fat Tire and Alaskan Amber. The beer selection will change when the beer taps are hooked up and it becomes draft city.

Standard Cup o' Joe: 12-ounce cup for $1.70 plus tax

Bean Source: Award winning Caffe D’arte Coffee

Crowd: It varies wildly depending on what’s going on.

Soundtrack: Smart thoughtful lyrics and mellow grooves by Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams, Martin Sexton, Ben Harper, Joe Purdy and the like.

WiFi: You know it.

Bonus Points: Since moving their café from Sumner to Tacoma this summer, owners Ben and Trish Rubke are intent on creating a “haven for art, music, free expression, and good coffee.” The BBC will crank up the entertainment next week with grand opening fun: Monday, Sept. 20 Latte Art Competition at 7 p.m. featuring judges Angie Hill of Caffe D’arte, Pat Brown of Satellite Coffee, A.J. Anderson of Valhalla Coffee Company, and Bryan Reynolds of Puyallup Forza; Tuesday, Sept. 21 Kindermusik lessons at 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 22 Caffe D’arte Cupping at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 23 Unveiling of the Taps at 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25 The Phoenix show from 8-10 p.m. presenting an underworld of music and dance with Vicci Martinez as the musical guest.

The House:
It’s a love-in. Staff is warm, welcoming and glad you’re there. No snobby espresso shot pullers here. Dark eggplanty purple painted walls run against cream ones, light from a high up window shines in on the coffee counter as a cheerful barista pours foam into a swirled masterpiece atop a latte. An eclectic feel is furthered by mismatched tables and chairs scattered throughout the room; an area at the front windows is reserved for musicians, Friday night open mic and other performances.