GOOD MORNING >>>

Just when you thought the coffee scene couldn't get any better in Olympia, in steps Bar Francis, a quaint little shop inside Northern, the all-ages venue and art gallery in downtown Oly.

Next to the Fish Tale Brew Pub, the 3-week-old Bar Francis sits inside a garage - the door open wide for walk up service. Behind the sweet bamboo counter sits owner Michael Elvin, all smiles and good conversation, with state-of-the-art espresso equipment ready to help you wake up.

Not only that scene in the foreground, but also good music from Elvin's iPod greets me too.

As I sip coffee and can see music equipment from last night's show, and local artwork decorating the walls.

While the vibe is very Oly, the coffee - in a sense - isn't.

Elvin, who is a self-proclaimed coffee nerd - and rightfully so, he's been in the beverage industry for over roughly two decades - tells me the hardest part of opening Bar Francis was selecting the espresso. He knew he wanted to bring diversity to Olympia's coffee scene. While he's for sourcing locally, "coffee by nature is not local to this area," he says. Elvin wanted to serve coffee "balanced and sweet that brings out the dynamics." After much consideration, he chose San Francisco's Four Barrel Coffee.

"They are awesome people doing good things," Elvin says of the coffee company.

After experiencing Bar Francis, enjoying an excellent cappuccino, and hearing the story of a man making his dream a reality, it's fair to say that Elvin is also one of those "awesome people doing good things."

Keep an eye on Bar Francis, not only for delicious coffee, but Elvin hints at providing a variety of different handcrafted and unique beverages down the road.

BAR FRANCIS, 7 A.M. TO NOON MONDAY-THURSDAY, 7 A.M. TO 2 P.M. FRIDAY, 8 A.M. TO 2 P.M. SATURDAY-SUNDAY, 414 1/2 LEGION, OLYMPIA