BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>>

Neightborhood: Korean Town, Lakewood

Address/phone: 3615 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, 253.584.0999

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Noshing/Sipping: Five sandwiches including the delicious Rancho Californian with ham, precisely cut tomatoes, precisely cut cucumber and precisely torn lettuce stacked high between two slices of white bread. Other food items include frozen yogurt with choice of toppings and assorted bagged pastries. Typical espresso drinks represent plus frappe, Italian sodas, tea and Boba tea.

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.70 for 12-ounce drip

Bean Source: Seattle's Best Coffee

Crowd: Mostly Korean including many Korean businessmen in suits

Soundtrack: Korean pop music including what sounded like the Korean Olivia Newton John

Bonus Points: Wacky Korean TV shows, assorted American games, assorted Korean magazines, and black mesh-like screens for privacy.

WiFi: Yes

The House:

Stepping inside Miro Café I'm immediately reminded of the coffeehouses in Vancouver, B.C. - that modern, international feel. Flip open a Dania catalog to the circular glass tables with black high-back chairs for an idea of Miro's furnishings. With the exception of the windows, the walls are completely covered in off-white protruding vinyl - think padded cells of a mental ward, only a modern take with patches of red surrounding coffee cup art. Low, square-cut velvet couches in front of coffee tables create two sitting areas.

After 10 visits to Miro Café, and even though I'm the center of attention until I sit down, I feel welcomed every time. And every time I step back outside, I dream of being on Robson Street.

BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>>

Neighborhood: Fircrest

Address/Phone: 1039 Regents Blvd., 253.564.7338

Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday

Noshing/Sipping: A few sandwiches, wraps and paninis, salads, assorted bakery items, box lunches. The breakfast sandwiches are tasty. All your favorite espresso drinks - as well as a few creative ones such as Mayan Mocha Mexican Monkey - are available with plenty of beverage options for the kiddies.

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.86 bottomless

Bean Source: Better than fair-trade organic coffee from Dillanos Coffee Roasters in Sumner.

Crowd: Regulars including Fircrest Police, MILFs and teens zoned in on Sudoku

Soundtrack: James Blunt, Taylor Swift and ilk.

Bonus Points: Energy efficient operation and use of recycled materials, delivery service, free WiFi, conference room with dry erase board, and Friday night open mic 7-9 p.m.

The House:

Fans of the quiet coffeehouse will appreciate the homey serenity of The Greener Bean - provided, of course, that they manage to find the joint. Set back off of Regents Boulevard behind a building, the cafe sits in the middle of a strip mall. You might have to dodge jumping exercise students from Innovative Fitness a couple storefronts down.

A mix-match of tables and chairs are scattered about the largish room with couches back in the "library" section. Lighting and local art emit it a slight modern feel. And the sliding barn-like door to the conference room is cool. An energy efficient operation and use of recycled materials are a way of life at The Greener Bean.

The Greener Bean ain't fancy, but its comfortably lazy feel encourages strident leisure.