Boulevard Coffee is Ashland’s newest coffee joint, located inside the Stratford Inn, across from Safeway, on the corner of Sherman St and Siskiyou Boulevard (hence the name). It features large windows throughout, that overlook the Boulevard, the Inn’s indoor pool below and even the beautiful mountains that tower above the Safeway parking lot view to the South.
In addition to the abundant natural light that filters in, Boulevard Coffee is warmly lit and tastefully decorated. There’s booth, stool, table and even couch seating and a large plasma screen for watching sporting events (it’s always been off when I’ve visited in the morning and afternoon). It’s a quieter atmosphere than most coffee houses and may be particularly well suited to students and folks wanting to work on laptops as it offers WiFi and even provides one computer for patrons who want to surf the net but don’t have a laptop.
Open form 7 am to 10 pm, Boulevard offers a nice selection of breakfast fare with other snacks that are good any time of day. In their cold case they have breakfast sandwiches and burritos along with bagels, scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls and cookies. Healthy snacks like yogurt and premade organic smoothies are also available and a special case of gelato boasts unique flavors made locally in Jacksonville without any artificial colors or ingredients.
The coffee for which Boulevard Coffee is named is purchased from Noble. The barista told me that they typically purchase Noble’s world blend and decaf and occasionally another special blend. The coffee is used in the traditional selection of lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, etc. They also feature Rishi teas in flavors such as Mandarin Citrus and Masala Chai, along with a rooiboos, a chamomile mint and standbys of the green and black tea varieties.
My boyfriend and I sampled the hot cocoa during our visit and were pleased to learn that the milk used is organic (and soymilk is also offered). They used Hershey’s chocolate syrup, which was tasty but I would have loved to have seen an organic variety. The large size (16 oz) was $3 and came in a to-go cup with a “cozy†(sleeve) that was not only recycled but also FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. It was handed over the counter by a friendly barista and the cashier thanked us for coming.
If you haven’t been and plan to check out Boulevard try stopping in on a Monday with two friends for their Buddy Day Special. Whether you choose the Noble Coffee, Rishi tea or a hot cocoa, if two of you buy drinks, the third will be free. And try a sample of gelato while you’re at it.
