Best coffee house chain: Starbucks Coffee Company
With a dozen locations around the South Bay, Starbucks continues to be locals’ number one spot for daily caffeine injections. Now that the chain has added hot sandwiches and packaged foods to go, more and more folks are choosing Starbucks for a quick bite to eat, as well. Each store has a different layout and all of them are filled with South Bay regulars enjoying free Wi-Fi access on laptops, chatting with neighbors, and lining up at the counter for their favorite drink. And the ever-friendly baristas will often remember yours. If you are an early bird, go see Josh at the Manhattan Pier location. He took a seasonal barista job five years ago to make some extra money for holiday shopping. The management and locals love his attitude and personality so much they won’t let him quit.
Multiple locations. www.starbucks.com
Runner-up: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Multiple locations. www.coffeebean.com