City secrets: reading at Sacramento's Temple Fine Coffee and Tea

June 18, 12:31 PMSacramento Book Club ExaminerShelley Blanton-Stroud

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Here's a book club secret: if you work or live downtown, or if you can embrace a little pilgrimage to Sacramento’s coffee nirvana, bring your book and/or book-talking friend to Temple Fine Coffee and Tea, beautiful baby of Sean Kohmesher, former Naked Lounge barista. 

Located downtown on 10th Street between J and K, Temple is a lovely, slouchy hangout and best-in-class provider of coffee and espresso drinks from the top 1% of coffee regions in the world. Every cup of their organic, free trade, sustainably-grown coffee is ground to order, ensuring freshness.

Open from six a.m. until eleven p.m., 365 days a year, Temple  offers a comfortable, relaxed, artistic environment in a historic Sacramento location, the former home to Levinson’s Books.  Mosaics on the front step still feature a spindly man carrying a high pile of books.

Temple's tudor-style building is a narrow rectangle.  Built-in benches with padded seat and back cushions line the long walls on either side as you enter.  Tables for two are each lit by a small hanging lamp.  Flanking the front door are window seats, one with a three-sided banquette and table, the other with two chairs side by side at a narrow bar.  The brick walls are unpainted, and the plaster walls are a forties-era turquoise, setting off the changing art installation nicely.  Closer to the cash register are two black leather couch-and-chair groupings. 

This morning, I enjoyed a breve latte (made with cream, rather than milk – naughty, naughty) and a croissant.  The coffee was perfect, strong, smooth and creamy.

Wtih swing music in the background, I read the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay while three singles on laptops and seven pairs with notepads buzzed all around me. I did not feel at all awkward to read in this space, or to linger there longer than my coffee and croissant lasted.

This is a good place for those of you who like a little white noise and an arty, cozy vibe while you read.  It is also a great first-date setting where you can meet to swap books while enhancing your artsy, booksy persona.

Suggestion to Temple:  how about further honoring your Levinson's roots by featuring book readings once a week?