Baker, OR
*Reposted from the original coffee blog: Expedition Cafelier*
The clock read 6am and I had already been on the road for an hour. Pulling into the gas station I stared at the coffee cup sitting next to me before turning my gaze longingly to the store. The coffee I had made at the hotel was weak and hadn't hit the spot. I sat there a moment more considering if the gas stations coffee would be better before switching on my phone and looking for a coffee shop nearby. Ever to my rescue, Yelp found one 5 minutes away. With the car filled and ready to press on, I routed to the coffee shop and pulled in. The part of me who wanted to move on with my day and make as much headway as possible loved the drive through option built around the small building. However, there was a larger part of me who was still weary from the endless hours of driving the day before and knew I should cherish a moment outside the car while I could. Approaching the building I traveled up the wooden stairs that separated two wooden decks to enjoy pastries and coffee on. Entering the building I realized for the first time how small it truly was. Despite its size, the owners had managed to make it feel spacious and homey inside. The walls were painted a lime green with lizards and Aztec suns outlined in a pale white color. Mosaic tables offered seating and the back corner boasted leather couches and thank you posters from local schools. Country music played quietly in the background as I began reading over the menu. As I stepped back, an older couple walked in and I moved aside, allowing them to order first. They questioned my action but I reassured them that I was more than happy to let them go first. Waiting patiently while their order was made I read the brochure that highlighted the story of the coffee shop that has stood proud since brothers Jason and Phillip Stone started it in 1995. The couples drinks were finished and as the gentleman fished a bill out of his wallet to pay, he informed the barista that he was paying for my drink as well. Sorbenots is a quaint coffee shop that locals have made a home at and their kindness touched me. In a moment where I was dying internally from lack of sleep and was stuck in my own haze bubble, I was prodded out by the sheer kindness of a stranger. The coconut mocha he bought me was a delicious; essentially an almond joy in a cup with an espresso bean balanced on top. The mixture of chocolate, coconut and kindness was exactly what I needed to revive and move forward with my journey. As I headed out of the shop, I approached the couple, now sharing a moment on the patio, and thanked them again. They just grinned and said "there's too little kindness in the world, we like to see a little of it". Whether you go to this shop or another one today, pay it forward and add a smile to someone's day.
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