The gaggle of hyperbolic statements and five-star ratings would suggest one of two things about the people making them. The first, and more romantic possibility is that my fellow reviewers have been paid by Looney Bean insiders to allege that their cup of coffee was "THE BEST...EVER," or to libel other local coffee roasters as "pretentious" and "hipster." I hardly have reason, however, to believe that such corruption exists within the homey confines of Looney Bean, so I'm humbly lead to assume that my cohorts-in-criticism wield different expectations of a café than do I (the pretentious hipster who drinks coffee elsewhere).
Our entrance was greeted by relatively friendly, if ill-informed service in the form of two young women. I inquired about the brewed coffee that was available, asking firstly about the darkness of the roasts and secondly about the manner in which the coffee was prepared. In response to my question about the roasting, I was informed that the Sumatran option was a "dark roast" and the other option, "House," was "more medium." Being partial to lighter roasts, which I drink at my pretentious, hipster coffee haunts, I ordered the latter, whose beans' origin appears to be either dubious or top-secret. The woman at the register, whom I gravely hope was working her first day in the coffee industry, frantically referred to her colleague upon my second question. "Drip," she repeated. I left the counter unsettled. The woman serving drip coffee did not know what drip coffee was. Pardon my lofty standards.
I took my mysterious mug of coffee and meandered through the café, which was at once cozy, large, and filled with lively, sociable patrons. My friends and I decided against sitting in any of the rooms, though, and we found a spot on the sizable rear lawn, which is primely seated against the scenic Deschutes River.
It was here that we took the took our inaugural sips of the favorably regarded Looney Bean coffee, and at the very same time realized we had been roped into an exceptionally typical cup of coffee. It did indeed taste like drip coffee, and adequately prepared at that. In terms of its roast, "medium" was only an appropriate descriptor when my cup was compared to the Sumatran offering, which embodied America's beloved French roast, wherein the beans are roasted until their sugars begin to carbonize, giving them a flavor that one could liken to charcoal without being derogatory. Nevertheless, I would be misguided and ignorant to think my disposition toward more lightly roasted beans should warrant a low rating for this establishment.
There are at least twelve other places in Bend where coffee like Looney Bean's can be found. Though Looney Bean roasts its own coffee, to my palate its beans taste no more "specialty" than those purchased from area roasters like Dilusso or Bellatazza, or perhaps even nationwide ones like Peet's or Tully's. Where Looney Bean distinguishes itself is its setting, having a location downtown with picturesque outdoor seating and an accommodating, roomy interior. The baristas seemed to possess a level of knowledge about their coffee better suited, I dare say, for a roadside coffee stand.
Bend is inundated with coffee shops, and for this reason I am inclined toward acute discrimination among them. Looney Bean is an acceptable choice for one seeking ambience rather than knowledgeability or a unique cup of coffee, but the rest of us are forced to search farther inland for well-versed baristas and exceptional coffee. read more