KINGSTON — Twas right before Christmas and all through the coffee house, not a creature was stirring, except Gail Buchanan — stirring up a double latté with non-fat milk and extra whipped cream, no doubt.
Since opening Coastal Coffee on Dec. 21 at the Albertson’s shopping center in Kingston, Buchanan has been pouring out some of the best blends in North Kitsap and, more importantly, keeping a smile.
After working for some 11 years as harbormaster at the Port of Kingston, she said it was simply time to try something different. So, when Tallie Ho Coffee was put on the market, Buchanan and her hubbie Christopher Smith of North Kitsap Fire & Rescue jumped at the opportunity.
“I have been drinking coffee for a long time — I just never made it like this before,” she said. “It was more to see if I could do it on my own.”
The bean business is pretty new to the long-time Kingston resident but Buchanan quickly made adjustments to ensure the business would succeed.
“It’s been a bit stressful,” she admitted, adding with a laugh. “But it’s our own stress.”
Balancing this stress has worked out well, Buchanan said, noting that Chris does “all the icky paperwork” while she handles the espresso, juice, pastries and sandwich end.
The “very smooth and never bitter” Endicott Coffee is served proudly at the eatery and while the beans are decidedly superior to many offered, they are just the beginning of the goodie list at Coast Coffee.
Sandwiches ranging from the turkey croissant and the Philly cheese steak supreme to the roasted red pepper pannini and the heavenly hero are on the menu as are several fresh salad selections.
Smoothies are also making a statement at the coffee shop with interesting names and flavors mixed up right. Where else in North Kitsap can on get a large Berry Fantasy, Elephant Child, Citrus Sensation, Burning the Midnight Oil or the Key Wester and a small Screaming Strawberry? Coastal’s power smoothies are a flavorful force to be reckoned with and are not only super tasty but healthy as well.
Take the “Triple C,” for instance, which has 2500 percent the recommended daily dosage of Vitamin C — perfect to fight off just about any cold the wet Northwest weather can dish out.
While Buchanan is definitely having fun at her new venture, she is quick to point out that part of the reason Coastal Coffee is such a pleasure is the new-found freedom and flexibility at work.
“One nice thing about owning my own business is that I get to spend a lot more time with my family,” she said noting that her kids Chrystal and Ryan have been a big help at Coastal Coffee. Cayman, her two and a half year old boy has been “helpful” in his own way, Buchanan explained with a laugh.
“He helps me tear things apart,” she said.
Before docking her career at the port, Buchanan spent five years working at the Point No Point Café and said when Coastal opened she immediately started getting requests that “The Point’s” famous clam chowder be added to already delicious menu. She happily complied.
“It’s been nice to see people from the Point,” she said, adding that she also has a lot of regular customers who are tenants at the Port of Kingston as well.
But while things are good, Buchanan believes they can certainly be better.
“We have lots of goals here,” Buchanan said, noting that eventually she wanted to expand the business, which currently offers local delivery, and — without a doubt — repaint the interior to give Coastal Coffee a more appealing aesthetic quality. A quality she hopes customers will find fun but also very relaxing.
“We want to make this more of a meeting place,” Buchanan said.
