My neighbor is vital to my work routine.

I work at the East Hills Branch of the St. Joseph Public Library, south of the East Hills Shopping Center, and I get out of my office and travel through the lobby to meet my neighbor two or three times a day. I just can’t help myself.

The Mean Bean Coffee and Snack Shop located in the Visitors Center of the Library serves the best coffee (to my taste) in town. I got a taste for specialty coffees on visits to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington years ago and I spent a few dry (no coffee) years here in Missouri until this town caught up with the craze.

Now, I have to admit, several good cups of coffee get me cheerfully through my day.

Alan Clark, Mean Bean’s owner and barista, couldn’t make a better latte. I like mine “straight” with no flavoring. I’ve learned with some coffee shops I have to ask for an extra shot of espresso to be satisfied. Not this coffee, it’s great. It’s essentially air-roasted coffee from Alan’s wholesaler, Roasterie Coffee Company, www.theroasterie.com, from Kansas City. On the website it is described as a small specialty coffee wholesaler and retailer. I’m just a bit familiar with the shops in Kansas City and know that the neighborhoods the coffee shops are in are great places to go. The Nelson-Atkins, Andre’s, Classic Cup and several places on West 39th Street offer it.

Since I only drink lattes with no flavoring, which I fear others might find boring, I polled the library staff here for their favorite Mean Bean drinks. I got a lot of votes for Raspberry Italian Soda, something that seemed to be a drink that relieved staff members from the summer heat. Right now, the favorite is Pumpkin Spice White Mocha. They have bets that the Peppermint Patty Latte Alan is making special for the holiday season will be the new favorite.

And Alan is a great neighbor. He hands out treats to the kids who visit the library for Halloween; he pops popcorn for the library’s Tuesday night movie crowd. He’s the good guy you want to see behind the counter when you shop, which makes it a favorite hangout for many local Joes.

Of course, people hang out for other things, too. There’s the laptop crowd because Wi-Fi is available. It’s also a popular meeting place for colleagues; in fact, I’ve watched the development of a couple business ventures while popping in and out to get my coffee. Travelers stop in the cleverly decorated Visitors Center or someone may grab a table to read a book from the library. Today, people are taking advantage of the unusually mild weather and are snacking and reading on the patio on the east side of the building. There’s usually a local newspaper or two hanging around to read and copies of The Regular Joe are on the Visitors Center and the Library stands.

Alan recently fell in love with Esmerelda. He was excited for days. He’s not a selfish man, so he decided to share her. The Roasterie Coffee Company bids on award-winning coffees from special plantations and this year they won the bidding war for La Esmerelda Especial. Alan got a chance to taste the expensive brew and decided to hold a coffee-tasting night in his shop to raise money for the East Hills Library Children’s Services. Alan’s “good neighbors” Chef Tom Mangus from Terrible’s Casino and Kathleen Holeman provided hor d’oeuvres and musical entertainment respectively. Terrible’s donated the food and Kathleen donated her tips. I got dressed up to taste “the best coffee in the world.” Those of us attending were treated to freshly ground, French-pressed coffee Esmerelda prepared by Alan and his wife, Jennifer. My colleague, Will Stuck, Children’s Librarian, is happily spending the proceeds to furnish the children’s area. The Mean Bean still has some of the rare, exotic blend from Panama, for $25.00 a cup. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Another coffee from another coffee-producing country in the world will have the best crop next season.

Alan has been the best neighbor at work I’ve had since he took over management of the library coffee shop in late June of this year.

So, Joe, once again, thanks for listening. See you at the coffee shop! Debbie GentrySt. Joseph Public LibraryCommunity Services

236-2107