• photo by andrew goff
• Cafe Brio

Maybe it’s all about how you ask the question.

 For the last two years, Old Town Coffee and Chocolate -- the beating heart of daytime Old Town -- captured our “Best Coffeehouse” title. But this year we tweaked our inquiry slightly and we’re guessing that our focus on cup content may have been the difference-maker in crowning this year’s champion. No joke, Arcata’s Cafe Brio is Joe king.

 The Plaza’s mini-European vacation and peddler of the Bay Area’s highly treasured Blue Bottle Coffee, Brio takes its coffee seriously. Quality trumps convenience, folks. The sign on the counter lays it out:

 “At Cafe Brio we take great pride in making the finest coffee drinks. Our coffee is ground when you place your order and brewed individually for you to enjoy. Quality takes time, and we may not always be as fast as some other establishment, but we feel that our quality speaks for itself.”

 So, there. Maybe next year, Starbucks.

 -- Andrew Goff

The Breakdown: Cafe Brio 20.7%, Jitter Bean 12.3%, Ramone’s 11.9%, Old Town Coffee & Chocolates 6.7%, Starbucks 4.6%, Voter Turnout: Sixth.