SLO LIFE Magazine Jun/Jul 2019

ACT III: LINNAEA’S CAFE
Owner Marianne Orme meets me in the high-ceiling main
room at Linnaea’s Cafe, overlooking the quiet patio. Since
founder Linnaea Phillips sold the cafe to her longtime manager,
Orme has done very little to change the inviting, artsy vibe of
this downtown staple.
“Why change what works?” she says.
Orme sources coffee from Jobella Coffee Roasters in Atascadero,
as well as Alta Roasters in Santa Cruz. All coffees sold at
Linnaea’s are organic and half are fair-trade. The cafe also offers
a wide variety of espresso drinks, in addition to alternative baked
goods and vegetarian lunch options.
Of course, the cafe is less about its coffee and more about a feeling.
Very few businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo can claim to
have lasted 35 years, and Orme says that people who once lived in
SLO return to visit the cafe and become emotional.
“They see how much downtown has changed, and they’re so happy
that Linnaea’s hasn’t.” She also says she’s met several little girls
named Linnaea, after the place their parents met or first dated.
“It’s a sanctuary,” Orme says, “an icon of this town.”
SLO LIFE
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
If, as Marianne Orme says, buying a cup of coffee
means buying an experience, San Luis Obispo
offers a wide variety of experiences. Here, a
mini-guide to your local options:
Scout warm, modern, whimsical
Coastal Peaks Roasters approachable, spacious
Sally Lou’s earnest, cozy, curated
Ascendo Italian, spacious, minimalist
Kreuzberg literary, earthy, vintage
WithCo hipster, sleek, Instagrammable
Four Cats artistic, off-the-beaten-path
Linnea’s comfortable, leafy, peaceful
Black Horse busy, fast, personable
Lucy’s clean, bright, family-oriented
Nautical Bean fun, throwback, social
84 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2019