your corner for studying, hanging out, and caffeine

Whether you’re driving or taking the K-line in the Ingleside, it’s hard to miss what’s at the corner of Ocean and Faxon Avenues. An earthy-colored building reminiscent of an exotic island hut stands at this intersection, along with a couple of round tables and chairs outside of it. Walk inside, and you’ll be transferred to a warm, inviting paradise complete with more round tables and chairs, sofas, good company, and good food.

This paradise is the Java on Ocean Café. A local establishment since 1995, the café is especially a favorite of Ingleside residents, commuters working in the area, and nearby City College and San Francisco State University students.

“We have people that come in every day and I know them on a first-name basis,” said café staff member Eric Elsea. “We do serve a purpose in the community here.”

Elsea also said that unlike at other cafes and restaurants, the food is made on-site with fruits and vegetables bought from local farmers’ markets.

“Lots of humanity is put into this café,” he said.

The menu includes a wide variety of hot and iced coffee drinks, Mediterranean wraps, deli sandwiches, soups, salads, and fruit juice smoothies. The coffee drinks are the main staples of the café, but for lunchtime, I tried an egg salad sandwich on white bread (keep the mustard and lettuce, hold the tomatoes, sprouts, and onions) and a strawberry banana smoothie with orange juice. Both items were the best of their kinds that I ever had, and rather filling at a decent price.

The interior is designed with a Middle Eastern look, with exotic potted plants placed near tables and sofas and bronze vases on shelves. A relaxing mix of world and jazz music adds to the atmosphere. There are even a couple of caged birds that make their home in the café to make the experience even more worldly, but still down-to-earth enough.

“I like the birds. They were talkative last semester, but this semester, they’re quieter,” said City College student and bartender Kristine Edland, who comes into the café about once a week.

The café offers roomy seating for customers to eat, drink, socialize, study, and rest. There are a few board games available for use, as well as a couple of computers with Internet access for a fee. Many customers bring their own laptops and take advantage of free Wi-Fi for the first two hours.

“I get a fair amount of work done, and you can just zone out here for a couple of hours at a time,” said Edland. “I don’t notice a whole lot of variety of shops like these on Ocean Avenue.”

Java on Ocean is a good alternative to chain coffeehouses like Starbucks, said Alvin Huang, a realtor who works in the Ingleside.

Said his business partner, Carolann Brlecic, “We could always go up the street to Starbucks, but we choose to come here.”