Four surprise offerings from four places with above-average joe.

I’m not going to lie. There was a time when I frequented Starbucks. I was a UC Santa Barbara Gaucho and studying at Starbs was the cool thing to do.

Only while sucking down a venti of the sweetest concoction through the green straw, I never got jack done. I was really never a fan of their coffee, or studying for that matter. So I’m feeling lucky to be back in Monterey County, where there are now options for coffee aficionados seeking something other than mainstream America.

Better yet, they now offer big bonuses. Here are a few unpretentious hot spots that throw in something unexpected, in no particular order. (For a look at a recent Weekly cover package on craft coffee, visit www.mcweekly.com/edible.)

Gluten-Free Bread

I first tried Verve coffee at Monterey Bagel Co. in Carmel alongside a gluten-free bagel sandwich made with housemade chorizo, fried egg and Mahon cheese. Yum. M.B.C. owner Ramsey Elmochtoub and his staff completed the Verve training course before offering it on his menu; that inspired me to go check out their new roasting facilities in the Seabright district of Santa Cruz. There I found an edgy yet rustic open space offering tours with an appointment. One of the happy staff members mentioned they have a “Don’t stop, won’t stop” work attitude, which totally shows. I asked one of their regulars why he loved Verve so much. He said he’s a huge fan of cappuccinos and Verve offers one of the best.

In Seabright they also offer baked goodies from Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery and Manresa Bread. Pacific Edge Climbing gym is their next-door neighbor. Perfect for those who like to caffeinate and stretch their limbs on man-made rocks. Back on this side of the bay, Crema in Pacific Grove also serves Verve in the lower floor of its funky and cool converted Victorian. A must-visit for coffee snobs.

Verve Coffee Roasters www.vervecoffeeroasters.com 104 Bronson St. Ste.19, Santa Cruz, 471-8469 (roasting facility/headquarters)

Monterey Bagel Company San Carlos between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel, 624-7400

Crema 481 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 324-0347

Boutique Shopping

On my last visit to Bright Coffee I brought home a bag each of their Costa Rica, Honduras and Tanzania beans. Depending on how I feel, I will custom blend my beans (before grinding) to mix things up a bit. I asked owner Cameron Davies what her favorite beans were and she said those sourced from Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda.

“They add amazing sweetness to espresso when aged,” she says, “and pair well with others that might be lacking dimension as a single origin.” Other goodies available there include soy free dark chocolates, all natural Simply Gum with anise and ginger, and Bread & Butter caramels made locally by Lauren Palminteri in exotic tastes such as adobo, bergamot and Bright Coffee itself

The best part: Bright Coffee is located in a shared space unit with Lilify, a unique and carefully curated boutique featuring “a library of artisan goods peppered with vintage finds.” Gifts for anyone with a keen eye for art – local art, housewares, jewelry, handmade aprons, greeting cards, and more for a one-of-a-kind shopping or gift-giving opportunity.

Bright Coffee 281 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey, www.brightcoffeeca.com

Wood-Fired Oven

I stumbled upon Vertigo while running work errands in San Juan Bautista and got a great feeling the moment I walked in. They serve stunning pastries from superb Provence Bakery down the highway in Prunedale and also prepare homemade soups, bahn mi Vietnamese-style sandwiches, and breakfast until 11am. I got a bowl of their chicken tortilla soup served with their brick-oven bread ($6) as well as their Caesar salad ($7). Both were spot on.

Manager Ryan Morris says they carefully sourced coffee from great producers and farms around the world; his current favorite is an intriguing Honduras coffee with a lot of complex and juicy flavors.

The real surprise here is the wood fired oven on their patio. Morris says that their Caprese pizza ($17) is a crowd favorite, with fresh pesto, burrata, roasted tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar and a local olive oil from Frantoio in San Martin. I was further impressed to hear that their pizza crust is made in house with naturally leavened sourdough.

Vertigo Coffee 81 4th St., San Juan Bautista, 623-9533, www.vertigocoffee.com

Vietnamese And Subscriptions

Acme cult coffeehouse owners Jaki and Larry Thurman build a bold classic lineup and rabid following around the motto “Resist Corporate Coffee” and standbys like their dark French full bodied blend “valve job” ($14/pound) and “Motor City Espresso,” a traditionally thick Italian style coffee with sweet notes (also $14). I buy their beans, grind them at home and brew them though my Chemex, which is known to drip pure and as bitter-free as possible.

When I crave something sweet and cold their new iced Vietnamese coffee does the trick ($5.75). Acme-Matic represents another fun new way to receive 1 pound of coffee once or twice a month (or more). Subscriptions are available by signing up online and they can even ship to overseas. Makes gift giving to your coffee loving friends that much easier.

Acme Coffee Roasting Co. 485-B Palm Ave., Seaside, 393-9113, www.acmecoffeeroasting.com