Decaf, schme-caf!

Whether you're up all night studying for finals or just enjoying a cup on a foggy morn, coffeehouses are great, affordable hangouts. Coffee and books virtually go hand in hand, and there''s no shortage in Monterey County. Got 70 pages of organic chemistry text to read? Time for an espresso con panna (and make that a double). Just want to settle down with some Wordsworth? Grab a cafe au lait and relax.

Bay Books, 316 Alvarado St., Monterey, 375-1855. This large bookstore has a few outdoor tables so you can soak up the sunshine while you sip from Bay Books'' selection of creative coffee drinks. There are plenty of low-fat baked goods to enjoy and an extensive selection of periodicals to read.

Bookworks, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 372-2242. One of the Peninsula''s oldest coffeehouse/bookstores remains an enduring local favorite. In the back behind a full selection of books, magazines and periodicals you''ll find a coffee bar offering soups, sandwiches and desserts. Enjoy one of their great cafe mochas or weekly drink specials.

Borders Books Music Cafe, 2080 California Ave., Sand City, 899-6643. Few things in life are more energizing than a steaming cup of java and a great book or magazine. With their massive selection of reading material and wide range of exotic coffees, teas, drinks and light snacks.

Bytes Internet Cafe, 403 Calle Principal, Monterey, 372-BYTS (2987). Bytes is the first Internet/coffeehouse on the Peninsula, offering eight computers loaded with everything from Netscape to MS Word to Lotus 1, 2, 3, and other helpful techno goodies like a color printer, scanner and fax. Computer time is $8.50/hour (and other time increments) with a 20 percent student discount. If you need strength while finishing the world''s greatest thesis, enjoy a hot cup of java (no, not the Internet program) and a fresh sandwich.

Caff‚ and Co. of Carmel, 246 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel, 626-8400. Their traditional espresso bar and excellent fresh pastries make Caffe and Co. a worthwhile stop if you''re at the Crossroads shopping complex. There''s plenty of outdoor seating and a good selection of light, dark and decaf fresh roasted coffees to enjoy.

Caravali Pacific Grove, 510 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 655-5633. This coffeehouse boasts an airy atmosphere, and the kind of sophistication you''d expect in a big-town coffeehouse. You''ll definitely want to try their sandwiches, croissants, fresh bagels, salads and cookies which top off the menu, and there''s outdoor seating to boot.

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Company, 319 Mid Valley Center, Carmel Valley, 624-5934/3720 The Barnyard, Carmel, 620-0844. If you need a caffine fix while touring Carmel Valley, stop by Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting. This friendly, locals'' favorite boasts great coffee, a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of pastries.

CherryBean Gourmet Coffeehouse and Roastery, 332 Main St., Salinas, 424-1981. Sitting in the Cherry Bean in Oldtown Salinas, you can smell the coffee roasting in the back as you enjoy a cup of your own and a delicious variety of foods.

Cuppers, 1130 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, 393-2216. A new coffeehouse in the Laguna Plaza Center brings its welcome boost of java to Seaside. They''ve got several pots of coffee, regular and flavored, desserts and sandwiches.

Ground Zero, 1134 S. Main St., Salinas 757-5282. This coffeehouse in the Rite Aid Shopping Center is gaining quite a reputation for its delicious coffee drinks and selection of munchies, including sandwiches. Out of beans? Got ''em.

Higher Ground Coffee and Books, 3056 Del Monte Ave., Ste. 204, Salinas, 384-3726. Another new addition to the Peninsula coffee scene, Higher Ground offers coffee drinks, bagels and muffins in the morning. Lunch is served from 11am-2pm, with sandwiches, soup and salads. Some nights feature local Christian musical acts.

Juice ''n'' Java, 591 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove, 373-8652. This is a fun, lively hangout where you can select from four different types of coffee drinks and espresso daily, along with four fruit and five veggie drinks. There''s a fireplace to warm your body and a good selection of pitas, gourmet veggie burritos, cakes and fruit bars.

Morgan''s Coffee & Tea, 498 Washington St., Monterey, 373-5601. Open ''til 11:30pm nightly, Morgan''s boasts an old-world, relaxing environment thanks to a roaring fireplace and its funky Euro-style stone building. Choose from one of Morgan''s selection of sandwiches, biscottis, croissants, scones and crumpets while sipping one of their exotic teas or international coffee selections.

Number One Java Drive, Blanco Road at South Main Street, Salinas, 753-2326. If you don''t have time to pose like a tortured Hemingway with a laptop at the local coffehouse but you do need the caffeine, Number One Java Drive is a quick, delicious way to get your caffeine fix. Number One is Monterey County''s first drive-through coffee house, complete with a wide variety of coffees, drinks and snacks.

Plumes Coffeehouse, 400 Alvarado St., Monterey, 373-4526. Plumes'' proximity to the Monterey Institute of International Studies makes this coffeehouse a unique, international crossroads of sorts in downtown Monterey. There are plenty of different pastries, sandwiches, and quiche to munch on and a choice of more than 30 types of coffee beans.

River Rock Caf‚, 18 E. Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley, 659-5052. River Rock Cafe is a favorite spot in Carmel Valley for locals to meet for coffee, or to eat a delicious and nutritious meal. Choose from a variety of vegetarian entrees, soups, salads, or fresh deli sandwiches, ice-cream, cakes, candies and desserts are just a few of the tempting choices you will want to try.

Starbucks, 492 Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey, 642-0736/461 Alvarado St., Monterey, 373-8575. The Starbucks coffee chain deserves much of the credit for the current coffee craze. Its wide variety of flavorful coffees can be found in almost every city in America now, and this popularity should come as no surprise.

Thunderbird Bookshop Cafe, The Barnyard, Carmel, 624-9414. This popular bookstore has a great little cafe and coffeehouse in the back that offers an extensive selection of sandwiches, salads, pot pies and desserts. An espresso bar and nice selection of beer and wine make this charming cafe a good choice for those in a literary frame of mind.

Wildberries, 212 17th St., Pacific Grove, 644-9836. The light lunches and various hot coffees should make any student smile. They have tasty pastries and herbal tonics too.

Bibliophiles, Rejoice

For the latest bestsellers, and all the magazines you could ever want, check out these bookstores, which take their books seriously--no coffee or pastry distractions--just pages.

B. Dalton Booksellers, Northridge Shopping Center, Salinas. 449-7245, 198 Country Club Gate Center, PG. 375-9961.

The Book End, 245 Pearl St., Monterey. 373-4046.

The Book Tree, 118 Webster St., Monterey. 373-0228.

Book Warehouse, 125 Ocean View Blvd., PG. 623-1300.

Bookmark, 307 Forest Ave., PG. 648-0458.

Books Inc, Carmel Plaza, Ocean Ave., Carmel. 625-0440.

Books & Things, 224 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey. 655-8784.

Waldenbooks, Del Monte Shopping Center, Monterey. 373-0987; Northridge Shopping Center, Salinas. 449-8028.

Used Books & Comics

Adventure Comics and Toys, 125 Ocean View Blvd., #304, Pacific Grove, 375-3553.

Athena''s Book Shop, 265 Reservation Rd., Marina, 883-9323.

Basset Books, 626 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey, 655-3433.

Book Worm, 342 Main St., Salinas, 753-2099.

Books Then & Now, 956 Park Row, Salinas, 753-0658.

Family Book Center, 144 E. Laurel Dr., Salinas, 759-2665.

Lighthouse Books, 801 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey, 372-0653.

Mr. Ed''s Comics, 17593 Vierra Canyon Rd., Salinas, 663-4022.

Old Capitol Books, 639-A Lighthouse Ave., Monterey, 375-2665.

Old Monterey Book Co., 136 Bonifacio Place, Monterey, 372-3111.