Saratoga News

DiNucci's provides the training grounds

By Anne Gelhaus

On the surface, DiNucci's Coffee Grounds hasn't changed too much since Hal Bain bought the business last June. The Saratoga mainstay still boasts a wide variety of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as sinful pastries from Kelly's in Aptos and gelato from Dolce Spazio in Los Gatos.

But Bain runs the coffeehouse a bit differently than his predecessor, applying the skills he used as a professor of business at Arizona State University at Tempe.

"I needed something to keep myself active [after I retired]," Bain says, "I thought I could help kids who live in this area. A lot of my employees have never had a job before; so, I teach them workplace ethics."

To be considered for a job at the Coffee Grounds, students must have at least a 3.0 GPA in high school or be enrolled in college. Bain says he takes pains to schedule their work around their classes.

"I don't want to do anything to restrict their academics," he adds, "so employees are restricted to one and a half shifts a week."

Besides being good students, Bain's employees also have to be outgoing and personable.

"I want customers to feel welcome," he says. "I also want to give them a very high-quality product."

In addition to pastries and gelato, Bain carries Posh Bagels and serves Peerless coffees and espresso. His refrigerator is well-stocked with Odwalla juices.

Bain lets his regular customers keep a running tab: Every time they come in, they mark what they've ordered in a log book on the counter, and Bain bills them at the end of the month.

"It's in keeping with the small community we're in," the Saratoga native says. "Our primary goal is to give our customers the best possible value."

DiNucci's Coffee Grounds, 14567 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. 867-5539. Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.