The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Andy and Barbara Wacker enjoy a latte, an iced mocha and a kiss at
their new cafe, Blue Star Coffee.

It's not the same old grind at Blue Star Coffee house

By Pam Marino

When coffeehouses became all the rage a few years ago, Andy and Barbara Wacker were reminded of home in Warsaw, Poland, where these restaurants are an integral part of daily life.

In fact, the Wackers had been sorely missing coffeehouse life here in the United States since they arrived 20 years ago. Now Saratoga residents, the two had their first date in a European café.

"Coffeehouses were our life. We grew up in coffeehouses," Andy said.

It was because they missed that life that they decided recently to start their own coffeehouse, Blue Star Coffee. "Maybe we could bring something new into Silicon Valley," Andy said. "We could bring a European flair."

Barbara, a Xerox engineer in Palo Alto, and Andy, a popular art teacher in Saratoga schools, joined with partner Jadwiga Kirch to open the restaurant, located on De Anza Boulevard.

Barbara Wacker spends her days as an engineer, but in her personal life she is an artist like Andy. Barbara saw the restaurant as a way to "express my artistic interest." She designed the interior of the restaurant, which is meant to have a European feel. The floor is slate tile, and the walls are painted in warm earth tones. The oak cabinetry has also been stained in those tones.

Andy saw the restaurant as a chance to display children's artwork. Currently there are some ceramic tiles on the wall that Andy taught children how to decorate and fire in a kiln.

The main focus of the restaurant is the coffee and tea served there. The owners grind beans for each individual cup of coffee, espresso, latte and cappuccino. "It's always the critical point for the coffee when you grind it," Andy said. The grinds for each individual cup are done at the time it is brewed and are guaranteed fresh, he said.

The Wackers are tea drinkers, however, and they approach tea with great precision and care.

They feature their own "Blue Star Blend," a mixture of black tea and a very small amount of peach. Other teas are also available. They use only whole tea leaves, freshly boiled water at just the right temperature and an exact brewing time to avoid bitterness.

For people who don't drink coffee or tea, the restaurant also serves fruit smoothies. The coffees and teas start at $1.25; smoothies are $3 and $3.25.

Continuing on the European theme, the restaurant serves a variety of baked goods. There are scones, croissants and bagels, as well as European-style cakes and cookies, all in the $1 to $1.75 range.

The restaurant also serves sandwiches, soup, salad and lasagna. There is a different soup served each day at $2.90 a bowl. A bowl of soup and half a sandwich is $4.70. The gourmet mixed green salad, with bread, costs $3.50. The lasagna plate, which comes with a small salad and bread, is $4.90.

As for the Wackers, they are looking forward to re-creating the coffeehouse life of relaxation, discussion and laughter. But they are also happy to express their artistic sides through the interior design and the art displayed inside.

"This is my soul," Barbara said.

Blue Star Coffee, 1071 S. De Anza Blvd, between Bollinger Road and Highway 85, 863-0707. Hours 7 a.m-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends.

[ Back to Contents Page | Sunnyvale Sun Home Page | Archives ]

This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 29, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.