I was there once and I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation the barista was having with a couple of customers. I hope I’m not giving away company secrets, but he tells them that when he was hired, coffee was the second priority. A far second, in fact, to talking to and interacting with customers and making them feel welcome. I have tell you, they certainly practice what they preach. I was greeted three times before I even ordered my coffee. I’m not talking the hokey, canned greeting you get from someone obligated to shout the company line either. I’m talking about a real, honest-to-goodness hello. Wasn’t even a hello, as much as it was a “hey man,” but it somehow seemed much more authentic.

Of course, a coffee lounge would be worthless if it didn’t make good coffee and ReJAVAnate does. Unlike the automatic espresso machines you’ll find in Starbucks, traditional espresso machines grace the counters here. I’ll admit, in the hands of a new barista or a barista who stopped caring, a traditional espresso machine can turn out some terrible coffee. But you put that thing in front of someone who knows and respects the craft and you’d be hard pressed to find a better cup. Thankfully, I’ve only ever experienced the later there.

I know I’m not the only one taking notice. ReJAVAnate was voted #19 in Las Vegas Life magazine’s “100 Best Things of Las Vegas.” Now I’m not trying to dump on Starbucks, which is also very community-driven. The thing is, Starbucks just feels much more global and there isn’t anyway around that. It’s nice to see that there are still places willing to take care of us local folk.

For more info and a full schedule of events, check out their website.