New coffee shop offers wide array of drinks, snacks

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LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  When do you want your coffee? How about right now?

Coffee Now II, an extension of the small hut that opened in Del Rio in December 2006, set up shop in the lobby area of the Losano Fitness Center in early June. While the shop baristas specialize in espresso and other coffee drinks, they offer a wide variety of hot and cold refreshments, as well as a few snacks.

"A lot of our customers downtown were military, so we decided to open a shop on base," said the shop's manager, Kaitie May. "This location offers an alternative to those driving to work from downtown, and makes our products readily available to the people who live on base."

Open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays when the base is operating normally, Coffee Now II boasts a seemingly endless selection of specialty drinks, some with coffee and some without.

"We're always coming up with new ideas for drinks," May said. "Sometimes customers suggest drinks they've had elsewhere, and if we have the ingredients we'll make it."

Ingredients are one of the business's primary selling points.

"We only use the highest quality materials in our drinks," the manager said. "Our coffee beans are a special roast, our smoothies are made from real fruit mixes and milk and our espresso is the real deal."

Customers desiring a quick snack after a vigorous workout or breakfast on the go will find a selection of muffins, biscotti and fresh fruit available at the shop. For an additional charge, the baristas will add protein to smoothies upon request for a post-workout recovery boost.

May said the shop's busiest time is in the morning when many units conduct group fitness training or people are heading in to work.

Airman 1st Class Carley Bolitho, 47th Installation Support Squadron, said she visits the coffee shop at least once a day to get either an Italian Cream Soda or blended iced coffee.

"One of my favorite things about Coffee Now is the wonderful and extremely friendly staff," she said. "They always make a delicious drink, and if you ask for something they've never made they make sure to listen and do it right."

The Airman said she makes every effort to spread the word about the shop.

"I tell everyone about it," she said. "I literally go up to strangers and say 'Go to Coffee Now.'"

Whether it's a post-workout recovery boost, morning pick-me-up or just a craving for an out-of-the-ordinary hot or cold refreshment, members of Team XL now have another place to fulfill their coffee needs: Coffee Now!