Bentley's House of Excellent Coffee and Great Food

I'm having breakfast and coffee at Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, on Speedway & Cherry in Tucson. I haven't found another place in town with excellent food (and a good variety of choices) and excellent coffee. Most coffee shops don't sell food, other than pastries, and most restaurant coffee isn't very good. I've been coming to Bentley's since I was an undergrad, when it was in another location, and to this location since I was in medical school in the early 90s.

Recently there have been signs on the wall: "No computers at tables between noon & 2pm, all computers must be at the communal table during these hours." That's reasonable. During the lunch hour, they want tables free for patrons who will order a meal. The guy who has been sipping on the same coffee since 9:30 a.m. should either buy a lunch or make some room for someone who will.

Now there's a new sign that says something like: "We are trying to run a business in this tough economy. If you are here for a meeting or to use the Internet, please at least buy a cup of coffee."

Wow. Unbelievable. This is a locally owned coffee shop, not the public library. Didn't these leeches have mothers who taught them right from wrong? The nerve of some people amazes me. The coffee is only a couple of bucks, fer cryin out loud. I asked the barista guy about this. He said that they'll sometimes ask a table full of people having a meeting for at least one of them to buy at least a cup of coffee, and some people are insulted at being asked. I asked the barista if they ever just ask people to leave who won't purchase anything. He said some of them are so indignant they just get up and leave on their own.

Some people can be such @$$holes.

So if you find yourself in Tucson, please go to Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea, 1730 E. Speedway, www.bentleyscoffeehouse.com. They have a terrific variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. And GOOD COFFEE, not industrial crap covered up by flavored syrups and foam.

And please buy something.

p.s. the people who work here are wonderful, down to earth people whom I DO NOT KNOW. I have no affiliation with this coffee shop, other than as a patron for nearly 20 years.