Caffeinated Nirvana in West View

By: Clara of Food Collage

When Mike Witherel said he was “trying to sell the atmosphere” with his new coffee joint, he wasn’t joking around.

Many people don’t know this about me, but I consider myself a Buddhist. So when I found out about the impending opening of a coffee shop named Coffee Buddha in West View, I was naturally intrigued. I closely followed the news of Coffee Buddha’s progress on Twitter and Facebook, and when it finally opened the week after 4th of July, I promptly added it to my to-do list.

It took me nearly two months before I finally made my first trip there, though it has quickly become my office away from my office. And it’s not just because of the Buddha theme (or the free Wi-Fi). Sure, there are statues and wall paintings of Buddha. There’s even a Buddha bust inside the fish aquarium in the front room. But there is so much more that I like about Coffee Buddha.

I don’t typically drink coffee, espresso, or espresso drinks (e.g., lattes). My only source of caffeine comes from a morning cup of tea, and after 2 p.m. or so, any further caffeine intake would keep me up at night. My first visit to Coffee Buddha occurred on a Wednesday afternoon, so I played it safe and got a caffeine-free Tangerine Ginger herbal tea, which was delicious.

I was intrigued by the Four Noble Truths—four lattes known as Dalai Latte, Peanut Buddha Latte, Enlighten-Mint, and Mexi-Mocha. I vowed to come back in the morning someday to try them after owner Mike so nicely offered me samples of the delicious homemade Vietnamese spice and peanut curry caramel that are mixed into the Dalai Latte and the Peanut Buddha Latte, respectively.

I’m a woman of my word and have since returned to try both. Of the two, I personally prefer the Peanut Buddha, because I absolutely love the peanut + curry + caramel combo. I found the Dalai Latte interesting and tasty as well, with the tangy Vietnamese spice that’s just a little bit spicy. I plan to complete all Four Noble Truths soon. I want to achieve nirvana.

Of course, being a coffee shop, Coffee Buddha sells a variety of coffee. Mike is very passionate about his Trifecta single-serving coffee machine. I did try a coffee sample, which I had black, and I can see why coffee drinkers would like it. I might even go for a full cup someday. But, baby steps…
The staff is always friendly, not just to people but to dogs as well—as evidenced by the pooch-friendly front porch and the gourmet dog treats available for sale. When I walk into the shop, I feel like I’m visiting a friend’s house, not a business. Overall, I do love Coffee Buddha.

Restaurant info:
Coffee Buddha
964 Perry Highway

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

On the web: http://www.thecoffeebuddha.com
On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thecoffeebuddha
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coffeebuddha

Clara moved to Pittsburgh in 2010 and has been eating her way through town ever since.  She blogs to document the restaurants she likes, as well as what’s cooking in her kitchen. Visit http://www.foodcollage.com for more musings.