Barking Dog Roasters Brews Your Favorite Cup 'o Joe

We love our coffeehouses at Patch – after-all, Sonoma's many coffee shops act as a surrogate newsroom when I'm camped out on deadline.

Earlier this week to name their favorite spots and one of our favorites – – nabbed the title prize.

Barking Dog's downtown spot is relatively new: it's nicknamed the 'puppy store' to their flagship Hwy 12 location.

For the work-from-home crew the shop's a dream, with fast wi-fi, quiet and pleasant clientele and cheerful staff. We've held many a Patch-wide brainstorm session at their meeting table – just call 24-hours ahead to reserve.

Moreover, Barking Dog serves as a town hub. You can find fliers for band performances and community events in the front window, neighbors advertising babysitting gigs or rooms-for-rent post in the cork-board in back. Every nook of the shop promotes the work of Sonoma's creatives: Walls feature work by local artists and a shelf displays books by local authors.

Patch isn't the only group that uses Barking Dog for meetings: I've seen arts aficionados, books clubs and yes, even a chess club hang out on their comfy couches. And they make a good cup of coffee – their seasonal mixes can make the Starbucks pumpkin-spice-latte fall flat.

Congratulations Barking Dog! And thanks for all the java.