Best espresso & coffee house environment

"Best coffee" ...would have to give the honors to Noble Coffee on 4th in Ashland, where owner Jared trains all staff in the making of a perfect espresso drink, compleat with lovely patterns on top and even the regular cup of coffee is amazing. Beans are bought personally and with eye to social and environmental consciousness, which adds to the taste. This is espresso at the level you find in Portland and Seattle. I mostly drink the China Breakfast tea for its very smooth taste and lovely hours long buzz. And of course black tea is full of antioxidants. Noble is a large space with sidewalk seating and is wired. A lot of people go there and the line can be 10 deep...just like in pdx. But they know what they're doing and it's very worth the occasional wait. Jared also has trained baristas at other coffee houses in town and it shows.