Live jazz flavors the joint at 8 p.m. on Saturdays. Owner and bean roaster Mark Fleming rises at 3 a.m. to fire up the roaster long before he opens the doors to customers. I stand in front of the roaster, and I know the bean. It's in knowing the individual types of beans and how they respond to heat. Locals seem to appreciate his efforts as they savor the perfect cup of joe at the Laughing C.A.T., which also serves up a strong dose of camaraderie.
Caffeine is uplifting.
In the historic building, which was built in 1873 and once housed a furniture factory and undertaker's parlor, you can play cards or checkers while listening to music that can range from Cole Porter to Nirvana, depending on the tastes of the servers. In Gardnerville, Auntie M's Espresso is a cozy coffeehouse crammed with antique coffeepots and other knickknacks. Sippers can snack on cranberry-walnut cheesecake with a Snickers latte while they scour the local newspapers and bulletin board. Amid freshly baked muffins, pies, and cakes is a relaxed setting where you can kick back and plan your next hike or mountain-biking adventure. Phil Strohmaier, who owns the coffeehouse with his wife Rose, is a former farmer from California, and the decor has a farmhouse theme.