Coffee lover grinds out travel book: Ocean Park author takes caffeinated journey

Coffee lover grinds out travel book: Ocean Park author takes caffeinated journey

Published 7:13 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Gregory E. Zschomler drinks a lot of coffee.

And the Ocean Park author has decided to share his thoughts about the best.

His latest work is “Pacific NW Coastal Coffee — a caffeinated travelogue.”

Covering four dozen Washington and Oregon coastal towns from Blaine to Brookings and nearly 100 coffee shops, the work takes readers on a highly caffeinated journey along U.S. Highway 101.

In addition to chronicling the coast’s best coffee shops and local roasts, he shares his experiences in dining and lodging, mentioning activities to enjoy along the way.

Zschomler noted he has explored coffee shops in 36 states, Mexico and Canada and has written about coffee in coastal newspapers and magazines. The author or more than 30 books, including a children’s adventure series and uplifting work drawing on his strong faith, he loves travel, good food, music, theater, Disney and the outdoors. In his professional life he has been a bookstore owner and church media technician.

His palate preferences steam through. He insists coffee must be piping hot or icy cold, but never lukewarm. “I prefer a uniform, medium Arabica-based roast, possibly a blend,” he writes. “I’m not into fruity or flowery notes; I lean toward a nutty or chocolatey tone.”

He said it seemed natural to write the guide.

“I felt I needed to do it,” he said. “It is something that I could share that I thought others would enjoy. Most of my work is on spiritual things and this is a departure from that.”

His Ocean Park home base draws a shout-out for Colleens, which is also a yarn shop. He likes its Caffe Umbria roast from Olympia, as well as its baked goods. Iced mocha at the Current coffeeshop in Long Beach, where he wrote some of the book, rates a mention. “The food is too frou-frou for my taste, but the people and place have a warm vibe.”

He describes Astoria as a “Portland wannabe city” and maintains that the best coffee is the Caffé D’arte at Coffee Girl. Columbia River Coffee Roasters has a mention, too. “Stay long during a roasting and your clothing will be infused with the scent.”

By The Way Espresso in Gearhart is stroked for its Sleepy Monk Coffee from Cannon Beach, where Zschomler used to live, although in that community he singles out Insomnia as his favorite for its Dapper & Wise coffee from Hillsboro.

The paperback includes personal photographs, two essays and a poem. It features space for readers to record their own thoughts and experiences.

Zschomler plans signing appearances, with details to be announced, and has his eye on California for his next coffee-tasting adventures, but not before he has completed the next in his children’s adventure series.