By Ellen Babin

Pilot staff writer

Organic, freshly ground coffee beans from the Oregon Coast, a large variety of choices and smiles all around are just a few of the features that attract customers – in cars and on foot – to Surfside Espresso at the Port of Brookings Harbor.

Co-owned by Dave and Jude Hodge and Jessica Schonert, Jude's son Derek Chavez is also involved with the business.

Surfside's menu includes expected coffee drinks such as cappucinos and latts.

In addition, the menu includes flavored coffee drinks with names such as the "Beach Bum" and "Shark Attack."

Frescantes, which Jude Hodge describes as "souped-up milk shakes made with ice instead of ice cream" are included on the menu, as are smoothies made with real fruit.

Coffee can be added to the frescantes; except for the fruit smoothies, any drink can be made sugar free and with skim milk.

Surfside has 19 sugar-free flavors and 39 additional sweetened flavors.

All the frescantes flavored drinks were created and tested by Jessica Schonert and her family and staff.

Calling first for large orders, filling a 32-ounce thermos with coffee for $2 and creating custom drinks, many sugar-free and low fat, are among the services Surfside Espresso can provide.

Jude Hodge said that the Surfside Espresso will continue with many promotions, including cards that give the customer one free drink after ten are bought.

Currently, people can "Catch the wave"... the coffee stand's theme, and win a month's worth of libations by going online to www.Surfside Espresso.com.

The stand is open daily from 6 a.m to 6 p.m. and will open even earlier during the winter crabbing season.

When an open-air market is held in the same parking lot as Surfside Espresso, patrons can park off the road behind the espresso stand and honk for service. Whether parking or phoning, the order will be brought to the customer.

The phone number is (541) 251-4100. The address is 16372 Lower Harbor Road. To find the stand, follow signs from 101 to Lower Harbor Road.