Exotic coffee to beat the Starbucks grind

In a world of Starbucks and Au Bon Pain, where chain conglomerates spread so quickly that they force independent coffee houses out of existence, the Caf?© Algiers is a lone candle burning against the darkness. Located on Brattle Street in Cambridge, the caf?© features a variety of Middle Eastern coffee, drinks, and entrees for those who want to escape the monotonousness of commercialized America for something that's a little more unique.

The Caf?© Algiers is just a short walk from the Harvard Square T-stop, arranged in a dual-level building on Brattle Street that looks more like a theater than a coffee house. Downstairs, the accoutrements are simple and bare, but for those willing to venture up a short flight of stairs, the upper level provides a haven from the bustling streets below.

The close quartered tables might make one feel a bit crowded on a busy day, but when things are quiet, the nooks and crannies provide the perfect shadowy niche for a late night chat or relaxed study session.

Most of the patrons who frequent the Cafe Algiers are college students, many of whom quickly sequester themselves away for the evening with an oversized book and a pot of Arabic coffee. The low-key atmosphere lends itself to cramming for a last minute midterm, and the change of scenery might be just what one needs to plough through those last few chapters on the Byzantine Empire.

The specialty of the Caf?© Algiers clearly lies in its drinks. Though it offers a selection of Arabic and Middle Eastern entrees for lunch and dinner, judging from the fare at surrounding tables, most patrons pass up the dinner menu for a pot of exotic coffee.

There are no attempts made to keep up with Starbucks here; the caf?©'s appeal lies in its unique offerings, not a half-hearted attempt to duplicate a double shot caramel macchiato. The coffee house's specialty is its mint Moroccan coffee ($4), served with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and just enough flavor to temper the strong brew. Coffee is also available by the pot, and customers will find none of the weak American beans that plague most espresso drinks. Everything is rich and flavorful -- perhaps slightly more expensive than the traditional cup, but all the more worth it for the exquisite taste.

If coffee isn't quite your style (or if you're worried about the caffeine keeping you from getting to sleep in time to make it to that 8:30 class the next morning), there are plenty of other options to choose from, few of which can be found at your day to day coffee house. A variety of frappes, from espresso to strawberry, offer an escape from the encroaching heat of the summer, and the caf?© also brings an exotic spin to the simple Italian soda, offering unique syrups like pomegranate. Fancy teas of nearly every exotic flavor imaginable (hibiscus and gunpowder top the list) are available for only $3.50 a pot, and there's no need for store-bought teabags here: everything is brewed directly from freshly strained leaves in the tea kettle.

The cafe also has a small menu of lunch and dinner entries, ranging from Middle Eastern staples like falafels to lamb sausage and kabobs. Sandwiches and salads are affordably priced, and the combination salad plate ($12) makes a good snack for an entire group, with hummus, rice, pita bread, and a handful of other different appetizers for you and your friends to sample.

Dinner, unfortunately, is a more expensive prospect here -- non-salad entrees range from $10-15, and the meat tends to be a little overcooked -- but portions are big enough that it's possible to share, and most customers would probably rather stop in for a cup of coffee anyway.

Whatever your reason for stopping in, the Caf?© Algiers is still a wonderful break from the usual commercialized coffee house, and more than enough reason to give the corner Starbucks a pass so you can try something new.