Learning the Meaning of “Sentient”

By Sandra Scott

Savannah is a walking city. Maybe walking is too strong a word. Savannah is an ambling city. The historic district is made up of small squares shaded with live oaks dripping with Spanish moss and lined with historic buildings, making it a joy to leisurely explore.

After ambling from square to square, John and I were looking for a place to have a light lunch. We spotted the Sentient Bean Coffeehouse. People were sitting outside sipping coffee and chatting. It had such a relaxed look we headed inside where people were enjoying the slow life. With a cup of coffee at hand they were reading, exploring the Internet, or just relaxing with friends.

We found the name “Sentient” a bit cumbersome until we parsed the word and learned more about the coffeehouse. The word means “sensitive” and “conscious,” and the Sentient Bean is sensitive to people’s need to have a quiet place to relax and conscious about the environment.

John quipped, “I think we’ve arrived at the 1970s.” Warm colors, high ceilings, green plants, colorful decorations, comfy couches and chairs, and magazines scattered about created a very relaxed ambiance. On a regular basis, the Sentient Bean coffeehouse presents an eclectic array of events from cult films to acoustic bands to literary readings to community forums.

The Sentient Bean is also sensitive to the environment. They serve Fair Trade coffee from Café Campesino. “Fair Trade” means that the coffee growers pay fair wages, set up cooperative workplaces, respect the worker’s cultural identity, and strive for environmental sustainability.

Today’s Savannah coffeehouse started in a dorm room in Northfield, MN. Roommates Kristin and Kelli found they shared a love of food, adventure, and conversation. Kelli wrote, “We both had a deep and growing concern about consumerism in America as well as an ethic that encouraged us to act upon our beliefs.” When they decided to take the plunge they picked Savannah over Charleston because, “We figured an art college would produce more customers than the Citadel. So we moved to Savannah and immediately fell in love with the town, the people, the trees, and the ocean.” It took awhile. But with support from others, and the book How to Open a Coffee Shop, they were in business.

The menu features organic and local produce. John and I shared a Greek Isles Panini. We chose coffee produced in countries we had visited. I had the Colombian coffee, a medium roast that is slightly floral and not too acidic. John had the Full City Roast from Guatemala.

After lunch we wandered back to our hotel realizing that Savannah is the perfect location for the Sentient Bean. The coffeehouse is across from Forsyth Park centered by a beautiful iron fountain created in 1858. There were massive pieces of artwork throughout the park. We wandered down Bull Street through Chippewa Square where Forrest Gump sat on the bench to open his box of chocolates. The bench is currently held in the Savannah History Museum. I think Savannah is a lot like the film, very relaxed but with excitement and adventure just under the surface.

Our last stop was at the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low. Like the founders of the Sentient Bean, Low also had a dream that has become wildly successful. We toured the house where Low organized the Girl Scouts. In the small courtyard behind the house a group of Girl Scouts visiting from Florida dedicated themselves to the principles of scouting. many of which are similar to the principles of the Sentient Bean.

For more information check www.sentientbean.com.

Sandra Scott is a frequent contributor to travel publications and to Copley News Service and has co-authored two books on local history. She lives in Mexico, NY.
Photos by J. J. Scott.

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