All-Day Service

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For obvious reasons, Renee Bordelon couldn't serve wine or beer at her drive-through espresso stand on Highway 95 in Coeur d'Alene. Ditto for sit-down breakfasts. But coffee — and coffee experience — she had plenty of, having worked in espresso stands since 2005. Yet Bordelon, a former standout volleyball player for Washington State, had bigger goals.

"My first dream, before I opened my drive-through, was to have a coffee shop, but I didn't have the means to do it, and the drive-through really gave me a foundation in business and coffee," says Bordelon.

This past summer, Bordelon — who also works in real estate — found the perfect location to launch her dream business. She sold the espresso stand, and just in time for Ironman, opened Fine Brewed in an older brick building that once housed Devin Galleries.

"When I came into it, there was already a wall down the middle and the two sides had been separated," she says. "I then began the build-out for flooring, paint, countertops and décor."

There are several seating areas in the long, narrow space, including along the sunny window facing Sherman, and along the bar. She also added some patio seating for warmer weather, and shuffles tables for live music and special events like the Halloween costume party she's hosting on Friday, Oct. 30.

Fine Brewed carries Sweetwater Bakery bagels, which Bordelon uses for a range of sandwiches like the Morning Star with egg, cheese, cream cheese and tomato ($4). You can build your own breakfast burrito ($3.50-$4) or get oatmeal to go ($3.25).

Bordelon is loyal to Thomas Hammer coffee, which she carried in her drive-through. There are a range of hot and iced drinks, including shakes and smoothies ($3.25-$5), Italian sodas ($3.25-$5) and fresh-pressed juices ($6-$7), like the popular Sweet Goddess, with sweet potato, strawberries, beets, apple and lemon.

Some of those fresh-pressed juices make their way into sake cocktails and mimosas ($6) — look for occasional $10 all-you-can-drink mimosa specials — rounded out by nine rotating beer taps and a smattering of wines. ♦