By Jaelin Wilson
Staff writer

As the work day ends, this pretentious cafe transforms it’s back room into a comedy club at the strike of 9; welcome to Kreuzberg Coffee Company, home of San Luis Obispo’s best iced chai tea, bar none.

Every Friday night, Kreuzberg presents a free stand up comedy night of the open mic variety; one that features a cavalcade of comedians, from practiced regulars to sporadic newcomers. Kreuzberg’s comedy night is the only time you can catch someone trying to be more creative than it’s regular coffee-drinking, MacBook-toting, customers.

Kreuzberg comedy night is perfect for anyone in search of some free—but not cheap—entertainment, and for those 21 and over: a bar (and assorted caffeinated beverages for anyone else). The comedy night lasts about two hours, and it’s long enough for you to consider leaving a time or two. Ultimately, it will keep you in your seat, awaiting the next crowd-slaying comic.

If you’re interested in sitting with a group or near the stage, get there early. There’s roughly thirty seats on the quasi-comedy club floor, and a handful of serviceable seats on the second-level balcony—which I recommend if you don’t want any chance of getting made fun of by a loose-cannon comedian.

It’s standing room only on a good Friday night, including the stairs that lead up to the balcony seats. So go light on the drinks if you don’t want to attempt a mid-set journey to the bathroom—comics hate that; plus, your chance of getting a joke hurled at you goes up considerably.

On top of being packed to the gills, it’s loud. Like, drunk or inconsiderate people talking over mic-wielding comedians, loud. If you’re lucky, you’ll be part of a crowd that doesn’t mind hushing jabber mouths; and if you’re really lucky, you’ll get to witness a skilled comic quip a loud mouth into an embarrassment-sponsored silence.

Most of the talent is local, but that doesn’t stop traveling comics from blowing on through. You never know what you’re going to get.

The coffee company’s unique walls are peppered in alt-iconic, artsy portraits and murals, abstract enough to make you ask “why,” but distinct enough for you to acquiesce to the vibe Kreuzberg is pushing in your face: We’re young, artisan, and better than other coffee shops.

Which is ironic, because stand-up comedy is probably one of the most self-deprecating art forms there is; but it works.

“It’s the right type of performance you can find at Kruezbergs—they’re suffering artists,” said Kaitlin Krumwiede, a recent Cuesta to Cal Poly transfer student.

It’s perfect; in a perpetually sunny college town where parents foot the bill, we have Kreuzberg, a haven for suffering artists. And after 9 p.m. on Fridays at 685 Higuera St., there’s even a night for it.