Anyway I went to Phoebus Coffeehouse in Hampton,Va. I have actually been here before but I was with a friend and didn't have my laptop but since it was a good experience the first time I thought I would come back to be more analytical about this place.
Well first I should mention just a few things. First off this place was visited by Al Jazeera on election day. If you were on CNN that day you could have caught a glimpse of this place. Basically Virginia is a battleground state (duh) and the national news wanted to come here because of that. I can only guess they chose this place because it's in the heart of a little section of town called Phoebus (obviously) and the town itself could not possibly be any more quaint. Coming here there was a little boy playing the guitar in the front of his family's store, waving at passers by. And as I walked in the door I saw Santa ordering a coffee, how much more damn adorable can you get??
This place is possibly one of the biggest coffee places I have ever been to. More long than wide, it seems the dining area stretches far beyond the front door. The floors are a nice shiny wood, and the walls painted a cheery orange shade that makes the place look like it's full of sunshine. I don't hear any music but I am sure at some point (maybe at night) they pipe tunes through the echoing walls. The front of the store has wonderful antique looking windows and the ceilings sport track lighting (but not the tacky euro trash kind, the kind that you don't even notice until you look up and see it's just a soft lighting made to enhance the feel of sun and light and airiness of the place). The menus hanging on the walls are hand made, advertising not only their coffees but the fact they serve a breakfast and lunch menu that seems to call to my empty stomach. But I opted for some yummy chocolate chip cookies (you all know I can't pass up cookies) and a large regular coffee. I thought about getting my usual soy vanilla latte but that is what i got last time and it was delicious so I wanted to try one of their coffees. They have about 5 to choose from. Well for me it's about 4 because one of them is a decaf and lets me serious people...I ordered my coffee and cookies (a combination made in heaven) and chatted up the barista while I waited. She seemed super nice and talkative, not at all forced or fake and I really appreciated that. She actually reminded me of myself a little. I chose a Guatamala Antigua roast (decided to drink it black too..PATRICK) and found my seat. The place is king of divided a little into 3 rooms. Of course there are no walls or doorways, but it just feels like 3 separate rooms with different feels. I thought if I went all the way to the back I'd be able to have some peace and quiet. *ahem* NO. 5 minutes into my blog, I hadn't even had a chance to take a sip of my steaming hot coffee when a group of women (teachers?) came in for lunch. Complete with idle middle aged women talk about nothing, with voices that are WAY too loud for a coffeehouse. I have learned my lesson to put some headphones in my laptop bag for next time. Oh I wish i could tune them out a little. Voices that crawl under my skin and want to throw my hot coffee in one of their faces. Argh there I go getting angry again. But how can 6 women that talk all at once understand each other?
Anyway back to the coffee...it's good. Tastes fresh and my cookie is...so...good... I can't even put it into words. Ahhh....wait what was i saying? Ah yes the COFFEE. Anyway it's really good. REALLY good. Mental note...look up words that make me sound smarter other than grunting a "really good" to describe my cup full of God's Heaven. It's kind of nutty but not overwhelming, a smooth darker roast that I would definitely order again.
This place was definitely worth the drive and if it was closer I could easily become a regular here.
Phoebus is owned by a woman by the name of Anne Doop who has a wonderful quote on her website stating the reason she started this place saying “A person shouldn’t have to learn another language - even if it's made up - to order a cup of coffee”. My thoughts exactly Anne...my thoughts exactly.
has hung up their "Out of Business" signs as well. I can't help but wonder is it the cruel economy these days or the fact their coffee was horrible, or in the case of Coffease, customer service was sub par. It's sad in any event. I can't even gloat. Because behind these businesses were people that wanted to make them work. It's a bitch either way...
