The Traveling Barista

Cravings Cafe Rocky River,Oh

2012-01-14T05:47:00.000-08:00

Cravings Cafe
19701 Lake Rd
Rocky River,Oh 44116
440-895-0098
Wifi: yes
Outdoor seating: yes

Good Morning! After a longer than anticipated hiatus, I am back with my review on Cravings Cafe in Rocky River.

I actually had a groupon for this place that I had bought a few months ago, but since I am not often in the Rocky River area it took me a little while to get around to actually using it. So when a free morning arrived in my planner, I packed up the baby and Chad and we went out on a little day date to check out this coffee shop. When I first bought this groupon, I actually hadn't ever heard of this particular coffee shop. It's pretty close to Erie Island, Starbucks AND a Caribou that are all on Detroit. But it's tucked away on Lake Rd away from the main drag so maybe it has a loyal local following.

When first coming in we were warmly greeted by the young barista behind the counter. I ordered our typical drinks (Americano for him and soy latte for me) and waited. I decided to throw in a blueberry muffin and a orange Pelligrino while I was at it to try and eat up the $15 I had for my groupon. They had a few cold sandwiches to choose from but for $6.50 each, I passed. It all came to around $8.50 for everything which is pretty decent.

While I was waiting I got a chance to check out the decor. With bold red walls and black ceilings, it was definitely a dramatic look. The paintings on the walls were beautiful and I could tell the person in charge of the decoration had excellent taste. Hopefully that same person wasn't in charge of the music, because then my opinion would have to drop a bit. BBC Radio piped through the speakers and I have to say, wasn't exactly the right soundtrack to a relaxing morning in a coffee house.
Half the time the music sounded a bit like they were having some sort of inauguration and other times I got to hear about the war in Afghanistan. While informative...not my taste for coffeehouse tunes.

Chad's Americano was not good. Not. Good. I am not sure how long those espresso beans were ground before he ordered his drink, but if I had to guess from the taste I would say at least a day. Espresso beans should be freshly ground as your drink is being made so you can get the best taste possible. This espresso was stale. And weak. I'd say there was only maybe 3 shots in his large when there should be at least 4. My latte was a bit of the same with the stale flavor. I really do wish I could say it was a good. Mainly because the barista was so dang sweet and nice. I wish I could say the drinks she made for us were amazing. But I can't. And the muffin? I am pretty sure it was an Otis Spunkmeyer muffin with the wrapper taken off. Really? With ALL of the amazing local bakeries in town and you're going to serve us vending machine muffins? Lame.

Also there was something else going on that is worth mentioning. I can only hope something like this isn't a regular occurrence, but the owner was there talking about his finances at the front counter. Chad went up to get another 2 shots of espresso to try and help his ailing Americano, and apparently the financial records were out on the counter. That is just bad business. And while we sat there, on top of hearing the BBC's breaking news, we were treated with the news of how this guys is getting screwed by his vendors. The young girl behind the counter that he was talking to was trying to be helpful but my heart went out to her, really it's not her problem. And it's not OUR problem, I would have rather not hear about his financial woes. Because frankly, I don't care.

So overall I don't think I will be coming back to Cravings Cafe. Even if it was closer, I'd rather not spend my money on stale espresso. I do think if they tweaked just a few things then they could have a chance of going against the heavyweights of coffee in their area. They have got to get a better roaster, that coffee was tragic. It's best to stay away from the flavored coffees as well, as I noticed there were a lot of various flavors to choose from. Flavored coffee is for the 7-11 crowd. Not for anyone who wants to be taken seriously in the coffee world. And some better music selections. Also contact the local bakeries, I am willing to bet for just a bit more they could have an amazing selection of pastries. And lastly, keep your business issues to yourself. Your customers shouldn't be hearing them and it's in poor taste. The Cleveland coffeehouse scene needs more local businesses to step up to the plate and deliver, this place just isn't there yet.

Moko Coffee Cleveland,Oh

2010-11-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

Address: 1505 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115-2110
Phone: (216) 589-0194
Hours: 7am-5pm Mon-Fri
Wifi: Yes
Outdoor Seating: no
Credit Cards Accepted: yes

I've been meaning to venture into Moko coffee for some time now. Other than the fact that it's only a few blocks away from work, it also boasts being the only coffee shop in town to serve Intelligentsia coffee.

For those of you who don't know, Intelligentsia is a coffee brand that began back in 1995. Their shops are in Chicago, LA and New York. Their Black Cat Espresso is what they are known for, syrupy and sweet it stands out in a league of its own. They use Direct Trade with their coffee producers, traveling to the farms every month out of the year to make sure what is served in each one of their shops is the best both in quality and ethically.

Ok, so back to Moko. They are situated in the heart of Playhouse Square, and because of that, only open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm. Walking in, I was really not impressed. Gotta be honest right?? Maybe this place is relying on the fact that their coffee is amazing and letting everything else fall by the wayside, but for me, I want the whole experience. I want to sit in a comfortable environment while drinking my great coffee. Too much to ask? I think not. Their pastry case was disgusting. It looks like it hadn't been cleaned since they opened back in 2007. There was an old biscotti with several layers of mold on it staring up at me from the bottom shelf just begging to to thrown away. Chad asked for bagels (they were still on display) and they were out. Um, if you're out, you should probably put your display bagels away...just sayin'. Chad ordered an Americano and I ordered a soy latte in a ceramic mug. Well...there were no ceramic mugs so I got paper..wa waaa. Lame. The espresso machine was tiny and sad, and it took him at least 5 minutes to get both of our drinks together. Now, word in the coffee community is they have a La Marzocco espresso machine. But what they had the day I went it, it was definitely not that. Maybe their machine was broken and this was the temporary replacement? I am hoping so. When I tried to watch him make my latte, my stare was caught and I was shot a dirty look. So I was left hoping my shots were coming out correctly, since I was now flying blind. While waiting for our drinks to come out, we wandered around the place a bit. Very cool framed posters from the various shows that have come to the Playhouse lined the walls, and fliers for local events cluttered a corner table. Oh, speaking of corners, there was a corner there that time forgot. There was a fast food 'McDonalds' type garbage can along with boxes and garbage around it. The back door was left open so I could see even their stock room was a disaster.

When we got our drinks, I was happy to see a little heart on my latte.

Sure, it's something basic, but at least it was something.

We sat upstairs in the balcony, which is an awesome seating area. Very quiet and comfy. But again, random empty boxes were thrown in a corner, and what looks like an air vent hole in the wall, just without the vent...so it was just a hole in the wall. A coffee burlap sac was randomly thrown on the wall, as you were walking up the stairs.

We did get a great view from the balcony, as we drank our coffees and people watched.

I actually really loved Chad's Americano. The Black Cat Espresso is amazing, sweet with a maple flavor, completely unlike any of the other espressos around. Chad, didn't like it though. Anything sweet as far as coffees go is a no-go for him. My soy latte was good, perfectly balanced and not too hot. I think he put just a little bit more vanilla that he should have though. When you're espresso is that good, you want people to be able to actually taste it.

In the end, I don't think I will be coming back to Moko. I wasn't comfortable there and while my coffee WAS good, my skirt wasn't blown up like I was expecting it to be. Maybe I would go back just for a regular coffee, just to see how it tastes. But I don't think I would hang out again.

That biscotti still haunts me...

R.I.P Willow Coffee House Lakewood,Oh

2010-10-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Chad came home last week and informed me with sadness that Willow Coffee House had closed its doors. I reviewed Willow some months back, and left feeling as if I had found a Lakewood treasure. Sure, their espresso machine was tiny and I didn't get the feeling the owners loved to geek out on coffee, but it was the atmosphere and the customer service that I loved the most. I have been into many coffee shops in my lifetime, but I can say with complete honesty that none of them could even compete with Willow's decor and atmosphere. You walked in the back room and there was a fountain, the floor was painted to look like a forest pathway and there was foliage on the walls. Willow Coffee was magical. One of the owners was an artist and he merely wanted to have a business that allowed him to do what he loved, be around people and paint. While Chad and I weren't regulars by any means (it was a bit far for us) we went when we could. We knew they were struggling, and it came as no surprise to see them close their doors, but it is still sad. In these trying times, it takes a lot for the small business owner to stay afloat. Willow Coffee House will be missed in my household, they will be missed by the coffee community. Good Luck for the owners future endeavours.

Decidedly Different in Vermilion,Oh

2010-09-26T15:39:00.001-07:00

Address: 590 Main St
Vermilion, OH 44089

Phone: (440) 967 4664

Credit Cards: yes

Outdoor seating: yes

Wifi: No

Today was the day of the Woolleybear Festival. For those of you that don't know, it's the biggest one day festival in Ohio. Sure, it's a festival for an insect that just happens to be furry and cute...it's still pretty fun. I ventured into Vermilion, my hometown, for the Woolleybear and of course, had to check out the only coffee shop in the town that I haven't been able to review. That being said, there are only 2 coffee shops in this little town, it's not exactly a hot bed of caffeinated activity.

Decidedly Different is situated right off the main drag in Vermilion. It's about a block away from the lake and it gets a lot of local traffic. There is a coffee shop (Huggy's) across the bridge as well but there doesn't seem to be any sort of competition going on. It's a small town after all.

Now before I write this, it doesn't need to be said that I am a coffee snob. I like to watch my espresso shots come out and make sure they are perfectly timed before I feel comfortable drinking them. If I can hear my milk steaming across the room I feel physically uncomfortable. I am not happy with just a latte. I want a perfect latte, and I want it quickly. Knowing this about myself, I had to try and check my little quirks before I went in. Vermilion is a small town with most residents that are happy with just having a cute coffee shop in town. I am not the typical coffee shop customer and I know that I will need to lower my standards a bit before judging.

First off, the place is really cute. There are a handful of tables and chairs that are the typical mismatchy type that a lot of coffee shops have these days. There is local bakery in the display case like fresh biscotti and delicious brownies with frosting. They had some drip coffee (1 regular, 1 decaf and of course a flavored coffee) as well as the standard espresso menu on the wall. I asked if they had soy milk, and they didn't, they had almond milk. I am not a big fan of almond milk, but due to my intolerance of lactose it was my only option. I also ordered an americano for Chad. The young girl working there was one of the owner's daughter. From what I have read this place is owned by 2 local couples. When I was there I saw 2 women working, and some high school age kids helping out. Everyone was very very nice and helpful. The young girl helping me didn't really have a clue about coffee and even when one of the customers asked how one of the coffees tasted, she couldn't offer any help. If you're not a coffee drinker, and haven't tasted your product I am sure it is a bit challenging. And while she was nice, I had to repeat my order a few times. The young cashier also seemed pretty distracted by her boyfriend that had come for a visit. I know I know, it's young love. But dang it mama wants her coffee and I want my taste buds to be happy so SNAP SNAP!

They had a small, rather sad looking espresso machine. I couldn't make out the brand but it wasn't anything to be impressed by. As I watched by shots come out as slow as molasses, I became more and more worried about my drink. I won't even TALK about the fact the shots came out into a dingy looking measuring cup. I won't even mention THAT. When my milk was being steamed by the biggest milk pitcher ever created, and I could hear the shrill scream of the steaming echo in my ear drums, worry became dread. When I finally got my latte, I had to ask for more flavor syrup to try and mask the bitter taste of the espresso. Chad was able to drink his latte with a shrug but even he admitted that it was "just ok".

I know that Decidedly Different is a small town coffee bar, and I know there is something to be said for a locally owned business that is doing well in this economy. Also, I can't overlook their customer service. When I find that is there is good customer service going on, I can overlook a lot. The women working there weren't coffee snobs, they weren't worried about the perfection of my shots or the overall drink quality. But, the cost was reasonable and they truly seemed to enjoy their job and their customers.

So, I am a bit torn with this. Sure my drink tasted like bitter ass and my milk was burnt to hell, but they did it all with a smile. So, the truth is that I won't be coming back to Decidedly Different. But you know what? For their customer base, they are probably a perfect business. Some people want flavored coffee and a cozy place to hang out...I just want something more.

The Root Cafe in Lakewood, Oh

2010-09-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hours:
Mon-Tues 630am-11pm
Wed-Thurs 630am-10pm
Fri 630am-11pm
Sat 7am-11pm
Sunday 8am-10pm

Free Wifi: yes
Outdoor Seating: No
Credit Cards Accepted: Yes

Today's review is on a Lakewood hangout, The Root Cafe. The quick background of this place is basically it used to be a Phoenix Coffee. The new owners snatched it up and began to revamp it and make it into the coffee shop they envisioned. Very quickly they found out that the space they were working with just wasn't enough, so they moved just a few spots down to where they are now. On some nights they have bands or open mic nights. Because of their late night crowds, the also have a beer selection (including Great Lakes). From the reviews I have read, apparently there is a big late night turnout. That being said, The Root is also a big high school hangout. But luckily, I didn't have to listen to whats going on in the 90210 while I was there. The afternoon crowd was definitely a group of regulars and older local residents reading the paper and laptop surfing.

I really have to say that I actually kind of like Phoenix Coffee. It IS a little confusing though. They use Phoenix cups and Phoenix coffee but they aren't owned by Phoenix. Um...so the question is my friends...what makes them different than our local coffee chain? It could be the food menu. They serve fresh vegetarian edible delights like brown rice stir fry and vegan chunky vegetable soup. Their bakery selection was hard to pass up as well. Chad and I decided to "share" a molasses cookie (I say "share" because I am pretty sure our halves weren't equal:)

I ordered a toffee soy latte and chad went with his americano. There were two young girls working there and one older woman (though I am not quite sure she was older, her head scarf just threw me off). The girl who made our drinks was nice enough. Though,when I was struggling with what to order she didn't offer any suggestions. Which, I have to say, is disheartening. I want to feel like you care if I get what I really want, even if you really don't, you can fake it. Ask me what I like, ask me what I am in the mood for. Do I want something sweet? Maybe fruity? But to stare at me while I decide is a letdown. The girl that rung us up was a different story. She couldn't crack a smile to save her life and I am pretty sure if I was grading on customer service this girl would fail. She would fail miserably. Nevermind the fact she acted like she hated life when she was helping us, then started laughing a joking with her co-workers as soon as we walked away. Nevermind the fact that she never said thank you or have a good day...or...anything.

I have actually been into The Root once before with a friend of mine and there were 2 other girls working there. I thought maybe they were both having an off day. I mean, when I go to work I check my issues at the door but maybe not everyone can do that. Again, the girl who rung us up that day couldn't smile when I cracked a joke or...make it seem like she even liked her job. If you're in the coffee business, you aren't getting rich. People that survive in the coffee business LOVE coffee and they LOVE their job. I didn't get that feeling from that girl at all.

I have to say that other than the girl that made our drink, I have yet to have a good customer service experience at The Root. Sure you can steam milk ok, but would it kill you to be nice to the customers that aren't regulars? I saw the same girls that were rude to me show excitement and happiness when regulars came through the doors. I know I am not a regular, but I can guarantee I won't become one if the staff doesn't cheer the hell up.

Onto my drink. The first time I went to the Root, my latte was perfection. The girl that made my drink even gave me some latte art in my to go cup. And for those of you who don't know, latte art is a lot harder in a to go cup than it is in an actual ceramic latte mug. But this time, my milk was overly aerated and there wasn't even an attempt of art on my mug. And it was a ceramic, the main reason I asked for that was to get something pretty on my drink. I can even appreciate the attempt, that way I can see that you're trying, that you care. I don't care if it looks like two butt cheeks squished together, you tried. And come on...it's just funny to see butt cheeks on your coffee:)

Today my latte was ok. The milk wasn't hot enough and the tiny air bubbles were Starbucks quality. It tasted waaaay too sweet and I couldn't really taste any of the espresso. Chad's Americano had nice crema and he said it tasted "amazing". I could hear the girl steaming the milk from across the room, which is always a no no. If I have to raise my voice so the person next to me can hear what I am saying...there are some steaming issues happening.

I do love the decor of Root. There is an old church pew in one corner and the window seating (perfect for people watching) and most of the items look recycled. The table legs of the window tables were made of iron tree sculptures. The place looks very clean and eclectic. I love how the sun comes through the windows and seems to light up the whole place.

In the end, I will probably come back to the Root. It's sad that only a few people know latte art and their customer service is sub-par, but the first latte I held from this place had a big fat heart on it, and that is why I am going to come back. Because one barista took 3 seconds out of her drink prep to make sure I had a nicely made drink I will return. It's the little things that make me happy, give me a heart, and I'll come back for more:)

Bela Dubby in Lakewood,Oh

2010-08-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus from my blog, I am back to reviewing. Today I visited Bela Dubby in Lakewood,Ohio.

Address:13321 Madison Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44107-4814

Phone:(216) 221-4479

Hours: Open Mon-Thu 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat 10am-12am

Outdoor Seating: No

Website: www.beladubby.com

Wifi: Free

Accept Credit Cards: Yes

Bela Dubby is a Lakewood hipster hangout, in fact when I was reading the multitude of reviews on this place, the word "hipster" came up in almost every single one. It features a large selection of imported beer and a long list of events ranging from movie nights to improvisational musicals. Looking at the list of bands they have playing I see Dutch Pop along with Indie Rock so I'd say it's a pretty safe bet to call this place "eclectic".

The hours they're open are kind of odd for a coffee shop, they open at 10am (totally missing the morning crowd)and close pretty late at night. But after visiting, I can kind of see why there is such unique hours. They aren't exactly in a highly trafficked area, and they seem to be promoting their night time events more than anything. The weekends there are jam packed with various types of events. There are 4 bands playing this friday,a "car kulture show" this saturday (with ice cream floats!), and a movie night this sunday, which is a Double Feature. And that is just a sample of the night time activity there.

After reading a handful of reviews, I noticed that coffee was rarely mentioned. The artwork that changes monthly, or the comedians that do ameteur night are spoken of quite frequently. The beer is mentioned pretty often too. But what about the coffee? What about the coffee??!!

This is a COFFEE shop blog so that is what I shall focus on. Parking can be a bit of an issue here, it's strictly street metered parking. Don't even THINK about parking in one of the nearby businesses' parking lots. Apparently the nearby business owners just love to tow the cars parked for Bela Dubby. Luckily we saw one of the many signs posted in the coffee shop warning patrons to move their vehicles if they're parked illegally, and we moved our car across the street.

The barista working was very sweet and friendly. She was chatting up a customer when I walked in, which is always a good sign. I ordered Chad's Iced Americano while he parked the car and I pondered my drink. The barista didn't offer any suggestions or ask me questions as to what I liked, which is also a good sign of a barista that wants to help customers make a good decision about their coffee. I finally decided on an Espresso Con Panna. To my dismay, she didn't know what it was, so I had to explain. She made Chad's Americano with Toddy (*sigh*)and it ended up looking like coffee water. But she was more than willing to put in a few hot shots for him to make it stronger. As she made my drink, I watched my shots come out and I was distressed to see that they were coming out way too slow. Dripping out actually. She spread the whipped cream on as best she could , and we both took our seats.

I gotta say this, the barista was very sweet and super cute but MAN did my espresso taste like ass. I knew it was going to. It came out WAY too slow, and since I noticed that she made a point to clean the portafilter and the machine after the shots were pulled, I am thinking it's not because of a clog in the machine. Girlfriend just needs to time her shots, timing is EVERYTHING with espresso. If your timing is bad, they can taste like garbage. The shots poured into a silver espresso cup so there was no way for me to see if there was any crema on them. Just judging from Chad's Americano, there was none. His drink was as flat and watery as...well..coffee water. Even when she added the shots, I didn't see that excited look on his face that he usually gets when his drink is yummy. And while I did drink all of my espresso, my stomach wishes I hadn't. I am still trying to get the taste out of my mouth. A sign of a poorly timed espresso shot is if the taste clings onto your taste buds long after the drink is finished.

The atmosphere was very fun. The furniture was eclectic and antique-y. There was some diner style tables mixed with old vinyl chairs. There was a lounge couch that I think was in every single one of our grandparent's homes. The walls have various artists selling their wares, this month's artist was cute but not my taste. Watercolor mixed with crayon, while an interesting idea, didn't seem very thoughtful. But Bela Dubby promote local artists and local musicians and comedians which is always a plus.

In the end, I can't say I will be back for coffee. It's pretty close to the house, only a 20 min bike ride and maybe a 10 min drive away, but if I wanted crappy espresso I could just go to st*rbucks. The owner was there and he seemed super helpful and nice, talking to Chad about the beer selection. But when it comes to coffee, this place needs a lot of help, and a barista/bartender that is knowledgeable about her product. Nothing is worse than bitter espresso...nothing.

Loop in Tremont (cleveland), Ohio

2010-05-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Address:2180 West 11th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113-3604

Phone:(216) 298-5096

Hours: 7am-Late

Outdoor Seating: Yes

Website: Not Available

Wifi: Free

Accept Credit Cards: Yes

This coffee shop just opened in December 2009. It's the new kid in town and while trying to get the word out about themselves, for now they are relying on word of mouth from the local Tremont-ers. I actually heard about this spot at work, my manager mentioned it in passing, saying they roast their own beans. My little coffee addict ears perked up when I heard that, and since it was close (a 20min bike ride away) I knew it was going to be next on my list. The sun and the warm breeze this morning begged me to come out and play, so Chad and I hopped on our bikes and ventured out to Tremont to see whats what with the newbie coffee shop.

I wasn't able to find out a lot about this spot online. They don't have a website yet and only a handful of reviews on Yelp.com. But all the reviews are positive, most of them from from the local Tremont population. The fact that they aren't listed on any websites and without a website of their own, they might have a harder time getting new customers through their doors. But maybe slow and steady will win the race as they say.

Loop is nestled on the corner of West 11th and Fairfield Ave. It could be easy to miss if you aren't looking though. Like a lot of coffee places in residential neighborhoods, it's a house that was converted to a coffee shop. Parking in on the street or across the street in a small gravel parking lot. We tied our bikes up to the bike rack out front, and went in.

The first thing I noticed is the roaster in the front window. It's a small roaster but since it's just a small shop, roasting in small batches is actually the best way to do it. It ensures that the beans are as fresh as possible and that quality is above quantity. When you roast in smaller batches, it allows the person to see how the beans are being treated during the whole roasting process, before,during and after. It also ensures that the beans are being roasted evenly, and since only a small amount is being roasted at a time, there is no stockpiling so the beans don't go stale.

The menu board wasn't the usual chalkboard style menu board, which is a nice change. It just had the basic drinks on it, the sizes were small,med and large and a small list of "extras" (soy,extra shot,etc). Really, thats all you need in a menu board. You don't need a huge list of coffee and espresso drinks. There was some Monin syrups on the shelf so you could see what flavors they did have. If you have been to coffee shops before, really they all have basically the same thing. What sets each of them apart is the quality. You can have 50 different types of syrups if you want. But really, you're only going to use about 10 of them. No need to get crazy with it. I ordered a soy mocha iced and Chad ordered his Americano. I got 3 shots in mine and chad got 4. I really hate it when coffee shops get stingy with the espresso. If I get a 20oz drink, 2 shots just isn't enough. But thats just me...I like to taste my caffeine and not cover it up.

While waiting for our drinks, Chad chatted up the Baristo Dave. He seemed very soft spoken but very helpful. He answered all of the questions we had about the artwork on the wall (more on that later) and just the background of the place. We also ordered a banana nut muffin to share. They have a very small selection of pastries and muffins for sale. Their supplier is some bakery in the Market (I forgot the name) and while the muffin was really tasty and fresh, I would have liked to have seen more of a bakery selection. Maybe since they are just starting out, they are starting out small and plan to expand the food selection with time. I have been to some coffee houses where there is a HUGE bakery case and a million things to choose from. While that is nice,I don't need anything that elaborate. I'd just like a little bit more than 4 types of muffins. Is that too much for a girl to ask?? Hmm?? Hmm?? Gimme something chocolate why don't cha!! :)

Anyway when you walk in, to the right there is a huge wall covered with paintings. I am not sure if they are all done by the same artist though. I tend to think they aren't all the same person, since the styles of a few were pretty different. Most of the painting were done by Sarah K. Dougherty and as a girl, I really loved them. Chad of course loved the darker paintings to the left on the wall, but what can I say? I like what I like:)

It is also worth mentioning that this place isn't just a coffee shop. It's a coffee shop/record store/art gallery. On the second floor there are a bunch of records to sift through, and they have a very wide assortment of musicians to choose from. The first floor have frames pictures and paintings as well. They are marketing themselves as a coffee shop and record store so they are doing a pretty good job in finding a balance in both.

We took our coffees outside to sit and enjoy the day. My mocha was delish. I watched Dave pull the shots and after counting quietly in my head how long they took (yea I know I am a bit of a freak) I saw that they were perfectly timed. Since Chad got an Americano and I got something iced, I didn't get to see how they steamed their milk. So that might be an additional addendum to this posting at a later date. Chad said quite a few times how much he enjoyed his coffee. As you can see...

it was love at first sip.

They had a wide variety of seating. Both tables and bar seating in the main cafe, a large semi enclosed patio area, as well as some tables on the second floor. We sat outside for a while, the patio had semi private fencing. Where you're outside but it's not like you're a zoo animal, being gawked at by passers by. We sat outside until a young female came outside and lit up a cigarette, and that was our cue to go. Smoke mixed with coffee just doesn't mix well. I know it's a lot to ask to make the outdoor area non-smoking but to me, it's just gross and for those of us that just want to enjoy the fresh air, the air becomes not so fresh when someone is smoking. But I will get off my non-smoking soapbox for now...

All in all I can comfortably say I will be back. For my mocha, the muffin and Chad's americano it was $9.50, which isn't too bad. We also picked up a pound of Espresso to bring home with us.

On a side note, I also think I definitely redeemed myself with Chad from yesterday's debacle at the "Curbside".

Loop might be the new kid in town, but if I had to get my crystal ball out, I can comfortably say they will be leading the pack in the very near future.

Curbside Coffee Cleveland,oh

2010-05-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Address:9858 Lorain Ave Cleveland,Oh

Ok, I have to say I feel a little bad about blogging about this particular coffee shop. To me, they are misrepresenting themselves and probably should advertise under "Bluegrass Music" and not "Coffee Shop". But since they did choose the latter I have to do my review. They were voted in to Fox8 Hot List under the label of "coffee shop" and while they didn't get placed, they did get a lot of rave reviews from their loyal customers. Chad and I drove past this place once a few months back, and screeched to a stop upon seeing the word "coffee". We got out of the car with excitement in our eyes, but sadly they were closed. Peering in through the storefront windows, it looked like an old bar to me. I didn't see an espresso machine and the place looked rather barren for a coffee shop. But since I want to hit every single coffee in Cleveland I had to venture out and try this place again.

We got there about 5 minutes before they were closing, apparently on Wednesdays they close at 3pm so Judy (the owner) can get some things done. But Chad peeked his head in and asked if we could just buy a coffee. The owner welcomed us in happily.

Judy and her husband Terry bought the Curbside Coffee Shop about 3 years ago. Her husband Terry passed away about a year ago, leaving Judy to run it alone. Apparently when they first opened for business, having some issues getting customers through the door, Terry asked his good friends The Bluegrass Kings to come and play one night a week. While he couldn't pay them, he offered them all the free coffee they could drink. And that is still their paycheck to this day. Tuesday nights are apparently hoppin' at the Curbside Coffee Shop. The Bluegrass Kings play their hearts out and people come in just to watch and enjoy. They also have country music nights and Karaoke nights as well. From what I read and noticed, most of the customers are of the older generation. They come because there is no alcohol served and it's under the category of "good clean fun".

I bet at this point you're wondering where the coffee comes in. I don't have a lot to say really... Chad and I ordered 2 large coffees and the total was $5. Je-SUS that is steep. I have a hard time being pissy about anything though to be honest. Hell the owner shook our hands, then introduced the straggling customers/band members to us. She asked us where we moved from, gave us a business card and asked us repeatedly to come back for one of their music nights. But since this blog IS about coffee I am obligated to say I think the coffee was not good...ok it was bad. It was really really bad. It was really weak and even chad (who will drink coffee that has been sitting out all day) had to be coaxed to drink his coffee. Dang I spent $2.50 on it, he better drink it.

There was NO espresso machine. While they advertise cappuccinos and coffee drinks, they only had an old Bunn restaurant style coffee maker and a push button cappuccino and hot chocolate machine (you know, the kind that mixes the powder with the hot water). She did have a rack of Torani syrups which I thought was a bit odd. What is she going to put those in? That being said, the syrups looked as old as the coffee shop itself so it doesn't look like they are getting much use. I also have to mention it smelled funny in there. I can't quite place the smell but I know it was bad, like old people and musty farts kind of bad.

Chad and I walked out of the shop to the sounds of Judy inviting us back to a music night. But after tasting the coffee and the dent it put in my wallet, I gotta say...it's not likely. If I was a Bluegrass fan??? Then I probably would. I would bring my own coffee though:)

Heine Brothers Coffee Louisville,Ky

2010-05-03T17:31:00.000-07:00

While in town for the Derby last weekend, I decided it was my responsibility, no my DUTY to check out a coffee house while I was there. And the place to see seemed to be Heine Brothers Coffee. They are the 'Phoenix Coffee' of Louisville, Ky. They have 7 locations throughout the Louisville area so wherever you're at in your travels, there will be a Heine Brothers not too far away.

We stopped at the Heine Brothers Coffee on the way back to Ohio, at the location off Shelbyville Rd. It was raining like crazy so we were the only customers in the place, other than the older gentleman hunching over a pile of paperwork, typing furiously on his laptop. We were greeted upon walking through the door and immediately started to pour over the menu. I like asking the baristas for suggestions to see how good of a job they can do to engage their customers. It's about knowing what your customer wants without a huge conversation. I ended up ordering a honey cinnamon latte and chad had his usual Americano.

I noticed they were using a semi automatic espresso machine a La Marzocco, the same as they use in my coffee shop. While the semi automatics take some of the hands-on element away from the espresso pulling process, they are useful when there are a lot of drinks being made at the same time. I noticed that they had a drive thru, from the ever so familiar headset attached to the barista's head.

While we were waiting I asked about the Heine Brothers business. Apparently they only serve fair trade and organic coffees. These days, most coffee is organic but to hear it's fair trade is definitely a plus. They roast their own beans at one of their locations in the Crescent Hill neighborhood. For those of you that don't know, here is a little coffee 101. Fair Trade coffee basically means that the coffee farmers that you're buying from are being paid a fair wage and given good living conditions, health care and education. Gone is the day where you order your $5 latte, made with beans that were grown by a farmer that was getting pennies an hour and having to live in poor conditions. Long story short, it's quality of life.

After looking around on the Heine Brothers Coffee website I noticed what kind of organizations they are involved with. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity, they send some of their baristas to Guatemala back in 2009 to help out the community that grows their beans. They also work with Center for Women and Families, the relief in Haiti (raising over $4000) and Cooperative Coffees. They also promote small businesses, keeping everything local, which is always refreshing.

But back to the coffee...I have to mention this, I wouldn't be an unbiased blogger if I didn't...my milk was steamed horribly. She aerated the milk for 1 millisecond and then just set it on the shelf until the thermometer told her it was hot enough. First off, any real barista shouldn't have to use a thermometer, you can tell if milk is the right temp by the sound it makes and how the bottom if the milk pitcher feels. But maybe she was new... and her trainer sucked. My milk could have been a lot better. She explained to me that a lot of people say that the espresso they use is "too strong". Since there is no possible way it could be too strong I actually could have had another shot. I think there was only 2 in my large latte. Chad had 4 in his Americano which was good for him. But in the end I did enjoy my latte and chad commented that his americano was very good. Also worth noting, the young barista making our drinks had no shoes on. I thought maybe it was a southern thing?

The decor of the place was simple but tasteful. Nothing too outlandish, dark stained chairs and tables mixed with honey stained chairs and tables. There were 2 big chairs in the back (a standard coffee house "comfy" chair) and some smaller tables against the wall. The mixing station was cute, small colorful flower pots held the different types of sugar and everything was placed on what looked to be an antique type dresser.

Also there are paintings all over the walls. Some coffee paintings, some of other things. They were all by the same artist I think. I actually liked a few of the paintings but the price was pretty steep for me.

The shoeless barista seemed very helpful otherwise, wrapping up my ceramic mug and bringing it out to us (I am pretty sure she used a WHOLE newspaper). She answered all of our questions and encouraged us to come back next time we were in town. And you know? I think we will...

Lucky's Cafe in Tremont, Cleveland Ohio

2010-04-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today's review is on Lucky's Cafe in Tremont (Cleveland,Oh). I saw this place on the Fox8 Hot list and I have read lots of positive things about it, so I thought I would check it out.

Lucky's Cafe is right in the heart of Tremont. Tremont is an old world style district, where there are little boutiques and amazing historic buildings lining the streets. It has award winning restaurants and cafes, and a new England type vibe to it. It's city living without the bustle and congestion. If the weather was better we probably would have walked around a bit but since mother nature brought a thunderstorm with her today, we kept it inside.

The little background about this place that I do know is Lucky's Cafe is owned by Heather Haviland, who is also the chef there. She owns Sweet Mosiac Inc which does wedding cakes and special occasion desserts. The "sister" company of Lucky's is Vine and Bean Cafe which is located in Shaker Square.

If you didn't know you were looking for a cafe, there is a good chance you might pass this place up. It blends in with the houses around it and only stands out a bit because of the outdoor seating area with multi colored picnic benches and elevated gardens. Parking is strictly on the street, I saw a few people park across the street on the grass but I don't think that's super legal so I wouldn't recommend it.

They have a full espresso bar, a stocked pastry case (banana chocolate chip coffee cake?? Don't mind if I do!) and a brunch and lunch menu. There was no shortage of workers, we counted about 10 people working there, a few girls behind the bar, a handful of servers roaming the seating area, some people doing outside cleaning, and even more working back in the kitchen. I ordered a Lucky Latte which has honey, espresso and half and half (I subbed soy for half and half), a banana chocolate chip coffee cake , and Chad ordered an Americano and a Raspberry Butter Cream Torte.

We took our seats since they offered to bring it out for us. Immediately a waiter came over, told us the specials and asked to take our order. Looking at the menu..."overpriced" is a word I would probably use to describe it. Now I am SURE that their food is worth every penny but paying $13 for mac and cheese wasn't in our budget so we opted out of it and stuck with our pastries and coffee.

The decor seemed nice, artwork on the walls and fresh flowers on every table. The waitstaff was more than helpful as well. The coffee that they were making was freshly ground as we saw one of the baristas walk up, get some of the whole bean coffee from the wall and grind it to brew. There was no music, but for the most part the sounds of conversation filled the silence pretty well. We paid about $16 for everything. The torte itself was $5 and I think my coffee cake was $3.

I get the feeling this place's focus isn't the coffee though. There was no latte art unless you count the tree looking thing on my latte...I wasn't sure if I was reaching by trying to find a shape on my latte. Their espresso machine didn't look well taken care of (I didn't see the barista rinse out the portafilter before pulling her shots) and the espresso menu was a snooze fest. When Chad asked if there were any signature espresso drinks since I was on the fence with what I wanted to order, I was told their signature espresso drink was a mocha. Wa waaaa. Lame. Come on, dazzle me with a suggestion of a Peach Cobbler Mocha, hell make something up on the spot like a "Rainy Day Latte". The food looks amazing in the pastry case and if anything I will come back for that. It was filled with so many options of sweets that it was almost hard to choose. Chad's Torte was a little frozen so it was kind of difficult to get a good feel of how it was supposed to taste. The barista told us to wait a few minutes for the frosting to soften, we waited but in the end it was still pretty stiff. Maybe put it in the micro on defrost for a few seconds? That would have made it 10 times better.

Lucky's Cafe was voted the "Best Brunch in Cleveland" by Fox8 so maybe that is where the focus is in that place. It looks like a nice place to take my parents when they come in, it's the kind of place you take a family member to as a treat for lunch or breakfast. I'd come back for coffee sometime, it looks like a nice area and the service was very good. The price was kind of high...so definitely not a regular stop for me though. I don't want to go broke from my coffee habit, you know? :)

Willow Coffee in Cleveland,Oh

2010-04-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I had never heard of Willow Coffee until about a week ago. I was stuck at a stop light at Madison and West 117th, and looking to the right the word "coffee" immediately caught my eye (of course). The first thing I did after getting home was google this place. Was I the only one in Cleveland that was in the dark about Willow Coffee? Apparently I am not alone in my ignorance. I found only a few websites that had Willow Coffee mentioned. But the places I DID find some reviews were on Fox 8's Hot List and CityVoter.com and I read nothing but good things. They made the top 5 in Fox8's Hot List in 2009. That being said, I read nothing but good things about Koffie Cafe too so good reviews aren't always a guarantee that something is going to be worthwhile.

Well, you know the first thing I talk about is parking. They have some street parking in front of the shop, or you can do what we did and park across the street at the RTA parking lot. There were tons of spots and it's a lot easier.

I was a bit skeptical walking in there, a window had been broken in and a board was being used to patch it up temporarily. I saw a lit up 'open' sign and a few men hanging around outside so I figured at least there were other customers around. Turns out one of the "customers" was the owner, as he followed us inside.

The place was decorated amazingly. I can honestly say that in the hundreds of coffee shops I have been in (yes, hundreds..I love my coffee) this was by FAR the most impressive. One of the owners, Richard, is an artist and he did all of the decorating. He painted the walls and put in a little babbling brook water fountain in the corner . I thought the running water was very calming. Usually a coffee shop is filled with the sounds of laptop keyboards and cell phone conversations, so having an oasis like this in the middle of Cleveland was a great find. Coffee pictures and signs were up on the walls, and he even painted the floors to make it look like a stone pathway leading to the back. He was working on opening up a small back patio area, using some old tires for flower pots and a pail for another running water fountain. Even the back seating area was made to look like you were in a garden patio, complete with vines lining the walls and stained glass windows making you feel like you were on the outside looking in.

We spent some time talking with the owner. The entire time we were there not a single other customer came through the doors. Apparently Willow Coffee has been open for 5 years. The owner (well one of the owners, we did not meet the other one) is an artist and he wanted to open up a business that would allow him to spend more of his time doing what he loved. He was using a very small espresso machine, one that you'd find in some kitchens (the kitchens of people with money that is)and not the commercial grade espresso machine all other coffee houses use. He explained their other machine broke and until he gets the money for a new one, that was what he was using. He said that at night it got a lot busier, and that it was more of an adult crowd. Which is good with me, I'm not huge fan of the frappucino drinking teenagers anyway. His menu was small, about the size of a poster board. It was the usual chalk board coffee shop menu of course. I will say that unlike the other huge chalkboard menus I have seen, this one had about 4 items listed on it and they were all the basics (latte,coffee,mocha). His syrups weren't listed anywhere so I had to look through to see what he had. They were all sold out of pastries by the time we got there, apparently they sell out in the morning.

Our drinks came in huge ceramic mugs (green points!!) and while mine could have been a little hotter and Chad's a little cooler, I think they both turned out really well. We did have to wait a little while for our drinks, he could only do 2 shots at a time so making 2 espresso drinks took a bit. But sometimes I think it's okay to wait a bit. I have to remind myself it's not all about *quick* quick* quick all the time. I did watch his pull the shots and they came out very nicely. The crema was thick and perfectly timed. I have to say while the owner didn't seem to have a passion for coffee, he definitely did have a passion for his customers. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know us and inviting us to come back later on for the "night life" there. They had a small stage set up with a guitar so I am assuming he has live music and such at night. He did mention a few times the "lively debates" that occur after hours so I wonder what goes on there after the sun goes down:)

The price was very reasonable, we paid $7.25 for the 2 espresso drinks and $2.75 for the americano we had to go. No punch cards but I got the feeling if you frequented the place you probably got tossed a freebie here and there if you came often enough.

All in all I would say I will definitely be coming back to Willow Coffee.

In these tough economic times, when you see a business that is struggling like this one is, you WANT to help. He is a perfect example of a businessman that is doing everything right, the coffee is good, the customer service is excellent...and he is hanging on by a thread. Talking with him he spoke about the RTA station right across the street and how he gets zero business from them. He even put $1 off coupons on all the cars and at one point even tried placing a kiosk right where the riders were getting on and off..and he was barely making enough to pay the person running the kiosk. I asked him why that was and in the end people feel more comfortable going to a chain. Asking the public to step out of their comfort zone and try something new is difficult. We don't have to live in a Starbucks world where everything is nameless and faceless. We can support our local businesses and keep them alive in a time where it's the most difficult to stay afloat. I think that is a part of the reason I do this blog. Because there are so many little shops out there,I want to shed light on the independent business owner. They are truly the heart and soul of our society. If we all just stop for a moment and make that choice to support our own people, support our neighbors...I wonder...what a difference that would make.

Koffie Cafe Cleveland,Oh

2010-04-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Getting back on the wagon for Coffee Shop Reviews, I went to Koffie Kafe in Cleveland. It's located right across the street from the West Side Market in Ohio City. I actually have been to this place once before. Right after doing the Brewery tour at Great Lakes Brewery, Chad and I decided to get a coffee and since this place was right across the street we wandered in. I remember saying my latte was so-so, nothing too impressive but since I've never reviewed it, I hoped this time things would improve.

Well for starters, when parking you have a few options. You can find a place on the street and do some meter parking, there are a few spots right in front of the shop (but on the weekend you can forget about it),or you can park in the public parking. I think during the week it's free, but if you're there on the weekend it's $5. You can also chance it by parking in Dave's Market parking lot. I'd advise against that though, there are tow trucks patrolling most of the time and 'tow away zone' signs everywhere. You might end up paying more to get your car out of impound if you choose to park there. We decided to just pay the $5 and go to public parking.

Apparently the background of this place is it used to be called 'Talkies'. I guess Talkies was a film and coffee bar, and while the owners have changed, the workers there have remained the same. When I googled this place, I read nothing but good things about it. From it being "pet friendly" (a guy came in with a beagle and sat down with his coffee while we were there) to the "friendly" staff (I wonder if the friendly people quit.)So I was surprised I had the experience I had there. Maybe I came on a bad day? Maybe the workers have changed since the last review...or maybe people are just too nice.

The place is really small, about 25 chairs including a few bar stools if you choose to sit at the bar. No comfy chairs or couches at all, as there usually is at most coffee shops. But maybe space was an issue so the comfy chair idea was impossible. The usual chalkboard menu boards, one for espresso drinks and one for food. They have a small sandwich menu with the usual paninis and soups for sale.

I ordered a soy vanilla latte (I had my fill of coffee this morning so I wasn't up for more) and Chad got his usual Americano. The barista was unfriendly to say the least. She bluntly asked "what do you want?" when we got there, and I immediately regretted my decision to tip. After she watched me put the dollar in the jar she couldn't bother to utter so much as a "thanks". I have to say as a barista, if I see someone put a tip in I ALWAYS say "thank you" or if I am busy at least catch their eye and smile a thanks. Because you want the customers to feel appreciated, and baristas don't get paid a lot so tips are big factor on income. Anyway so as we waited for our drinks we got the pleasure of hearing the latest gossip as the 2 baristas working there talked about their man problems and their friend's man problems. Fascinating. I know if I owned a coffee shop I would love for my workers to not only bring their personal lives into work but to talk about it in a not so hushed tone. For the 2 drinks it was $8.05. Chad ordered a cookie but she didn't hear him or care because she never rang it up and we never got it (ironically it was a smiley sugar cookie). She was barely listening to us anyway as I ordered. She just stared at me blankly, even almost pissy, then wordlessly made our drinks. When we got our drinks, she did walk them out to us (which was nice). But since we made a point to say "for here" we thought we'd get ceramic mugs (you know...trying to be as green as possible) instead we received the to-go stirofoam cups.

Ok, now we get down to it. How were the drinks you ask? Not good. In fact with all the crap beforehand, the gossiping baristas, the unfriendly service, the outrageous bill...if our drinks had been made well and tasted delicious I would have completely forgiven everything. But they weren't. They were bad, and weak. So weak in fact Chad could see through his Americano. I am thinking for a 20oz they probably put only 2 shots. For my 20oz latte I am thinking they only put 1 and a half or maybe 1. I couldn't even taste a hint of the espresso. When I went up there to ask for some ice for Chad's *burn your taste buds into oblivion* drink, I had to wait until they had a pause in their conversation before I was even noticed. Never mind the fact I was the only one standing at the bar, it's not like I was lost in the crowd.

At one point the 2 workers walked out of the shop for a smoke break. They both walked out, leaving the establishment to self service I suppose. When 2 customers walked in, one of them was kind enough to butt out her cigarette to come in and make a sandwich for them. Never mind the fact she reeked of smoke OR that she didn't wash her hands before making the food. Chad wasn't even able to finish his drink, and I took mine to go. I figured I could just warm it up later, it's not like it was going to taste any worse.

As we walked out, I threw my Koffie Cafe frequent customer card in a nearby trash can. I will not be coming back.

Huggy's Coffee Bar in Vermilion,Oh

2010-02-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

I have been going to Huggy's Coffee Bar for a long time. It's basically the only coffee shop in Vermilion so I didn't have a lot of other options. Though from what I hear there is a gift shop in the historic Harbourtown area that within the past few years added a coffee bar to it called Decidedly Different. I have never been there but that is for another blog...

I have been googling this coffee shop since sitting down to write my blog, trying to dig up some info on it or it's owner Tom Hug or the coffee shop's history but I am coming up with some bare bones stuff that I already knew anyway.

Huggy's Coffee Bar won second place last year for Best Coffeehouse in the Cleveland area and in 2008 they won First Place. Now they're in competion with a lot of other coffee shops in the area so some would wonder, how did small town coffee shop get so popular??

First off I have to talk about the owner, Tom Hug. When I was living with my mom for a few months I had a lot of down time, and I needed to get out of the house or else I would go stir crazy. So everyday I grabbed my little laptop and I went to Huggy's for some coffee and free wifi (my mom's internet was annoying in it's slowness). He asked my name after a week of coming in everyday, and even though he promised he would forget it and probably ask me again, claiming he was bad with names, he remembered it and greeted me warmly everytime I came in since then. He sometimes even had my drink ready before I even got to the counter (a sign of an excellent barista). That is just the kind of guy he is. I asked him once if he ever got any time off, since he was there every single time I went in and his car seemed to always be parked outside. He told me he hasn't had a day off in three years. Three years. I asked him why go for so long without a vacation, and he just shrugged and smiled slightly. He said something about having a hard time getting the schedule filled but I got the feeling he was just one of those people that had a hard time with time off. He loves his coffee shop and he loves his customers. I hear him greet every single one of them by name, knowing their drinks, knowing their stories, knowing their lives. He never seems to have an pretentious ere about him though, yes he owns the place but his wardrobe seems to consist of flannel shirts and jeans. His hair is always a bit messy and his face usually is contemplative, like he is trying to figure a problem out in his head while fixing your latte. So of course, I find him completely endearing. He saw me once at the grocery store (this is before he knew my name) and just yelled "HEY!" and waved and smiled. This was after I had been there twice.

But lets get to the coffee shop itself already. To say it's eclectic would be a HUGE understatement. It's like a antique store just exploded and spewed it's guts everywhere. There is a canoe hanging from the ceiling, various neon signs hanging on the walls, not to mention the tons of things for sale. From paintings to pictures of the old Vermilion to gift baskets, he has it all. He also does custom framing (random I know). Along with the coffee, this place is also known for it's hard to find candy for sale. Want a Zagnut? He has them. How about some Abba Zabba? You got it. He has anything and everything you remember from your childhood.

As far as bakery goes that is where he disappoints me a bit. You know how I love my cookie or brownie with my coffee. But no such luck. I think he orders some muffins and danishes from the local bakery every morning but if you come in at 2pm there is nothing left, nothing that isn't stale. And the "display" case is a bit sad too. It's just a plastic square case that is on one of the tables close to the counter. I would love to see him invest in a nice bakery case and expand on that a bit more, that is always a plus in coffee houses. There is a small lunch menu available. The usual coffee shop stuff, soups and sandwiches. I haven't tried any but I know they are made fresh daily and I have heard a lot of people say good things about them.

I got a soy mocha this time and Chad got his usual Americano. Ho hum. We did get a coffee on the way out as well though. I didn't put a lot of energy into the coffee tasting, considering I have had many espresso based drinks from Huggy's I thought I could give a pretty good review on what I knew already. Everytime Chad gets an Americano from Huggy's I will say it's really strong. Chad made the mistake of telling Tom that he loves strong coffee and Tom just remembered that so now every time we go there he puts like 5 shots in it. Well it's good that he remembers but now his drinks are always crazy strong. My soy mocha was good, a little hotter than I like and I could tell the shots were coming out a little faster than they should have been but all in all it was good. He uses a manual machine and utilizes punch cards , two of my big bonuses. Don't you think that free coffee at the end of your punch card just tastes better than the ones that you paid for? I think so.

A big downside to this place (other than the bakery of course, or lack thereof) would be the outside dining area. In the spring and summertime, there are 2, count them TWO tables set up outside. Now keep in mind this coffee shop is in the "downtown" area, RIGHT on the water where sitting and watching the boats go by would be a lovely way to spend some time. But the two tables he has are on the side of the building, and you usually end up sitting next to a parked car and watching the cars go by blasting music at you, not so relaxing I think. He is set up in the perfect area for a outside seating area, it would take a little rearranging and some imagination but it's possible.

Also I have to talk about the coffee. As I mentioned before, we got a small black coffee on the way out just to get a well rounded review on the place. And the coffee?? Not good. I wanted to call and ask what company he uses, but I am going to have to put an addendum on this blog entry at a later date when I get all the info. I don't know what was going on with the coffee, but it was almost tangy. It creeped into your taste buds and slapped them around a little like a bully wearing combat boots and spiked wrist bands. I don't think unless something changes I would order their regular coffee again.

Huggy's prices are completely reasonable. Much lower than the standard "starbucks-type" coffee shops around. Though I did see a sign alerting patrons that he was going to have to do a price increase due to the rising cost of his supplies. It's a sucky thing, and I am sure it's going to piss some people off, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

My conclusion??? (as if you didn't know already) I love Huggy's Coffee Bar. It's friendly service, good prices and interesting eye catching atmosphere. What else could you want??

Civilization in Cleveland,Oh

2010-02-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

I first heard about this coffee shop from my brother and sister in law. They lived in Tremont for years and raved about this spot. Then my mom chimed in and included herself in as a fan. So I decided that my next stop would be this place just to see what the fuss was all about.

It was a good thing I had looked at it online so I would know what the front of it looked like, or else there is a good chance I would have driven right past it. The building was built back in 1881. It used to be a Pharmacy, and staying true to history the owners decided to keep the old signage and look of the building just as it was. They also kept pretty much everything inside of it the same as it was back when it was used as a pharmacy. All the shelving is the same, even down to the clock on the wall. I really love the fact they decided not to completely re-do it all. I love it's look, and it feels very homey. Of course they had to bring some things in, but somehow it all ends up meshing really well, the old and the new.

You know what I loved first about this place, is the fact it didn't have the "yuppy" feel of some coffee houses in Cleveland (*ahem* Gypsy*). I didn't see one laptop out, and most of the people seemed very friendly. It looked like the typical neighborhood coffee house.

Well I ordered a soy vanilla latte and Chad got an Americano as usual. We did order a coffee on the way out just so the review could be as broad as possible. My coffee had some latte art on it so I was happy about that. It really doesn't take much to make me happy.

But this is where we get to the downside. My cookie was super stale. Like made a week ago stale. Or made a few days ago and the bakery doesn't get put away at night stale. Either way...it was crazy stale. I mean I ate it because a stale cookie is still a cookie you know??

Anyway Chad got a Hippie Cookie and his wasn't as bad as mine so I guess it all balanced out.

All their coffee is locally roasted at City Roast coffee. I have had their coffee before at the West Side Market. I have to be honest with you, I love City Roast coffee, I really do. I have gotten a few of their different kinds of blends, from Mexican to Columbian to Kenyan. I love the fact they roast in small batches to ensure you are getting a freshly roasted cup of coffee. But I gotta say, today's coffee wasn't that great. I am not sure what roast they had today, and I wish I had gotten a better look at the sign so I could provide a better review. But the coffee today was just ok. Nothing to knock my socks off. Maybe it was old, or maybe I am just used to stronger coffee, but it got a shrug from me.

The Baristas there were pretty nice, kind of quiet but thats ok too. They had a basic lunch menu, it looked just like some paninis and various sandwiches, the usual for a coffee shop. Another downside? No light in the bathroom, totally random I know but Chad had to go and the key was right next to the door (which again is a bit odd) and he had to prop the door open a bit just to get some light. I guess you could chalk it up to an old building but come on, I get scared in the dark, at least give me a flashlight or something!

Also another downside, there was a big crack in Chad's cup. Lots of nice bacteria get in those cracks, and I would think if you're going to use ceramic cups like that you should be always mindful of the fact that they do crack and chip. Just something I would keep an eye out for.

Too bad it's still cold outside or else we could have sat outside or taken a walk around the neighborhood. It seemed like a really nice area and I think when it gets warmer we're going to have to come back and explore it more.

The whole thing (1 latte, 1 americano, 2 cookies and a small coffee) ended up costing us about 10 bucks. Not too bad I thought. All in all, I would come back to Civization. I loved the look of the place, the location was really nice and the coffee was worth the drive.

Phoenix Coffee in Cleveland,Oh

2010-02-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

When I first moved to Cleveland and I started to look into the coffee houses in the area, I found that Phoenix coffee was popping up all over my search. They have 5 locations and customers that swear by their brew so I have been wanting to check them out for a while.

Phoenix Coffee started back in 1990, founded by Carl Jones. Now after a little bit of searching, I also found that Carl Jones also founded the first Arabica cafe in 1976. Now I will get to Arabica later on but if you're from cleveland, most of you know that Arabica doesn't exactly have the best reputation for good coffee, or even tolerable coffee...But the good news (well I guess it wasn't exactly good news at the time) but back in 1985 he sold the chains of Arabica Coffee houses due to bankruptcy. One year later after some generosity from friends, he started roasting coffee again and selling it to...Arabica. Well as the cutthroat coffee business goes, partnerships can turn sour on the drop of a dime. And Mr. Jones went his own way and Phoenix Coffee was born.

Chad and I went to Phoenix on Valentine's Day, he was buying dinner so it was the least I could do to buy some coffee. The location on West 9th was the one closest to us so we found a parking spot on the street and went in. I rarely look at the menus anymore when I go into coffee houses, so I just ordered my regular soy vanilla latte and chad had an americano. It looks like they have some lunch items as well as a small selection of bakery. Now this is where I was a bit disappointed. I love my sweets, LOVE my sweets. But their selection was small, very limited. I thought maybe they had just sold out, but when I looked closer, I saw that the trays were full for the most part but the items were just not very appetizing. Give me something chocolate or don't even bother. There was nothing chocolate in there, a small complaint but if you are a chocolate fiend like I am then you'd understand:) There were 2 baristas working. One young girl who I am pretty sure was sick with a cold or something and another older man with the typical coffee house artsy guy attire. On a side note, Chad asked me what "look" he was going for (mostly black, back rimmed glasses, and a stocking cap) and I said it was the cookie cutter coffee house look for guys. I am not saying it's a bad thing, but I have to control myself to not roll my eyes when I am confronted with that look. Oh well...I am sure he is a good barista and I am just harping on something that has nothing to do with what I am talking about...so I digress.

Well first off I will say the coffee was good. I watched her pull my shots, it took a little bit *ok a LOT* longer than I thought since there wasn't anyone ahead of us, but maybe she was new or maybe she was just plain slow. When you work in a drive thru environment like Coffease like I did, it's all about the quickness ALONG with quality. You need to have both and it needs to be done in 2 minutes or less because people are going to work and if you're slow then your tip won't be as good if you get a tip at all. So you learn to be fast. But since we were not in our car and we weren't in a huge hurry, I was ok waiting around a bit. It gave me a good excuse to walk around. The layout of the place is pretty open, I really liked the way they decorated it as well. It was totally my style. Old diner tables paired with antique chairs. Paintings on the wall and on the ground (some used for tables) it was an eclectic mix. There was a huge mixing station with a pitcher of ice water and glasses. I am sure that helps the barista out a lot, something so simple but so smart. Because the majority of coffee drinkers (if they are hanging out) once they are done with their coffee are going to need some water. Simple but helpful. The only thing that threw me off was the color scheme. Orange and Aqua Blue. I just didn't get it and it kind of hurt my eyes to look at the whole place for too long. The blue was nice, very beachy, and the orange was cool and quirky. But together? I don't know...

Anyway when we got our coffees (with a bit of latte art on mine) I have to say it was pretty good. I could tell the espresso shots were pulled correctly and the latte wasn't too hot or too cold. Chad liked his Americano as well but he said there was nothing too exceptional about it. It was a bit pricey but for that downtown area I figured it was pretty average.

I can see where parking would be an issue since there is no dedicated parking area but when you're in a downtown environment sometimes you just have to deal. But since I am talking about parking, I will say that the owners of Phoenix are even trying to help with that. They have a curbside to go program, where you call ahead and in 15min you can drive up and the barista will run it out to your car for you. I thought that was very smart. They are also very much integrated into the community, helping such organizations like Ohio Coalition Against the MisUse of Pesticides and certain Women's Advocacy Groups like Womankind.

All in all I would go back to Phoenix. The coffee was well made, the seating was somewhat comfortable and the decor always gave you something to look at. You can rest easy knowing that your coffee is being locally roasted by someone who really loves coffee and loves what they're doing.

Erie Island Coffee Co Cleveland,Oh

2010-02-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

I first heard about this coffee shop from Craigslist. They were hiring a Barista back in Dec and I thought, oh what the hell I'll apply. But then the holidays came around and school started...ok I was just being lazy. But when Chad called me up after wandering around downtown Cleveland aimlessly, finding himself at the doorsteps of this coffee shop I figured I would check it out. And he was buying so...

From what I gather, here is the background of this place. It started off with their first shop at Kelly's Island. A bit of a random place to start your business if you ask me, but whatever. Maybe there was a market for coffee there. One of the owners used to manage a Starbucks so I was a bit wary about their product. As most of you know, Starbucks is the Wal Mart of coffee and unless you're in a hurry and desperate, it shouldn't ever be consumed.

They are situated in this alley way strip of small restaurants and shops. Completely cute, they even have some places with the store front dining area. That was always a bit odd to me, I don't want a bunch of people watch me eat, but it's the new thing I suppose.

The huge downside to this trendy little area is parking. I had to park in the Quicken Loans parking lot, since it was right around the corner. I am sure if I had driven around a little bit more I probably could have found something cheaper but in the end I paid $4 to park and I hoofed it a block to Erie Island.

First I would like to say, they have decorated the place very nicely. Now, it's not MY taste (I love the quirky mis-matchy look) but I can appreciate when an area is looking classy, and this place was. Comfy seating and Norah Jones on the speakers, it was definitely a chill type of environment. The Baristas (I am so bad with names but I think it was Alexis and Lisa)were very sweet and friendly. I ordered my Soy Vanilla Latte (hey Chad was buying so I was going to live it up) and I even got some latte art in my cup. After much debate, Chad and I both agreed it looked not so much like a Rosetta but more like squished butt cheeks, but I gave it an A for effort. This was actually the first place I have been to in a while that did latte art so I loved the extra touch. I was sad to see my butt cheek picture go away, but I of course needed to taste her creation. And it was wonderful. You can always tell if the espresso shots are coming out correctly by the taste, if it's too bitter or too bland then you know your barista hasn't timed her shots correctly and the machine more than likely needs to be calibrated. But this was perfect. They used hand tamping machines as well, which is always a plus for me. If all you do is push a button then I have a hard time calling you a Barista. The coffee was yummy, the cost was decent (a PLUS for utilizing punch cards!! I love my freebies!!) and the overall friendliness of the workers there made it a place I will definitely stop in again.

Gypsy Beans and Baking Co in Cleveland,Oh

2010-02-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

Well I have taken a long enough hiatus and I figured it was time to come back to my coffee blog. Truth be told, I missed it. But moving, school and money issues came to the forefront of my thoughts and pushed this blog to the back of my priorities. Anyway I am just going to jump right back into it.

This coffee shop is right around the corner from my place so I figured it was the best place to start. I first heard of it from word of mouth, Chad and I were out to dinner one night just after moving to Cleveland and of course our first question was...where is the coffee shops around here? A nice server suggested Gypsy to us and we went the next day. I have been there a handful of times since then so I feel pretty informed giving this review. First I would like to say (because this is the most important part:) that I do love their coffee. They get their coffee from a local roaster, Red Cedar Coffee Company. I have ordered a few different things from them, from a cafe con panna (I had to explain to the barista how to make it though) to a regular coffee, to my *favorite* vanilla soy latte. Everything I have ordered is yummy. But it's not just about the coffee. Yes, the coffee is a HUGE part of it, but it's not all of it. There is one barista there that I like, (I forget her name) and she is always chipper and sweet every time we come in. But there are a few baristas that I can honestly say I don't like so much. They know what they're doing, it's obvious that they are knowledgeable in the art of espresso drinks, but to me, there is more to it. There is customer service. And there is one barista there that I can honestly say I have never seen smile. Never. Chad tells me that maybe thats "just his thing", that maybe he is just a serious person. Ok, maybe that is true. But when you're in a job that you need to interact with the public, throw a smile on your face and try to look like you're not miserable, or a snob. Even if you're just faking it, I don't think most people will know the difference. I don't know...maybe I am making too much of it. But it makes me uneasy. He always looks like there is a frown etched into his face and some of his "smile" muscles are in atrophy. The manager there seems sweet, she is always calling people "love", I just eat up that kind of stuff:) The other baristas there seem alright, helpful and nice enough. But nothing that makes me feel welcome when I go in there. When I was living in Virginia there was a coffee place I frequented. And after a few times of going, not only did the employees remember my drink but they remembered my name and followed up on stories or what was going on in my life at the time. That is the kind of barista I am as well. I will have a hard time remembering what I need to do tomorrow in school but I will be able to remember how many shots you like in your drink and how your kids are doing in school. It's a whole customer service package. It's making people feel good when they walk in. Even when Chad asks how business is doing (being a small local place, we want them to do well and thrive in this economy so we are genuinely interested) the answer is usually half assed at best.

The prices are average for this area, a little pricey but nothing over the top. The atmosphere itself is cozy, the majority of the customers hanging out are on their laptops so it's a little yuppy-esque for me. But as far as coffee houses that are walking distance from our place, it's excellent:)

Jo Jack's Espresso Bar and Cafe in Portsmouth,Va

2009-08-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

So today's review is on Jo Jack's Espresso Bar and Cafe. A cafe in Portsmouth,Va. It's a coffee shop/sandwich shop so you can come here for a coffee or for a good lunch. I've actually come here for lunch before and it was yummy. I've been wanting to check out their coffee (since that is of course what I do) so here I am.

When i arrived, the place was actually pretty busy. They have a drive-thru as well as a dining area but it's not like one where you talk into a speaker, you just pull up to a window and get waited on there. The dining area is pretty big. It has about 5 four top tables, two bars with about 4 stools each and a few two top tables. But what they don't have? Outlets. You would think at the bars at least, where the people that are likely to sit there are alone, there would be a lot of outlets so people can plug in their laptops. Most people that come into coffee houses alone come with either a laptop or a book, some form of entertainment. I had to find a chair right by the bathrooms, it was the only place I could find with an available outlet. But since there are so many tables, I am kind of in the way.

I think I came during their lunch rush but they seemed to be organized about the chaos that was going on. I saw 4 girls working, one of which I think is the owner (always nice to see). One girl running food and drinks, one making the food, one taking orders and one doing the drive thru and checking in on the customers in the dining area. To be honest, the whole time I was here they stayed pretty busy. There was a constant influx of people coming in for the most part. At one point some guy (the manager? owner?) came out from the office and started running food.

I ordered a soy iced vanilla latte.

They have the hand tamping espresso machine here as well. I don't think I would have ordered anything with espresso if it was a super auto. The portafilters were rinsed and drying on the counter. Always a good sign. If you leave them in the machine after you use them, the machine creates a sort of vacuum and sucks up some of the used grinds into the machine gunking it up through time and slowing down your espresso shot.

So i ordered my drink, I was given a plastic number and told to have a seat and my drink would be brought out to me. This was a first for me. But I can only imagine it was because the lack of "waiting area". Most coffee shops have a kind of lingering area for you after you order your drinks. This one didn't really so I guess I can understand the seating thing. What I couldn't understand was the 5 min wait I had for my drink. Now I know any experienced barista could make my drink in 60 seconds or less. I also understand that there were people ahead of me. But 5 minutes? At one point I thought they forgot about me and I was going to check on my drink. But then the girl brought it out and I was just happy to have coffee in my hand.

The coffee? It was good. I think there was only 2 shots in it though. I would have preferred 3 to this size. And the cost? $5.50. I thought that was a lot. It was only 16oz and I know I asked for soy so that is a charge as well but I was a but shocked at the price. I looked at the menu and they ARE a bit pricey with all their drinks. But looking around the majority of the customers are business men and women on their lunch break. The sound of high heels echo on the hardwood floors and men in tacky starched ties and polished shoes milled about chatting on their cell phones. The rest of the customer base consists of older women having lunch with their friends and the occasional bored housewife busy texting away. Not a single person my age is in here. No angsty pierced teenagers in need of their premature caffeine fix or high school barbies wanting her low fat frappuchino. Nope. Just Brooks Brothers and old lady must. Needless to say I am standing out in the crowd. But you know what? Money is money. And in this day and age any small business that is still booming like this place deserves props.

The staff seem to really enjoy their job, there was always someone walking the floor checking on everyone and even at one point someone came and picked up my straw wrapper to throw it away for me.

The ambiance? Well it's kind of a mix of corporate america and indie cafe style. You have the hardwood floors and chalkboard in the corner, the walls are rather bare other than the occasional framed picture of coffee. All the tables are a dark wood with a few cushy chairs on the wall. It's not cozy. It doesn't seem like a place I could curl up and hang out for a while. I think it's focused more of the lunch aspect than the coffee. And their lunches are good but maybe it could be more equal.

Well all in all I did like this place. But I don't know if I will be back. My coffee was good and the people here were nothing but nice but it's just not my type of place. I like the cozy warm coffee houses where the baristas love their coffee. The "barista suggestions" on the wall were lame. Nothing creative in the least. Almond mocha with a cutesy name, blah blah blah. Give me someone who knows how to make a dirty chai or loves their perfect espresso shot. I get the feeling these people will be around here for a while. They're in a good location and they cater very well to their customers. I just don't think I am going to be one of them...

Chocollage in Norfolk,Va

2009-08-01T11:09:00.001-07:00

Everyone thought I gave up on this blog didn't they? Well unemployment adds a whole new level of boredom to life so I thought there is no better time to get this blog back up and running than now. Today's coffee house is Chocollage, nestled in the heart of downtown Norfolk this coffee shop/bakery has gotten nothing but good reviews from their customers so I thought it was a good place to get back on track with my blogging.

To be honest, it wasn't so much hard to find, but hard to park. There is only street parking in this area and so I had to go down quite a few blocks to find a place to park and just hike it back. I'm not complaining, it's actually a very nice area. Complete with houses I could never afford with the streets lined with BMWs and oversized SUVs, beauty always comes with a price.

I walked in and the first thing I noticed was the smell. Oh the sweet smell of a fresh baked goods mixed with fresh coffee, I was instantly in a state of euphoria. The espresso machine they have is a "old fashioned" one (people tend to refer to these machines as old fashioned when in reality they are the only espresso machines worth a crap. If you walk into a coffee house with a super automatic espresso machine, might as well walk right back out..unless you like the taste of burnt turd), but it looks well taken care of. I thought about ordering something with espresso but then I thought about my budget. I decided when I got back into planning for this blog, that I would stick to either hot or iced coffee for the most part. It would just get way too expensive to get into anything fancier. I'd be broke just doing this blog. If I get an espresso based drink every OTHER time I go to a coffee shop then I can save some money. The heart of any coffee shop is both their well timed espresso shots, as well as their regular coffee. It can be the crappiest espresso ever but if you put enough milk and flavor in it, you can cover up any bad taste (believe me, I know...I worked in a hospital coffee shop).

Anyway I just ordered an iced coffee and a black and white cookie from the young girl that was working at the counter. For both it was only a little over $3, so my wallet was ecstatic about that:) Really pretty much all of the coffee drinks are reasonably priced. $3.50 for a breve or $3.20 for a mocha. They also make macchiatos the traditional way..f*ck you starbucks. The rest of the place was dead and truth be told only 4 other customers came in while i was here. I thought that was a bit odd for a Saturday but oh well. Their loss.

My coffee? It was good. I can always tell how good a coffee is based on how much cream and sugar I have to put in it to make it drinkable. I only put in 2 small creamers and no sweeteners. It was kind of odd she put it in a hot coffee cup but I did ask for the biggest cup she had and I noted that the biggest cold cup was only 16oz and the hot cup is 20oz so in the end I guess it doesn't matter what kind of cup it comes in as long as it tastes good. My black and white cookie? Now before I answer this, keep in mind I love cookies ALMOST as much as I love coffee so my standards are pretty high. The cookie...is GOOD. Like, really REALLY good. Obviously very fresh and because of the icing it was kept in a refrigerated case. They serve lunch here as well. Your typical cafe food, soup and quiche and a good selection of sandwiches. I'd probably come back for lunch if it wasn't so far away. If I lived in the area I can see myself not only coming here often but putting on at least 20lbs from the food.

Ok the downsides to this place (I have to be honest right?) First off..parking. I know it's hard in areas like this but parking 5 blocks down and walking isn't my idea of fun. Then again, maybe I DO need to walk off this cookie. Second? Sounds small but there is no music. Just the sound of silence and the occasion tap tap tapping of the barista as she texts away on her phone. Even if its just some soft classical it would be kind of nice. Third? Outlets. There is only one and it's in the corner. I am literally right next to the fridge hiding away in the corner typing away on my laptop. I kind of feel like I am being punished. And lastly the WIFI...I am pretty sure I am stealing off someone else's wifi at the moment.The network they're on was sucky (linksys) so I had to jump on someone elses. Thank you Motorola!!!

But all in all I am very happy with my visit here. The barista was very friendly and helpful and the owner kind of reminded me of my grandma:) I'd recommend it to anyone who was looking for a cozy independent coffee house or bakery in Norfolk. I think the old fashioned bakeries need to make a comeback. No more going to your local grocery store for your child's birthday cake. Even if it is a little bit out of the way for you, this place is well worth the trouble.

Additional Note..

2008-12-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ok ok I KNOW I am trying to work on my anger issues but the previously mentioned group of biddies just left and didn't even attempt to take their piles of plates and mugs to the counter. Just left them there. *sigh* People like that need to be punished by working in customer service for a week, just to see what it's like.

Phoebus Coffee House- Hampton,Va

2008-12-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well I'm a big liar and I decided not to review the previously mentioned Cavanaugh's Cafe and Bakery. Mainly because while I DO plan on going there and getting some of their raved about pastries, it's mostly a bakery and oh yea they serve coffee too. I wanted to keep my blog more geared towards Coffeehouses. If I start to blur the lines with places that i decide to review pretty soon I'll be going to Cracker Barrel to blog about their coffee. And it's a slippery slope from there. Can you imagine? Next up...7-11 Coffee....

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.

Economy or crap coffee???

2008-12-06T07:03:00.001-08:00

I just saw that Maui Wowie, the coffee place I previously reviewed has gone under. Also my previous employer Coffease 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...

Long time no see my friends..

2008-12-04T17:59:00.000-08:00

Going to review some places this weekend:
Cavanaugh's Cafe and Bakery in Hampton,Va as well as
Jim's Bean in Chesapeake Va (though I can't find anything on them but their address so my plan B is Chocollage in Norfolk,va)

Stay Tuned!!!

beach brew coffee co.

2008-08-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Ok I know I haven't posted anything in this blog in a while. Mostly it was a money situation. I had a hard enough time keeping gas in my tank this past month and trying to get together the money to drive around virginia wasn't part of my list of important things for me. But I'm back in the saddle and reviewing this place in Virginia Beach, Beach Brew.

First off I had never heard of this place, and really I hadn't heard anything from word of mouth about it from my friends in the coffee world. So I was curious to see what this place was all about. I thought from the name maybe it would be at the ocean front, but it's tucked away behind this nondescript shopping plaza and if I didn't know it was here, there is no way I would just "happen" by. Since it's also *behind* all the shops, not even visable from the street. Since I am coming from work, where I just got done sucking down 2 cups of coffee (not actually thinking ahead that maybe I should have saved some room for some more coffee for my review) I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy so I just got a plain coffee. The place, to be honest, (and this is all about honesty), smells funny. I think they might be making some panini sandwiches or something but I definitely didn't smell coffee when I walked in. Though the place is cute enough. Hand painted walls, complete with orange suns and blue spirals, each wall a different color made it quaint and unique. The barista seemed nice enough, though all he did was hand me an empty cup since again, all I ordered was coffee. I still put a dollar in the tip cup since I always tip my barista regardless of what they make for me, or don't make. There are yummy pastries in the display case, though it was a little sparse. Two shelves of syrups lined the walls and I find myself staring at flavors that i had never even heard of. Though the syrup brand itself is on the cheap side. All of the tables and chairs match, black on black, which looks nice in it's simplicity. A corner has the classic coffeehouse couches and comfy chairs and on one wall it has coffees for sale, though it looks like you bag them yourself which is a little odd. And on one side note, while I was ordering my coffee i noticed there was someone sleeping in the corner. Like an employee, just catching some shut eye I guess. I don't know, maybe I am being picky but I would like to think, if you're on the clock and in uniform you should be conscious.

I couldn't spend a lot of time there since it seems I picked a day some school was doing a class project where they were filming scenes so there was a big group of kids with racks of clothes, people yelling directions and some dude filming it all. I felt really uncomfortable so I left a lot earlier than I wanted to. I did think it was a little rude and if they were going to be doing something like that, they should do it after hours so they wouldn't disturb the customers.

But all in all the coffee was yummy and if there wasn't this whole production going on around me, then I might have enjoyed myself a little more. I don't think I will go again, just because i am never in that area. It's totally out of the way for me. But if for some reason I AM in the area again, I think I would stop again. I'm curious about their espresso drinks.

So in conclusion, I'm not over the moon about this place, but it is worth a stop.

Coffees of Hawaii- French Roast 100% Kona Blend

2008-07-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Today is another 'Coffees of Hawaii' Coffee- It's a French Roast 100% Kona blend

Upon opening the bag, I didn't even have to look at the label to see it was a French roast. Very dark and oily, this bean has a very distinct smell. Anyone who knows anything about French roasts, knows that this kind of coffee is not just for any novice. You have to like a very burnt taste to your coffee.

The bean isn't burnt really, it's just the taste it takes on after being roasted for a period of time. Basically french roasted coffee is roasted longer than a light roast. When roasting the beans, they pop (or crack) once and then they're closer to a light roast, after a second time, it's closer to a french roast. It's not that common to see a Kona French Roast. Mainly because coffees from Kona or other island areas like to roast lighter, to preserve the natural flavor of the region. And I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of french roasts. Some people think this is the darkest roast there is, but it's not. Many italian roasts are even darker and I've heard of a "Spanish" roast (never seen or had it though) that is the darkest they get. But the longer you roast a bean, the more it's going to take on the flavor of the roasting itself. And this French Roast is definitely no exception. One more thing you might not know about darker roasts either, they have LESS caffeine. Some people think they have more because of how smoky and burnt they taste, but that is not the case. Just a little tidbit of info from me to you.

The Coffee itself is a little smoother than other dark roasts I have had, that is probably because of the Kona. The roast itself makes the beans oily and I can see a very faint film of oil on the top of my coffee as well. It's definitely not as bitter as other coffees. I can even smell a very faint odor of dark chocolate and berry. And the fact that this is a Kona blend, makes it all that more special. I will always have a spot in my heart for Kona coffee, and even though it's a *blend* I can still taste the unique flavor of the bean. Even sitting here with the open bag nearby, the smell of the beans are so potent, they fill the room. I'm definitely not a black coffee drinker (sorry guys!) but this coffee??? I might make an exception...

Starbucks...600 down....16000 to go

2008-07-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

As most of you are aware (really ALL of you should be aware if have ever met me) I am anti-Starbucks. I will be the first to admit I wasn't always this way. I once got a speeding ticket because I was caffeine deprived and upon seeing a Starbucks sign on the highway, I gunned it and was pulled over for going 20 miles over the speed limit. My excuse of getting carried away by the excitement of coffee didn't help me at all with the police officer, he only gave me an odd look and finished writing my $200 ticket.

But people can change, and after some time working in the indie coffee shops, I see that Starbucks is nothing but a fast food chain of coffee. They even have drive-thrus in many of them to make things even faster for the person on-the-go and in need of some overpriced over-roasted crap coffee. But when i woke up this morning and saw that the coffee chain had changed it's number from 100 to 600 stores that were closing nationwide, I was...well...not surprised. I KNOW a lot of it has to do with the economy. Money is tight and when people are trying to pinch pennies, the first thing to go is their expensive coffee habit. Start brewing at home and save that $5 a day. But it's also because Starbucks got greedy. WAY too greedy and full of itself. They expanded too fast, thinking the failing economy could not possibly touch it. But they were wrong. In many cities, you can see multiple stores on a radius of just a few blocks. The saying that there is a Starbucks on every block is true in many cases. They saturated the world with their overpriced shit coffee and overly cheery "baristas" with their green visors and perma-grins. I refuse to label these workers baristas, since all they do is froth some milk and push some buttons. I know it's not their fault, they work for a company with good benefits and decent tips, and I can't really blame them for donning that green apron every day. I even had some job offers to work for Starbucks. But every time, I turned them down, scared of what it would do to my skills, to my mind...to my soul. I love coffee too much to just push some buttons and call out drinks that take me 30 seconds to say.

So 600 stores are closing. It's the economy plus corporate greediness.. PLUS lack of quality. You can't dismiss that. It is nothing new to say their coffee quality is sub-par. Yea, as a friend of mine pointed out, they DID start out as a little coffee shop in Seattle, they developed a customer base, and they branched out... to become the biggest Coffee Company in the world. But like many small businesses that expand so quickly, they lost their heart along the way. They lost what it means to take a second and make a good cup of coffee. It became something to do as quickly as possible, take the order, make the drink, call it out, and have the customer be on their way. Like you're in an assembly line, nothing more than a nameless faceless drink order. If you come in often and become a regular, they might remember your name and your drink, say hello to you as you walk in the door like Norm from Cheers. But generally speaking, you're just someone waiting in an eternal line to get a drink that isn't worth half the amount of money you spent on it. Am i bitter? No. I just know what good coffee is, and that knowledge prevents me from ever going back to the coffee chain. Once you've been enlightened, everything else, is just shit...and who wants to pay $5 for shit?? I know I don't. So goodbye 600 stores, hope those workers find other jobs quickly and at the very least Starbucks takes care of them. I AM sorry those people are losing their jobs. It's not their fault the stores are closing but they have to pay for it. They're saying possible 12,000 jobs could be eliminated because of this. They are going to try and re-distribute these employees in other stores though.

Though maybe other businesses can learn a valuable lesson from Starsucks, regardless of how big you get or how much money is coming in, remember how it all started. With a quality company and quality products. People stop seeing all that and just see dollar signs. But in the end, it's the almighty dollar that damaged them.

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins for a reason...

Elliot's Fairgrounds in Ghent (norfolk,va)

2008-06-25T08:50:00.002-07:00

First off I should mention this coffeehouse isn't just any coffeehouse. I first heard about this place when I moved here. The mentioning of it is usually accompanied by "you HAVE to go check this place out". But at the same time I also knew where this place was located, and because of that, I knew what kind of customers would be there.

Elliot's Farigrounds is in the heart of the Ghent part of Norfolk. Ghent is the token artsy area. Complete with little quaint shops and restaurants, all local, independent businesses that make a point to stray from corporate America. It's also very...VERY expensive. While the people here make a point to go against the grain, they also stray so far away from it, it becomes slightly annoying. I mean don't get me wrong, I don't detest the smell of patchouli wafting in the air, and I can appreciate the function of big messenger bags. Low rise jeans, hair wrapped up in paisley scarves and tiny tiny tank tops seems to be the dress code. It is your classic hippie boho vibe and it makes me a little ill. Just because those people are forcing it so much it becomes just another trend and fad. But I digress...

This place is famous for being parked right across the street from a Starbucks. And really, you have to admire that. It's giving the big middle finger to the "man" and I like it. They are also famous for only using fair trade organic coffees (get it, fairground...fair trade...anyway) which I'm sure is a huge factor for the locals in this area. When you're dealing with the hippie crowd, nothing makes them drool more then by saying the words organic. I mean the coffee could taste like pure shit but as long as it's organic or fair trade you'll have a crowd. It was built into the upstairs of an old Victorian house, so if you have trouble climbing stairs this might not be a good place for you. But once you ascend the creaky narrow staircase, you are brought into another world. Big area rugs cover the hardwood floors and carefully matching tables and chairs (furniture that is meant to look mis-matched but matches anyway if that makes sense) are placed very well spaced apart throughout the dining area. There is even an enclosed patio area that i wanted to check out, but due to the lack of outlets and my laptop's inability to keep a charge, I was stuck indoors. The music is classic, nothing in the least bit contemporary or modern, which isn't a bad thing. Old jazz and blues plays just loud enough to hear it, but not so loud it's distracting. Artwork covers the walls with patches of exposed brick, and ceiling fans slowly spin above you. I got up to the bar and ordered my drink (iced soy mocha). They only accept credit cards for charges over $20 and since I didn't want to spend that much, I chose to pay with a check. Yes, a check. I can honestly say i have never written a check for a coffee but that's what I get for being unprepared and not carrying any cash. But the barista was nice about it and even explained to me why they don't use the credit card machine for purchases so low. It all comes down to credit card charges and things like that. They had an ATM but I didn't feel like spending $5 to withdraw my own money. We chit chatted about the ridiculousness of charges that banks throw at us during the moments it took her to make my iced mocha (yes I said iced MOCHA Riverview coffee lady!!! F*CK YOU!) and I got my drink, tipped a buck and found a seat. My drink was yummy. I mean you can't really mess up a drink like that, but these days you just never know. I wanted to do a little bit of a back story on this place, but it seems their website isn't complete so I'll do that some other time.

What I do know is the employees that work here have been here for years. They had an opening a few months ago that filled quickly so it seems like a good place to work and when the employees are happy, the customers are happy. I thought about applying when they were hiring but it's too far and I think this type of customer would drive me too crazy with their skim sugar free vanilla lattes. You have to give props to a business that makes a point to only buy fair trade organic coffees, and not just whatever is cheapest. They obviously care about the big picture and you have to admire that.

All in all, this place is definitely a place I would come to again if it was closer. Venturing down to this part of town in an adventure and not one I would want to have on a regular basis. Though with my new job i will be driving past it on a daily basis so maybe I will become more of a regular than I think. Who knows. Anyway I don't have too many bad things to say about this place. Basically it's your classic indie coffeeshop with a "too cool for school" vibe. But if you're anything like me, it's all about the coffee and as long as that's good it's all gravy baby.

Coffees of Hawaii- Malulani Estate (100% moloka'i Coffee)

2008-06-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well I am reviewing a coffee today. This is the first in a series of 5 Coffees I am reviewing on this roasting Company (ok it's really 4 coffees and 1 espresso). Anyway this wonderful roaster sent me some samples of his coffees about *ahem* a few months ago. I have no excuse for my actions, only to say I was in a deep coffee depression after severing my ties to my beloved coffee shop a month and a half ago. But the fog is lifting and I am back blogging again about what I love most in life...coffee.

Anyway I'll just dive right into it.

First off the smell came out and hit me in the face right when I opened the bag. Full bodied?? To put it mildly. The nutiness (is that a word?) is very strong and it seems to seep into my nose even when I am not breathing in, forcing me to take it all in. Now once brewed, the hints of chocolate come out. A slight hint of earthiness to it as well. This coffee is very mild in taste. Something you don't really need to add a lot of cream or sugar to, if that is something you normally do. It just kind of is mellow with just a slightest hint of something citrusy (another word I'm going to use so deal with it) as an aftertaste. And the taste definitely stays on your tongue for a while after your last sip.

This is a very mild coffee that I can see becoming a favorite of any kind of coffee drinkers. Some coffee drinkers like coffee that is very light and full of bite, and some like the heavy dark roasts that can take a good amount of sugar and cream and still retain it's taste. This coffee is so passive but at the same time full of flavor and sweetness, it could be loved by many.

next up???

2008-06-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Coffees Of Hawaii
Malulani Estate

Riverview Coffee Parlor - Norfolk, Va

2008-06-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

Well today's review is on Riverview Coffee Parlor,about 15min down the street from my place in Norfolk. I've actually tried a few times to get in here for a review but it seems every single time I try, it's closed. This place has crazy hours, Mon-Fri 800am-5pm and Sat 900am-2pm. Closed Sundays.

When I first walked in, I was caught off guard by the quiet. The music they play is so low it's practically inaudible. But right off the bat, I saw this place was very unique. From the church pew being used as seating, to the mis-matched tables and paisy couches (hello Martha Stewart early 1990), this place is anything but boring. There is 2 separate bookshelves filled with various used books, and magazines organized thoughtfully throughout the dining area. Huge chalkboards display drinks, various syrups and specials. Also, it's hand written, not anything made to LOOK like a quaint coffee shop chalkboard. I was greeted when I walked in the door and again when I got to the counter. The owner (who was working as a barista at the time) apologized for the wait, even though it consisted of about 60 seconds. I asked if they had soy (I know almost all coffee shops do but I like to ask just to be sure) which they did so I proceeded to order my drink. And this began what was to become one of the oddest exchanges I have ever had about coffee...

When i asked for a iced soy mocha I was attacked mid sentence by an explanation of the word "mocha". Because according to my barista "it is NOT chocolate but a coffee bean that doesn't taste anything like chocolate and you must be confused by ordering this. Did you mean an iced latte?"
"Sure", I replied, "if you can put chocolate in it." I don't like to throw around the fact that when i come into a coffee shop I am NOT just some Starbucked brainwashed moron. While I don't regularly pat myself on the back, I am almost positive that I know more about coffee than most baristas, and I knew that she was wrong. I just didn't want to correct her, too much trouble.

** Before I go on I should talk for a second about this "mocha" mixup. First off Mocha IS a coffee bean. It originated from Mocha, Yemen. But the bean DOES taste chocolatey which is why it was adopted as the title for an espresso based chocolate drink. Now if I wasn't in the U.S, and I was in Europe and I saddled up to my nearest cafe and ordered a mocha, it might mean something different. Because again, that coffee bean is still named the Mocha bean. I might order a mocha and get a coffee, made with that bean. But HEY HEY, it would taste chocolatey!! Also, last time I checked I was in the U.S. So there***

She even made the mistake to ask me if I was sure I was ordering an espresso drink. She felt the need to remind me that lattes DO in fact, HAVE espresso and was I sure I wanted that? I stopped trying to pretend I was nice and just started openly throwing her my best 'fuck you" look. I ordered my iced latte with chocolate (which again, to NORMAL people would be commonly referred to as an iced MOCHA) and marshmallow flavoring. What I got was an iced latte with marshmallow, no chocolate (after ALL THAT, I didn't even get my chocolate!!!!), and then I got to pay $7 for it. I can honestly say i have NEVER paid so much for a espresso drink. Even when I ask for extra shots. Even when I went to a coffee shop in NEW YORK CITY. I just stared blankly and forked over the money, feeling violated and abused. I know I could have said something to her about the chocolate, like why, after all of that commotion could you possibly NOT remember to put it in my drink? But I was afraid she didn't charge me for it and I was already paying over $7 and I didn't want to pay any more. Though I didn't tip like I normally do, mostly because she pissed me off by talking down to me.

I took a seat at a table that kind of looks like a table my grandma has (complete with a lack of comfort) and opened my laptop to do this blog. Only to find out this place has no wifi. So I get to pay $7 for my drink, have a belittling exchange with the owner and then there is no wifi? What coffee shop has no wifi? Even MY job has wifi and it's a kiosk!

But my coffee DOES taste good. It has too much ice and did I mention it is TOTALLY overpriced??!!! But good all the same.

They have creative drinks here like the ginger snap (espresso and chai), chocolate chai (self explanatory) and a HUGE of syrups (Grape anyone??). They also have lunches and homemade limeade and lemonade which i will have to try next time. I see that it's within my price range and I won't be going broke ordering it (unlike my latte!!!). They get their coffee from Williamsburg Coffee and Tea, so they're buying local and fresh coffee. The only thing is this company makes flavored coffee, and that tends to draw me away from companies like that. Because flavored coffee is just a bastardization of coffee, the cheapest shittiest beans covered in flavor and artificial crap. But other than that I see good reviews of this company and my drink was good so I won't get too high on my horse.

All in all it's about the coffee and my drink was good. The atmosphere is different, everything looks like it was hand picked with care and the owner calls all the customers by their names as they walk in. So there is something to say about owners who are so hands on they know many of their customers on that level. I am still suffering from the fact I have to write all of this on a text editor and plug it into my blog later. But then again, the lack of technology here is not much of a surprise. Everything here, all the way from the owner to the furniture is old fashioned, not at all hip or "with it". This isn't the place that is ever going to be trendy or cool. I don't see a huge younger crowd coming here either. And I'll be honest I probably won't be coming back, other than to maybe try the lemonade. But I am glad I came, it's definitely a little jewel thats tucked away from the rest of the world...in more ways than one.

* Pics to come tomorrow

NEW Caribou Coffee Iced Coffee - Regular

2008-05-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest, normally I pass right over these pre-bottled "iced coffees" in the grocery store. Starbucks has them everywhere and I would be a liar if i said I didn't go through a phase where I was drinking them all the time. But i have grown since then as a coffee lover and tend to feel like a strung out addict just looking for a quick and cheap fix buying them anymore.

But when I found out my first love, mi amor, Caribou Coffee was coming out with iced drinks, then i had to check them out...

Basically long story short, I started out in the *working* coffee world when I got hired on at Caribou Coffee in Denver. I didn't have a clue before then about coffee making, other than brewing a pot at home. So that is where I cut my teeth as they say. And look at me now!!

Anyway I do have to say I like the bottle. Not that it really matters what kind of packaging it's in, I just think it's good it doesn't look anything like Starbucks. On the side of the bottle it reads 'all natural ingredients' so I am hopeful for a natural coffee tasting experience.

Looking the ingredient list it says: Coffee, red fat milk, sugar, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavors and carrageenan (no idea what that last one is, I'll have to look it up later)

Opening it up, it smells...well...like Yoohoo. I don't know how else to describe it! To me it smells just like a Yoo hoo...

And how does it taste? Well... like coffee. Not too sweet and not too milky, just coffee. I mean a really WEAK coffee with a hint of aluminum (I *might* have to take back my previous comments about the packaging), but coffee all the same. There is a Vanilla flavored one that I'm sure is sweeter, so I'm glad the grocery store was out.

Perhaps the front of the bottle says it all, " Coffee drink with a splash of milk".
A far as the nutritional info with 120 calories, 210mg of sodium, 24g of sugar and 1.5g of fat ( or 3 pts for you WW peeps out there) it's not the WORST out there.

This isn't the drink you want to buy if you are jonesing for a fix of caffeine. It's the drink you buy at lunchtime if you have a low caffeine tolerance, and you need a little pep in your step.

All in all I say this drink is...ok. Better than those *other* iced coffees that you purchase at your local grocery store, but not the kick someone like me needs when I am seconds away from falling asleep at the wheel. I can't put it down Caribou TOO much though, it's just something in me that when i see that little blue Caribou on the label, I can't help but save a little space in my heart for it:)

But I can't finish my drink so perhaps that says something too...

Branching out...

2008-05-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

I am going to start reviewing not ONLY coffee houses but COFFEES as well. Stay tuned.
..

RANT of the day....

2008-04-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you're going to make a point to walk into an indie coffeeshop... I think that's awesome. I don't care WHY you're here, if it was more convenient or because you think we're going to be cheaper than Starbucks. All I ask is this. Please...PLEASE remember that you are NOT actually AT Starbucks. I am NOT wearing a green apron and visor and I am NOT excessively chipper. So PLEASE don't get confused and order a drink like you would at the *other* place. If you say Venti, Grande or Tall to me I will look at you like you are an idiot and ask you again what size you would like. Small, medium and large is cool. I understand that. And don't laugh me off like *I* am the moron for not understanding your lingo.

So to the woman that came in this morning and was pissy because i wouldn't put the Splenda in her "double tall Skinny latte", it's not because I couldn't put the Splenda in, I didn't put it in because you pissed me off. And your order pissed me off. And the fact you laughed at me saying "oh I'm so used to Starbucks" like that was an excuse was even more infuriating. So you had to walk your happy ass the whole two feet to the sugar and creamer table to get it in your damn self. So there.

Ok so I lied...Todays's Review: Maui Wowi (not to be confused with maui wowie:) Virginia Beach, Va

2008-04-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

So I know I was supposed to be reviewing Bad Ass Coffee Co with this next entry, and I AM...tomorrow. Today it's Maui Wowi (http://www.mauiwowi.com/) in Virginia Beach. It *just* opened here (I want to say less than a year ago),and from what i hear it's struggling a little. But basically I was driving past and had some time to kill so I stopped. The sign reads "Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothies" but after reading the menu a bunch of times, I think perhaps they should have taken off the "coffee" part.

It's warm out and close to summertime, so I'm all about the cold espresso drinks but I would like the OPTION of having my favorite drinks in hot. They DO have a hot drink menu,but you basically have to squint real hard and click your shoes three times to see it. So I resigned to the fact I was going to have to order a "smoothie" type drink. I still wanted my caffeine though! So i ordered a "smoothie cappuccino" ( I will NOT get into my frustration with coffee companies that abuse the "cappuccino", which is ACTUALLY a HOT espresso drink with an inch or more of milk foam..NOT in ANY way a cold or frozen drink) after some confusing talk with the barista...

Me: "so is there espresso in the smoothie cappuccinos?

Barista: there CAN be

Me: so..it's a mix?

Barista: *stares blankly*

Me: um...so is there caffeine??

Barista: *nods head while looking at me like I'M the idiot*

Me: ok, well I'll have the almond mocha one

Barista: do you *WANT* an espresso shot in it??

Me: sure...."

After forking over almost $4.50 for my SMALL drink I found a little table in the corner for my blog. I had no issues finding an outlet for my laptop since there are powerstrips at every outlet, which is nice because there isn't a LOT of outlets here. My drink is good, totally full of sugar and artificial unknown entities but good all the same. I can't taste my espresso which is kind of sucky but I can deal. And it came with a cute little umbrella that make me smile.

This place serves good smoothies from what i hear, but I am SO not the smoothie type girl. Give me something with caffeine or get the hell out of my face. It's really new so it smells nice and all the tables and decor are still shiny and sparkling. There are empty burlap sacs of Kona Coffee from the Hawaii Coffee co hanging on the walls, and a few framed advertisement posters.The floor is a brown concrete I think and there are some tacky little palm trees ( plastic blow up ones as well and just plain plastic ones) around the dining area and the sugar and cream area is almost non existent. They have a nice bakery case with cookies and brownies, but nothing I found too enticing.

Maybe one of the most disappointing things about this place is the small 'Coffee For Sale' rack that they have. It's just a few sparse shelves holding...LION coffees and teas. I'm sorry...WHAT??!! Yea, i could totally go to the freaking supermarket to get that shit if I wanted it. When you go to a smaller coffee "shop" ( I have that in quotations because I don't think I would classify this place as such) like this I want to see some nice freshly roasted coffee on display. I understand this place has a hawaiian theme so they're not going to sell the same type of coffees that other coffee shops sell, but isn't there a better Hawaiian Coffee co than Lion Coffee??? But while I AM on the hawaiian theme, I will say if this place is supposed to be a hawaiian type of smoothie place, wouldn't you think the music playing would be...oh I don't know....something 'island like'?? I mean come ON! I am listening to maroon 5 right now and it's NOT making me feel like I am back in Oahu. I think if you have a themed place, you should probably stick to that theme all the way around and not just have a few things here and there.

But all in all I can't say this place is sucky or warn people never to come here. But don't think of it as a coffee shop. If you're wanting a smoothie or a nice frozen sugary blended beverage, then this is the place for you. I can't come down on a business for trying to find their little niche in this market, just take the "coffee" part out and be honest with your public.

Customer question of the day...

2008-04-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

"What is a machacho??" (referring to a macchiato...)

next up???

2008-04-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Bad Ass Coffeehouse in Chesapeake,Va!

Bean There Cafe, Chesapeake,Va

2008-04-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to stop at this place for a little while now. Not only because of the things I have heard about it (latte artists, amazing baristas!), but because they host a 'Coffee Snobs' meetup every week where they talk about the basics of pulling a good espresso shot and steaming milk. I figure, if these people are so involved in the coffee world, they are my kind of people. So I made a plan to come and see what they're all about.

After a few wrong turns and frustrating parking lot maneuvering, I found the place at the end of a new shopping center in Chesapeake (a very snobby higher end part of town). It's across the street from a shopping mall and close to a Starbucks, so I wonder how their business is in the morning. I can't really see it being under the category of "convenient" to get to on your morning commute but it IS in a growing shopping area so maybe the afternoon and evening crowd is better. I noticed from their website that they host an open mic night so I'm sure their friday and saturday night crowd is significant.

From the moment I walked in, I noticed the space, mainly because there is SO much of it. From the hugely tall ceilings, to the black floors, there is more space than I can even convey. It's only made to look bigger by the small tables and painted brick walls. The tables and chairs are obviously hand picked to go with the trendy atmosphere. Large paintings and little "cafe' signs give culture to the place, but not too much is needed. I kind of like the lack of clutter. There is a small bookcase in the corner and the cream and sugar station is an antique looking dressing table. Track lighting hangs from the rafters and even the menu board is high above eye level, made to look handwritten for that homey feel. All in all I really like the vibe here. I don't feel like I am being surrounded by yuppies typing away on their laptops, trying to get their work done before they get home. Most people are just reading a book or having a friendly conversation here. There is one couch in the corner and the music is indie and fun to listen to. Not too distracting but it's not putting me to sleep either.

As far as my drink (because that IS what it's all about isn't it??) I ordered an island kiss which is dark chocolate and coconut. I got it iced with soy milk of course. I couldn't watch the barista make it for me, since my wonderful co-worker ordered it for me before I even got here. But I did spy on him a little (without trying to look like a stalker) while he was making some drinks and luckily he was doing the hand tamping. I have become a snobby barista and I tend to think that if you're using a super automatic, you don't really have the right to call yourself a "barista" since there is nothing more to your job than pressing a few buttons. People that hand tamp are more involved in the espresso making process and know when your shots are coming out good or bad based on your tamping "skills" as it were. But back to my drink... I have one word to say about it and that word is YUMMY. I don't know how many shots are in it (my only little baby complaint is I can't taste any of the espresso so maybe one more shot and I would have been good) but it was chocolatey goodness. I think next time I come I will order just a coffee to see how their stuff is. I know I just ordered a prissy girly drink and if I want to know about the heart of a coffee shop I need to order just a coffee. But after working all day, I'm not in the plain coffee mood and I wanted some thing something that will hit the sweet tooth I have. Though I think he should have put the soy milk in a little earlier because I have excessive milk chunks in the bottom of my cup. I know with soy, some chunks are un-avoidable ( just because of the consistency of soy) but my level of chunks are a little over the top:)

The barista seems nice enough, though I notice a little bit of fake niceness. I can't get on him too much for that, because haven't we all faked it a little bit for that tip??? Fake it to make it my friends.

All in all I like this place. I will for sure come back and get a coffee, and maybe talk to the barista a little next time to pick his or her brain about this place and maybe try to get some ideas for my place. All coffeehouses are different, all have their own little niche in the java biz, and this one's place?? Hopefully in the heart of Chesapeake...

Customer question of the day...

2008-04-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

"Is your iced coffee like Burger King's??"

Check back..

2008-04-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

On me this weekend. Next up? Bean There Cafe in Virginia Beach

http://www.beantherecafe.com/

Joe...The Art of Coffee on the "West Side" of Manhattan

2008-04-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like my first official review for this blog is going to be a half-assed thrown together attempt. I tried taking pics of the place and my camera's batteries are dead. I tried getting online to no avail either. No free wifi for me:( So I am writing this all on a text editor just so I can get my thoughts down and I'll paste it into my blog later.

After wandering around "The West Side" in Manhattan today, I decided my feet had enough and it was time to stop at this coffee joint my brother and sister in law recommended. Like a lot of New York coffeehouses, the place is small but I managed to find a little spot by the wall so I can plug in my laptop. I ordered an iced soy mocha. I won't mention the outrageous cost or the fact they don't accept credit cards since both these things are a given here in the "Big City". I will mention though the fact the cashier/barista acted like I was imposing on him by asking to give me five ones for my five (hey it was so I could tip him dammit!!) or the fact they used plain soy milk (bleh). The mocha itself was made well, albeit *slow* and turned out tasty. There was a lot of equipment blocking my view so I couldn't see how he was tamping my shots or how many pumps of syrup went into it.

The atmosphere of this place is somewhat chill. But chill in a way that it *tries* to be chill. Exposed brick walls, dark wood floors and small cafe tables make up this little coffeehouse with the typical indie background music playing just loud enough to be borderline annoying. Most of the customers here are doing some sort of homework or paperwork. Only two tables have people that are actually talking to each other. There is a nice "outdoor patio" type area. Just big enough for 2 small benches (hey it's a big city, everything has to be small) where people are sitting and conversing. It looks like those would be the coveted spots, you can sit and relax while people watch and enjoy your drink.

Overall since this was the last coffee place I stopped at in during my vacation, I had high hopes. But maybe it's just that the big city coffee shops aren't the kind of place for me. Overall I thought my drink was good and the reputation of the place is pretty high as I discover that they hold coffee "classes" every month or so. So I would recommend this place to someone that was visiting New York. But for a girl like me, I miss the smaller more personable places where you feel welcomed and comfortable.