beach brew coffee co.

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

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

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)

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)

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???

Coffees Of Hawaii
Malulani Estate

Riverview Coffee Parlor - Norfolk, Va

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