Rendezvous

Downtown coffeeshop...open late every night of the week.

Try the Pollock--ask for your second shot (it's free).

All of the Artist inspired drinks are delicious though. The O'Keeffe is equally d'lish (that's how some friends and I decided that delish should be spelled).
My one complaint is that they don't have enough plug-in's for computers.

The environment is chill and relaxing like coffeeshops should be. Exposed brick, ventilator shafts, booths, and board games.

Art on the walls, and the wonderful smell of roasting coffee. A delightful coffeeshop.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

coffee isn't a competition

Two of my friends are former baristas...and they are attempting to have a competition over who can make me a better latte. I told them that it isn't a competition, but they won't listen to me. It doesn't help that they are both men and that they are best friends. Of course, it has to be a competition.

I do look forward to drinking some good coffee, though. Especially since I haven't had caffeine in over a week...I know...scary!! This is probably not the best time of the year to go off of caffeine as finals are looming before me, but when I realized just how much caffeine I was consuming I was a little concerned about my health. I want to enjoy coffee a couple times a week, not 5 or 6 times a day. Well, that's not really true...I want to enjoy coffee 5 or 6 times a day, but for the sake of my health, I think 2 or 3 times a week is a much better option. All things in moderation.

I'm going to make coffee scones for a friend this Saturday. What a brilliant idea to have coffee and scones combined...delightful.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

not better...just best

I am sadly remiss about updating this blog...perhaps when I have more time this summer, I will update more frequently. In the mean time...

Part of the reason I am obsessed with coffeeshops and coffee in general is because I am a barista. My job is to make the best coffee possible so that customers have an enjoyable coffee experience as well as an enjoyable overall experience at the coffeeshop. I had a disagreement with a friend the other day about something having to do with how espresso is made, so I decided to just do some more research (outside of my training) to discover the truth of the matter.

In this research, I not only had a good refresher, but I also learned a few things. Hopefully, I will now be able to enhance people's coffee experience with my newly acquired knowledge.

The other night, I had the opportunity to make coffee for some real coffee drinkers. The typical person who comes into a coffeeshop wants a sweet, coffee flavored drink which will help them stay awake. But then you have the real coffee drinkers who actually want to drink coffee. They know their stuff, and I can talk to them in real coffee talk. I was able to make a friend a real cappuccino (most people who order a cappuccino want a latte), but knowing the she was a coffee person I asked if she wanted a real cappuccino. When she replied the affirmative, I asked if she wanted it dry or wet. Oh, how I love coffee lingo and those who understand it.

I also discovered this morning over breakfast with a friend that I enjoy french press coffee for several reasons, but one of those reasons is that I always feel elitist when drinking french press coffee. I feel like rich people must have their breakfast with strong coffee from a french press. Maybe that's my imagination at work or maybe it is Hollywood distorting reality again, but whatever it is, that is one of the reasons I enjoy french press...I always feel classier when drinking one.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong

...and if you enjoyed your coffee experience, tell your barista thanks. :)

A bit Foggy

Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to try out a coffeeshop that I hadn't been to before: Fog City Coffee. I was on my way to watch 2 year-olds and was rather exhausted and this coffeeshop happened to be on my way. Fog City is a small coffeeshop located in a strip mall parking lot with a drive-up window.

I was a little pressed for time, so I went through the drive-thru instead of parking and going inside. Having never been there before I asked the lady taking my order what was good, and instead of answering my question by asking me questions about what I like or by telling me what people usually order there, she just told me it depended on what I like and said she would give me time to look at the menu as she had customers in the shop. I didn't know if I could just order whenever I made up my mind, so I ended up sitting there for quite a while. I was a little disappointed with the service, but the lady was polite and chipper.

I got the coffee and espresso (I think they call it a fog lifter), and while it was good, I wasn't exceptionally impressed.

The entire experience wasn't good or bad but rather just run-of-the-mill. Although part of that is probably my fault for not actually going inside the building. Drive-up windows and coffeeshops just really shouldn't go together. Because coffee is all about social interaction. Somehow, I think the drive-thru just takes away the social aspect of coffee.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

Addicted

Confession: I'm addicted to coffee.

Yep...it's official.

I tried to quit drinking coffee, but to no avail.
I didn't even last a full 24 hours before I was craving a honey latte and gave in.


The real question, though, is why would I ever try to stop drinking coffee?

Answer: I have no idea whatsoever why.


I'm so glad that I got that sorted out.
Now life can return to normal.
And I want a honey latte.

Until next time--keep your coffee strong

Friday Morning Coffee + Bike Shop

I have a weekly Friday morning tea/coffee date. A dear friend and I get together for breakfast accompanied by our beverage of choice, and we chat about life, love, and God. This week, I decided that we should try out the coffee at The Hub (located directly across from the courthouse in Springfield). Confession: the only reason I really wanted to go there was because I saw a tweet about the owner which included a YouTube video of his BMX skills. I wanted to see if he made espresso as well as he does stunts on a bike.

I was not disappointed. The coffee was truly fantastic. They serve Intelligentsia coffee, and is it ever fantastic! I got the cappuccino, and my friend got a mocha. We got our beverages to go as we planned to go somewhere outside to eat breakfast so we could enjoy the lovely weather. The coffee was so fantastic that less than 3 hours later, we were once more back at The Hub to enjoy some more of their delicious product.

My parents have often observed that coffeeshops have the oddest combination of stores with them. I have been in a coffeeshop that has a laundry mat attached. I've posted before about coffeeshops and libraries (which I think is a brilliant decision). However, this is the first coffeeshop I have come across that also includes a bike shop. I love the idea that people can combine something they are passionate about with a coffeeshop. I think that's one of the things I love about coffeeshops.

I didn't really explore the bike shop (I'm not much of a bicyclist), but the over all atmosphere was enjoyable. It had a feel much like the Coffee Ethic. It was very open and modern feeling, yet it also had the natural accents that I so enjoyed at the Coffee Ethic. Large glass windows let in the gloriousness of the sunlit day, and the exposed brick walls gave it a sophisticated feel.

The coffeeshop had a very clean, fresh, basic feel to it. There were few decorations, or at least the decorations didn't seem to fill the space of the room. There were some lovely photographs on one wall and there were bicycles used for decoration. I guess it didn't have a very homey feel to it. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this coffeeshop immensely. The coffee was excellent and the atmosphere was a typical coffeeshop feel with it's own unique twist.

There might be more Friday morning visits in store for this coffeeshop addict.

Until next time--keep your coffee strong.

The Coffeeshop Circut

I love living in a town with many coffeeshops. It means when the one you normally go to is closed you have many others to pick from. There is a coffeeshop circut, so to speak, and there are people who travel the circut. It is always fun to go to a different coffeeshop and see the same people.

My latest stop in the rotation is the Mudhouse in the Library Center in Springfield. Two things gave me motivation to go to this coffeeshop. The first is that it is another coffeeshop-library combo. The second is that I have a friend who works there. I have taken to going in on Sunday afternoons to get a coffee and then read or relax for an hour or so.

After learning about my addiction to honey lattes, my friend suggested that I try the Spiced Latte. It is basically a honey latte with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. It was quite delicious.

This Mudhouse doesn't have as cozy a coffeeshop feel as many of the other coffeeshops in Springfield, but part of that has to do with the space they have to work with. It is a very large library, so the space is big and airy and open. The feel is more modern than chill and cozy.

It will probably remain my Sunday afternoon escape, but I suppose I will try to switch it up sometime.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.