dancing with joy

I tried a new coffeeshop today. I've been hearing at Dancing Mule Coffee for a while now, but I have just never had the time to get over there until today. It was on my way while I was running errands, so I decided to stop and get an iced coffee beverage to help ease the heat of this day.

The decor was lovely as was the delightful air conditioning. It wasn't really busy...mostly just people sitting at tables and chatting. I had an opportunity to talk to the man behind the counter (I'm assuming he is the owner) while my iced honey latte was being made.

We talked about how coffeeshops are really a regional type of thing. Meaning that the coffeeshop you most often frequent depends on what area you are typically in. Hence the reason I have not visited The Dancing Mule until today. It's on the side of town that I least visit. However, the coffee was so good that I might be back before long.

My iced honey latte (although not the same as what I make for myself) was very good. The coffee flavor was good and there was the perfect sweetness to it. Bottom line, I approve.

And I also got another stamp on my disloyalty card...2 down...6ish to go.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

what is coffee?

I recently filled out an application for a part-time position at The Coffee Ethic. I would love to work there because I love their dedication to making the best coffee product they can. The attention to detail is excellent (as well as the coffee). But even if I am not hired there, I still greatly enjoyed applying because in addition to all the normal and usual questions on the application, they also had a completely different section of questions. One of which was the question: what is coffee?

I actually thought over this question before I answered it because coffee is a delicious beverage, but it is also so much more than that. This is the answer that I came up with.

Coffee is a delightful beverage meant to be enjoyed within a social setting to enhance and enrich life.

I felt like that pretty well sums up my feelings about coffee. Not that you can't drink coffee alone, but that it is best when enjoyed as a social thing to bring an added element to your relationships. There really is nothing quite like sitting down with a friend over a cup of steaming coffee and talking about the deep issues of life.

I'll be gone with The Potter's House to a catering gig for the next couple of days. I'm looking forward to this new experience.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

How To:

make a perfect iced honey latte...

Start with a clean, dry port-a-filter and fill with espresso ground coffee. Tamp and draw your shot or shots (I personally prefer two shots).

While your shot(s) are drawing, fill your cold beverage cup part way (I usually go about 3/4 full) with half and half and skim milk.

Pour honey to taste into a steaming pitcher and once the shot has finished pour it over the honey and mix.

Pour this into the milk/half and half mixture and stir slightly to combine.

Add ice to the top of the cup and don't forget to dump your grinds from the port-a-filter.

Enjoy!

That's how to make my favorite summer iced beverage. Simply delightful.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

coffeeshops are more fun with friends

I love going to coffeeshops with my friends. Such a wonderful time and great experience. And although this last trip was a touch rushed as we were running late to go see a friend off at the airport, I did have a chance to snap a few quick pics. We went to the Coffee Ethic which I have blogged about before, but they just have such good coffee!! So here are pics from my latest coffeeshop adventure.


We all love our TOMS Shoes!! :) And our coffee.

Until next time...keep your coffee strong.

Heroes

I'm actually not talking about the people you look up to, but rather the coffee company. Heroes however does have a bit of a heroic streak. They fair trade import all of their beans and roast them here in Springfield. Not only does that mean a fresher product for all of the coffeeshops who buy their coffee from Heroes, but it also means that coffee producers are paid a fair price for their beans.

But the awesomeness goes a little farther. Heroes was actually established to fund a mission in Mexico. The couple that founded the company were looking for a way to fund their missions work, and they decided that not only could they help coffee growers, but they could also accomplish their goal of self-funded missions.

How brilliant is that!! They have an excellent product and an excellent purpose. What could be better?

peace

As promised, I am updating again rather quickly...I am trying to make up for not blogging in the last several days...or weeks. I was gone for a while, so that is a contributing factor to my absence. Well, here I am again. Nate tagged me in this revolving blog post, and while I have already actually done this once on my other blog, I will indulge my readers and complete this again...my answers may be different...we'll see.

AbRaCaDaBrA, WoW!
I LIKE boys with real confidence, not bravado
I LIKE girls with keen, intelligent conversation.
I like coffee
I like tea.
I like sunshine soaked days followed by cool nights.
I like learning and growing as a person.
I like friends who know you better than you know yourself at times.
I like waking up to sunshine through my window and a song in my heart.
I like counting my blessings.
I like deep conversations at my favorite coffeeshop.
I like success after hard work.
I like chill Sunday afternoons with a book and a hammock.

I LOVE seeing the world through new eyes.
today I am overwhelmed.
in some ways, I love everything
its less, its less of a thing to like, its less distinct, its less particular
i like things that I like but I love everything
there's more choice in like
cause even the worst things have things you love in them
I don't know what you mean about things I hate
I hate not being the person I could be.
I hate an entire week without sunshine.
I hate prejudice.
I hate thinking with my heart instead of my head.
I hate waiting but in a way, I would rather wait instead of rush ahead.
I hate bad coffee.
I hate when people make cruel statements.
I hate not knowing.
I hate this, wow...
Sorry.

news

A couple pieces of news from the Springfield Coffeeshop circut--

First the sad news. Rendezvous is closed...forever. :(
Yes, it is very sad...

Secondly, there is currently an effort by the Springfield Coffeeshops to encourage visiting them all. It is called the disloyalty card. Here is the announcement with all information included.

Also, The Potter's House is now open for summer hours. I'm looking forward to spending some time there with friends tonight. Lovely!!

Well, there is a brief update on coffeeshop in 417 land.

Until next time (which will be another couple minutes)...keep your coffee strong.