Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kentucky. Show all posts

Friday, June 24, 2022

Spencer's Coffee


Subject: Spencer's Coffee
Location visited: Downtown, Bowling Green, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Some time ago, when I first visited Bowling Green, I remember being tired and exhausted, sitting in a parking lot with (at least) a cranky toddler and a decent drive ahead of us. In the moment, I remember deciding that despite my weariness, I would not grab coffee in Bowling Green but would wait til later somewhere closer to our distant destination.

How I regretted that decision.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

North Lime Coffee and Donuts



Subject: North Lime Coffee and Donuts
Location visited: West Loudon Ave, Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I never knew how much of a love affair southerners have with donuts and coffee. Growing up in the northeast surrounded by donuts dunked in mediocre joe, I was enamored with the many wonderful takes different southern cities had with great coffee and tremendous donuts. My favorite donut enterprise in Kentucky would be a multi-location operation I recently stumbled upon, a place called North Lime Coffee and Donuts. 

Tuesday, March 08, 2022

Jefferson Street Coffee / Smokin' Aces


Subject: Jefferson Street Coffee / Smokin' Aces
Location: Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

It's almost always a solid recommendation when a barista at one coffee establishment gives accolades to another local shop. Naturally I have to usually ask for said recommendation (because what cafe always sends their customers to other cafes?) but when a barista of one good shop usually can think of another shop instantly, it's usually a good sign.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Manchester Coffee Co


Subject: Manchester Coffee Co.
Location visited: Distillery District, Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Most people quickly associate a storied history of distilling spirits with Kentucky. So it was no surprise to find one of the more happening places in Lexington was around the Distillery District, located on the grounds of the old James E. Pepper Distillery. After exploring the district my first night in town, the next morning I made my way down the street to try out some local brews at Manchester Coffee Co. 

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Brevede Coffee Co


Subject: Brevede Coffee Co.
Location visited: Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While I cherish the coziness of a coffee shop with a small footprint, I do love stumbling upon a super-spacious cafe every now and then, especially when it's beautifully arrayed. Such fortunes I had when I first drove into Lexington, Kentucky and found a local operation called Brevede.

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Enlightenment Coffee


Subject: Enlightenment Coffee
Location visited: Walton, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

On a visit to Noah's Ark in Kentucky, I found myself without a drop of good coffee in the immediate vicinity of my hotel. The city was aptly named Dry Ridge and fortunately, I was able to make plans to travel a little out of the way early the next morning to grab some local coffee and remedy my situation. 

Monday, January 12, 2015

Gralehaus



Subject: Gralehaus
Location: Louisville, KY
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

In traveling around, I have only had the fortune of staying at a handful of bed and breakfasts. Realistically, as much of my travel is either business or with small children, it's hard to get away to such digs, but when I do, I really try to find a place that's worth the experience.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Quills Coffee




Subject: Quills Coffee
Location: Louisville, KY
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While I've been writing about my coffeehouse adventures since 2006, few places have sat on my list of "must visit" as long as Quills Coffee. Way back in the beginnings of my blog, they shot me a quick note and mentioned to stop by the next time I was in Louisville. And year after year they remained on that list solely because I could not get Louisville onto any of my itineraries. But when I was finally able to solidify recent plans to the Ville, I made a definitive plan to visit Quills.

Monday, September 08, 2014

Sunergos Coffee





Subject: Sunergos Coffee
Location: Louisville, KY
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Louisville is a city I have been longing to go back to since I last left. I had rolled into town one New Years holiday weekend back in 2004 and found the town almost completely shut down. I distinctly remember using all of my the power at my disposal to locate some decent coffee, but no matter where I looked or where I begged, I could not locate an open coffeehouse. It was a weekend of despair and anguish only eclipsed by the company of good friends and a great conference. And ever since I left town on a cold morning in early January, my ears have only filled to the brim with the great wonders of Louisville. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Mugged: Peru Cenfrocafe [Sunergos]



Subject: Sunergos Coffee
Mugged: Peru Cenfrocafe Microlot
Rating [see key]: 5+

I've only once had the fortune of gracing the great state of Kentucky and yet in that trip, I had the misfortune of visiting over a New Years weekend when I could find not one open coffeehouse. Alas, it was a mixture of poor technology and bad timing that left my sole Kentucky excursion to date a coffee-less one.

Of course I hope to rectify this one day, especially with the growth of good coffee in the state. One coffeehouse/roaster that seems to be doing some spiffy things is Sunergos Coffee out of Louisville. Recently they sent me out a pound of their Peru Cenfrocafe Microlot to take for a spin, which I had the pleasure of doing via pourover, french press and siphon.

The pourover relayed a medium bodied coffee ripe with nougat, honey nut cheerios, sweet cream, apple and Italian bread. A delicious brew reminiscent of dessert, full of chocolate and fruit notes.

Of the french press, it also proved scrumptious, with notes of milk chocolate, elderberry, wheat, a little sage and a little ginger amidst a silky and smooth body.

The siphon was the final hurrah, with more nougat, wheat, sauvignon blanc, raisin, cashew and a little shitake within a medium body. A sweet cup with a dry finish.

Through and through, this Peruvian coffee boasted a splendid profile that would make any breakfast or after-dinner meal delightful. Give Sunergos a try if you're looking for a great cup of coffee.

note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.

Sunday, December 04, 2011

Mugged: Ethiopian Sidamo [Kifu]




What does Mugged mean?


Mugged: Ethiopian Sidamo Korate
Rating: 5+ [see key]
 
 
 
 
If there's anything that warms my heart, it's a microroaster that roasts good beans and gives back to the community. Take Kentucky's Kifu Coffee Roasters, a coffee company created out of a non-profit coffee fundraiser that turned into a for-profit company that gives back to the global community 5% of their profits through various programs such as Cows for Communities.

Recently, Kifu sent me out a few coffees to try and the first I cracked into was their Ethiopian Sidamo Korate Natural, a Kifu-proclaimed "fruit bomb" (i.e a coffee with heavy notes of fruit, usually blueberry or blackberry, showing up strongly in the cup). I tried the coffee out via drip, siphon and french press.

The drip produced a coffee that kicked off with bright blueberry, light chocolate, flemish sour ale, vienna fingers, virgin olive oil and oats amidst a medium body. A bright and nicely faceted coffee.

The french press threw out similar notes of blueberry and flemish ale, but it had more chocolate and olive oil, as well as some notes of wheat, all within a medium body. This infusion was not as bright as the first but it was still good.
The siphon really had the most in terms of chocolate, followed by blueberry, flemish ale, vienna finges, olive oil and oatmeal in a medium body. Also not as bright as the drip but still delicious. 

As fruit bombs go, I can't say that Kifu's Ethiopian was the brightest, but I can say that it was still a fine coffee, having a nice range of flavors in addition to a pleasantly sweet acidity. If you're looking for a bright coffee you can feel good about buying, give Kifu's Ethiopian a slurp. 


note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.