Ironclad Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Ironclad Coffee Roasters
Location: Richmond, VA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As much as I love new structures hot off the architectural presses, there is nothing more rapturous than a repurposed antiquated structure into a beautiful coffee shop. I don't know about the average joe, but joy quickly fills my heart at seeing the old bones of a 17th century haberdashery turned into a high-end cafe or a Victorian London toilet made into a hip coffee joint.

Void Coffee Company

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Void Coffee Company
Location: Charleston, WV
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

I have had my eye on the area around Charleston, West Virginia for several years now. Along with the progressive revitalization in the city itself, the surrounding countryside adds plenty of beautiful scenery and bucolic towns perfect for recreational detours. I finally found a perfect window to head west and arrived in the capital one sunny afternoon, tired from the drive and thirsty for a good cup of coffee. Hearing about a newer establishment in the West Side neighborhood, I landed at Void Coffee Company ready to try out their wares. 

Sub Rosa Bakery

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Sub Rosa Bakery
Location: Richmond, VA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While most bakeries supply coffee, relatively few do it well. Sure, I understand that coffee is not usually a bakery's bread and butter (*rimshot*), but a baker that makes a great cup of coffee (not to mention latte) will definitely extend his/her appeal.

Alchemy Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Alchemy Coffee
Location: Richmond, VA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The density difference in quality coffeehouses between west coast cities and east coast cities still surprises me. While the gaps grow smaller, places like Portland and Seattle still boast the greater amount of great coffee establishments per square mile, with the only real exception being New York City (though you could argue that due to the irregular density and infrastructure of NYC, it really should be put it in a class of its own). Thus it's no wonder that several years ago, when Portlander Erik Spivack transplanted to Richmond, he found a woeful lack of great coffee in this Virginia city. Fortunately, his response was not to complain on social media or give snarky remarks to friends and relatives, but instead to start up Alchemy Coffee.

Mugged: La Flor del Cafe [Rostov's]

Subject: Rostov's Coffee and Tea
Coffee Mugged: La Flor del Cafe
Rating [see key]: 4+

It's funny that the city of Richmond has stayed off my radar for so long, and yet the place keeps coming up as of late. The most recent interaction of note was that I received some coffee from an outfit I was unable to visit on my recent trip to Richmond, a seasoned coffee roaster (since '79) of the great state of Virginia called Rostov's Coffee and Tea. The coffee sent was their La Flor del Cafe, a sun-dried Guatemalan coffee from the Antigua area, a coffee I sampled via pourover, french press and siphon.

The pourover whispered out notes of chocolate, honey on toast, basil, vanilla cream and a touch of ham; within a medium body, the coffee proved sweet and full.

The french press held out chocolate, rye toast, milk, some nutmeg and a slight beef broth. Though less sweet than the pourover, still a solid infusion.

The siphon, last and sweet, demonstrated bits of chocolate, milk, nutmeg, toast and lemon pepper. A sweet and pleasant coffee with a minor pretzel flavor on the back end.

Thus next time I'm in Richmond, I shall have to drop by Rostov's for a run of their wares on home turf. In the interim, if ye seek a sweet coffee with a soft array of hearty and spicy notes, give the La Flor del Cafe of Rostov's a go.

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

CC: Lamplighter Roasting Company

Subject: Lamplighter Roasting Company
Location: Addison St. Cafe, Richmond, VA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

It's not too often I get to roll south to Virginia these days, but currently having a sister residing well within its borders makes future trips a bit more likely. Ten years ago, the prospect of traveling many leagues of Virginia would have been a sentence to wander a great coffee desert, but now the oases are a bit more prevalent. One such beacon of refreshment stems from Lamplighter Roasting Company in the lovely city of Richmond. With two locations, I was able to stop at their Addison St. Cafe one gloomy Friday for a brief respite. Located in an old gas station, the space utilizes the lot well, with a vast array of outside seating filling the patio, a reclusive and enclosed side patio with a huge chalkboard and lastly, a cozy interior with fixed ironing board tables.

Taking two of their coffees for a spin, I ordered an espresso of their Stylus blend and cup of their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Kochere via drip. The espresso, pulled short/medium with a light brown crema, held notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, limade, orange, basil and slight Mr. Pib, proving bright and sweet with lots of pleasant flavors. The Kochere drip doled out blueberry, raisin, bean sprouts, little nutmeg, a bit of wheat grass and some birch beer, making for a juicy, succulent coffee.

Exceedingly pleased with Lamplighter, I left their Addison St location a happy man that day. If you happen to be in Richmond, give them your money.