Showing posts with label harney and sons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harney and sons. Show all posts

Monday, August 30, 2010

CC: Skaneateles Bakery

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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Skaneateles, NY
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating:
4+ [
see key]



Finger lakes hold some wondrous scenery if you hit them at the right times. The cold winters usually deter much merriment and the summer can get sweltering, yet a nice day amidst the nature and culture of the region stands as a lasting euphoria.

Personally, my favorite lake is Lake Skaneateles due to its crystal clear waters and the quaint town of the same name at the top. Granted the town can be pricey but aside from the surrounding nature, the town has a few great deals. One of them is the Skaneateles Bakery, located on the main stretch of town. This bakery serves up sweet small town treats with a modern flair and has been raved of by many a friend.

What drew me to the bakery one lovely day was less baked goods and more of good coffee rumors. Upon arriving on their doorstep, I spotted the Gimme Coffee sign in the window, which given the possibilities,
it was a step in the right direction (Gimme has many great coffees but many times the local shops only buy the cheap stuff). Inside, the counter holds plenty of baked items and to the side and back is a blue-and-brown space with a healthy amount of seating.

They did indeed serve Gimme, and thus I ordered a cup of their Asobargi via drip and an espresso. The drip coffee produced flavors of spicy mango salsa, tart cherry, a whiskey kick, a little earthiness and a heavy body touched with a tinge of bitterness on the end. The espresso, pulled short and with fading tan crema, held notes of bitter chocolate, graham cracker, sesame seed and a tinge of brightness. The tea is Harney and Sons.

Given the coffee source being Gimme, I'm positive that this bakery could do better but if nothing were to change, they do a pretty decent job with their coffee (oh, their chocolate chip cookies were amazing too). When in town, stop by the bakery.

Monday, September 29, 2008

CC: Mugs Coffee House

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Mugs Coffee House
Location visited: Swedesboro, NJ
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 3+ [see key]


N
ew Jersey definitely holds a lot of people, as it is the most densely populated state in the union. And yet, if someone were to blindfold you and haul you to certain remote places in NJ, you would swear someone kidnapped you and took you across state lines (on a side note, always obtain consent from a person before blindfolding and carting them anywhere).

But dense or not dense, one thing is consistent with my home state; the signage and locations of things can be downright absurd. For example, I was recently driving around looking for a small coffeehouse in a small town called Swedesboro, and not only did Google map plot the address way outside of town but I drove through the town of Swedesboro twice and did not see one single sign announcing its existence. And I'm a native (I can't imagine the stress for someone from afar...)!

Anyways, I did finally find the coffeehouse above, a little place called Mugs Coffee House. A recent sprout on the coffee scene, it resides in a converted house on the main stretch of town. The exterior boasts a sharp-looking front porch complete with several tables and chairs. Walking in, you enter a long foyer that leads to the counter in the back of the house. The dining area to the right holds a series of comfy-looking chairs (though the color scheme of purple, orange and green has never hit me as pretty) as well as traditional table seating.

The coffee comes from Jersey Shore Coffee Roasters, a distant North Jersey coffee roaster that I don't think I've had before. The coffee served twas a Costa Rican that left me indifferent; a nice sweet note in the front followed immediately by a burnt blandness that made my tongue despair. The espresso had a twinge of potential, as it had a nice fruity acidity, but the shot was overall empty and flat (I didn't see the shots pulled, but my guess was a bad pull and possibly a mediocre espresso blend). The tea was Harney and Sons and they serve a full menu.

While I would say that Mugs would benefit from better coffee practices and/or better coffee (can't say I was thrilled with Jersey Shore), overall it seems the place provides a good hangout for locals and decent fare for the hungry. Thus, if you happen to be going through the town, give the coffeehouse a whirl; hopefully, you'll have better luck with signs.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

CC: Caffe Art Java

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What's a Coffee Commentary?

Subject: Caffe Art Java
Location visited:
Montreal, QC

Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



A
ll too often in our fast-paced world, coffee becomes something we grab and not something we take the time to truly enjoy. Sure some coffeehouses have a relaxed lounge area where people can set up their laptops and camp for hours, but few really encourage people to sit back and enjoy their coffee.

One such cafe that seemed to do a splendid job of coaxing their customers to sit and sip was a little place in Montreal called Caffe Art Java. Though a coffeehouse by name and renown, the business seems to operate more like a restaurant as they offer full table service for customers dining in, whether they get a doubleshot of espresso or a full meal. The cafe itself is quite beautiful, with a large open store front that allows customers to take advantage of the nice weather as well as ample varieties of table seating extending throughout.

The coffee comes from Gimme Coffee, a welcome and familiar brew. The drip (or filtered) sampled was a Sumatran, which sampled earthy and full though it tasted a bit stale. The espresso I had on two very different accounts: my first visit produced a very messy doubleshot that was sweet but a bit cardboard-y, but my second visit extended a wonderfully pulled doubleshot that had such a nice velvety texture and a flowery chocolate-y tang to it. In the end, I went with the former experience as the fluke to give them the benefit of the doubt. The tea is Harney and Sons.

Overall, despite a few minor glitches, I had a very relaxed and quality experience with Caffe Art Java. If you happen to be in town, I would suggest taking a good chunk of time to plop down at the cafe and enjoy a decent cup of coffee.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

CC: Cafe Sante Veritas

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What's a Coffee Commentary?

Subject: Cafe' Sante' Veritas
Location visited:
Montreal, QC

Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



I have been to a lot of cities across North America and few have been as intriguing and beautiful as Montreal. The old European-style buildings, the eclectic activities, and the food all provide a wonderful experience.

And fortunately, I was able to experience some great coffee while I was there recently. One place in particular was right around the corner from my hotel, a little cafe called Cafe Sante Veritas. Looking at it from the exterior, the place looks to actually be quite huge and very well-designed; sure enough when you walk inside, it becomes quite obvious that they didn't scrimp on quality or beauty of the interior. The cafe has beautiful furniture and even a low coffee bar where you can hang out and chat with the barista while he prepares your coffee or espresso.

The coffee served is 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters out of Vancouver, a roaster I had been wanting to try for some time but had not had the chance. The coffee was Ethiopian and french pressed (the barista commented that he used to make drip but he stopped after realizing it didn't maximize the coffee's potential), the results presented a smooth, bright, and fruity cup of coffee. Well done.

The espresso was amazing as the barista definitely knew what he was doing and he pulled a very luscious doubleshot. The espresso possessed a velvety texture as well as lovely bittersweet chocolate-iness. The tea was Harney and Sons and they also had a full menu, complete with beer, wine, and some of the best orange juice ever squeezed.

Walking away after my final visit, I really wished that such a fine specimen wasn't such a distance from home but alas, se la vie. If your in Montreal, I would strongly encourage a stop by Cafe Sante Veritas for coffee as well as a meal.

Friday, April 18, 2008

CC: Dancing Goats Coffee Bar

What's a Coffee Commentary?

Subject:
Dancing Goats Coffee Bar
Location visited: Decatur, GA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



Georgia has definitely never been a state I had been dying to visit. I had passed through the Atlanta airport, my sole experience with the peachy state, and remember it being stuffy and huge (lots of walking). Plus I had never really heard of a compelling reason to go for recreational purposes.

But recently, I had to go to Atlanta for work and hence began scouting out what the area would be like. And the more I scouted, the more I wanted to get there quicker. The city not only has some beautiful neighborhoods (like Decatur and the Georgia Tech area) but some fairly interesting attractions (an aquarium with whale sharks).

But the coffee is what won my heart over. One place in particular that I had the luxury of hitting twice was Dancing Goats Coffee Bar in lovely Decatur. The establishment has a large blue awning under which sit ample chairs and tables to best aid in enjoying lovely Atlanta sunny days. The interior was even grander, with a huge open floor plan (some would argue too open) with a very eclectic variety of seating, the whole space bathed in calm colors such as tans and light greens.

The coffee is their own, though called Batdorf and Bronson (rolls right off tongue), which is roasted locally in Atlanta. They serve coffee via drip as well as on a Clover. Both visits I had coffees off the Clover, to which I must say that the coffees didn't really fully utilize the machine (or visa versa) but nonetheless, both brews still sampled tremendously well. The Kenya AA was described to me as having a dried fruit and Cabernet taste to it, but I only really got a hint of the fruit. The Java Estate also sampled smoothly but I couldn't really pick out too many distinct flavors, just that it was good.

The espresso was pulled very well and tasted spectacular. The doubleshot was really sweet with cocoa flavor and what seemed to be a nice floral bloom as it hit my tongue. The tea was Harney and Sons.

I must have idly said "boy do I wish there was a shop like this closer to home" at least four times during my visit to Dancing Goats. The place is definitely popular with the locals and is only a short distance from the Decatur MARTA stop, so there's little reason not to prance yourself over when you're in town.