Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Pour Cleveland





Subject: Pour Cleveland
Location: Cleveland, OH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Ohio and I did not begin on the best of terms. As a child, my only memories consist of a handful of weary suburbs and local landmarks from when we visited kin. As a young man, I saw the state as but a hurdle on my continental adventures to and fro. Finally in my 30s have I come to slowly appreciate and enjoy the overlooked treasures of the Buckeye State. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Folklore Coffee and Company




Subject: Folklore Coffee and Company
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Dotted throughout the eastern Pennsylvania countryside exist many pleasant towns. Once places of industry, these villages exist now as centers of local culture and gathering hubs for lunch dates. Fortunately many such towns also have a rising occurrence of quality coffee, a fact that makes passing through small town PA a very pleasant journey.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Anthology Coffee




Subject: Anthology Coffee
Location: Detroit, MI
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Ever since I watched Home Improvement as a lad of 10, I have held a subtle curiosity of Detroit and its surrounding settlement. Over the years that interest has been fed by news of bankruptcy, redevelopment and finally, a surging of great coffee.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Mugged: Petra Roasting Co.

Subject: Petra Roasting Co.
Coffees Mugged and Rating [see key]:
- Ethiopia Hunkute 6+
- Kenya Githiga AA 6+
- Acme Harman 5+

Nearly every part of the world has a customary way to prepare coffee. Naturally in Istanbul, many citizens still look to a piping hot cup of Turkish coffee using a method that has been honed over the centuries. Prepared in an cezve/ibrik using finely-ground coffee, it's something all coffee drinkers should try at one point. 

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Java Rock



Subject: Java Rock
Location: Rock Hall, MD
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

For growing up relatively close to the Delmarva peninsula, I have spent surprisingly few moments upon the landmass. Looking to rectify this delinquency, I have recently taken to wandering the Delmarva and have found it to be a place of gorgeous rural scenery, fishing villages and lots of local secrets.

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Cafe Volan



Subject: Cafe Volan
Location: Asbury Park, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

There are two things all Jersey residents agree upon: a deep loathing for the NJ Turnpike and a noticeable respect for the musical heritage of Asbury Park. Once recognized only as a quiet beach resort, the town now tightly holds a landmark reputation for producing stellar rock acts. Today many triumphant musical acts still frequent its bars, and thankfully a similar thirst for excellence has finally spilled into the local coffee community, specifically at a joint called Cafe Volan.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Rowster Coffee



Subject: Rowster Coffee
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Until recently, I did not know that Wealthy was a female first name. Yet it turns out that Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids is named for Wealthy Davis, a woman that was married to Kent County’s first probate judge. Fortunately for Ms. Davis, her namesake avenue is home to some great coffee from local coffee purveyor Rowster Coffee.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

KitchenAid Pour Over Coffee Brewer

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No one wants a bad cup of coffee. Every bean drinker loves the euphoria of sipping upon a beautifully-crafted cup of coffee. One of the reasons so many folks end up with sludge or mediocre brew is most people hold that they don't have the time to make it the way a world-class barista would make it. KitchenAid is looking to solve this issue.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Mugged: Goshen Coffee's Secret Stash


Subject: Goshen Coffee
Coffees Mugged and Rating [see key]:
- Adame Gorbota, Ethiopian 6+
- Gedeb, Ethiopia 6+
- Kintamani, Bali 6+
- Pedro Melgar, Honduras 5+
- Toribo Vasquez, Honduras 5+

A lot of great things have come out of Illinois. Abraham Lincoln, Portillo's hot dogs and Home Alone (just the first movie) usually top my list. But over the years, I have found another contender amidst the regulars: Goshen Coffee.