Ace Outpost

Subject: Ace Outpost

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Rating: 6+ [see key]

The city of Philadelphia boasts magnificent architecture, history and lovely parks. But when you're walking through the streets of the city, there's a particular look for the storefronts below that screams Philadelphia which is increasingly had to find as landlords trade out that 80s grit for fancy facades. One trip south of South Street brought me to a rare, gorgeous example of this fading Philly look at a coffee shop/vintage clothing store called Ace Outpost.

Choosing to walk in on the coffeeshop side, I was greeted by the counter and an eclectically bohemian decor. The lights were dim and there was an old movie being projected onto the wall while laptop warriors chipped away on their various escapades. The other side of the outpost held a variety of spiffy vintage clothes and other items, bringing a coffee house thrift vibe that is all too absent in America. 

As for the coffee, they roast their own and I ordered an espresso of their Corduroy blend and a single origin Colombian on drip. The espresso, pulled medium-to-long with light brown crema, smacked of chocolate, cherry, Italian breadd, hibiscus, buttered cracker and apple sauce, proving pleasant and rich. The drip made for a brighter cup, with notes of plum, cherry cola, pound cake, extra virgin olive oil and cascara.

After spending some quality time amidst the low lights and quiet company, I had to walk onto my next destination. If you're in the market for a lovely, unique coffee experience proudly wearing the Philly exterior of yore, head over to Ace Outpost.