Showing posts with label Massachusetts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Massachusetts. Show all posts

Friday, December 13, 2019

Broadsheet Coffee Roasters



Subject: Broadsheet Coffee Roasters
Location: Cambridge, MA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

No visit to Boston is complete without a stop in Cambridge. While the parking can be difficult and the sidewalks overflowing with a mix of tourists and students, it's definitely a section of the country that offers much in so compact an area.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Gracenote Coffee


Subject: Gracenote Coffee
Location: Boston, MA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While large, spacious coffeehouses occupy a hallowed place in my heart, I do also greatly enjoy the more cozy cafes of the urban landscape. Carved into city corners and architectural oddities, such a shop doesn't necessarily need to command a certain square footage to be excellent, but more so, it pulls in customers due only to coffee excellence and miscellaneous splendor.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Kohi Coffee



Subject: Kohi Coffee
Location visited: Boston, MA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Sometimes fortune comes easy. Albeit such occurrences are rare, but when they do happen, even small things like finding a free onion ring in your sundae feel just like randomly bumping into Elijah Wood for a rare selfie with the wife (mine, not his).

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

SIP Cafe and Coffee Bar




Subject: SIP Cafe and Coffee Bar
Location: Northampton, MA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

There are few things that rival a beautiful, sunny drive through the hills and mountains of western Massachusetts. While the wilds still remain largely unexplored to me, I have had the pleasure of venturing into many of the towns around the area, with one of my favorite being Northampton. Its dapper shop-lined streets and surprising number of coffee establishments has consistently brought me in town whenever I'm passing through.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Mugged: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe [Rockin' Coffee]







Subject: Rockin' Coffee
Mugged: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Rating: 3+ [see key]





The second coffee I slurped of from Rockin' Coffee was their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. A fair looking medium roast, I sampled it via drip, french press and siphon infusions.

The drip produced a cup noted with wheat, strong malt, roasted fennel, pear skin, chicken and a little cardboard. While a bit of a rough and alliaceous brew, the coffee did prove slightly sumptuous.

The french press fared best, with a bright quality that offered flecks of apple as well as notes of wheat, caramel, fennel and pear skin amidst a brothy undertone.

The siphon infusion proved more savory, with roasted fennel, wheat, pear, malt and broth. A fair brew with a medium body.

All in all, this Ethiopian held a noticed brightness and other positives to its flavor, but the savory and sometimes tough qualities made it a hard coffee to love. Give this Ethiopian a try if you're looking for such a brew.


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


Thursday, May 24, 2012

Mugged: Sumatra Permata Gayo [Rockin' Coffee]







Subject: Rockin' Coffee
Mugged: Sumatra Permata Gayo
Rating: 4+ [see key]





New to the coffee scene as of Fall 2011 is Rockin' Coffee, a coffee roasting operation birthed from PAID Inc's love for freshly roasted coffee. The first of their two coffees that I had the pleasure of trying was their Sumatra, a coffee produced from the Permata Gayo Co-op in North Sumatra. Roasted medium, I brewed infusions of drip, siphon and french press accordingly. 

The drip threw out notes of biscuits, honey, sweet mango, slight cloves, leather and jasmine amidst a medium body. A sweet and wheaty coffee.

The french press produced the flavors of biscuits and more of a concentrated cherry with maple syrup sweetness, along with bourbon and slight bacon, within a light/medium body. A smooth, eclectic infusion.

The siphon held out bourbon, notes of wheat, bit of apple skin, mango and jasmine in a medium body. Like the drip, this brew was full of wheat and sweet characters. 

While flavor-wise this Sumatran was diverse, it proved fairly tasty. If you're in the market for a decent coffee of Sumatra, check out Rockin' Coffee.


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

Sunday, August 01, 2010

CC: Jaho Coffee & Tea

'
What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Salem, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating:
4+ [
see key]



Few cities hold onto their negative past (on purpose) as well as Salem. The witch trials of old bear many a harsh reminder (such as how frenzied fear can cause people to kill their neighbors), yet aside from the power of learning, the power of tourism holds even larger sway. It is to this that I owe my several visits to the town.

This last trip, I had more on my agenda then the local history, as a local coffee establishment called Jaho Coffee & Tea had captured my attention with rumors of good coffee. After taking in some of the puritanical sights, we made our way to the old maritime wharf where the coffeehouse rests. The cafe is a multi-leveled shop with an array of seating and a lounge-like atmosphere.

Of Jaho's coffees (they roast their own), I tried their Rwandan via drip. A medium roast, it sampled saucy, sweet, with a bit of ginger and a noticeable stale/cardboard quality (pretty obvious to be from an old pot). The espresso, prepared short and with a good head of crema, displayed bright and bitter contrasts up front, a little chocolate, some salt, sugar and a tinge of five spice. The espresso seemed prepared fairly well and the espresso blend decent (though both seemed like they had more potential then how it showed up in my cup). The tea is Mighty Leaf.

In wrapping up my experience, I found Jaho to be at least a fair coffee presence and at best, not well represented that day. Yet another place to wait to revisit for a more definitive ruling.

If you're in town (hopefully not for a trial), try the brew at Jaho.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

CC: Diesel Cafe

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Diesel Cafe
Location visited: Somerville, MA
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating:
5+ [
see key]



Most coffeehouse spaces within urban environments tend to be getting smaller and more chic with each passing day. I've been to quite a few spots where 'standing room only' would be a generous claim and one place that I had to literally hold my coffee above my head so it wouldn't spill. Now, I will weasel into a bear den for good coffee, but occasionally I like large, open spaces. And Diesel Cafe in the Boston area had much more then open space; they had the seating of a truck stop.

Diesel Cafe is a cafe located right off the Davis T stop (north of Boston) nestled amidst a cute main street area. The front of the cafe opens up in nice weather, which made space for the line of customers moving into their industrial, choc-full-of-local-and-vintage art space.

Diesel serves up Intelligentsia, one of the few spots in the city not serving up local beans. I ordered a cup of the New Guinea via drip, a brew that proved bright with notes of sweet potato, celery, a little unsweetened cocoa, a bit of a dark body and a little staleness (had been in the pot too long I think). The espresso, Intelly's Black Cat blend, was pulled short with fair crema and had the flavors of sweet chocolate milk, lime, a prominent saltiness, cola and some merlot. Overall, the espresso didn't sample like usual Black Cat, but it was still decent. The tea is free leaf.

After camping out in the cafe for a little while, I developed a decent impression of the joint. Sure it could use a few minor refinements (the lighting wasn't the best and the drip shouldn't taste stale) but in the end, it was a good experience. Give Diesel a stop if you're in town.

Saturday, July 03, 2010

CC: Barismo

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Barismo
Location visited: Arlington, MA
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating:
6+ [
see key]


Though I've been quite a frequent acquaintance of disappointment, it always hits me anew when I walk up to a coffeehouse only to see it darkened with an unexpected CLOSED sign. Usually it's thanks to a silly holiday or special event but every once in a while it's something more ridiculous like "eh, we just decided to take the week off."

But ah the euphoria of when it's a false alarm and the cafe is only closed because the sole barista had to run a quick errand. Such was the situation I ran into in my visit to Barismo, a small shop and roaster in Arlington that has earned itself strong bragging rights on quality coffee production. The cafe is a tiny, lab-like space with their two drum roasters in the back and their counter in the middle with plenty of space to mill about and sip your coffee (i.e. this is not a place to camp with your laptop but more a place to talk coffee with the barista).

I ordered myself some shots of their Soma Espresso and a cup of their Guatemala Puerta Verde via V60 cone (aka pourover or filtered). The Soma, pulled short with a nice crema, had a nice brightness, notes of jasmine, soft pretzel, chocolate and a medium body (I would say it was spot on for me). The Guatemalan put forth flavors of nougat, chianti, tobacco, vanilla and a tinge of bourbon. I would also say this splendid coffee proved as sweet and balanced as Barismo touts. The tea is their own.

While I can't say that I see similar styles of this kind of cafe popping up much (people sure love their wifi and comfy chairs), I personally would take Barismo over most coffeehouses any day. Make sure to stop in when you are in town.

Friday, May 28, 2010

CC: Velouria Espresso

'
What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Jamaica Plain, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating:
4+ [
see key]


If I were to have a second middle name, it would be Ambition (my current middle name is Persistence). Sometimes ambition is good but sometimes ambition leaks optimism where realism is needed (especially in bleak circumstance). Mostly, such times usually speak of me trying to get from point A to point B quicker then the law would allow (fortunately, enough speeding tickets as a teenager have whittled my ambition to functioning within the limits of Uncle Sam).

It was this last second ambition that twice drove me to Velouria Espresso, a cute cafe in the Jamaica Hill area of Boston, right as they closed (I hate that feeling of just missing something). So the third time I had the chance, I gave myself a little more time and lo and behold, my ambition and persisitence paid off.

The cafe externally does not hold much except big windows and a nice awning, but inside, the small space is utilized well to hold several pieces of seating and a welcoming tan and black ambiance. In my research of Velouria, I had noted the existence of a Clover but sadly, it was down the day I arrived; so I went with a cup of George Howell's Vasenda Colombian (their house coffee) and an espresso.

The Colombian, filtered, had flavors of minestrone, a nice earthiness, some sunflower, cherry and an overall smoothness. The coffee sampled well but it failed to blow me away (hard to say if it was the coffee or the brewer that lacked). The espresso, George Howell's Daterra Espresso blend according to the barista, was pulled medium/short and topped with blond crema. The flavors included a bit of cardboard, dark bitter chocolate, some lime, hints of cinnamon and a dark aftertaste. I would guess some of the negative aspects were due to barista style and in the end, it was a fair espresso. The tea is free leaf.

As I wrapped up my visit, I was already (ambitiously) thinking of making another trip as I don't feel I showed up on a good day. Velouria had a lot of the makings for a great experience but little things seemed to get in the way. Alas, such is the nature of first impressions.

If you happen to be in the area, I'd be curious your thoughts on Velouria Espresso.



Thursday, May 06, 2010

CC: Crema Cafe

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Crema Cafe
Location visited: Boston, MA
Free WiFi ? : no

Rating:
6+ [
see key]



Regardless of all the hype, Cambridge is one happening scene. I've been to the area several times and each time I find something interesting.

This trip, it was specifically Harvard Square and a very conveniently-located coffeehouse called Crema Cafe. Positioned right off the T stop in a simple concrete building, this teaming cafe seemed to be quite the local hotspot (especially with the warm weather). Walking through the open front, the cafe opens into a skinny but tall space with the counter to much of the left, a loft in the back and despite an abundance of quality furniture, a pretty packed joint.

Crema serves up George Howell's various brews, of which I had a cup of the Costa Rican La Minata (drip) and their house espresso. The La Minata had characteristics of a bright, juicy apple and a little guava complimented by dark chocolate, roasted tomato and a light oregano. A smooth coffee with a beautiful combination of flavors. The espresso, pulled splendidly short with a nice head (aka crema) and velvety body, held deep chocolate, raspberry, sugar cookie, rum and a tinge of tobacco on the back. Both coffees really represented not only great coffee but good mastery of methods. The tea is free leaf.

Given the delightful experience at Crema, Cambridge remains a favorite haunt when I hit old Boston town, with Crema now on the list of reasons to return. Thus, if you happen to be in the area, give Crema a stir.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Mugged: Verona Blend [Kahve Koffee]

'

What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject:
Kahve Koffee
Coffees Mugged:
Verona Blend
Rating:
3+ [see key]




A
s sad as it may seem, when I see a coffee with an Italian name, I become slightly trepidatious of its quality. That's not because I hate Italian coffee; it's simply that all of the Italian coffee I've crossed has been either massively over-roasted or extremely stale (too many poor roasters trying to cash in on the rich and reputable coffee history of Italy).

Thus, I freely admit that when I received a pound of Kahve Koffee's Verona Blend (I assumed named for the northern Italian city of old) I almost rolled my eyes. Opening the bag displayed a mixed coffee blend of medium to medium-dark roasts (the website spouts that it mixed light and medium roasts).

But my infusions of drip, french press and siphon disintegrated some of my concerns. The french press did produce a bit of a darkness but it held a lot of complexity. There was bits of granola, peanut butter, light cocoa, garlic pepper and an overall sweetness. The darkness seemed to favor the front, the nuttiness the middle and the sweetness on the end.

The drip produced a cup that had a combination of tastes more similar to Dr. Pepper. The coffee was a little less dark and held tinges of granola, cocoa and garlic pepper. The sweetness was a bit stronger here and overall, this brew was much smoother.

The siphon was akin to the drip, similar in its Dr. Pepper taste and its facets of cocoa and nuttiness. There was some vanilla here and though the darkness was still present, it seemed to move to the back and display more subtlety.

Kahve's Verona overall made a good impression but the bitterness plus a mediocre quality made this coffee only so-so. Thus, I wouldn't go as far as to say that Kahve has reconciled my skepticism of Italian-named coffee blends, but its helped me on the road of hope (note that I have nothing against good Italian coffee...just the bad stuff bringing down Italy).

If you are on the lookout for a decent Italian-dubbed coffee blend, sample Kahve Koffee's Verona Blend.


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

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Mugged: Danish Blend [Kahve]

'

What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject:
Kahve Koffee
Coffees Mugged:
Danish Blend
Rating:
3+ [see key]




M
assachusetts has existed as a frequent factor in my coffee life as of late. Not only have I traversed various coffee establishments all over the state this past year but I've also had the privilege of being able to try out a few Mass coffees from a distance.

The latest roaster to meet my acquaintance is Kahve Koffee out of Brighton. The first of the two coffees I sampled was their Danish blend, an interesting name in that I recently devoured some Danish/Saxon historical fiction (actual events, fictional micro-events) in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales (sadly, they had no coffee to call their own).

Digging in, I found it to be a mix of medium and dark roasted coffees, a blending method that blends post-roasting. I brewed the Danish via the usual drip, siphon and french press.

The french press produced flavors of snap pea, sweet apple, carrot and a little earthiness. The bitterness was initially subdued but then roared into existence mid-sip. The overall coffee wasn't too bitter but definitely dark in essence.

The drip had a much different cup, with more cocoa up front, followed by apple, honeydew and rooibos. This coffee was much darker, toting pepper and bitter notes throughout.

The siphon was more like the french press in that the cup was lighter and had apple, honey, snap pea, carrot and a noticeable earthiness. This was the lightest cup, with the bitterness not as prevalent but instead, the coffee held more of a juicy and saucy character.

The Danish blend seemed to be a decent coffee overall, though the dark beans seemed to do little for the blend (much of the positive seemed to stem from the medium roasted beans). Thus, if you like your dark coffee tempered or your medium coffee more bitter, Kahve's Danish blend might hit your spot.


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

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

CC: Atomic Cafe

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Atomic Cafe
Location visited: Beverly, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes

Rating:
5+ [
see key]



It is not often I get to have a good meal with a distant friend; it always seems that you see old pals in large groups so catching up is hard. Yet occasionally I find circumstances that allow for a more low-numbered rendezvous, such as in my latest trip to Boston, as I was elated to get together with an old pal who happens to be a fellow coffee fanatic.

We decided to meet for lunch and coffee at a place not far from his routine, a place called Atomic Cafe. The entity has been on my radar for a while but circumstances often prevented the visit, so I was pleased with the choice at least for the coffee (I had heard nothing of their food, but I'll risk it).

That early afternoon, we (my wife and two other friends also attended) pulled into a metered street spot and made our way to the red awning of Atomic Cafe. The interior is comfy, with booths straight ahead, tables throughout (outside as well) and a large bustle of people all nestled in (what I recall as) a sea of red and slightly retro decor.

Atomic roasts their own and given the vast array of sitting pump pots, I chose a coffee from Bali, a bright coffee thick with apple and molasses, a dash of nutmeg, the essence of mojito and some sweet cream on the end; to put it simply, a good cup. For the espresso, you can pick one of their three espresso blends, and based on my friend's recommendation, I chose their Cosmopolitan. On the surface, the shots were pulled short and had decent crema whereas underneath, it embodied a zesty lemon, cinnamon, cranberry and fairly strong bitterness (a little too much bitterness it seemed), all with a little milk chocolate on the end. The tea is Mighty Leaf.

Given the experience, I must say I was satisfied with the rendezvous. My lunch was appetizing, the banter of old friends was well-received and the coffee operation seemed pretty on target.

If you're in the North Shore area, give Atomic Cafe a go.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

CC: 2nd Cup Cafe

'
What's does "CC" mean?


Subject:
2nd Cup Cafe
Location visited: Allston, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes

Rating:
4+ [
see key]


In another trip to the lovely city of Boston, I found myself one day en route to a lunch meeting almost an hour early with still no breakfast ingested. Given that I am not one to skip breakfast or to waste idle time, I queried of my party (we were four that day) of stopping at a local coffee spot with untold promise.

I say untold because 2nd Cup Cafe came up as a place that serves George Howell's coffee but not as a place any one coffee nerd has raved of. Therefore, I stayed on my toes in the initial approach of 2nd Cup's orange awning-ed shop with one of their large windows wide open to take in the warm breeze. Inside, I noticed the cafe had a variation of comfortable furniture all surrounded by warm orange and yellow decor.

Stepping up to the counter to order, I observed the coffee choices (also posted on the website) were a House or French Roast, both from George Howell. Since I've had very few positive experiences with a french roast, I opted for the House. Said drip demonstrated a smooth coffee smacking of grain, subtle honey (that's what my wife calls me), a bit of green tea and some chocolate, not to mention a little grape as it cooled. The espresso, pulled short/medium, had a white foamy head with flavors of cherry buried under bitterness, a little cocoa and bits of cardboard all amidst a piping hot (a little too hot) temperature and milky texture. The tea is free leaf.

I credit 2nd Cup with being a good breakfast stop and having decent coffee, but if they took their espresso to the next level and maybe added a little coffee variety, I could see this little cafe jumping to new heights. We shall see.

If you're in Allston, give 2nd Cup a heave-ho.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

CC: Cafe Fixe

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Cafe Fixe
Location visited: Brookline, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]



*Update 12/20/09

Y
ou know you have a pretty good boss when she lets you make an off-the-route stop for a much needed good cup of coffee.

On the way home from some business in New England, we had about 5 hours ahead of us and I was hurting for a decent cup of coffee to fuel the remaining drive. Fortunately, my fellow travelers (boss included), allowed me to make a bee line for Brookline to make a drop into Cafe Fixe.

Cafe Fixe hangs out on Beacon St in a beautiful tan brick building with a pair of matching tables guarding the front door. The interior folds out into a cozy shop with lots of light woods, a back counter and a fair amount of seating.

Fixe purveys Stumptown, a new sight for the Boston area these days. I ordered the Honduras, a nice light, floral coffee with subtle berries, pomegranate and cocoa; a really great cup of drip all in all. The espresso, a coffee called Bar Gold (never heard of it nor can I find it online), was pulled splendidly, had a nice crema and possessed flavors of chocolate, bell pepper and a tinge of bitterness on the end. The tea is free leaf.

This lovely stop at Fixe truly made out to be the stop I needed. If you're in or around Boston, drop by Cafe Fixe.


Update 12/20/09
HA! I figured out why I had never heard of Bar Gold coffee before; it's simply because I foolishly decided to use short hand instead of writing out the word Barrington. Thus, to correct my above ridiculous error, they served Barrington Gold as their espresso blend (a delicious coffee from Barrington Coffee Roasters) upon my visit.

Also, note that the coffee may not always be Stumptown, as several people have commented below that Barrington Coffee Roasters are a frequent flier and have other roasters as guests on occasion.


Sunday, October 25, 2009

CC: Northampton Coffee

'
What's does "CC" mean?
Location visited: Northampton, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]


E
very time I pass through central Mass, I get to unearth something pleasant. This trip, I got a chance to explore the lovely town of Northampton amidst some beautiful fall foliage. The nice weather amidst the flowing streets and unique stops (like Thornes) really made my day boom.

On top of all that, there's Northampton Coffee, a coffeehouse that turns out to be the sister/parent coffeehouse of lovely Amherst Coffee. After a hearty lunch with some colleagues at the Northampton Brewery, we waltzed down to Northampton Coffee's doors and inside, I found a cafe layout very similar to Amherst's (so maybe more like a twin sister), though Northampton had no alcohol and more seating.

The coffee comes from Massachusetts's own Barrington Coffee, a roaster that has shelled out tasty coffee in my several experiences. I had the Sumatran, a nice sweet cherry nectar with a little nutmeg and a bit of darkness. The espresso was a quality short pull that smacked of almond, cocoa, mango and had an overall velvety mouthfeel. The tea is free leaf.

Much like Amherst Coffee, Northampton proved to be a wonderful coffee stop. When in town, try to land thyself at Northampton Coffee.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Mugged: Tanzanian Peaberry [Flat Black]

'
What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject: Flat Black Coffee Company
Coffee Mugged: Tanzanian Peaberry
Rating: 4+ [see key]



A
s I previously wrote, a coffee's freshness really sells a coffee. And while the previous coffee I received from ROASTe proved flavorful despite possible age, the Tanzanian Peaberry did not fair as well.

The first warning was that this coffee did not have much of a dry aroma, as when I first opened the paper bag, it smelled only like bag. I prepared the coffee in a french press, vacuum press and via drip. The press tasted sweet with tastes of Asian pear and a bit spicy with hints of cardboard. The vacuum press fared better, with a more balanced cup with similar notes of pear and spiciness. The drip produced nothing that the other two did not.

Thus, though I would say this coffee from Flat Black holds some promise, I would like to give it a try a little fresher. If you get a chance to try it, let me know how it works.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Mugged: Ethiopian Harrar [Flat Black Coffee Co]

'
What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject: Flat Black Coffee Company
Coffee Mugged: Ethiopian Harrar
Rating: 4+ [see key]



Coffee, like most food, has an optimal window of consumption. Many gadgets and techniques have been created to keep it fresh, but time is a fierce foe.

So when I get coffee from a roaster, I look for signs of age. I look for roast dates (uber handy), I look for CO2 valves, I look for good packaging and a good smell off the beans. But sometimes, even when all of the above don't happen, the coffee can still turn out well.

When I got a package from Roaste, it had an Ethiopian Harrar from Flat Black Coffee Company in a simple paper bag and not much of a dry aroma. Usually this tells me this coffee is going to be rough, but compelled to not judge a coffee too harshly before I tasted it, I pressed on.

And press I did. I french pressed my first batch and was delighted to have a small explosion of berry off the start, followed with deep chocolate notes and a light, tea-like body. The vacuum press had a little less luster, with similar berry effects and a hints of pineapple and an oolong-ish taste on the back. The drip was very similar to the first two, but even more subdued.

In my final deductions, it seems this coffee was a little older than optimal but nonetheless a great coffee despite it. I'd be curious to try this coffee three days fresh out of the Flat Black roaster to compare.

If ye happen to order with Roaste or straight from Flat Black, give the Ethiopian Harrar a try.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

CC: Amherst Coffee

'
What's does "CC" mean?

Subject:
Amherst Coffee
Location visited: Amherst, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Early morning coffee stops can be a wondrous experience if planned well. Too often, people grab their coffee like a falcon snatching up an unfortunate rodent. But a nice slow stop at a grand cafe really starts the day off right.

Yet sadly, good coffee always seems to elude me in the morning. Thus, when I was last on a business excursion in Massachusetts, I decided to put the morning coffee stop at the forefront and going on a tip, I drove over 45 minutes to a place called Amherst Coffee.

The coffeehouse sits in the main stretch of town in a gorgeous large-windowed building next to a theater. Inside the cafe has a spacious bar on the right, a nice array of wood furniture and an overall inviting ambiance.

Amherst Coffee uses Barrington Coffee Roasting Company, a lovely roaster that produces quite a grand cup of coffee. I ordered the Sumatran (a very bright Sumatran) that had flecks of cranberry and oolong with an overall bold yet smooth taste. The espresso was pulled short and had a sweet whiskey-ish tang, a decent crema and a hint of semi-sweet chocolate. The tea is free leaf and they also exhibit an extensive wine bar.

After grabbing a seat, I managed to take some time to enjoy my morning brew and then, drove quite quickly (yet legally) to my work destination. If you happen to be close or in Amherst, definitely give Amherst Coffee a sampling.