CC: OQ Coffee

Subject: OQ Coffee
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

In my younger days, I used to have some friends in New Brunswick attending school at Rutgers. During visits to their abodes, we would go out and feast at the grease trucks then walk about campus. Sadly, in that day, no coffee establishments worth frequenting existed, so coffee was never a source of excitement during my visits.

But now the New Brunswick area much like a lot of the central NJ area is starting to spurt out some decent establishments. One gem that has been a long time in the works is a local roaster that in the past year finally opened their own cafe, a fine establishment called OQ Coffee. Located across the river in Highland Park, OQ has a cozy shop and roastery off the main drag of Raritan Avenue/Route 27. In the area one dreary afternoon, I made a stop by their skylighted lofted space for a cup of coffee and espresso.

The espresso was their Espresso Archimedes and the coffee a pourover of an Ethiopian. The espresso, pulled short with marble brown crema, expressed raspberry, pink lemonade, some yogurt and a little basil; all around a bright and delicious spro. The Ethiopian sang of cocoa, blueberry, sweet corn, rye bread, roasted peanut and beef broth, a hearty and succulent brew.

Thus, especially compared to my former years in the area, OQ Coffee provides a beacon of gloriously great coffee in an area typically overrun with chains and sludge. Whether you're shopping nearby or you're attending classes at Rutgers, drop by OQ Coffee for some quality beverages.

Mugged: Toarco AA [Old Queens]

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What does Mugged mean?



Subject: Old Queens Coffee
Coffee Mugged: Toarco AA, Indonesia
Rating: 5+ [see key]





I always thought New Brunswick, NJ would be a good home for a great coffeehouse. And while the folks at Old Queens Coffee don't have a retail location yet, they do the town proud by pumping out great coffee to local cafes and coffee drinkers from their local roastery.

Just recently, I had the pleasure of trying out their Toarco AA a wet-processed coffee from Sulawesi, Indonesia. As I've had OQ coffees in various coffeehouses, I was truly intrigued to try out this one in my home coffee apparatuses. I brewed the coffee via drip, siphon and french press.

The drip birthed a brew of milk chocolate, pear, almond, buttery cracker and a hint of clove. The body was surprisingly heavy though it went down smoothly and sweetly.

The french press had more of wheat and sugar as well as cocoa, pear, almond and minute ginger amidst a medium body.

The siphon more resembled the drip, with milk chocolate, pear, butter, a nice nuttiness and sugary black tea.

While I can't say for sure, these beans were possibly some of the best Indonesian coffee I've sunk my proverbial teeth into. If you're looking for a great coffee from Oceania, give OQ's Toarco AA a go.


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

CC: Town Hall Coffee Co

Subject: Town Hall Coffee Co
Location visited: Merion Station, PA and Philadelphia, PA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Updated 12.29.13 (see bottom)

It is all about patience. Things always seem to happen slowly but if you can wait it out, usually your fortitude will win out. This particular view has helped much in watching the Delaware Valley area develop a quality coffee scene. Back in 2006 when I started this blog, there was literally nothing great in Philadelphia and only one decent place in NJ (Delaware still has nothing stellar!).

But almost five years later, the region has greatly blossomed, with the latest flower being Town Hall Coffee Co. Opening their doors in the beautiful area near St. Joe's University, Town Hall exists as a moderately-sized cafe with gorgeous Edison bulb light fixtures, various seating and an overall pleasant aura.

The coffee offered is highly varied, with coffee from Ritual, Old Queens, Counter Culture, New Harvest and Intelligentsia. They offer most of their coffees brewed via pour over, so I went with Ritual's Costa Rican Halsar de Zacaro. The coffee delivered notes of honeydew, cherry wheat, caramel, graham cracker, a touch of cinnamon and a little milk chocolate; a simply surreal coffee as far as rich flavor and smoothness.

As for my espresso, I went with the current offering of Gimme Coffee's Brazil Santo Andre. Pulled short with a blondish, marbly crema, the 'spro produced notes of root beer and cocoa, a little ginger, some raspberry and a deep body. Overall, a scrumptious infusion.

The tea is Premium Steap as well as others.

Needless to say, if you happen to be in the area, Town Hall Coffee Co is worth the detour.


*Update 12.29.13*
Recently visited their new Philadelphia location. Same great quality in a very spiffy shop on Chestnut. Definitely worth a stop.