K Brew

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: K Brew
Location visited: Ebenezer Rd, Knoxville, TN
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I have been to Tennessee a dozen times in my younger days, but in that count, for some reason I never stopped in Knoxville. This mostly resulted from a ridiculous time table and compatriots that did not enjoy multiple stops, but fortunately those days sit largely in the past. Thus on my most recent trek from east to west through the Volunteer State, I made a point to hit Knoxville.

Bald Guy Brew

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Bald Guy Brew 
Location visited: Blowing Rock, NC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

I never really explored much of North Carolina's mountains save a brief trip to Asheville when I was a teenager. Oddly enough, it took nearly two decades to awaken a desire to revisit, and after a delay due to 2020, I finally made it to a lovely town called Blowing Rock and made a coffee stop at a place called Bald Guy Brew.

Crimson

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Crimson

Location visited: Easton Town Center, Columbus, OH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Sometimes a company will wish to rebrand or redo their image. This process is one fraught with peril, as the change can confuse people at best and drive them away at worst. Amidst coffee brands, I have seen a few make a change so drastic that they had to do damage control and/or reconnect the dots for the public, but for the wise, the efforts to redevelop or change are usually met with a level of intrigue, such as Crimson Cup of Columbus expanding their brand into a newer arm called simply Crimson.

People's Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: People's Coffee
Location visited: Durham, NC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

When folks look for lodging, typically they either want to be around amenities or they want relative seclusion. The typical unfortunate scenario unfolds in finding a nice hotel in a highly-populated area with little to see or do nearby. Nonetheless, every now and then an occasional match is made. Such was my fortune last time I passed through Durham, North Carolina when I found an affordable Hyatt nearly abutting a coffee shop of repute, People's Coffee. 

The Freedom Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Freedom Cafe
Location visited: Durham, NH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

It's amazing how ten years can elapse between the first visit of a place and getting there again. Many times it's a matter of distance, other times it's circumstances and most often it is because I have not found a way to make it fit into the schedule.

Jubala Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Jubala Coffee
Location visited: Honeycutt Rd, Raleigh, NC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Ever go to a city and realize you missed a great coffee shop when you were there? For me, invariably after I return from some expeditions, there is occasionally an establishment I managed to miss or overlook. About 8-9 years ago, that was Jubala Coffee in Raleigh. My free time was limited, I poorly budgeted my time and that led to me missing a stop at the then-new Jubala.

Fox in the Snow

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Fox in the Snow
Location visited: German Village, Columbus, OH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Coffee shops by and large have a hard time with baked goods. Sure, there's nothing wrong with croissants and cookies, but surely there is more to nosh on then the same five items? And yes, a pre-made sandwich can be nice, but serve up something that has some soul or vision, and I'll be a regular.

Two Persons

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Two Persons
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

In driving around Philadelphia, I am always surprised by what I do not see. I blame it on familiarity. Growing up in the area, I have grown accustomed to the sights that it's only when something new happens that an old structure hidden in plain sight becomes apparent. 

Blue Deer

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Blue Deer Cookies
Location visited: King St, Boone, NC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

When a great concept meets a unique space, nifty things can happen. It doesn't happen a lot, as I have seen many a great concept in a sad, ill-fitting structure as well as lackluster concepts in beautiful spaces, but every now and then both boxes are checked. One of the most recent I witnessed was a late-night cookie and coffee shop serving up their wares out of a spiffy building in Boone.

Zion Coffee Bar

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Zion Coffee Bar
Location: Peoria, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While great coffee comes in all manner of settings, from dimly-lit basement coffee dens to outdoor espresso patios, one of my favorite places to enjoy coffee is in a shop with tall ceilings, nice furniture and a classy aesthetic. While in Peoria, I found such a setting in a place called Zion Coffee Bar. 

Spencer's Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Spencer's Coffee
Location visited: Downtown, Bowling Green, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Some time ago, when I first visited Bowling Green, I remember being tired and exhausted, sitting in a parking lot with (at least) a cranky toddler and a decent drive ahead of us. In the moment, I remember deciding that despite my weariness, I would not grab coffee in Bowling Green but would wait til later somewhere closer to our distant destination.

How I regretted that decision.

Mighty Missouri Coffee Co.

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Mighty Missouri Coffee Co
Location: Bismark, ND
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

During various chunks of my childhood, especially high school and early college, I often frequented a YMCA near my house. Whether it was lifting weights, running laps or swimming, the "Y" was a tremendous convenience in finding all I needed in one spot. It was not last year that I realized I had been cheated. 

8th and Roast

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: 8th and Roast
Location visited: Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Great coffee can be found in many places in Nashville, but in my opinion, there seems to be plenty of room for more. While visiting the western portion of the city, I managed to visit a shop that's been on my list, a place called 8th and Roast.

Terra Nomad

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Terra Nomad
Location: Bismark, ND
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While driving around Bismark, I found myself hankering for a good cup of coffee and great meal. Sometimes hoping to find both in the same place can be a fool's errand, as few places do them both well, but fortunately I was blessed in finding Terra Nomad.

Bloom and Vine

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Bloom and Vine (also known as Bloom Coffeehouse & Eatery)
Location: Glendive, MT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

When I first arrived in Montana those many years ago, I only held interest in the western portions of the state. Sure, I drove through the east, but that was simply because I needed to get through it to get somewhere else. It wasn't until years later that I realized how foolish I had been.

North Lime Coffee and Donuts

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: North Lime Coffee and Donuts
Location visited: West Loudon Ave, Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I never knew how much of a love affair southerners have with donuts and coffee. Growing up in the northeast surrounded by donuts dunked in mediocre joe, I was enamored with the many wonderful takes different southern cities had with great coffee and tremendous donuts. My favorite donut enterprise in Kentucky would be a multi-location operation I recently stumbled upon, a place called North Lime Coffee and Donuts. 

Lake Life Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lake Life Cafe
Location: Bemus Point, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

After traversing most of Upstate New York during my years as a resident, I thought I had seen all the lakes but it turns out I missed a great one. Situated all the way by Erie is Chautauqua Lake, a moderately-sized body of water with an assortment of towns dotting its shores. Happening upon the lake on my way east from Ohio, I quickly pulled off the highway to check out Bemus Point and stumbled on a promising coffee shop called Lake Life Cafe. 

Headquarters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Headquarters
Location: Nashville, TN
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Nashville has definitely become a city known for its great coffee options. As many shops decide on their look, most bank on a modern or minimalist decor, but a few go for vintage. One spot that nails the feel of an old saloon is a cozy shop on the west side of Nashville called Headquarters. 

Blackbeard Coffee Roasters

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Blackbeard Coffee Roasters
Location: Greenville, NC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Never really having the chance to explore North Carolina outside the Triangle, I was excited to check off some other cities. One sunny afternoon, I had the opportunity to stop in Greenville and make a long-overdue coffee stop at Blackbeard Coffee Roasters.

Duchess Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Duchess Coffee
Location: Brattleboro, VT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Never have I encountered a situation where every lodging option, down to the least appealing motel, were all fully booked, but such was my fate one Friday night in the city of Brattleboro. I was traveling east towards Maine and I hit a wall of fatigue after driving from Columbus, Ohio that morning, so I sought a place to crash for over an hour to no avail. Finally after giving up, I found a parking spot in a shopping center, reclined my seat and snoozed until the sun awoke me.