Mugged: Cafe de Chiapas Medium Roast [Chiapas Farms]

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What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject: Chiapas Farms
Coffee Mugged: Cafe de Chiapas Medium Roast
Rating: 4+ [see key]





Mexico always seems to be cast in a negative light. You hear about drug overlords, poverty and illegal immigration but rarely do you hear of positives.

Recently, I received a pound of organic coffee from Mexican farm company Chiapas Farms. At first I thought it was just a small operation, with a couple families offering coffee but it turns out that the outfit is quite mammoth and aside from coffee, they offer a plethora of produce as well. For their coffee, they claim to buy directly from a cooperative of Mexican farmers (direct trade) and if it is so, that's at least a step into the positive.

As for the coffee I received, it had bits of a bean sheen and an overall dark brown color (a little dark for a medium roast). I brewed up the coffee in the usual three methods: drip, siphon and french press.

The drip held notes of almond, nougat, caramel, cream, a little rhubarb and a smidgen of squash and prune. The coffee was smooth and had less bite then I expected for the roast level.

The french press gave a stronger coffee, with a darker cocoa, potent almond, cherry, lemon pepper, saltines and a little bit of grass and caramel on the end. A more potent brew for sure.

The siphon demonstrated more like the drip, with caramel, cashew, a faint grass, toasted wheat, apple, mead and a bit of cream. A mellow brew that was much akin to the drip.

While I can't vouch for their dark roast, Chiapas Farms medium roast held some decent flavors and was pretty solid. If you need a cup of direct trade, organic coffee from Mexico, give Chiapas Farms a whirl.



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

CC: Square One Coffee

Subject: Square One Coffee
Location visited: Lancaster, PA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

*UPDATE 02/15/17*
In combing through old posts, I realized that I had not updated this coffee empire since 2011. They have risen greatly in quality and influence, and can be found in numerous locations. The below review does indeed represent an anomaly and Square One ranks amongst the best shops.

---end update---

Out in the area of Lancaster, the Amish reside, smorgasbords thrive (like here, there or here) and a lot of interesting sights remain overlooked (ever been to Dutch Wonderland?). Of all the places I have been to in the Philadelphia region over the years, Lancaster remains as a place that continues to surprise me.

My latest marvel was that in my absence of some years, it seems Lancaster got a bit of a coffee scene. In the past, of the two cafes I had visited in Lancaster, one was fairly mediocre and the other was truly odd (it consisted of one room with a lady serving coffee out of a home coffee maker who considered your blood type before taking your order). But now, it seems that there are places of repute.

On a nice night amidst a hopping crowd, I made landing at my first discovery, a place called Square One Coffee. A roaster and cafe housed in a brick building downtown, the crowd seemed to speak for itself. The innards of the cafe delighted my senses with a well-laid flow of furniture and design, including old wood floors, lots of earth tones and various areas to dine (including an exterior courtyard).

Of their coffees, I sampled their house blend via drip and had an espresso (in which used their espresso blend). The drip produced a strong cup, with notes of heavy cocoa, cherry, shredded wheat and a tinge of spinach all amidst a heavy body. While I didn't find the potency to my liking, I felt the flavors favorable (probably more so if toned down). The espresso, pulled short with a thin crema, held notes of sugar, orange, milk chocolate, lemon rind, pepper and a little smokiness. I also thought my shots were tasty though I felt that the pull was a bit off. The tea is free leaf.

Regrettably, it seems I came on a night where the bustling crowds overwhelmed or where weary staff were at the helm (or something like that). Either way, I will definitely be stopping back as I felt that my experience was not par for their course (alas the nature of rating a single experience). When in town, give Square One a solid visit.

CC: Fuel Coffee

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Fuel Coffee

Location visited: Seattle, WA
[Wallingford location]
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Most people truly thrive on the natural boost of coffee to get through the day, a fact that has helped marketers through the decades come up with clever slogans and gimmicks. Even though I'm not a big fan of caffeine (I see it more as God's way of limiting me from having too much of a good thing), I do enjoy the creative associations that it elicits.

One of the more visually-effective metaphors that has been created over the years is that of fuel. Personally, I know quite the number of people who depend on coffee much like a machine depends on gasoline, and while I don't endorse substance addiction, the parallel is practically limitless in its implications.

Naturally, Seattle's Fuel Coffee had me allured with its name alone, never mind their reputable name amidst the credible coffee entities around town. Of their three locations throughout the city, I was able to stop at their newest location off 45th St. Their brown and white space offered a spacious cafe with wood floors, good lighting and plenty of places to rest your laurels.

The coffee offered is that of Caffe Vita. I ordered an espresso (they use the Cafe Del Sol as their espresso blend) and a cup of Queen City via drip. The espresso, pulled short with nice crema, purveyed bitter chocolate, heavy lime, cloves, cinnamon sugar and a noticeable thickness. As espresso goes, it was pretty good though a little dark for me.

The Queen City gave notes of carrots, celery, tobacco and a bittersweet character that emphasized a darker roast then I would have liked. Finding out afterward that the Queen City is blended post-roast with medium and dark roasted coffees, I can't say I would venture the same coffee again (Caffe Vita has better to offer).

I did not note the tea.

Aside from the dark leanings of my coffee experience, Fuel filled up my tank nicely. Give Fuel Coffee a visit when you're in town.

Mugged: Light Roast [Tiny Footprint Coffee]

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What does "Mugged" mean?


Subject: Tiny Footprint Coffee
Coffee Mugged: Light Roast
Rating: 4+ [see key]





Saving the planet through sustainable practices makes a lot of sense, but a lot of times, sustainable seems to come at the price of quality. This is especially true in the coffee roasting realm, as there exists no shortage of sustainable coffees that taste like recycled coffee grounds.

Yet the number of decent options grows by the month. The latest to meet my gaze is a coffee operation named Tiny Footprint Coffee. I first learned of them from an email offering to send out some coffee to review, and after looking over their website, I was intrigued. According to their site (and coffee bags), they make a contribution to the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation with each coffee sale, which ends up making them a carbon-negative operation.

Impressed with their environmental benevolence, I dug into their coffee sent: their light roast. I did note a darker shade to these beans then most light roasts, though the beans still looked healthy. I proceeded to sample the coffee via french press, drip and siphon.

As a drip, the coffee held notes of fig, chocolate milk, a bit of wheat, black bean and bran. The overall feel was smooth with a little kick. As it cooled, a smokiness entered the sensory picture.

The french press moved in with a stronger smokiness up front, with dark bittersweet cocoa, a little cream, bran and sesame seed flavors dominating. This was a darker and stronger brew.

The siphon held a distinct caramel and nutty notes, along with cocoa/chocolate milk, apple, peanuts, buttermilk biscuits, a little grass and blueberry jam. This infusion proved much more mellow and held some new flavors.

While this coffee seemed a little spread out as far as flavors and bodies, I felt the coffee held up as a sweet coffee with the right balance of tasty flavors. If you're looking for a sustainable coffee that proves itself in taste, go with Tiny Footprint's light roast.


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

CC: Brew Urban Cafe

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What's does "CC" mean?

Subject: Brew Urban Cafe

Location visited: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]



Winter both excites and disheartens me. I love the holidays, the extreme sports (polar bearing!) and the occasional snow-scape. Yet, despite the fun of it all, I sure miss the greenery of the other three seasons. Of course that could be resolved with a trip south between December and April, but alas, the opportunities usually fall during the nicer months.

One such untimely foray south would be a previous business trip to Florida during some of the nicest weather in the northeast. Though the timing was not the greatest, I made the most of it with some beach visitation and a trip to Fort Lauderdale's lovely downtown for good coffee.

The cafe visited was called Brew Urban Cafe, one of the only coffeehouses of rumored repute in all of Florida. Arriving one warm morning, I discovered convenient parking in front and took in the beauty of the surrounding area. Eventually I found my way through their doors and found a great cafe, with one of the nicest pieces of wall art I've ever seen, dark wood furniture and beautiful lighting.

Serving up Intelligentsia, I ordered a cup of the Brew's house blend via drip and an espresso of Black Cat. The drip, though a little stale, delivered notes of chocolate milk, cloves, fig, minestrone and a little chili powder; a decent coffee overall. The espresso, pulled of a medium volume with marbled crema, held bits of sugar cane, dark cocoa, lemon, a little cinnamon and some coriander (good showing of Black Cat). The tea is Intelligentsia and Island Rose.

After my visit, I now know exactly where in Florida I will go when I get the chance to winter there in the future. Make a stop at Brew Urban Cafe if you happen to be nearby.