Thursday, March 24, 2022

Duchess Coffee


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. 

Monday, March 14, 2022

thirty-thirty Coffee Co.


Location: Peoria, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Many times, I learn of cities first through news of a promising coffee shop. As a fan of geography, I always welcome the chance to learn about a new place, especially if that place has a coffee stop worth visiting. One such situation has its roots in distant years past, when I first heard of Peoria, Illinois thanks to thirty-thirty Coffee Co.

Tuesday, March 08, 2022

Jefferson Street Coffee / Smokin' Aces


Subject: Jefferson Street Coffee / Smokin' Aces
Location: Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

It's almost always a solid recommendation when a barista at one coffee establishment gives accolades to another local shop. Naturally I have to usually ask for said recommendation (because what cafe always sends their customers to other cafes?) but when a barista of one good shop usually can think of another shop instantly, it's usually a good sign.

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

Thunder Coffee


Subject: Thunder Coffee
Location: Fargo, ND
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Fargo has been on my list of places to visit for some time, so it was quite glorious to finally make a visit, if only for an afternoon. The city has plenty of character, history and, most importantly of all, great coffee. 

Monday, February 21, 2022

Hatchet Coffee Roasters


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

The mountains of North Carolina have long called to me though it has been tough to visit them. But just recently, I was able to make a quick visit to the area and make a few deliberate stops, one of which was to the city of Boone and a coffee establishment known as Hatchet Coffee Roasters.

Monday, February 14, 2022

Revelstoke Coffee


Subject: Revelstoke Coffee
Location: Concord, NH
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While I have driven around the perimeter of New Hampshire quite a bit, I never had an occasion to traverse it until recently. The state is beautiful and while any number of stops could have been interesting, I am a sucker for capital cities and made my way over to Concord. But before seeing the sights, I first made my way to a local coffeeshop called Revelstoke Coffee.

Sunday, January 30, 2022

East Park Donuts & Coffee


Subject: East Park Donuts & Coffee
Location: Nashville, TN
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

If you get your donuts exclusively from a national chain, you have likely wasted many years on mediocre pastries accompanied by unremarkable coffee. But if you like to seek out local places that do wondrous things with donuts and coffee, then you should head on down to Nashville to try out East Park.

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Manchester Coffee Co


Subject: Manchester Coffee Co.
Location visited: Distillery District, Lexington, KY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Most people quickly associate a storied history of distilling spirits with Kentucky. So it was no surprise to find one of the more happening places in Lexington was around the Distillery District, located on the grounds of the old James E. Pepper Distillery. After exploring the district my first night in town, the next morning I made my way down the street to try out some local brews at Manchester Coffee Co. 

Thursday, January 13, 2022

392Caffe


Subject: 392Caffe
Location visited: Davenport, IA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

It is not often that I get to Iowa. While it has been on my revisit list for some years, it evaded me until a recent road trip driving east from Montana. Wanting to avoid certain areas of congestion, I took many a back road and detour, and found myself in the lovely city of Davenport. Located on the Illinois border, the city offered a perfect place to stop for a brief coffee break.

Friday, December 31, 2021

Joyhouse Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Joyhouse Coffee
Location visited: Bismark, ND
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Coffee shops run by or existing within churches come in all manner of quality. Some do a decent job with limited resources/investment, and some I wish were more open to feedback/betterment. But occasionally, a community is fortunate enough to have a coffee entity that seems to take things seriously, and in those instances, such a rarity shines like a beacon. 

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

On What Grounds?


Subject: On What Grounds? Coffee House
Location visited: Berlin, MD
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

For me, driving the Delmarva Peninsula for coffee purposes can be a bit of gamble depending on the time of year and the road I take. Often times I have plenty of time to seek one out but it's late Friday evening or Sunday afternoon, while other times I will be near the shore and a seasonal shop will be shuttered.