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What's does "CC" mean?
Location visited: Manhattan, NY
1 Bleeker St
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]What really ensures a student's success? Is it wise counsel? Do the academic courses really mean that much? Realistically, I feel that all of those have importance but on the other hand, a college student really needs good coffee and a nice place to study.
Yeah, I know that's probably not totally true (though I needed those two things). But nonetheless thousands of students sip gallons of mediocre joe and study in boring drab rooms, and many of them still fall short of amazing.
If only more amazing coffeehouses would come to the aid of the students! With that cry deep in my heart, I embarked to examine a coffeehouse known to supply NYU students with decent nectar and beautiful ambiance, a place called Think Coffee. Sure I had heard not as glamorous feedback as well, but the place had some merit for at least a look.
Think possesses quite the unusual look for a Manhattan business (at least in my experience) in that it had a large stoop with plants placed on either side and a snazzy awning to boot. Inside, I fell in love with their high ceilings (with tremendous lighting), various environments of space and their fantastic array of furniture.
Most of the coffee hails from Porto Rico Importing Company, a coffee company that's been around for some time in the area but has not made any significant waves recently. But to my delight, Think Coffee also brews two self-roasted Cup of Excellence coffees on drip. Not in a gambling mood, I went for the Nicaraguan COE via drip. The brew presented light floral notes, tastes of strawberries and an overall nice somberness to it that made for a nice afternoon cup (wouldn't really pack the punch necessary for a morning pot). The espresso, pulled short, smacked of bittersweet cocoa, some nutmeg and a very full taste; good overall shots. The tea is free leaf of various kinds and Think also serves wine and beer (on tap!).
Meandering off afterwards, I greatly envied the many students cuddled up with their Calculus and their Aristotle in the warm embrace of Think Coffee. Not only do they have many great coffeehouses around Manhattan to choose from, but they also have a great one on their doorsetp.
In my opinion, a stop below Washington Square Park deserves a stop at Think Coffee.
Recently had the chance to check out the documentary From the Ground Up, a coffee documentary that does exactly what the title says; takes the viewer on a journey from cherry to peddled beverage.
As coffee documentaries go, it was decent. It had great footage of coffee picking, the wet process, drying, sorting, bagging, exporting and importing. If you've never seen it done, I imagine it would be somewhat confusing as much of the film had no narration and thus, one unfamiliar with what was going down could get lost. But even if you didn't know the lingo, the film made it all pretty easy to follow. Also, the film really makes one aware of the hard work the farmers go through for so little and thus indirectly pushes better conditions (the film is also directly dedicated for more than fair trade).
The only stabbing annoyance in the film stemmed from the soundtrack, which consisted of a singular old-timey song called the Java Jive (here it is performed by the Manhattan Transfer) played in spurts throughout the whole film. If you're one easily annoyed by such a song beaten to death, I would recommend putting the film on mute unless you see someone talking.
Overall, grab From the Ground Up if you're curious to how coffee gets to your local purveyor or you really wish to raise your awareness on what people go through so you can enjoy your morning cup.
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What's does "CC" mean?
Location visited: Cambridge, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]As much as I love Boston, I've never been good at navigating it. On my first trip there as "captain," I led my party of ten travelers quickly astray and ended up parking a good 20 minute walk away from our destination. Subsequent trips have proven better as I've gotten the layout down a bit more but ever still, I rely on my internal compass and divine intervention.
On my most recent trip, I had plans to make it up to Cambridge to give a hot coffee spot called Simon's Coffee Shop a try. But due to a little lack of reconnaissance on my part, I only gave myself 30 minutes to get from Brookline to Simon's before they closed, amidst a bustling Friday night with not a parking spot in sight. Fortunately, I made it (thank God, as my natural direction did not work as well as I'd hope) and I practically stampeded through their front doors with 20 minutes to spare.
The shop holds nice red walls, worn wood floors and a great deal of furniture (a few pieces outside and many pieces in). Simon's gets their coffee from Terroir Coffee, a company powered by the famed George Howell, as well as from Barismo. For drip I tried Terroir's Matalapa, a coffee that displayed the sweet flavors reminiscent of an apple and the subtle spiciness of tobacco, along with a smooth brightness that made for a grand cup. For the espresso, I had Barismo's Soma. The shots were pulled short with the a Sweet Tart-ish cherry up front and subsequent notes of unsweetened cocoa and black tea. The tea itself is free leaf.
With 1 minute left to closing, I hurried out the door happy for the fortune of making it in time. I would recommend stopping in, but for those not familiar with the construct of Boston, make sure to give yourself some extra time to navigate without pressure.
All in all, a nice gem to the area of Cambridge.
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What's does "CC" mean?
Location visited: Brooklyn, NY
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]Brooklyn is yet another part of the greater New York City area I've long neglected (oddly enough), but I finally made a visit on a recent Saturday. The conditions could not have been better, as the wind blew just enough to offset the warm rays of the sun and the streets were only mildly populated. Amidst it all, my three companions and I meandered down Flatbush on our way to fantastic fare at the Burrito Bar (great burritos!) and then on to Gorilla Coffee a few blocks over.
Gorilla has long been a place on my list of spots to dock at, so when we finally arrived I was not surprised that there was a line out the door (though I thought many of these people had been before). My compatriots plopped down on their bright red benches out front and I passed into their medium-sized cafe with a busy bar (at least four Gorilla-ians scurrying about) and bright red tables full of patrons.
Gorilla roasts their coffee and as somewhat of a testament to the popularity, half the people in line in front of me grabbed a bag or three of coffee with their order (I'd never seen such volume purchased in 15 minutes!). I ordered their deep roasted Brazilian via drip, a coffee that had been roasted a little too dark for me but had lots of redeeming aspects, such as some pound cake on the front, a bit of noticeable spice like that of a fine cigar and a nice acidity throughout. The espresso fared well, as the shots were pulled short and had a sugary and tart cranberry taste with some decent flecks of vanilla and a decent texture. The tea is Choice Organic Tea.
Satiated, I retrieved my friends outside and we left to go to Junior's Cheesecakes (a place according to my Brookyln-born boss is unparalleled anywhere else and now, after eating their strawberry shortcake cheesecake, I would have to agree). I would say that despite my dark drip, I went pretty ape for Gorilla.
When you're in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, drag your knuckles down to Gorilla Coffee.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject:100 Kona Coffee Coffee Mugged: 100% Kona
Rating: 5+ [see key]
All of my short life, I've heard all sorts of things about Kona coffee. I've heard that "it's simply the best coffee...ever" and that no matter what the price, it's worth it for a pure Kona (i.e. certified to have no other kinds of coffee). And yet, I've also heard that it is the most over-hyped coffee and that similarly wonderful coffees can be found from other origins at a much cheaper premium.
But for what it's all worth, I never really gathered the appropriate impetus to push me to seek out a quality 100% Kona to put to the test. Then fortunately out of the blue, I recently received an offer from 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee (part of C&C Specialty Coffee) to try out their 100% Kona, to which I heartily agreed to sample.
The coffee came in it's bright red bag with a golden seal of certification. The roast was of a light to medium roast and when I ground it up, the Kona produced the lovely aroma of bright floral notes and berries. When I first brewed it via french press, the aromas played out quite delectably in the cup, along with some watermelon and some massive brightness. The vacuum pot produced a deeper cup accompanied by a little more watermelon. The drip also produced a smooth beverage, with a pleasant brightness and delightful acidity.
While I felt that the coffee held up to the substantial hype of pure Kona coffees, I can't say I would make it an every week purchase (little pricey). So if/when you're looking to try out a good pure Kona, give 100% Hawaiian Kona Coffee a run for your money.
What's does "CC" mean? 
