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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Forest Park, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]
As much as I wish I was a morning person, getting up with the sun for work-related purposes is harder then scaling a wall upside-down (sorta). But little incentives can make all the difference.
Several weeks ago, I had to get up much earlier then usual but to make it truly worth my while, I had earmarked a coffee stop called Blue Max Coffee in nearby Forest Park outside Chicago. Driving up to Blue Max in the early AM, the sun reflected nicely off the vanilla siding of the converted house-to-cafe. Indoors, the old domicile layout is still evident but despite the extra wall or two, the space is fairly open with lots of seating, an enclosed porch and an overall pleasing aesthetic.
Blue Max roasts their own coffee (the drum roaster sits in the cafe) and that morning, I sprang for their Nicaraguan, a light roast that held the bright sweetness of pear and caramel as well as some hazelnut and a flair of sauciness (a good cup in my eyes). The espresso, pulled short with a marbled crema, gave a combination of a merlot, some cinnamon, a lemon sucker (the candy of course) and some orange juice with a tip of bitterness (aka pretty swell). The tea is free leaf.
Even though I still hit a predictable wall of weariness later that day, Blue Max definitely fueled my morning with some pretty stellar coffee. I hope to try them again (soon?) as I'm sure this trip was no anomaly.
Despite the hour which you arise, I propose making a stop at Blue Max Coffee.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Irving Farm Coffee Company
Coffees Mugged: Haitian Highlands Pic Macaya
Rating: 2+ [see key]
With the recent events of Haiti, a lot of interesting relief efforts came out of the woodwork in order to provide money for the tried and trued method of sending money to charities. One such intriguing idea came from Irving Farm Coffee Company out of Millerton, NY in that they donated their profits from the sale of their Haitian Highland Pic Macaya to the Konbit Sante Earthquake Response.
Though admirable in purpose, I was curious when they sent me a bag to try if this dark roast single origin would be any good. I put it through the gauntlet of the three brewing methods of drip, french press and siphon.
French pressing first, the coffee gave a dark bitterness and a bite I would equivocate to vodka, followed by pear, black tea and small hints of ginger and licorice. The coffee was subtly bright but the darkness of the coffee dominated.
In the siphon, the brew seemed to switch up a little. The coffee had more of the dark bitterness in the middle, with initiating flavors tasting of pear and nutmeg as well as a bit of cocoa and shortbread developing throughout.
The drip mimicked more of the siphon, with bright notes of asian pear, the sweetness of heavy cream and similar nutmeg, all more in the front and the bitter, dark peppery flavors beginning in the middle.
The coffee underneath the very present bitterness of this coffee had lots of great flavors but it was hard to mine them apart from the darkness. While I hope that this was a worthwhile fundraiser for Irving Farm, I can't really express satisfaction with this coffee at its current roast level.
If you seek to patronize Haiti relief while drinking dark Haitian coffee, give Irving Farm's Haitian Highland a purchase.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Cleveland, OH
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]
It's not every day that you spot an Amish man (at least he looked Amish) walking a baby giraffe down a city street, but it's not every day that I'm in Cleveland. This great lake-bordered city is one I rarely visit and in the precious minutes I had, I tried to make the best of it.
So of the few stops I did make, one of them was at a place called Moko Coffee & Tea. A coffeehouse slinging Intelligentsia located in Playhouse Square seemed like a fine stop and thus after my pet giraffe sighting, I made my pit stop.
Moko is a lobby cafe with nice high ceilings, a prominent counter/preparation area and a simple monochromatic color scheme. The coffee is a custom, Intelly-crafted Moko House Blend that despite having an off bitterness on the back and a little staleness, it held nice cocoa flavors, a fairly balanced body and some pear as it cooled. The espresso, pulled short with quality crema, was a good showing of Black Cat, with the usual lemon and cocoa flavors shadowed with sugar cane as well as some unique chai notes on the end. The tea is free leaf.
To put it plain, Moko added a sumptuous facet to my Cleveland adventure. Though it doesn't seem that Moko is using a lot of Intelly's other coffees, they seem to be doing a decent job with what they got. If you happen to be passing through, stop by Moko.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Allston, MA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]
In another trip to the lovely city of Boston, I found myself one day en route to a lunch meeting almost an hour early with still no breakfast ingested. Given that I am not one to skip breakfast or to waste idle time, I queried of my party (we were four that day) of stopping at a local coffee spot with untold promise.
I say untold because 2nd Cup Cafe came up as a place that serves George Howell's coffee but not as a place any one coffee nerd has raved of. Therefore, I stayed on my toes in the initial approach of 2nd Cup's orange awning-ed shop with one of their large windows wide open to take in the warm breeze. Inside, I noticed the cafe had a variation of comfortable furniture all surrounded by warm orange and yellow decor.
Stepping up to the counter to order, I observed the coffee choices (also posted on the website) were a House or French Roast, both from George Howell. Since I've had very few positive experiences with a french roast, I opted for the House. Said drip demonstrated a smooth coffee smacking of grain, subtle honey (that's what my wife calls me), a bit of green tea and some chocolate, not to mention a little grape as it cooled. The espresso, pulled short/medium, had a white foamy head with flavors of cherry buried under bitterness, a little cocoa and bits of cardboard all amidst a piping hot (a little too hot) temperature and milky texture. The tea is free leaf.
I credit 2nd Cup with being a good breakfast stop and having decent coffee, but if they took their espresso to the next level and maybe added a little coffee variety, I could see this little cafe jumping to new heights. We shall see.
If you're in Allston, give 2nd Cup a heave-ho.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Swarthmore, PA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Despite traversing Philadelphia so many times, there always seems to be a distant suburb of it that I have to unearth. My latest strike is the cute, college town of Swarthmore. A little bit off my route one day, I stumbled upon a new coffeehouse that had popped up on the main street. Titled Hobbs Coffee, it looked promising from what I could decipher and with a little bit of a weird means (my GPS likes to take scenic tours), I finally found my way.
Hobbs sits in a corner shop right next to the Septa train stop with nice, open windows. The inner domain consisted of a very open space with nice wood floors, a comfortable arrangement of furniture and decent lighting.
The coffee comes from local Chestnut Hill Coffee Company, a good operation putting forth good coffee. I had the Rwandan that fateful day, a drip that fared a tad darker then I would like but still displayed decent flavors of strawberry jam as well as a complimenting nuttiness and earthiness. The espresso, pulled short with good crema, had the qualities of lemon, sugar cane, bits of bitter cocoa and some milky molasses on the end. The tea is Equal Exchange.
Though I wasn't a gargantuan fan of the Rwandan (too dark for me) or that they wouldn't serve a bagel after breakfast hours (why put a time limit on something that has a shelf life?), Hobbs showed a pretty high level of quality (at the least) with their espresso and choice of coffee roaster. With a few little improvements, they have potential to really be top notch.
If you happen to be near Swarthmore, give Hobbs Coffee a try.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]
While I have been to Chicago many times before, I revel in this recent trip the most. Not only did I get to spend some serious time in the thriving metropolis, but I was with good company (one of them a local) and in glorious weather for early Spring.
So on one sunny, calm day I made a trip to Chava Cafe, a joint reputed to be doing some good things with Intelligentsia's coffee. Chava sits in a nice round-cornered facility with windows between pillars throughout with a huge interior to match, rich with calming colors and intriguing furniture.
The cafe also owns a Clover (plus, if their barista was correct, mentioned that a comparable device was to be tested in Chava in coming days). I ordered Intelly's Ikerizi, Burundi clover-ized, a beautiful, light brew that showed maple syrup over buttermilk waffle, a little sour apple and some caramel and chocolate truffle. My espresso also impressed, as it was a good, short pull of Black Cat, producing a thick chocolate chip cookie, some lemon, a bit of sea salt and a nice crema. The tea is free leaf.
In my list of cafes I wish I lived near, I can confidently say that Chava would be in my top 20. If you're in Chicago, take a trip to Chava.
This weekend has proven a little too much like a whirlwind and thus, I will have to take a breather from posting formally until Wednesday. But until then, I did manage to update two places from the past that I was able to recently revisit, re-evaluate and actually boost the scores a bit. Barrington
1 Shot Coffee
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Doi Chaang Coffee
Coffees Mugged: Single Estate Signature
Rating: 3+ [see key]
Wrapping up my overall Doi Chaang experience is their Single Estate Signature blend, a coffee that is blended post-roasting and was the dark horse of the three coffees I received (the other two had ratings on the bag to give me an idea of what to expect). I sampled it a la drip, french press and siphon.
As I sipped the brew from my french press, I noticed a smoky aroma and taste, followed by a kick of pepper and then, a leveled out, smooth coffee with dollops of apple butter. This brew stood as the smokiest and the bitterest of the three batches.
My drip fared less smoky, still showing up with a bit of bitterness and pepper as well as the apple butter middle and finish. This cup also tasted nuttier and was smooth-ish overall.
The siphon produced the lightest of the three, demonstrating not much smokiness, but instead more cocoa. This cup was the least bitter and had flavors of apple as well as vanilla and nutmeg. The most enjoyable of the three in my estimation.
This Single Estate Signature left its mark as a fair coffee; by no means a bench warmer but still not at the level of a home runner. Give this coffee a sip if you're looking for a good Thai medium/dark coffee.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Burnstown, ON
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Aside from Canada's many cities, I can't say I've seen a whole lot of our neighbor to the north. Granted I've passed through lots of interesting-looking towns (especially in the Thousand Islands) but it wasn't until a coffee destination turned up a little off my beaten path in Burnstown that I got a chance to take a nice detour on some back roads.
Said coffee destination is called Neat Coffee Shop, a cafe nestled in an old schoolhouse at the main intersection of town. The exterior consists of two buildings, with the most of the cafe in the blue portion (I have no idea really what they do in the brick section). The interior held a nice open space, with some wood furniture, local art and a big Apple desktop for customers.
Neat roasts their coffee in-house, though per their website they also claim to carry 49th Parallel and Fire Roasted Coffee (49th Parallel's Epic Espresso is their espresso blend). They do have a Clover but it was down for repairs, so I ordered a french press of their Ethiopian. The coffee was really bright with notes of raspberry and caramel, as well as some strong dark notes. The espresso, pulled short and served in a shot glass, had a milkshake-ish head followed by a slap of dark bitterness, plus some flavors of cocoa, lemon and a bit of pepper. While I failed to ask if the espresso that day was 49th's Epic, it seemed that the pull was more of the concern then the espresso blend. Their tea was free leaf.
I can't say that Neat was completely worth the detour but it seems that the place has a lot of potential with a few tweaks (they seem to really like their darker roasts). If you're nearby, give Neat a stop.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Doi Chaang Coffee
Coffees Mugged: Single Estate Piko's Peaberry
Rating: 2+ [see key]
Quality coffees really aren't that much different than mediocre coffees.
WAIT...what?! That is heresy! Clearly, factors such as the quality of the crop, the way in which said crop was processed and how it is then roasted all separate an amazing coffee from the rest. How could I say that an amazing coffee isn't that much different then a mediocre coffee?!
Well, lets agree that when you get a coffee that is grown, processed and roasted well, my digestive planets align and I swoon like an Elvis impersonator at Graceland. Such coffee stands head and shoulders above lesser coffee.
But mess up one or more of the steps from crop to cup, a quality coffee is lost in a sea of average beans. So it seems was the case with a recent coffee I got from Doi Chaang. The coffee was their peaberry and had an admirable 93 from Coffee Review on the front, so opening it up, I was excited. But when I opened the bag, I noticed a pretty dark coffee and the first thing that hit me was "Ken (from Coffee Review) usually doesn't rate a lot of dark coffees in the 90s" but I dismissed it as pessimism and gave it a go via drip, siphon and french press (later I found that when Ken rated this coffee, it was of a medium roast).
Sadly, the results were less then exciting. The drip produced a dark cup with hints of cocoa, a little bit of orange and a good amount of bitterness over a medium body. The french press was very similar, with bitterness throughout, a deep cocoa and a peppery orange flavor. The siphon had a little lighter body, as well as a little more of a nougat and curry flavor, but overall, still the same. To say the least, the coffee was consistent throughout the various brewings.
Thus, it seems that the darker roasting of this coffee sunk a lot of its finer flavors and needless to say, I would love to try it as a lighter roast. If you are looking for a decent dark coffee of Thailand, give Doi Chaang's Piko's Peaberry a sampling.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Ottawa, ON
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Hitting a local spot for a meal doesn't always work out when visiting a city on a cold winter evening. The weather on a recent trip to Ottawa became a hurdle for my wife and I as we braved the raving winds for dinner. But determined to eat a good meal, our fortitude paid off, as we found mighty fine Mexican fare at Ahora Mexican Cuisine.
Next on the list (for me at least) was a decent cup of coffee. We ventured out into the cold on a shaky lead to a place nearby called Xpresso, apparently owned by the same people who own a local Indian restaurant called Shafali. We found the place soon after, with black signs (somewhat hard-to-see-in-the-night) and open windows. Inside there was lots of Indian art amidst a red modern decor and a cozy furniture.
The coffee comes from Reunion Island Coffee, a roaster out of Oakville, Ontario (though Xpresso's website claims they use Intelligentsia). I had the Ethiopian via drip, a light roast with blueberry, chianti and lemon throughout; a tremendously good, fruity cup of coffee with a medium body. The espresso, pulled medium/long despite asking for it short, had chocolate notes followed by a strong bitterness that had a developing salty facet as well as a milk-ish body (i.e. fair shots). The tea was free leaf and Xpresso also had beer and wine options.
Though the experience satisified my desire for some evening coffee, I felt the place had a lot of potential to be even greater. Never the less, if you're in town, give Xpresso a go go.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Doi Chaang Coffee
Coffees Mugged: Single Origin Medium
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Farming coffee often seems like such a distant process in regards to roasting. Especially in my consumption, it seems the only times one sees a farm and roastery combo are with Konas and Jamaican Blue.
But now I can add Thailand to my list, as I was sent a few coffees to try from Thailand coffee cooperative Doi Chaang Coffee. According to their website, the company was started when several tribes of the Doi Chaang village united to sell their premium coffee as single origin coffees to the world. So they put a headquarters in Vancouver, BC and seem to have a pretty slick operation. As I have never had coffee from Thailand and I'm a fan of such ambition, I was excited to see what Doi Chaang had to offer.
I sampled their Single Origin Medium roast first, a coffee that was the lightest of the three coffees sent (though still close to dark) and had also won a 90 from Coffee Review. I ingested the coffee via drip, siphon and french press.
The drip proved smooth, had touches of honey and some bits of clove along with a little bitterness provided by the darkish-ness of the beans. The coffee was thorough in the prior flavors but didn't have much else.
The french press developed the flavors a bit more. This brew was much sweeter, still showing honey and bits of cocoa and cloves. There was more brightness and less bitterness in this cup as well.
The vacuum press was the proverbial baby bear's bed as it was just right. Really sweet honey and cocoa with a noticeable grain-like element, followed with a little clove and a really nice brightness (practically no bitterness in this cup). By far, the best of the three methods for this coffee.
To say the least, I was satiated with this coffee, though it would seem like a good idea to roast it a little lighter to negate the bitter effects all together. If you're looking for a decent medium roast, give Doi Chaang's Single Origin Medium a go.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Dryden, NY
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 3+ [see key]
Community centers, places where the townspeople hang out, seem to be a thing of lore these days. Sure there's your typical fire hall or space that can be rented out for large events, but an actual community center where people can just stop in without incurring a cost seems to be extinct in most lands.
But it just so happens that the town of Dryden, a small town between Ithaca and Cortland, not only has a community center but has a community center cafe that apparently uses volunteers to staff the counter. Curious how a cafe dependent on volunteer labor looked, as well as the fact that I happened to be in the area, equaled out to a quick stop by the DCCC.
The cafe is located on the corner of what seems the town center. The building is a lovely brick structure with open windows. The interior looks kind of like a community center, with out-dated decor and mostly old dorm furniture, but despite the shortcomings, the cafe demonstrated a nice environment (especially by the windows).
They serve Coffee Mania via pump pot and espresso (for ridiculously low prices too!). I ordered a small cup of drip and via their selection of brews brewed, I went for the Brazil Magiana, a sweet coffee that had reminded me of Yoo Hoo, sweet bread and sunflower sprinkled with cayenne pepper and a little sauciness (I think it was a little stale). The espresso, a medium shot with not much crema, smacked of citrus, milk chocolate and beef broth amidst a milky body and a tingle of bitterness on the end. The tea was available in various bagged assortments.
Given the above drinks were fairly decent AND came from unpaid community volunteers, I have to say I stand slightly impressed. This community cafe took the time to use a decent, local roaster and also take their espresso (at least somewhat) seriously. If I could also give out points for heart, I would.
This is a place that deserves business and hopefully with time, will improve greatly. Stop by the Dryden Community Center Cafe.
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What's does "CC" mean? [109 and 366 Bank St locations]
Location visited: Ottawa, ON
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Going north in the winter seems tremendously unnatural but occasionally, one has to strap on a thick scarf, don some mittens and drive to Canada. Fortunately, this trip had promise of a nice relaxing stay and a little exploration of never-before-visited Ottawa.
Upon arrival, one of my first destinations was local coffeehouse operation Bridgehead Coffeehouse. According to a few locals, Bridgehead is one of the only places to grab good espresso in town, thus given its close proximity to my hotel, it was an easy respite after the long drive.
After checking in at Hotel Indigo (turned out to be a swell stay by the way), I made my way to one of their four Bank Street (366 Bank St) locations. The exterior of this and most Bridgeheads is mostly window save a snazzy, dark wood sign. Inside, this cafe radiated a warm, chic feel with an exposed brick wall, a bustling counter and an orange, cream and gray color scheme.
Bridgehead produces their own line of coffee, seeming to err closer to dark roasts. I ordered a cup of their Peruvian, a medium roast that actually acted more like a dark roast, as the brew held a peppery and bitter flavor throughout, some sugared grapefruit up front and a touch of nutmeg in the middle. A fair cup that I really thought too dark to be medium, so to give Bridgehead's medium roasts a second try, I went to another Bank St location (109) the next day to try my fortune. Oddly, they also had the Peruvian on tap and at the very least, I credit Bridgehead with consistency, as my second cup of Peruvian was practically identical to my first.
But their espresso is what initially drew me and their espresso is what ended up winning my admiration. The espresso blend, a coffee that looked like a light/medium roast in the grinder, was pulled by skilled hands to produce a beautiful, short doubleshot that held a nice crema and harnessed the powers of lemon, soft pretzel and chocolate truffle. The tea was free leaf.
While I wasn't floored with the darker Peruvian experience, I suppose it is quite possible I simply had misfortune with one of their coffees and that the others will blow me away (experience tells me otherwise, but only further sampling of their coffees could settle that). In the end, the conundrum of a coffeehouse that produces quality espresso but only pumps out lackluster drip is new to my list of unique experiences.
All in all, if you happen to be in Ottawa, try out Bridgehead.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Willoughby's Coffee & Tea
Coffees Mugged: Kenya AA Kagumoini
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Sometimes in the dark, short days of winter a good cup of coffee is the only sunshine you get (yes, that sounds cheesy but I've noticed my love of cheesy phrasing seems to increase amidst lacking sunshine). Thankfully, I had a good run with a great pound of Kenya AA Kagumoini sent to me by Willoughby's Coffee & Tea.
I sampled the coffee in the usual three manors of drip, siphon and french press.
French pressing this Kenyan equated to a smooth cup, with sweet peach and apple flavors first, followed with a pleasant nuttiness, wheat grass and some molasses. I found it a beautiful, bright coffee.
The siphon formed a much sweeter beverage with not as much of the peach/apple sourness, thus the cup had more of the molasses, a good bit of grain, some nutty flavors and still the wheat grass. This particular brew I found to be juicy and smooth.
Dripping, the last method produced the molasses with the noticeable brightness offset by a little more darkness and cocoa. The wheat grass still appeared towards the end; an overall good cup though my least favorite of the three samplings (but still a great cup!).
My days were literally brighter thanks in part to this coffee (i.e. it was really good). If you are yearning for a good Kenyan, give this one a run.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Lacas Coffee
(warning: website plays a constant tune; mute if you wish to not hear it)
Coffees Mugged: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Rating: 3+ [see key]
Much like coffee is nothing new, the American coffee industry has been bustling for some time now. Little did I know that I grew up fairly close to a coffee importer and roaster that is about to turn a century old.
Lacas Coffee (located in Pennsauken, NJ) is a familiar coffee name if you happen to glance at diner coffee stations, local restaurants or the occasional area coffeehouse. I have sampled their brews occasionally and have never been too impressed with the lackluster, out-of-a-hot-plate carafe sludge (though they do get points for not grossing me out).
But since my Lacas experiences have all been with coffee in the hands of others, I was intrigued by the offer to try out a pound via Coffee For Less, a coffee distributor seeming to focus on your typical "popular" consumer coffees.
I received the coffee fairly quickly, opened the colorful packaging and dove in. I sampled the medium/dark coffee via drip first, then siphon and ended with french press.
The drip produced a juicy coffee, mostly reminiscent of apricot or pear, followed with a deep cocoa, a tingle of lemon pepper and a noticeable bitterness. A smooth coffee in the front with a rough kick on the back.
My experience with the siphon proved to be brighter (as in acidity). The brew had a lemony character paired with the apricot, still showing some chocolate but also drawing out a little cashew and sage. Again, a bit bitter on the back.
Finishing off with the french press, this cup was more similar to the drip. It held a similar apricot and deep cocoa beginning as well as the noticeable bitterness towards the end, but this batch put forth a little bit of cinnamon amidst the bitterness.
To put it simply, this particular coffee from Lacas appeased me but it did not wow me. While Lacas is an old business that seems to (try to) march with the times, I think they could do better.
As for Coffee For Less, they had good turn around and the coffee seemed fresh. If you are in the market for coffees they offer (such as Lacas), I would recommend giving them a run around the block.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Painted Post, NY
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Sheer luck is wonderful (though I like to think of it more as a divine jackpot), especially with shot-in-the-dark coffeehouses.
While visiting the Corning area, I had a few possible coffee stops, with one called Heavenly Cup Coffee Roasters located in Painted Post, outside of Corning. Being the farthest off the beaten path, I slotted it as the first stop (with my party's permission) on our route.
Heavenly Cup's base of operations and cafe is a free standing structure on a local road next to the Interstate. The building looks new and has a wrap-around parking lot that doubles partly as a drive-thru. Walking indoors, the cafe is arrayed in a very warm, two-story space with a beautiful balcony and open atrium layout. Besides the balcony, the roasting also happens on part of the second floor (conveniently right over the counter, which could work well if they ever invest in a dumb waiter or coffee chute).
I ordered a cup of their Breakfast Blend to kick it off. The coffee had a smooth nuttiness, followed with fig, cocoa and a sprinkling of wheat grass on the end. A good, light cup all around. The espresso, a short/medium pull with some nice crema, passed on a bittersweet chocolate with hints of lemon (nice contrast), a noticeable brightness on a milk-like texture and only small tinges of what I would call unsavory bitterness (thus, a pretty good cup sayeth I). The tea is loose leaf.
As I finished up, I was counting my blessings to have struck such a proverbial gold strike (a happening that occurs about as much as cold fusion in a bear's ear canal). If you're close to Elmira or Corning, you need to give Heavenly Cup a visit.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Hammonton, NJ
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 3+ [see key]
When you get in between Philadelphia and the Jersey shore, you roll into an odd region of the state known for its sandy soil and weird pines (the pine barrens). Around this habitat, you find a lot of cranberry and blueberry farms and accordingly, such towns as Hammonton (the self-proclaimed blueberry capital of the world!).
While passing through town, I decided to try out a local coffee operation called Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery. Granted I never had heard of it before, but since I don't frequent the area a lot, I figured to give it a go.
Casciano sits on the main avenue of Hammonton in a charming brown store front with a few outside tables, complimented with free parking and a second entrance in the back. The interior displayed a long shop split in half by the kitchen and bathrooms; the counter and some tables in the front and much more seating in the back. The overall ambiance seemed to focus more on average American decor and though not compelling, proved very comfortable.
The coffee hails from Mountain Peak Coffee Roasters, based out of Forked River, NJ. I sampled a cup of their Colombian via drip; the brew proved bright with hints of lime, flavors of olive oil, oregano and Earl Grey all encapsulated in a medium-bodied coffee that wasn't half bad. The espresso, pulled short/medium, had a grapefruit sourness followed by a strong milky taste and ending with cardboard and a deep, charred flavor (i.e. the espresso could stand to improve). The tea is Republic of Tea.
While Casciano shows a lot of promise, I can see some areas that, if developed, could send them further towards the top. In the meantime, if you are in town, give Casciano a try for yourself.
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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Aduro Bean Micro-Roasters
Coffees Mugged: Black and Tan Blend
Rating: 2+ [see key]
Blending coffee (mixing certain single origin coffees to make a desired flavor) has been a widely-used practice for some time. While I don't know if they were first, Italians truly made popular the art of coffee blending in order to better harness the right mixture of coffee beans to better make their espresso pop (most places still do it today). In the non-espresso arena, coffee entities have looked to blending for years in order to keep a similar flavor profile for a consistent product.
As for appearance, I can't say I've seen too many blends that have beans that look vastly different from one another. But I managed to find such a mixture with an Aduro Bean coffee that mixed a dark and a medium roast into what they call their Black and Tan Blend. Despite some concern of how the darker roast would play with the lighter roast, I assumed the best and dove in.
Thus, in getting started with the sampling, I took a crack at the coffee with my french press first. The cup proved bitter right up front, followed by a tickle of strawberry, some nice mention of chocolate and then more bitterness in the end and aftertaste. There was also a little bit of a jalapeno burn and overall, the cup was not so smooth and a held a very heavy body.
Next up was the drip. I definitely still tasted the bitterness and pepper but a nice pear-ish and watermelon sweetness swept underneath soon after. This cup had a smoother body once I got past the lingering darkness.Lastly came the siphon. This cup threw out the least bitterness and pepper of the three, held more of the watermelon than the drip and had a fair earthiness. The body seemed smoother as there was less lingering darkness.
To put it simply, I think Black and Tan might be better off left to blending beer. While the coffee embodied some nice flavors, they were all overshadowed by the dark beans. Maybe if the "black" component of this blend was more of a medium/dark roast (i.e. no oil on the outside), it may fair better.
If you're looking to try out an unconventional blend, try out the Black and Tan.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Willoughby's Coffee & TeaCoffees Mugged: Guatemalan El Socorro Y Annexos, 2008 Cup of Excellence #4
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Connecticut is yet another nearby state that stands as a stranger to me, kinda like the neighbors three doors down that seem like happening people, but you are never around when they are home. I grew up somewhat close (2 hour drive) and yet, the only time I've stopped in was for a graduate school interview at Yale. As you can deduce, things did not work out for Yale and since then, I haven't been back.
Thus, I was thrilled to get some coffee from a New Haven coffee company called Willoughby's Coffee & Tea. The place had not really made my radar but their cafes look pretty nifty and their coffee offerings intriguing.
The first of the two coffees I tried was a 2008 Cup of Excellence winner from Guatemala. I sampled it in the typical three methods of drip, siphon and french press.
The drip I dove at first. The ensuing mug demonstrated a coffee smacking of sweet honey and caramel popcorn, with a wheaty aftertaste, a tiny sour kiss and an overall pleasant smoothness. This was by far one the sweetest coffees I've had in a long time.
The siphon had a tad heavier body. This cup possessed more of a chocolate and caramel sweetness as well as bits of fig, date and a milky texture. Different result but still delightful.
The french press generated a lighter coffee similar to the drip, though with much more prevalent caramel and a nice chocolate milk texture and flavor. The fig and ending wheat were still present and some unique notes of spice also showed up; also a great cup.
To say I was satisfied would be putting it lightly. If Willoughby's locations can serve up espresso as well as they can roast coffee, then Connecticut would finally have a true pull for me to visit.
If you're looking for a well-roasted Connecticut coffee, order a pound from Willoughby's.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Corning, NY
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Gorgeous museum layouts truly capture my admiration, and the Corning Museum of Glass did surprisingly that. I showed up expecting a warehouse-ish display of fancy old glass containers only to find an engaging collection of history, art and practical knowledge.
And the surprises did not stop there. As I walked into the cafe to get a glass of water, I noticed that they had a two group lever espresso machine, specifically a Mirage Idrocompresso, a machine I rarely see in serious coffeehouses never mind a museum cafe. I asked the barista if she knew how to use it, to which she confidently assured me she did, so I indulged and ordered an espresso.
Using Gimme Coffee's Piccolo Mondo (surprise number two: a museum using good coffee!), I must say I was floored. The barista not only handled the machine with grace but she pulled a delightful, short pair of shots with good crema and flavors of whiskey, sugar cane, chocolate chip cookie and but a smidgen of bitterness on the end. The single downside was that she only had paper cups.
The cafe also offers three drips; a medium roast, a dark roast and a decaf of Gimme Coffee. While I didn't go for any drip this trip, the pump pots seemed often replenished and I can at least vouch that Gimme's medium roasts are usually quite delicious (not a fan of their dark roasts and I don't drink decaf enough to recommend). I did not note the tea.
Walking away, I got my last surprise in that the barista told me that the museum plans to make this experience even better (I think that included ceramic cups) when they reopen their coffee bar in the near future (apparently it is closed for winter).
Putting it all together, I have to say that of all my cultured experiences, this is one of the few times where good coffee practices found a way in. If you're around Corning, even if you don't go into the museum, give the cafe or coffee bar a visit.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Aduro Bean Micro-Roasters Coffees Mugged: Artisan, Medium/Dark
Rating: 3+ [see key]
Little nuances in how coffee consumers control their coffee have become interesting trends as of late. Specifically, I speak of the "make your own blend" and "select your roast" trends. While it gives the customer the proverbial steering wheel, I'm curious how customer satisfaction usually ends up panning out (i.e. you might not be happy with what you thought you wanted).
I received some coffee to try out from one such roaster, a Fort Worth coffee roaster called Aduro Bean Micro-Roaster (a roaster I had heard of mind you from the Texas Coffee People). While Aduro sent me their recommended roasts, they normally allow for patrons to select their own roast prior to ordering (Aduro makes their own recommendations of course).
The first coffee I tried out was their Artisan roast, their house blend roasted at their recommended medium/dark level. I sampled it in the usual three methods of drip, french press and siphon.
The french press produced a honey and jersey corn sweetness on the front, plus a bit of grain as well as a harsh bitterness and pepper on the back end. The body was medium and somewhat smooth.
The drip turned out a more subdued cup. Still had the corn and honey-like sweetness and a tinge of whole grain as well. The body was much heavier but also much smoother, as the bitterness and pepper were more confined to the aftertaste.
The siphon still had the same sweetness as well as a similar bitterness and pepper to the french press. Like the drip, there was a fairly heavy body but not as smooth. One unique facet was a guest appearance of grape in the middle of the cup.
Oddly, I wonder now that if I had the option of choosing a medium roast of this same bean that it would have proven a better cup. Only time (or $10.50 + shipping and handling) will tell.
If you're looking for a decent med/dark coffee, try out the Artisan blend of Aduro Bean.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Vineland, NJ
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Albeit coffee and sweets are natural friends, I have not seen many bakeries that serve good coffee, never mind good espresso. Usually, it's just an aging pot of coffee sitting next to heavily-iced cakes.
Yet things seem to be swinging around at some confectioneries, places where the coffee quality has begun to take an appropriate spotlight.
One such example would be the Sweet Life Bakery in Vineland, NJ. The bakery has received some decent acclaim for their baking exploits (apparently they have the best muffins in South Jersey) but it was a trusted friend endorsing their coffee prowess that made me stop by on a recent trip through the deep south of NJ.
The Sweet Life sits on a side street off East Landis Ave (despite having the address of said street) in a small yellow building next to a very convenient public parking lot. The inside of the bakery is cozy and simple; a few tables right near the front counter where all of the baking and making happens.
The coffee comes from nearby Kaffe Magnum Opus, a decent local South Jersey roaster. I ordered their featured drip, the Havana Nights blend, a coffee that offered a fairly bright and balanced cup, featuring hints of pear, a slap of bitterness and a trailing sauciness (overall, not bad). The espresso, a quality short/medium pull from a one group Nuova Simonelli, displayed a buttery, bitter flavor with flecks of cocoa and a nice milky aftertaste; an overall pretty good espresso. The tea I did not catch.
While I definitely could see this little bakery ascending to great heights, I can say that they at least stand ahead of many bakeries due to their coffee aspirations. If you are looking for a good cup of coffee in Vineland, stop by the Sweet Life.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Uncommon Grounds Coffees Mugged: Costa Rican Tarrazu Fair Trade and Organic
Rating: 3+ [see key]
Even though I expect it, mid-January always hits me with its lack of fun weather and as of late, excessive deadlines. Usually within these times it's the little things, such as a decent coffee new to my tongue, that seem to have a greater, much-more-appreciated oomph.
Given this fact, it was a nice surprise to have received a pound of Costa Rican Tarrazu from a recently reviewed coffee roaster and cafe, Uncommon Grounds. The coffee came in a large paper bag, filled to the brim with a medium roast edging on dark. I brewed the coffee via drip, siphon and french press.
The drip, brewed first, birthed a brew rich in dark chocolate and with hints of pumpkin and cloves. A bit of dark bitterness emerged as the cup cooled, having a moderate effect of making the cup less sweet and more peppery.
The french press also presented a nice dark chocolaty cup with chipper notes of spice and a developing bitterness. The french press seemed to have a much more deep and earthy taste to it.
The siphon had the least bitterness of the three yet it was more one dimensional as well, with all the spotlight on the rich chocolate and only small cameos of earthiness and bitterness. The siphon consistently produced the smoothest body of the three methods.
Though I can't say this was the best Costa Rican coffee I've ever had, it proved to be among some of the better. Whether you frequent the cafes of Uncommon Grounds or you're looking for a decent Costa Rican online, give this one a try.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Golden Moon Tea Coffees Mugged: Pu-erh
Rating: 4+ [see key]
Much of my love for tea has been overshadowed greatly by my love for coffee. Granted, my love for tea developed out of my love for coffee and I definitely drink a lot more coffee than tea, but palate still holds great love for tea.
Yet "tea review" opportunities are few (and tea reviewers seem in great numbers), so I jumped at a recent chance to try out some of Golden Moon Tea's Pu-erh.
Pu-erh is an odd kind of tea. It's history is much like most teas in that Pu-erh is the name of a town in the Yunnan province, the only province that makes true Pu-erh. Pu-erh is a tea that not only has geographic limits but it also varies in that it is an aged and fermented tea, though the difference in age and quality can drive prices into the tens of thousands.
So going simply off the price tag, the tea from Golden Moon clearly was not the highest level but I went into the various muggings with high expectations. The tea arrived in a free leaf form (Pu-erh is also found in compressed cake form), sealed in an air tight tin.
As I mentioned, I mugged the tea multiple times and also made sure to do multiple steepings, as unlike coffee, many teas can be reused for several infusions. Below follows the average results.
1st steep: the tea produced a smoky aroma as well as a smell similar to spices used in Thai food (some would also liken it to a slightly fishy smell). To encapsulate the oral experience, it had a bit of teriyaki, a nice smokiness, strong earthiness, a nice jalepeno after taste and a surprisingly smooth body.
2nd steep: the aroma remained pretty constant (smoky and thai spices) but the taste had much more jalepeno and pepper in this cup. Unlike the first cup, there was a little sweetness in this cup akin to jasmine.
3rd steep: the aromas remained strong and the flavors still had a smoky and spicy taste. The sweetness and other flavors were much less present but overall still good.
Overall, I really liked this tea. While it's not a tea for the average tea drinker, I would recommend it for someone who likes strong, aromatic teas with nontraditional flavors (kinda like lapsang souchong) and/or a person who likes to try something different.
If you're looking for a decent Pu-erh, give Golden Moon a try.
note: tea was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Verve Coffee Roasters Coffees Mugged: Panama Alto Quiel Boquete Elida Estate Dry Process Catuai
Rating: 5+ [see key]
The Bay area is one chunk of California I long to return to, as much has transpired since I have been there last in early 2007. Coffee has taken off quite rampantly, with lots of promise and interesting prospects (you can see a sampling of such things in many Bay-based blogs such as Man Seeking Coffee or The Shot).
Yet once again, I am tided over until I can make such a trip with some whole bean coffee from afar; this time, 12 ounces from Santa Cruz's Verve Coffee Roasters.
Verve's Panama Elida Estate happened to be the third coffee from my partially debited GoCoffeeGo order and was definitely a coffee I was looking forward to. Not only has Verve won quite a few hearts with their stellar roasting and exceptional cafe operations, but the description of this particular Panamanian coffee truly had my mouth watering.
I received the coffee roasted-to-order from Verve in a simple brown bag (one of very few quality roasters that strays from the CO2 valve) about four days after ordering. I mugged the coffee in the usual three methods of french press, drip and siphon.
The french press initially exploded with a fusion of raspberry and date, followed by a little lemon grass and following in the caboose was a tinge of smokiness. I was tremendously pleased with not only the flavor but the smooth body of the coffee.
The drip also produced a strong, sweetly sour berry flavor with the subtle taste of date, but the cup had much more of a smoky flavor. Overall, there was a nice sweet and sourness to the whole cup and still a nice smoothness.
The siphon stood out with a still beautifully berry-licious cup of coffee, though there was much less of the strong sweet and sourness and more of a light, tea-ish body. This cup was also much earthier than the other two.
As I neared the end of this coffee, I really wished I had more of it to go around. If you're looking for an amazing, flavorful Panama, definitely try out this particular crop from Verve while you can.
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What's does "CC" mean?
Subject: Uncommon Grounds
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 3+ [see key]
How I've overlooked Saratoga Springs all my life, I do not know. To me, it meant a distant race track and some mineral water, but a recent trip into town illustrated a more copious sampling of opportunities than I thought probable.
Of course, I was also pulling blindly for a good coffee experience, this time from a place called Uncommon Grounds, what seemed like my best hope in town after much dead end research.
My entourage and I pulled up in front of the shop amidst a bustling Saturday morning crowd. Uncommon Grounds resides in a large white brick building with a large awning and alcoves ripe for outside seating in nice weather.
The interior was quite behemoth in scope; a large space with a faux-courtyard (or faux-house depending on your view) in the middle with lots of seating in and around it. I made my way to the crowded counter off to the left and ordered a drip of their house blend (they roast their own coffees) and an espresso. The house blend was birthed out of one of their many pump pots; a slightly old, slightly bitter coffee that had bits of tart berry and a relatively smooth body (i.e. mediocre cup). The espresso, pulled of a medium volume had a lot of crema, a chocolate milkshake-ish taste and consistency, followed by a tiger-sized bite of bitterness on the back end. The tea was free leaf.
Before I had ventured to Saratoga Springs, I read on a forum somewhere that given the beauty and draw of the area, Saratoga Springs needs a great coffeehouse. I would venture that given some overhaul, Uncommon Grounds could be that place. If not, the field seems ripe for a savvy newcomer.
If you happen to be in town, try out Uncommon Grounds.
What's does "CC" mean? Location visited: Forest Park, IL
