CC: Gaslight Coffee Roasters

Subject: Gaslight Coffee Roasters
Location: Chicago, IL
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


Some people I know still shudder and shake at the idea of using trains as a primary means of transportation. Sure the noble automobile has much more versatility, but when you're in a city like Chicago with its superb transit systems, it just makes more sense to take the L where you need to go.

But unfortunately for me one night, I found myself chained to a colleague who refused to let me take the train to get some coffee because it was "unsafe."  Instead, after some negotiation to keep the apple cart settled, I found myself being chauffeured (not a bad compromise) to my evening coffee stop in Logan Square, Gaslight Coffee Roasters.

Getting out of the car, I found Gaslight conveniently situated in a very visible corner space with wide windows. Stepping inside, it seemed that even the cold night air could not chill the warm vibe given off by the clean design and spiffy decor of the interior. The place was also packed and buzzing, despite the late hour.

Sauntering up to the counter, in no time at all I engaged a barista or two in coffee-laden banter, eventually deciding on a espresso of their Ethiopian Sidamo and a pourover of their Colombian Peaberry. The espresso, pulled short with brown crema, shot off rockets of intense flavor, with notes of berry, almond croissant, cocoa, hibiscus, red wine and a little cumin (delicious!). The pourover proved creamy and sweet with wheat, additionally throwing in notes of vanilla, corn and apple skin, proving smooth and thoroughly pleasant.

While I wasn't able to hang out as long as I would have liked (my chaffuer awaited me in the car), it was great to make it out to Gaslight Coffee Roasters. When you're in Chicago, make sure to float yourself over for great coffee.

Mugged: El Salvador Orange Bourbon [Klatch]

Subject: Klatch Coffee
Mugged: El Salvador Orange Bourbon
Rating [see key]: 5+


Continuing from my prior post of Klatch's Kenya Kagumoini are my thoughts on the second coffee sent out, their El Salvador Orange Bourbon. The name constitutes the coffee's original origin off Madagascar (present-day Reunion, onced named Bourbon) and also for this coffee cherry's orange color (you can read more up on Bourbon's here). Designated as a single origin espresso, I was curious to see if the tasting notes on the bag rang true for my infusions that consisted of a pourover, french press and siphon.

The pourover produced a cup with surprisingly little fruit but instead a cup brimming with honey, wheat, granulated sugar, caramel and nougat, all within a smooth and sweet body with practically no bite. Bright but in a surprisingly dessert-ish way.

The french press delivered much more of a complex cup, full of notes of sassafras, wheat, nougat, orange and the tiniest touch of cayenne pepper and sage on the end. A deeper coffee with pleasant range of flavors.

The siphon continued with a complexity and body similar to the french press. The cup sang of Corn Pops, birch beer, raisins, walnuts and caramel, standing as the brightest of the three infusions.

While I was a big fan of the coffee, I really was surprised I didn't uncover nearly as much juice as Klatch and others had spoken of. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a great bourbon coffee, hopefully Klatch will bring back the Orange Bourbon next season.


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

CC: Croque Madame

Subject: Croque Madame
Location: JFK International Airport, Terminal 2, Gates 21/22
Free WiFi ? : no
Rating: 5+ [see key]


Airport coffee has been the bane of numerous travelers since the advent of airports. Especially for a person used to freshly ground, well-crafted coffee, it can be hard to stoop to old beans pumped out of a super automatic espresso gauntlet. Sadly, caffeine has its demands and many people would rather a charred mess of a coffee than do without.

But Praise the Lord, specialty coffee has come to the runway. More and more good coffee entities are finding their way inside airport terminals, though most are not on the east coast. One of the few right coast spots also happened to be my most recent encounter with good airport coffee. In JFK's Terminal 2 there's a trendy spot called Croque Madame, a small french-style bar and eatery churned out by the huge airport bistro creator OTG. Aside from the vast sprawl of tables and booths hooked up with iPads where seas of airport chairs used to reside, what caught my eye was the beautiful espresso machine (a La Marzocca I believe) and decent coffee offerings.

Currently it seems they carry Stumptown, but when I was there it was Caffe Vita. As I sat at the bar and shot the breeze with the barista, I ordered an espresso and a pour over both of the Caffe del Sol (it was the only coffee on hand at the time). The espresso, pulled short with a slightly thin crema, resonated notes of cocoa, toasted croissant, lime, blood orange, a little shredded wheat and a slight element of pepper; a fairly balanced and flavorful pull. The pourover had elements of steak, malt, nutmeg, a little smokiness, honey and fig, all in all pulling together a deep coffee with flecks of sweetness.

All in all, not the best Caffe Vita experience I've had but by all means, it was the best coffee I've ever had in JFK. And in like manner, hopefully the sight of great coffee venues in airports will continue to rise. If you happen to be in JFK Terminal 2, give Croque Madame a bit of your time.

CC: Black Cap Coffee

Subject: Black Cap Coffee
Location: Stowe, VT
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 4+ [see key]


Of all the coffeehouses in Vermont, one of the few coffeehouses roasting their own beans is a chic cafe called Black Cap Coffee Roasters in lovely Stowe, VT. Having spent a good day roaming around the town, picking up some great Maple syrup at Nebraska Knoll and visiting the Trapp Family Lodge, a stop at Black Cap was just what the doctor ordered.

Situated in the main part of town, the cafe sits in a gorgeous maroon, house-like structure, with huge windows flanking the front door, providing ample light inside. The interior itself proved warm in temperature and ambiance (a must for a ski town), with lots of tans and browns, local art and huge tables.

As for the coffee, I decided upon an espresso of their espresso blend and a cup of their Ethiopian Burundi via drip. The espresso, pulled to a medium volume with blondish-brown crema, danced across my tongue to the notes of blood orange, black pepper, cocoa, sea salt and a slight woody character; a decent profile that only proved obtrusive due to a little excess heat (temperature) and bitter flavor. The drip of the Burundi held some pleasing qualities of tart grape, soda bread, cloves, raisin and milk chocolate though the brew itself had been siting a bit and as such, some flavors of staleness proved prominent.

Though both my espresso and drip had some negatives, I thought a lot of it a possible one-time glitch and myself maybe a victim of a badly timed visit. Overall though, I did enjoy my experience at Black Cap and hopefully the place holds much more than what I experienced. If you're in Stowe, give Black Cap a go.

Mugged: Guatemala Antigua [Daily Grind]

Subject: Daily Grind
Mugged: Guatemalan Antigua
Rating [see key]: 3+


Having been through Albany a few times, I still have had practically zero instances where I was in town with free time for more than an hour. As such, it's hard at times to make effort to seek out the local coffee venues.

One such venue I've not yet reviewed here is Daily Grind, with locations in Troy and downtown Albany. Fortunately, as they're a roaster of their own coffee, they were kind enough to contact me and send out their Guatemalan Antigua for a review. I sampled it via pourover, french press and siphon.

The french press demonstrated notes of honey, caramel, almond milk, a little clove, some pear and a smidgen of cayenne pepper. A hearty yet sweet coffee with a bit of spice.

The pourover was a little less sweet, with notes of honey, bran, pine wood, cloves and sassafras within a medium body. A more acerbic brew but still sweet and hearty.

The siphon was a mixture of the two prior infusions, with notes of vanilla, bran, almond milk, cloves, a bit of pepper and some cayenne in a deeper body, proving sweet and spicy overall.

While I though the coffee to possess some great sweet qualities, I felt it had a bit too much of a pepper and spice quality to its profile (maybe better if roasted less?). All in all, if you're looking for a spicy yet sweet South American from Albany, give Daily Grind's Guatemalan Antigua a go.


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