Monday, June 02, 2014

Mugged: Peru San Ignacio [Driven]


Subject: Driven Coffee Roasters
Coffee Mugged: Peru San Ignacio
Rating [see key]: 3+

Everyone loves to hear that a business wants to give back to the community. Yet rarely do you see the apparent proof in the pudding. Call me cynical, but it seems that many outfits claim they want to give back, but only do the minimal token effort to get some PR, and rarely is the commitment long-standing.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

CC: Nolita Mart


Subject: Nolita Mart and Espresso Bar
Location: Manhattan, NYC
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Sadly when many people think of a "convenience store" the concept only conjures up images of a Kwik-E-Mart, complete with the beef jerky, sub-par coffee and various unhealthy munchables to sate the general needs of the average consumer. By no means do I detest the existence of this variety of one-stop shops, as they absolutely serve their purpose (where else will you get a wrinkly hot dog and a gallon of milk at 3 AM?), but I more detest that by and large, there are few small-scale markets that take it to another level.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Overnighted Coffee


I am a humongous fan of outside-of-the-box PR. And of course, that's no avante garde statement; everyone loves a creative approach. Yet for all of the love for ingenuity, it always seems that people stick to the tried and true. Is it a fear of failure, a fear that the cost will outweigh the worth or just a failure to pony up when it's your turn to ride the proverbial mechanical bull?

Mugged: Whittard Teas



Subject: Whittard Teas
Teas Mugged and Rating [see key]:
Whittard Original 4+
Russian Caravan 4+
Darjeeling 5+

As a red-blooded American, when someone ask me what words I associate with the UK, one of them has always been tea. Having visited London I know their is a great love for coffee and espresso, evident by great coffee roasters and coffeehouses alike, but their is something unshakably British about tea. Thus, it was my pleasure to objectively sample three teas from Whittard of Chelsea, a tea purveyor since the late 19th century that is still going strong. They sent out to me three of their staples: Whittard Original, Russian Caravan and Darjeeling, each of which I sampled according to the steeping directions upon the box.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

CC: Steap and Grind



Subject: Steap and Grind
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Free WiFi ? : yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

I am greatly refreshed in watching the Fishtown area of Frankford Avenue grow and improve. Where few great establishments have existed in the past, many now flourish. Where there wasn't a decent cup of coffee for blocks, there is now a fount.