The Coffee Ethic

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Coffee Ethic
Location: Springfield, MO
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


I am a great fan of open town squares, especially when they sit amidst local merchants. In walking through hundreds of urban open spaces, ranging from Central Park to Golden Gate Park, it seems that the proper dosage of local commerce (though I do not know the ratio) makes for the greatest level of enjoyment for said open spaces.

Mugged: Cinnamon and Lavender [Le Palais des Thés]

Subject: Le Palais des Thés
Teas Mugged and Rating [see key]:
Lavender Oolong 4+
Cinnamon Black 3+

As the holidays flare up again, the many flavors of spice come roaring into the realm of lauded drink options. Most people think of lattes flavored with gingerbread or peppermint, but there's also quite a few teas that get a little more play in kitchens and coffee bars at this time of year.

Half and Half

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Half and Half
Location: St. Louis, MO
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


It is no secret that everyone loves brunch. There's just something magical about the wondrous combinations and concoctions that become available on weekend late mornings. Sadly, not every brunch place is worth your dollar, and for my money, if I am plopping down to enjoy a hearty meal with a close kinship to breakfast, I want a place with great coffee.

Mugged: Konga Natural Ethiopia [PTs Coffee]

Subject: PT's Coffee (via My Coffee Pub)

Coffee Mugged: Konga Natural Ethiopia
Rating [see key]: 6+


To state the obvious, not all coffee subscription services are created equal. Some legitmately send out great coffee, month to month, pouring forth delicious specimens with few exceptions. Some, sadly not so much (some services just seem to pick some really blah stuff). There's also the differentiation of quantity and variety, with some going with a dozen micro-pouches, each with only a few beans per coffee, while others send up to multiple pounds per month. Fortunately, it's easy to try most of them prior to long-term committment, so you can avoid a year of wasted beans and find your right niche.

Dose Coffee and Tea

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Dose Coffee and Tea
Location: Nashville, TN
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]


For all of Nashville's sprawl, the area offers a healthy array of things to do across the city. One site I recently was able to visit was Nashville's Parthenon by Vanderbilt. Sadly time was not on my side and this Greek replica only got a fraction of its deserved time, as there was not enough minutes in the day to accommodate a full helping of classical architecture and still have ample time for a coffee stop.