Blueprint Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

One of my cousins went to Washington University in St. Louis about the same time I went to school in NJ. Not knowing much at the time about St. Louis, he would often tell of random antics around the campus and surrounding area. One thing he mentioned consistently was how nice the surrounding neighborhood was, though no matter how many times I pressed him, he could never tell me of a great coffeehouse.

Cathedral Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Cathedral Coffee Shop
Location: Portland, OR
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

One of the things I adore about Portland is the raw beauty of the city. Few spots (in the even fewer dilapidated parts of town) make cause for grimacing, and spots of majesty abound. One such gorgeous find I found lays on the northern portion of Portland, upon the eastern side of the Williamette River. The land is a high promontory that allows you to look out over the city, complete with huge conifers flanking you like giant seraphim standing watch.

Mugged: Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate [Kohana]

Subject: Kohana Coffee
Coffee Mugged: Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate
Rating [see key]: 4+

In light of cold brew growing in popularity, it seems like the greatest hurdle for true expansion is creating a shelf stable product. Lots of companies grow through it but it seems few come out on the other side with a drinkable product that can survive long out of the fridge (check out this great Atlantic piece on Blue Bottle).

The Virtuoso Winner!

The results are in from our recent contest to Win a Baratza Coffee Grinder and we have a winner!

Zeke's Beans and Bowls

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Zeke's Beans and Bowls
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
WiFi?: Yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

The word "bean" is a word I forever have mentally associated with black beans. When someone alludes to beans in a general way, my thoughts go straight to black turtle beans freshly fried. I don't know why this association runs so deep; I mean I must eat black beans only six times a year at most, whereas I drink coffee daily. Yet no matter how many times people use that word, I first must pass through images of sautéed frijoles prior to realizing they speak of coffee beans (or something else).