Grace Street Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Grace Street Coffee
Location: Washington DC
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Georgetown displays some of the best scenery in DC, with lots of historic architecture, cobblestone streets and occasionally-filled canals. Striking a great balance of conservation and new construction, many of the local businesses operate out of beautifully rendered venues, making a sunny walk down M Street a window shopper's paradise.

Double Knot

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Double Knot
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Until recently, I never realized how much an izakaya was missing in my life. The equivalent of a tavern or pub, izakayas became popular watering holes in Japan along main routes during the late eighteenth century. Today, these Japanese establishments serve far more than sake, with some offering light fare along with various beverages, while others serve "an all you can consume" option with a set time limit.

Ahh, Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Ahh, Coffee
Location: Houston, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As far as convention centers go, George R Brown takes the cake as a top favorite. Whether it's the peaceful park outside its front doors or the Texas-shaped pool in the adjoining Marriott Marquis, I list it among convention centers at which I don't mind being stuck.

Lorca

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Lorca
Location: Stamford, CT
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

If there's a state in which I started off on the wrong foot, it was Connecticut. As one of the first states to grace my youthful eyes, the land debuted as merely a glorified series of congested interstates. No sooner had I entered into Connecticut did I wish to be rid of it on the other side, destined for tourism in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and other points north. Now older and wiser, I have realized how many gems I have missed in the many towns of CT. To make up for lost time, I recently began retracing old road trips but using time-tested logic of seeking local dining establishments instead of truck stops and coffeehouses of repute versus caffeinated drive throughs.

Qathra Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Qathra Cafe
Location: Brooklyn, NY
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Many people think that most of New York City is a blurring labyrinth unfit for the visiting motorist. Sure many people who live and work in the area drive around, but most tourists to Manhattan tend to think that driving in the other four boroughs are just as bad as gridlock in Times Square. The truth is that once one gets out of Manhattan, the majority of NYC neighborhoods are fairly drivable and less chaotic.

The Spoke and Bird

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: The Spoke and Bird
Location: Chicago, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Having gone to McCormick Place in Chicago more times than I have eaten deep dish pizza, it has become a point of mine to find good coffee in reasonable walking distance from the giant halls that occupy much of my day when I visit Illinois. Over the years, Chicago's blooming coffee scene has made this hunt for quality coffee less and less daunting, with this past visit turning up a coffee shop a mere three blocks away. 

River Wards Cafe

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: River Wards Cafe
Location: Philadelphia, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Long have I looked upon Port Richmond and awaited the arrival of a quality coffeeshop. As a fan of the local Polish outposts, I have wished for a coffeeshop to throw open wide their doors in this under-appreciated Philly neighborhood. Thankfully, my wait has come to an end.

Mudsmith

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Mudsmith
Location: Dallas, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

If I've said it once, I'll say it one thousand times: I love quality coffee shops that (can) stay open late. Years ago, the only way a caffeinated establishment would dare stay open late (at least on the east coast) would be if said coffeehouse had an open mic night. But now, across the nation more and more coffee bars keep their doors open past 5 PM, whether it's because they have delved into the food + liquor scene or simply because patrons are just fans of late night lattes.

West Chester Coffee & Ice Cream Bar

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: West Chester Coffee and Ice Cream Bar
Location: West Chester, PA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

Many people find it odd that my wife does not really care for coffee. Maybe it was God's way of balancing out my great coffee affections, but every time we go to a coffee shop, she simply declines a drink and stands to the side, not even desiring a latte or spot of tea.

Common Grounds

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Common Grounds
Location: Waco, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

When I was a college student, I often yearned for a great coffee spot near campus where I could study, meet up with friends or catch some live music. Now in my older age, I'm not so much looking for acoustic renditions of Everlong but I definitely still appreciate quality coffee spaces that can accommodate open mic nights.

Mugged: Barefoot Coffee

Subject: Barefoot Coffee Roasters
Coffee Mugged and Rating [see key]:
- Sonora Honey, Costa Rica 6+
- Limu, Ethiopia 6+

While I walk around barefoot much of the year, summer offers the best opportunities to live life without shoes. Like most folk, I enjoy the grass between my toes, the ocean splashing my ankles and occasionally some warm soil under my feet. To take it a step further, I usually cannot justify putting on shoes unless there are laws or broken glass in my way.

Orange is the New Black - Function Coffee Labs

There was a time a decade or so ago when I considered citrus to be an anathema to coffee. I felt that the two did not mix, like teenage mosh pits and acupuncture. But then about the time I started this blog, I became acquainted with coffees possessing natural citrus flavors, and slowly I understood that citrus not only had a place at the coffee table, but it deserved a seat of honor.

Weekend Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Weekend Coffee
Location: Dallas, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Weekends are usually the focal point of a person's week. Outings get planned, ideas become daydreams and recreation gets Grouponed. We are a culture that lives and dies by our weekends.

Sawada Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

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

With the various business developments currently happening in the specialty coffee realm, it always peaks my interest when I find a unique collaboration. Take Hogsalt Hospitality, a restaurant powerhouse responsible for some of Chicago's snazziest venues, and Japanese coffee champion and Steamer Coffee Company originator Hiroshi Sawada. Thanks to a chance meeting in Japan and some clever teamwork, the two entities put together a splendid coffeehouse in the West Loop of the Windy City that definitely catches a discerning eye.

Houndstooth Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Houndstooth Coffee
Location: Dallas, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

As a young lad growing up a Philadelphia Eagles fan, Dallas always seemed like a place I wasn't supposed to like, especially in the autumn. Naturally as I aged I learned to confine my disdain purely to the Cowboys, and the more I discovered distantly of Dallas' blossoming coffee scene, the more I began to yearn for a lengthy visit. 

Drip N Scoop

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Drip N Scoop
Location: Ocean City, NJ
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

I have seen many attempts to bring good coffee to the NJ coast and sadly, only a few enterprises have succeeded. Whether it's an affinity for over-roasted beans, cutting corners, a disregard for training/quality, or any combination of the three, I've seen it all at the Jersey shore. Thus, when a shop does things right, they deserve their praise due. 

Big Shoulders Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Big Shoulders Coffee
Location: Chicago, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 5+ [see key]

In the oppressive heat of summer, I like to look back to the chilly adventures of winter past. One of my recent favorites was to Chicago's River West section of town, over to a corner coffee roaster named Big Shoulders Coffee.

Coldwave

Iced coffee has always been easier for those adept at planning. Whether it's cold brew with it's overnight brew time of around 12 hours or regular hot coffee chilled in the freezer for an hour, making iced coffee takes time. For those of us wanting it done fast and/or fresh, that usually only leaves the option of flash brewing your coffee, basically brewing a double-strength pourover straight over the correct volume of ice so that the finished iced coffee results in the correct brew ratio.

Southside Espresso

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Southside Espresso
Location: Houston, TX
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Oddly enough, for the reputation Texas has for its sun and oppressive heat, I seem to manage to visit mostly on rainy, somewhat mild days. Yet even when rain clouds the Texan forecast, an excellent coffee stop always manages to brighten my skies.

Ethiopian Guava Smash - Cup and Spoon

One of the best facets of summer are its refreshing caffeinated creations. Though I tend to be a purist when it comes to my coffee, I have grown to appreciate a well-made concoction, especially when it's cold and refreshing, as there's something almost transcendental about a great iced beverage with a splash of quality coffee.

Cafein

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Cafein

Location: Chantilly, VA
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

While strip malls are typically not the most coveted locations to drop a coffeehouse, they tend to be the only affordable/realistic place to host one in the midst of suburbia. Fortunately, not all strip malls are created identical, so some offer space far better suited to hosting a third space brimming with excellent coffee.

Metric Coffee

Part of the Fill in the Coffee Map Series

Subject: Metric Coffee
Location visited: Chicago, IL
WiFi?: yes
Rating: 6+ [see key]

Growing up in the American school system, I always wondered why I had to learn two systems of measurement. It took up precious daylight and to this day I struggle to convert calories to joules (btw it's 1 kilocalorie = 4184 joules).