Coffee Research

CoffeeGuru is off this week exploring New York's coffee scene.  Be back next week with a new blog post!

[caption id="attachment_367" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Green Line Coffee, Philadelphia[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_368" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Rittenhouse Coffee built in 1855 abandoned in the 90s[/caption]

Two Beautiful Coffeehouses In Philadelphia

 

[caption id="attachment_338" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Bodhi Coffee[/caption]

Amongst all the great coffeehouses in Philadelphia that are raising the bar presenting coffee as a artisanal craft, there are two wonderful standouts.  The first takes you back in time and the second has an incredible eye for interior design and detail.

The first coffeehouse in America was opened in 1676 by John Sparry in Boston.  The homes and businesses along South 2nd street in Old City Philadelphia are not much older.  Every time I walk past Bodhi coffee I feel like I've been taken back in time to that early colonial time.  Just standing outside I could almost imagine what the city looked like almost 250 years ago.  The brickwork of the building housing Bodhi is an excellent example of the Flemish style of Colonial bricklaying, with its alternating long and short bricks in the same row so prevalent in many of these buildings.  The facade is beautifully preserved, a testament to the highly skilled craftsmen who built these structures.

Bodhi opened in 2010 and is a small but comfortable space.  They use both Stumptown and PT's, both excellent roasters.  I had a cup of the Southpaw espresso which was wonderfully sweet balanced with a nice acidity.  I wonder if this is the oldest building to house a coffeehouse in the US?

[caption id="attachment_341" align="aligncenter" width="448"] One Shot Coffee[/caption]

In 2011, Melissa and Rebecca Baruno expanded One Shot Cafe to their new location in Philadelphia's Northern Liberties.  One Shot's original space opened in 2005 and was one of the first businesses in what is now a very trendy neighborhood.   The two completely gutted what was once a bar and created a space that harks back to an earlier time.

[caption id="attachment_345" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Interior, One Shot Cafe[/caption]

From the tin ceilings to the old the industrial antiques throughout the space, and even their vintage airplane logo, there is an incredible eye for detail and design that is remarkably cohesive.  While I sipped the house blend crafted especially for the cafe by Stumptown Roasters, I wandered throughout the building.

[caption id="attachment_346" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Upstairs, One Shot Cafe[/caption]

Upstairs is relaxed and a bit quieter, with a nice lounge in the back.  I can almost imagine that there's a story behind everything.  Like a Joseph Cornell box, carefully juxtaposing objects seemed to tell stories everywhere I turned.

Over the last few years Philadelphia has become one of the best cities in the US for Third Wave coffee.  Set aside a few days for your coffee crawl and include both Bodhi and One Shot at the very top of your list.

Support CoffeeGuru download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

http://bodhicoffeephila.com

http://1shotcoffee.wordpress.com

http://stumptowncoffee.com

http://www.ptscoffee.com

Madison: A Midwestern Oasis

I love Chicago.  In my opinion it's one of the United States' great cities on par with New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco.  There's the exciting arts scene, great architecture, fantastic and diverse food and really nice people with Mid-Western values.  And yet like most major cities, Chicago can take a lot out of you.

[caption id="attachment_266" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Lakefront, Madison[/caption]

The chance to spend July 4th in Madison, Wisconsin was a welcome respite.  I was invited to stay at a house right on Lake Monona.  My host owns a small boat and offered to take me on a tour of the canal and through the locks to Lake Mendota where we could watch the fireworks.  The canal ride was one of the coolest experiences I've ever experienced.  Madison had received a lot of rain and the water was high.  We went under a number of bridges, ducking our heads under some.  Bats flew around our heads, and baby swallows scrutinized us.  The lock from one lake to the other was a wild ride.  There's a six-foot difference between the two lakes and the lock itself is quite small, only four boats at a time can fit.

Madison is one of the most liberal cities in the United States.  The vast majority of coffeehouses use Fair Trade beans.  I was surprised to discover that there are only a few grinding Direct Trade.  I was told that Bradbury's and Johnson Public House are the two standouts, with a decent guest roaster program and talented baristas.

[caption id="attachment_265" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Bradbury's[/caption]

Bradbury's was my first stop.  It's located on the ground floor of a residential building and takes up a corner.  It's shaped like a triangle.  When you walk in there's a counter where you order and the rest of the space is taken up by seating.  There are windows on all three sides to sit and enjoy the view.  The service was a bit spotty.  There were two baristas who didn't seem all that happy to serve us which I chalked up to the fact that business was really slow due to the holiday.  I was told the only selection offered that day was from Kickapoo coffee out of Viroqua, Wisconsin.  I tried to discuss the selections but didn't get much information.  When I asked about the bag of Anodyne (Milwaukee, WI) next to the brew bar, I was told it was a sample bag.... no further discussion or offer to sample.  Maddeningly, after I ordered a $3.5 pour-over, they prepared it in the rear of the store (a function of the store's layout) and I couldn't watch the process.  However on a positive note, the coffee was prepared well and I really enjoyed the roast.

[caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Pre-weighted selections at Johnson Public House[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_310" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Selection board, Johnson Public House[/caption]

The next morning I woke up early and headed out to grab some coffee from Johnson Public House.  I got there just as they were opening.  I was immediately greeted by the two baristas setting up.  The vibe is mellow and really comfortable.  Behind the counter on the back wall were four sheets of metal and small magnetized jars containing that day's pre-weighted selections. Their house grind is Intelligentsia and, after perusing their selection board, I ordered a Kochere from Ceremony Coffee out of Annapolis, MD.  While they prepared my brew, we had a nice discussion about the Ceremony's roasting program, especially their small lots made with wine and bourbon barrels.  I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in town.

[caption id="attachment_267" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Hanging out at Johnson Public House[/caption]

Just before heading home, I grabbed some breakfast at Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery, serving Johnson Brothers Coffee roasted right in Madison.  A popular local destination, the food was hearty, the service friendly and the coffee quite enjoyable.  It was the perfect ending to a great and relaxing visit.

[caption id="attachment_315" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Daisy Cafe & Cupcakery[/caption]

Support CoffeeGuru download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

http://www.bradburyscoffee.com

http://johnsonpublichouse.com

http://www.daisycafeandcupcakery.com

http://ceremonycoffee.com

http://www.kickapoocoffee.com

http://www.johnsonbrotherscoffee.com

Chicago: Local Roasters Set The Bar

[caption id="attachment_281" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Threatening sky over Ohio[/caption]

It's a fourteen hour drive to Chicago. Usually it's quite monotonous and uneventful but Summer storms made it a bit more challenging. At one point we had to pull over as the sky seemed to be preparing to chase us with a funnel cloud. Fortunately, we made it through the driving rain and wind in one piece.

Summer in Chicago creates that perfect city.... full of culture and great restaurants, a killer lake front and friendly people with Mid-Western values. My visit was mostly visiting family which left little time for coffee exploration. And yet even though I hardly scratched the surface, I had some great coffee experiences. My various tastings revolved around local roasters... each shop I visited gave me a chance to try a different local selection. I came away with a new-found admiration for these artisanal producers and the city that inspires them.

-Overflow Coffee Bar

Brandon and Amanda Neely's coffee shop business model is not your typical for profit enterprise. They believe in giving profits back to the community for non-profit activities and promote fair-labor and enviornmentally-friendly practices. The Neelys are extremely welcoming and gracious coffee hosts. Their coffee comes from Coffee Ambassadors (Ipsento), who pay at least 25% over fair-trade minimums. The coffee was pleasant enough, I had a drip from Honduras that had nice fruit undertones. The shop is located in the South Loop, an area of the city that is rapidly developing but with only a few coffee options, making Overflow an oasis for travelers and locals alike.

[caption id="attachment_261" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Overflow Coffee[/caption]

-Passion House

[caption id="attachment_260" align="aligncenter" width="336"] Raspberries at Evanston Farmers' Market[/caption]

On Saturday I went to the Evanston Farmers' Market. While quite pricy, the produce was gorgeous. Local Michigan cherries, Portobello mushrooms, amazing tomatoes line the farmers' booths. Tucked away in a corner, Passion House Roaster and Green Buyer Shannon Steele-Knuckles was serving fresh coffee. I bought a cup but didn't introduce myself (I was with family). I regretted not doing so and later messaged them on Twitter offering my apologies. Shannon immediately invited me to their Tuesday cupping. I jumped at the offer.

[caption id="attachment_262" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Cupping at Passion House Roasters[/caption]

Passion House is a small operation. There are only four employees, Shannon, Joshua, Brian and John. I arrived just after 9:00 am to find all four gathered around a small table setting up six different roasts. As soon as I arrived the cupping began. After going through the steps, dry smell, breaking the crust and tasting, I was asked to start each round of discussion as I was the week's guest taster. I was quite nervous about vocalizing my impressions. Truth be told it was my third cupping and didn't feel qualified to lead-off the discussions. I had little to fear. Not only did my years of experience tasting wine assist in my evaluations, but my hosts were very kind and helpful. We went through selections from Ethiopia, Brazil, and El Salvador, as well as a selection for Four Barrel out of San Francisco. These guys are very serious about what they do and honest in their assessments. It really clarified the art and passion that goes into making the best roast possible so that the coffee's expression sings in the cup. Just before I left I was given a bottle of their wonderful iced Brasil, Cambara Estate. Now if they only had a t-shirt my bling bag would have been complete. :)

[caption id="attachment_263" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Wormhole Coffee[/caption]

-Wormhole Coffee

Wormhole is tiny and dark.... imagine hanging out in a friend's basement (with windows). There's a small bar with a few stools to watch the baristas work their magic. Some tables and comfortable sofas and chairs populate the rest of the space. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a friendly barista happily curating the great house selections made by their own house roasted "Halfwit" as well as a rotating guest roaster program. After asking me a few questions, the barista recommended the Halfwit Mexican "Santa Teresa" using a V 60 pour over to extract the best brew possible. What a fine brew it was! I can't stress enough how at home the baristas made me feel. They obviously love what they do and their passion for coffee is infectious. I was told by a number of coffee buddies that Wormhole is one of the best in Chicago and, in my opinion, their advice is spot on.

-Brothers K Coffeehouse

[caption id="attachment_271" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Brothers K Coffeehouse[/caption]

Although Brothers K isn't technically in Chicago, the city of Evanston is right basically an extension of the metropolis. Ironically, they serve local roaster Metropolis as their house pour. Brothers K is a nice coffeehouse and a local favorite, located right there on Main Street. During the warmer weather (yes Chicago has quite a few of those days), it's a great destination to sit and people watch or just chill after buying some cool stuff at Dave's Rock Shop a few blocks away. This is arguably the best destination for a really good cup in a small town that doesn't have a lot of choices.

Next Week: Madison, Wisconsin

Support CoffeeGuru download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Overflow Coffee: http://overflowcoffeebar.org

Coffee Ambassadors: http://www.coffeeambassadors.com

Passion House Coffee Roasters: http://passionhousecoffee.com

Half Wit Coffee Roasters: http://www.halfwitcoffee.com

Wormhole Coffee: http://www.thewormhole.us

Brothers K Coffeehouse: http://www.brotherskcoffee.com

Vacation

On Vacation See You In A Few Weeks!