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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Are you on a personal crusade to make me come to Philly? Both these justify a trip by themselves!
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Brian.
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