The Halloween Post: Something Wicked This Way Comes, Anastacia's Antiques

Anastacia's is a unique and creepy antique store in Philadelphia.  Around every corner sit silent incongruous tableaus.  I couldn't help thinking that throughout the store something was amiss.... and that feeling gave me a sense of dread.  It was like something out of a Ray Bradbury short story.  Sounds a bit too melodramatic?  Take a look at the photographs and tell me what you think.

"The pictures were moving, each in its turn, each for a brief minute or two. There in the moonlight, with the tiny tinkling thoughts and the distant sea voices, it seemed, each little drama was enacted. Whether it took an hour or three hours for the dramas to finish, it would be hard to say. I only know that I lay fascinated and did not move while the stars wheeled in the sky.

Eighteen Illustrations, tighten tales. I counted them one by one."

Ray Bradbury, The Illustrated Man

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

iPhone Photography

Since it's inception, all of the photographs on this blog have been taken by me on an iPhone. This week instead of writing about coffee, let's have a cup and enjoy some recent photographs.  I often use different panorama apps to add perspective and various post photography apps such as Snapseed for enhancements.  Later I'll fine tune images in Lightroom after downloading them to my computer.

 Aquarium Diver

 A warm Summer night

 Gravitron

Ceiling, The Bellevue-Stratford, Philadelphia (opened 1904)

 The Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, 1857 Renaissance architecture

Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

A weeded lot

 Sunflower

 Waiting for a table, Chinatown, Philadelphia

Maneki-neko (Japanese lucky cat), Chinatown, Philadelphia

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Green Street: The Garagiste Roastery

 Green Street Coffee[

Chris Molieri always wanted to do good in the world.  After graduating from Temple University with a finance degree,  Chris went to work in Portland for a community development financial institution, or CDFI, a nonprofit devoted to helping entrepreneurs access capital.  It was there that he discovered the world of micro-roasting.   After returning to his home town, Chris  and his brother Tom decided to secure their own $10,000 loan from a CDFI and Green Street got its start.

The other day I found myself at their roasting facility in the Point Breeze section of South Philly. Down a side street I went following the sound of Jack White blasting out of their stereo.

The space is tiny.  Theres an old La Marzacco as soon as you walk in, and their small Ambex roaster takes up the center with coffee beans waiting to be roasted and bagged.  It reminds me of a Bordeaux Garagiste, there's bearly enough room for Chris and roaster John Jenson to work. Production is about 500-700 pounds per week, tiny compared to say La Colombe who roasts around 45,000 pounds weekly.  But what they produce is remarkable given how new they are to the business.  Green Street got its start in May 2011.  Chris's approach seems "balls to the wall" as he works to grow the business and, at the same time, make a difference in the lives of coffee farmers.

 Left: Chris Molieri examining his beans Right: Chris and Roaster John Jenson

Sustainability is a crucial component to Green Street's business plan.  In addition to working with Direct Trade importers such as Coffee Shrub, the Molieri brothers are establishing their own Direct Trade relationships.  They just recently returned from a sourcing trip in Nicaragua and plan on expanding their farm connections.

Jenson described their roasting style as in between the really light "first crack" profile that's become de rigueur amongst many third wave coffee specialists and the dark roast that can strip  coffee beans of its personality.  It's a really nice transitional approach that balances flavor with customer expectations.

Philadelphia's coffee scene is exploding with new coffee entrepreneurs.  Between the great shops and the influx of new roasters, Philly has become one of the leading caffeine destinations in the US.  Although small in size, Green Street is quickly becoming a major player in this coffee renaissance.

Cupping various lots

 

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Green Street Coffee Roasters http://greenstreetcoffee.com

The Coffee MacGyver

La Colombe, City Hall, Philadelphia

Is Todd Charmichael for real?  In the TV show "Dangerous Grounds", Charmichael takes a death-defying trip 1000 feet off the ground on a Bolivian farmer's zip-line, uses his wits and available materials to perform a makeshift repair on a truck stuck in the middle of the jungle and avoids one near death experience after another.  When I first saw these episodes I thought "is this for real... or is he haming it up for Hollywood (the nickname he calls his cameraman)?  Is there really a coffee guy out there this resourceful and crazy?"  Sprudge.com even did a drinking game (click to play) for viewers to play while following Todd's exploits.  A few days ago I got to poke around La Colombe's "Batcave" in Port Richmond, Philadelphia where their coffee is roasted.  I came away believing that yes, Todd is as crazy and intense as he seems but also whip smart, methodical and meticulous.  Indeed little seems to be left to chance.

La Colombe's Roasting Floor 

La Colombe's roastery takes up over half of the warehouse space.  It's high-end coffee on a large-scale.  Between 45,000 and 48,000 pounds are roasted every week.  Head Roaster Chris Miller showed me around and it's an impressive operation.  But Todd and his partner Jean Philippe Iberti (JP) haven't stopped there and this is where it really gets interesting.  On the other side of a wall there's other projects that are up and running or in the works.

Just over a year ago, Carmichael introduced La Colombe "Pure Black", a cold pressed coffee Steeped for 16 hours in stainless steel wine tanks, pressed and filtered twice.  How did Todd come up with the recipe?  Like most of his projects, it started in his head at home.  After researching online, he purchased some equipment over the internet and started experimenting.  "I finally had to scale up after my wife had enough at home," Todd told me.  After buying the tanks and setting up his own bottling line, Todd hired an expert in pasteurization to assist with shelf life and quality control.  Now in full production, Pure Black is considered one of the best.

Left: Rum production & experimentation

Right: La Colombe Rum in barrels

Next, Carmichael started pursuing another passion, rum.  When I visited, the still he installed looked like a scene from Breaking Bad.  But looks are deceiving.  While everything is small-scale as he refines the recipe which involves filtering the spirit through coffee, a full-blown distillery will be incorporated into the new Fishtown warehouse slated to open in early 2014.  Expect to see his rum in Pennsylvania state stores around that time as well.  This huge 16,000 square foot space will contain a cafe, roastery for La Colombe's single origin program, cupping room, a sixty-meter German still, bread making by JP and the former bread chef at Steven Starr's Parc and more.

La Colombe Rum

I got a chance to taste an early version and it was really good.  It tastes more like a bourbon than a rum with a hint of coffee on the palate.

Cupping Pre-Auction Lots

After the warehouse tour, I participated in a cupping of Rwandan beans with 12 other coffee professionals.  This was a pre-auction tasting of 15 lots that was sold on 10/8.  They represented the best lots grown in Rwanda as scored by the Cup of Excellence the most prestigious award given to a fine quality coffee. Todd had invited other coffee roasters such as Elixr and Rival Brothers and told the crowd how important it was to him that Philly's coffee community work together to improve its caffeinated culture.  It was interesting to watch Todd at work as he really knows coffee much like a Master Sommolier knows his wine.  I noticed that he mentioned that the Japanese buyers at these auctions were problematic and asked why.  He replied that they have very sophisticated palates but, since their coffee culture is so new, they have no reference as to how much they should pay for the best beans.  Once they get interested in a lot the prices paid can get outrageously high.  The trick, he told me, is to identify great lots that perhaps will fly under their radar.

So what's the verdict?  Is Todd Charmichael for real?  Look, the guy is an adrenaline junky and loves pushing himself to the limits of human endurance.  Heres a guy who set the record for the fastest solo journey to the South Pole & attempted to become the first person to trek across Death Valley alone.  This approach to life has served him well in the coffee business.  Much like most coffee professionals I've met, Todd's a geek and gets really excited about the chemistry and process whether it's the perfect brew, or a rum that'll knock your socks off.  His public persona might make you think he flies by the seat of his pants and takes a lot of risks but he is much more meticulous and calculating than that and it's a major part of the secret to his success.

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

La Colombe: http://www.lacolombe.com

Cup of Excellence: http://www.allianceforcoffeeexcellence.org/en/

Sprudge: http://sprudge.com

Related articles

• La Colombe treks north to Fishtown (bizjournals.com)

Coffee and Photography

Last week I showed slices of city life in Philadelphia I found intriguing but didn't fit in a longer blog post.  This week I feature Mud Coffee and Think Coffee in New York, and briefly have a cup of La Colombe with the really interesting Luciano Begnoni, Owner of Santa Sophia Winery located in Piedmont.

[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="560"] New York From Williamsburg[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_596" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Mud Coffee, NYC[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_609" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Think Coffee[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_602" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Luciano Begnoni, Owner, Santa Sophia Winery Enjoying A Cup Of La Colombe[/caption]

Bonus Photograph, 10/2/13

Earlier today I had lunch at XIX, located at the top of the beautiful Bellevue in Philadelphia.  The Bellevue-Stratford was built in 1904 in the French Renaissance style.  As I looked above me, I captured this image.

[caption id="attachment_632" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Ceiling atop the Bellevue, Philadelphia[/caption]

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Mud Coffee: http://www.onmud.com

Think Coffee: http://thinkcoffeenyc.com

La Colombe Coffee: http://www.lacolombe.com

Santa Sophia Winery: http://www.santasofia.com/index.php/en/

Food And Coffee Photographs In Philadelphia

Exploring the city of Philadelphia and its coffee/food culture, I take a lot of photographs.  Some of the images I shot didn't make it into a longer blog post but are slices of city life I found intriguing.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Afternoon Coffee, Talula's Daily, Philadelphia[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_368" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The Old Rittenhouse Coffee
Built In 1855, Abandoned In The '90s[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_570" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Ela, Philadelphia[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_568" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Wine Key Display, Tinto, Philadelphia[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] French Press At Rouge, Philadelphia[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_590" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Vietnamese Coffee[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_576" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Village Whiskey, Best Hamburger In Philadelphia[/caption]

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Talula's Daily http://talulasdaily.com

Ela http://elaphilly.com

Rouge http://www.rouge98.com

Village Whiskey http://www.villagewhiskey.com

Tinto http://philadelphia.tintorestaurant.com

[caption id="attachment_581" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Vietnamese Coffee[/caption]

Related articles

• Roundup: Our Top Spots To Enjoy A Refreshing Glass Of Iced Coffee (uwishunu.com)

Menagerie Coffee: A breath of fresh air in Philadelphia

A year ago I met April Nett at Elixr one of the premier coffeehouses in Philadelphia. A gifted barista, April was also very interested in wine and coffee pairings and hoped to start a program at the shop if they obtained a license. I invited her to a huge industry tasting and got to meet her partner Elysa DiMauro who worked at another Philly coffee institution, Bodhi Coffee right in Headhouse Square (see my post "Two Beautiful Coffeehouses In Philadelphia" http://wp.me/p3AERF-5r).

[caption id="attachment_538" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Inside Menagerie Coffee[/caption]

Fast forward a year and witness the birth of April and Elysa's dream coffeehouse, Menagerie. Situated in a part of Old City that is wofully lacking in great coffee choices, Menagerie fills a void and then some. Although open for just a few weeks, I predict Menagerie will quickly take its place along side the other great coffeehouses that are transforming the city such as Elixr, One Shot, ReAnimator, Shot Tower, Bohdi and Ultimo.

The first thing you notice is the beautiful decor. From the blond wood counter, white tiled wall to the white La Marzocco GB5 espresso machine, the shop's design is artfully done with clean lines and a welcoming homey feel. Design is by Niko Dyshniku who specializes in repurposing salvaged materials in a sustainable manner.



The coffee program introduces Philadelphia to two of the countries top Direct Trade roasters, Ceremony from Annapolis, MD and Dogwood of Minneapolis, MN, a first for this city. April and Elysa blind tasted roasts from a number of suppliers and decided that these two earned their place as the house selections. In my opinion, Ceremony roasts some of the finest coffee in the US (I'm also looking forward to trying Dogwood's beans the next time I go to the cafe). I first tried their coffee at New York Coffee Fest in 2012 and was blown away by their offerings. Menagerie currently features four from Ceremony and the Simalungun from North Sumatra didn't disappoint. Elysa told me that they plan on introducing Ceremony's bourbon barrel conditioned coffee down the road. I've heard about their experiments with wine and bourbon conditioned coffees but have never tried them. Elysa and I discussed doing a public bourbon and coffee sampling when some of this special lot arrives. If you'd like to taste some of this special coffee, I'm told they will have a limited amount in house in about a week.

Menagerie also offers pastries by local favorite Flying Monkey and a limited selection of sandwiches. This part of Old City finally has a welcoming laid back alternative to the bars and pizza joints that line Market Street. I can easily see Menagerie becoming one of my favorite city haunts.

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

Ceremony Coffee Roasters http://ceremonycoffee.com

Dogwood Coffee http://www.dogwoodcoffee.com

Niko D Design http://nikodyshniku.prosite.com

ReAnimator: The Coffee Danse Macabre

The Danse Macabre (Dance of Death): a late-medieval allegory on the universality of death, combining the reminder of the inevitability of death with the desire for amusement while still possible.

reanimate vb (tr)

1. to refresh or enliven (something) again to reanimate their enervated lives

2. to bring back to life

[caption id="attachment_514" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kensington, Philadelphia[/caption]

Not far from the Frankford El there's a coffee roaster doing magic things with beans, creating a coffee "Danse Macabre". Experiencing their craft in a cup is akin to reanimating the senses no matter how dull they were.

Three years ago, Mark Corpus and Mark Capriotti both neophytes to the coffee business, decided to take the plunge. At the time, La Colombe dominated the market. The two Marks felt that what was missing from the city was a local expression of a less dark roast focusing on single origin beans and not blends. Testing and retesting, Corpus started with a home roaster, honing his craft. Finally, in 2011 he left his finance job behind focusing full time on ReAnimator.

[caption id="attachment_515" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Mark Corpus, Roaster[/caption]

To say the two Marks are fast learners is an understatement. Corpus, now the company's Roaster is producing a tiny 500 - 700 lbs per week. Slow and steady is their pace and business model. ReAnimator (and another local Rival Brothers) are the first to introduce Philadelphia to a home town interpretation of what is sometimes know as "Third Wave" coffee. The single origin beans are roasted just so... not too dark to allow the natural flavors express themselves.

[caption id="attachment_520" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Bagging This Week's Roast[/caption]

It's a tiny operation focusing on quality and artistry over size and quantity. They work with well respected importers such as Coffee Shrub who pay coffee farmers sustainable prices for the best quality beans. The two Marks have also recently visited a farm in Nicaragua establishing a "relationship" partnership (also known as Direct Trade).

[caption id="attachment_507" align="aligncenter" width="560"] ReAnimator Coffee[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_511" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Inside ReAnimator[/caption]

So how is the coffee? Well now you can check it out for yourself in ReAnimator's own cafe which opened August 10th. After checking out their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, I knew they are going to be a major force in the coffee world. The lemony fruit flavors sang as I sipped a cup. It tasted hand crafted, it was perfectly roasted and prepared.

I'm told that another cafe is in the works. This one will also contain their roasting operations, an exciting development that is sure to enhance Philly's reputation as a major player in the coffee industry.

CoffeeGuru features over 7,000 independent coffeehouses in the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Download the app here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coffeeguru-indie-coffeehouses/id547969523?mt=8

ReAnimator: http://www.reanimatorcoffee.com

Rival Bros. http://rivalbros.com

Food Discoveries In NYC

Best Pizza

[caption id="attachment_420" align="aligncenter" width="392"] "Best Pizza" Williamsburg, Brooklyn[/caption]

Want a fantastic slice of brick oven "Brooklyn style" pizza? Then head over to Havemeyer Street where two slices and a soda is all you'll need . The perfect ration of cheese, sauce and dough.

Naruto Ramen

[caption id="attachment_421" align="aligncenter" width="369"] Naruto Ramen[/caption]

The Upper East Side is notorious for overpriced and not so interesting food. That is until you dig a little deeper. Head over to Naruto Ramen on 3rd Ave between 89th and 90th, step inside and suddenly you're thousands of miles away in Japan. Just 14 seats, you might not get in right away but it's worth the wait.

Chinatown

[caption id="attachment_464" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Fruit Vendor selling Longan, Chinatown[/caption]

While shopping around Chinatown, I discovered a fruit vendor selling this strange fruits. A few of my Twitter followers told me it's called a Longan which translates to "dragon eye". It tasts similar to a Lychee and was a rather nice discovery.

Economy Candy

[caption id="attachment_423" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Economy Candy[/caption]

I've been to Dylan's Candy Bar quite a few times. When I stumbled upon Woodward Gallery, John the owner clued me into Economy Candy just down the block at 108 Rivington Street. This is the real deal. Not nearly as organized and much smaller than Dylan's, Economy has them beat on selections and price. After posting this photograph on Facebook, one of my neighbors commented "My girls' eyeballs would explode if they walk in there!"

Shake Shack

[caption id="attachment_422" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Shake Shack & Malbec[/caption]

Finally, the Upper East Side has the hamburger heaven Shake Shack just a few doors from where I stayed for a few weeks. Sometimes you just want to settle in and have your own foodie experience at home. Nothing beats these hamburgers paired with a fabulous Malbec and enjoyed right in my temporary city courtyard.

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

Best Pizza http://best.piz.za.com

Naruto Ramen http://www.narutoterakawa.com/default1.aspx

Economy Candy http://www.economycandy.com

Shake Shack http://www.shakeshack.com/location/upper-east-side/