esspressotrips

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Pound the Hill: Washington, DC (Eastern Market)

My Nutella Latte

My Nutella Latte: Pound the Hill May 2014

I have been a customer of The Pound for several years now. I can recall my first coffee beverage, The Frozen Nutella Latte. I thought my life was changed forever!! I even created a Nutella Cheesecake in honor of this drink (but that is for a future blog). The latte was so good. It kept me coming back for more. Hot, Cold, Iced or Frozen, you will enjoy this one!

The staff is always pleasant and the service prompt. The atmosphere is tastefully rustic, with multiple seating options. While the menu has a lot to offer in terms of food, I have found that it was “just ok”. I asked my husband to meet me for lunch and unfortunately he was under whelmed by the portion sizes.  However, he enjoyed his Nutella Latte:)

I like a coffee house that is serious about serving amazing coffee. This why  I became disappointed when there appeared to be a decline in service.  The coffee was less than great. Not consistent with what I had in the past.

Happily, a more recent visit proved to me that The Pound was back! I also love that the proprietors continue to make improvements.  They recently announced that they will no longer close from 4:00 pm –5:00 pm.  That was a BUMMER!!!!

So, if you are ever in the Capital Hill/Eastern Market are in DC, you should check it out!

For the Love of Coffee,
Alicia


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SPoT Coffee~ Buffalo New York

  SPoT Coffee, located in Elmwood Village is a great coffee house and cafe.  It is nicely decorated with lots of comfy seating.  The staff is very friendly and the menu eclectic.  I had the Mike Sandwich and it was Superb!  My nephew Idris, had the chocolate macaroon.  He was very sweet and shared it with me. It was insanely good.

The Baristas at SPoT know their craft. They use Arabica Beans and  roast them “in house”.  To me, this is what makes the difference in terms of the fresh rich taste that coffee can bring.  While there, I enjoyed a Breve Latte. It was very creamy, and everything I would expect from a Breve’.

If you are in the Buffalo area, you should definitely check out this neighborhood cafe. The  SPoT team has definitely figured out how to serve up a great cup of coffee along with a unique and tasty meal.  I guess you can say they are SPoT On:)

Coffee Love,

Alicia


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Commonwealth Coffee Birmingham, Michigan ~Hamilton Row

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Sweet Jesus! I am not sure whom else to call on after experiencing this “Rock Star” of a coffee house. This is where Class, Simplicity and Rustic meet at the fork in the road.

Walking into Commonwealth I knew I was in for a real treat and it was certainly not for it’s simple yet rustic decor! Not to worry, who needs fancy when you experience the unique “uncommon pleasures” that Commonwealth has to offer? The line was long (but moved quick), there was not a seat left in the house and the spirit was high! It was evident that folks where happy to be in this establishment.

Commonwealth Coffee House offers what appears to be an incredible culinary experience. Using local ingredients and vendors raises the bar in what they are able to accomplish on their menu. It left me feeling like “Dang” “I wish I hadn’t eaten breakfast already!! For example, The Fried Egg Sandwich is made with guacamole, Pinconning cheese, and hot sauce on multigrain toast with a side salad! Sounds so good….right?! Also, a recent tweet says, “Have you tried our tea sandwich (with radish, cucumber, herbed goat cheese, pickled carrots & mustard greens) yet? Also there are a vast array of pastries such as, macaroons, muffins, sweet breads, brownies and cookies. My family and I tried the brownies and the chocolate chip cookies. Yummo!!!!

Finally, the coffee bar was spectacular. Commonwealth roasts single origin coffee beans in house, which is a great start in my book! The “pour over” station and espresso bar was an exciting and fascinating thing to watch. The Baristas where truly operating in their “element”. My husband and I had the  © Latte.  What is a  © Latte…you ask?   Well, it is a traditionally made latte with sweetened condensed milk. Need I say more? It was just PERFECT!!!! Whew!

Listen, do yourselves a favor and check out this Coffee House! It is truly one of the best!!

Commonwealth:  http://www.gocommonwealth.com/

 

Coffee Love,

Alicia

 

 

 


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The Bean and Leaf Coffee Café ~ Royal Oak, MI

The French Vietnamesse Latte_The Bean and Leaf

The Bean and Leaf Cafe is an independently owned coffee house that offers fair trade coffee, teas, pastries, sandwiches, vegan and gluten free options. The menu appears to be very extensive with something for all to enjoy.

I didn’t get my usual latte or cappuccino. I order the French Vietnamese Latte. This coffee drink is made with Chicory, Espresso, and Condensed Milk. It was very good and a recipe that I was not familiar with.

This house is pretty simple in décor but not in coffee. The staff was friendly and attentive. There was lots of seating, free WiFi and a small art gallery. The Bean and Leaf Cafe is a nice place to visit and Voted the Best Independent Coffee Shop by Hour Magazine. Check it out if you are in Royal Oak, MI.

The Bean and Leaf Coffee Café: http://www.mybeanandleaf.com/

 

Coffee Love,

Alicia

 


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49 West Coffee House~Annapolis, MD

pictured by: laroccablog.com

pictured by: laroccablog.com

49 West Coffeehouse is far more than a coffee house. It expands beyond just a restaurant.  This establishment offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, wine, coffee, an art gallery and live music. The atmosphere is relaxing but rustic,  making it a great meeting place for family, friends, co- workers and small business meetings.

My husband and I visited the “House” on a couple of occasions.  Each time, the coffee was awesome and beyond your average cup of “Joe.”  I ordered the White Mocha with Whip, lightly sweetened (of course). After the first sip I actually did a “small” happy dance.  It was very good and the Barista sweetened it just perfectly.

Another time we visited 49 West for the live music.  The band was phenomenal and very interactive.  They even sang happy birthday to my Husband! Very Enjoyable!  This night, I had a specialty coffee drink and again it was delicious.

49 West not only has great coffee, it offers a little something for everyone! While I found the food to be a bit mediocre and under whelming, the overall service was great. I am sure to visit again and hopefully I will pick a dish that matches the same expectations of the coffee. If you visit Annapolis, MD. please visit 49 West Coffee House.  I am sure you will enjoy it, as it is a destination spot for this small Old Towne.

49 West Coffeehouse, Wine bar & Gallery: 

Welcome

Java Love, Alicia


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Fourteen East: Art ~Coffee~ Soda~ Tea and Pastries Mid-Town Detroit

Fourteen East

Fourteen East: Art ~Coffee~ Soda~ Tea and Pastries

Mid-Town Detroit

Eclectic Charm: Is the best way to describe Fourteen East. This coffee house is located in the Historic Park Shelton (luxury apartments) in Detroit, Michigan and is beyond what you would expect when looking for that good ole’ cup of Joe!

It’s unique décor, art gallery and eco-friendly touches throughout makes Fourteen East a destination. It is very inviting, clean and has adequate seating. The service was quick and more importantly my Barista was friendly:)

I had the Cappuccino! It was spot on in terms of the balance of espresso, steamed milk and froth. Very tasty! I also had the Ricotta Lemon Cookies and they were delish!

If you are ever in Detroit, this is a place you should check out.  I am very glad my friend told me about this little jewel in Mid-Town.

Fourteen East: Art ~Coffee~ Soda~ Tea and Pastries:

about us

Java Love~

Alicia


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Baltimore Coffee and Tea (BTC) ~ Annapolis Maryland

pictured from yelp.com

pictured from yelp.com

I walked into the Baltimore Coffee and Tea Coffee Shop (BTC) with great anticipation. It’s what I do. I love coffee houses and get really amped about the experience they can bring.

The aroma in BTC is amazing! They have an endless amount of coffee beans and teas for purchase by the pound. There’s lots of cozy seating and is an overall good spot to relax, read, and get a bite to eat. The menu is  pretty extensive for a coffee shop too. Soups, sandwiches, salads, and pastries are among the many gourmet food offerings.  I ordered the tuna melt sandwich.  It was very good.

Now, for the latte(s), I ordered the Snow Angel, which is a latte with dark chocolate and vanilla syrup. It had a pretty unpleasant finished so I sent it back to the Barista.   I assumed that the dark chocolate didn’t agree with me. So, I asked if I could try something different. We settled on a Crème Brule, which is a latte with caramel and vanilla syrup. This latte was worst.  It caused me to become nauseous. I really couldn’t believe it!

Now, for the latte(s), I ordered the Snow Angel, which is a latte with dark chocolate and vanilla syrup. It had a pretty unpleasant finished so I sent it back to the Barista.   I assumed that the dark chocolate didn’t agree with me. So, I asked if I could try something different. We settled on a Crème Brule, which is a latte with caramel and vanilla syrup. This latte was worst.  It caused me to become nauseous. I really couldn’t believe it!

The staff and the tuna melt were great but the Lattes….not so much. While it is not likely I go to BTC for a latte, I may go for a sandwich and iced tea!

Baltimore Coffee and Tea~ baltcoffee.com

Coffee Love,

Alicia

BeanRushCafe

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BeanRushCafe_pic

Pictured:Yelp.com

BeanRushCafe~Roaster-Baker-Sandwich Maker~ beanrushcafe.com

Crownsville, Maryland

The Bean Rush Cafe is a hidden jewel in Crownsville, MD.  I would describe it as not only a hidden jewel, but also an unassuming treasure. This coffee and teahouse has a lot to offer.  The menu has sandwiches, soups, salads, pastries, AND Oh Yes…Coffee!  I had the pleasure of partaking in the Honey Bee Latte (lightly sweeten) and LET me tell you it was remarkably delicious.  It had a very smooth taste and it didn’t come with the bitter finish that some espresso drinks have.  I also had the Soup and Sandwich Combo-Tuna Sandwich on wheat and Turkey Chili (Yumo!)

The BeanRushCafe staff presented as very polite, patient and knowledgeable of the menu items.  It’s warm and inviting atmosphere will bring me back to this “Hometown” establishment.  The proprietors have it right in terms of customer service, menu items and of course good ole’ espresso! Check it out!

Coffee Love,

Alicia


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Ebenezer’s~ Coffee with a Cause

Ebenezer~ Coffee with a Cause~ ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

Washington, DC

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As a Christian and Human Services Provider I understand the mission of Ebenezer’s Coffee House.  They offer and sale Fair Trade Coffee to support producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. According to their website they are owed and operated by the National Community Church and all proceeds go to their Outreach Programs. Ebenezer offers a small variety of baked goods and devotional books for your edification.

I have visited this Coffee House on many occasions and find it to be one of the most consistent in terms of service and in products. I have ordered various iced and hot espresso drinks.  They have all been very good.  Most recently, I order the Toasted Marshmallow Latte (seasonal item).  It was so very delicious.  The flavor was bold but smooth.  It was very hot (unlike some coffee shops) and lightly sweetened.

Coffee with a Cause is all right with me!  Check them out: http://ebenezerscoffeehouse.com/ .  You will see that their products and service is superb!

Coffee Love,

Alicia