Late for the Train is a coffee house located in Flagstaff, AZ. My family and I went to the Fort Valley location, which appears to be a converted gas station. Pretty unique indeed. The owner; David Dobrick and his team are “dedicated to creating a mountain fresh difference by combining coffee sourced from unique soils, micro-climates, cultivars, and growers’ skills”. I am happy to be the beneficiary of this dedication:)
In addition to roasting their own beans, Late for the train has a wide variety of coffee and tea beverages, and food offerings. Which includes locally sourced cookies, pastries and sandwiches. We shared chocolate chip cookies, zucchini bread and a chocolate danish. All were really good.
My husband had the COCONINO MOCHA, which is an iced beverage made with their signature cold brew and homemade chocolate sauce. I had a half sweet, iced Black and White with an extra shot of espresso. Both where really good but my favorite was the Black and White. In fact, it was the best one I have had!!
If you are in the area, be sure to give this place a try (www.lateforthetrain.com). It is the perfect midway point from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix.
Common Grounds (CG) is an eclectic coffee house and wine lounge situated in the heart of Lindley Park. CG is also a Performing Arts Venue housed in the Chronicles video production studio. So, you can drink your coffee and produce a video all in one spot. Pretty cool! Right? Well it doesn’t end there. CG is a great place to study, meet up with friends, play a little air hockey or read a book.
K.C. was my Barista and she was so cool. With a professional and personable flair, K.C. whipped up some amazing drinks for my husband and me. All of their drinks are named after an actor:) We had the Charlie Chaplin and the Robert Downing Jr. The Charlie Chaplin is a white and dark mocha with steamed milk and espresso. The Robert Downey Jr. is a salted caramel mocha with steamed milk and espresso. They were both made to perfection. My husband’s personal favorite was the Robert Downey Jr. The next time I will try the Robin Williams. This is a latte made with banana and chocolate syrup, steamed milk and espresso. They also have their own coffee blend called the Lindley Park. It is available by the pound so that you can brew it at home. For the non-coffee drinkers, you can choose from a variety of teas, hot chocolate and locally made baked goods.
If you are ever in the Greensboro area, treat yourself to Common Grounds (commongrounds.coffee/). Tell K.C. I sent you:)
Have you ever been to Paradise? Hawaii is often described as paradise and one of the most beautiful places on earth. Well, I have to agree! A recent trip there convinced me that there is Paradise on Earth. From sandy beaches lined with emerald-blue water and palm trees under serene skies to rugged black volcanoes that continue to reshape the earth, the Hawaiian Islands teem with diversity, beauty and poise. Even beyond this, the islands are flourished with a variety of plants, animals and ethnicities. While God’s beauty is everywhere, I must say there is an extra special “something” in Hawaii. It is breath taking! Our Luau Cruise, swap meets, Farmer’s Markets and espresso trips made for an extra special visit to Paradise. Below you will find brief descriptions of our espresso trips in Honolulu.
ChadLou’s Coffee and Tea Lounge ~ Kailua, Hawaii
ChadLou’s is a very comfy coffee and tea lounge. It is very rustic and has adequate seating, books and chess tables. Our barista Natalia was very professional and clearly enjoyed her craft. She even creates what I call “ cup art.” Natalia and other staff members draw on coffee cups, creating the most beautiful pictures and designs. These cups are on display throughout the store and make for very interesting conversation (see picture above). We had some delicious drinks including fresh cucumber water and pastries at Chadlou’s. My husband had a Kona Affagato (pictured above)! Yummy!!! I had the Honu Latte. This is a decadent drink infused with Caramel and Mac Nut. Delish!!! Our son had Iced Green Tea and our girls enjoyed M&M cookies and Hawaiian Mud Pie Ice cream. My husband also had a “roadie”: ice tea infused with island fruits and lightly sweetened. We all enjoyed this spot very much. I wished I had stopped back by again before returning to the Main Land! If you are ever in Honolulu, give them a visit. www.chadlous.com By the way….the price was right too.
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf ~ Honolulu Hawaii (Waikiki)
As some of my readers know, I do not blog about “Chain” Coffee Houses. I had no idea that Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf was a chain until we came back to the Main Land. So, in a sense I am going against my rule. However, after a bit of research I see now why they were appealing to me. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Company is the largest, privately held coffee and tea retailer in the United States. According to their website, they carefully hand craft their drinks and only select their beans and tea leaves from privately owned coffee bean farms and estates. They are so picky about bean selection that they only choose the top one percent of Arabica beans.
Conversely, an early morning stroll with my two little girls lead me to this place. It was an outdoor coffee stand with obviously something to offer because the line was pretty long. The girls and I decided to stop by anyway. As we approached the counter it became evident to me that people where waiting for good reason. They serve an array of coffee and espresso drinks, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, assorted muffins and pastries. I enjoyed the Dark Chocolate Iced Latte. Very smooth and refreshing! My oldest daughter, Dia had the Pure Chocolate Smoothie. My youngest daughter, Dayley enjoyed a Strawberry Vanilla Mango Smoothie. Now her drink was Delish! We shared a Turkey and Swiss Croissant and a Morning Glory muffin. Both were very fresh and tasty. Go ahead. Check them out and see for your self. http://www.coffeebean.com/
Blue Tree Café ~ Honolulu Hawaii
yelp.com
From the moment I walked into the Blue Tree Café, I knew I was in for a treat! Blue Tree is definitely for the “green” living and health conscience person. The décor is modern with in-door and out-door seating. All of the furniture and equipment are from recycled material. Their menu is extensive: offering coffees, teas, smoothies, juices, raw oats, salads, pastries, etc. All food items (with the exceptions of pastries) are raw. They make their own nut milks and cold press all of their juices. They also use organic ingredients!! One of their mottos: “It’s Life Changing” is so fitting. I felt “changed” just walking in the door. This place just makes you want to put the “right” foods in your temple.
I had and Iced Blue Tree Latte: Honey, house made almond milk, cinnamon and espresso. It was pretty good but not my favorite. My husband had the same beverage made hot. He did not like his at all. He also had the Almond Dream Smoothie. This drink went over a bit better than his latte did. Our kids had the following: Raw Oats bowl, Acai Bowl, House made Almond Milk, Very Verde Smoothie, Banana Bread Muffin, Zucchini Bread Muffin with cashew cream icing and a Blueberry Scone. All were very good. I know, because I tasted everyone’s food. LOL! My absolute favorite was the Acai Bowl. Topped with fresh bananas and crunchy granola, it was incredibly delicious!
This espresso trip was great but not because of the coffee drinks we had. They were pretty average in my opinion. Maybe on another trip we will try a different coffee drink. On the other hand, the food was really good and healthful. The Blue Tree Café is not easy on the wallet though. The total bill was a little over $50.00!!!!! Pretty pricey. Right? Well, do not let that deter you. Give them a try if you are ever in Honolulu. www.bluetreejuice.com Also, park in the parking structure. They will validate your parking.
Glazer’s ~ Honolulu Hawaii
Glazer’s is a cool, comfy and hipster coffee house. With a relaxing, “living room” like feel. It is a great place to meet friends or coffice. They also have unique photography on the walls, antique cameras and Barista magazines. Glazer’s is independently owned. They serves organic, shade grown, and fair trade coffee. Prepared in unique Seattle tradition, Glazer’s espresso drinks have a flawless creamy texture. The baristas are professional yet serious about the drinks they serve. You may even get some cool coffee art like we did on our visit (see our lattes above). We had Carmel Lattes and Blue Hawaiian Italian Sodas. The drinks were very good. The Carmel Latte was exceptional. It had a very bold flavor, aroma and crema. If you are planning a trip Honolulu, put this place on your bucket list. You will enjoy the atmosphere and your cup of Joe. http://www.glazerscoffee.com/
Island Brew is a coffee houses that focuses on fresh, organic and sustainable coffee, tea and other food products. They offer a wide variety of drinks, foods and pastries. I had the pleasure of enjoying a Malabar Latte. This is an espresso drink made with Mocha Cream, Caramel and Creme de Cacao. It was really very good. One of the most interesting things I noticed about this house is the method they use for brewing their cold coffee drinks. The barrista explained that it takes up to 12 hours to steep the coffee grounds for their cold coffee. This process only produces a small picture of coffee. Wow! I guess good things really do come to those who wait. Island Brew has a warm and cozy atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. Check them out on your next trip to Hawaii. http://www.islandbrewcoffeehouse.com/index.html
Nic’s Island Coffee~ Aiea Hawaii
@nicsislandcoffee (Extragram)
A visit to the Pealridge Farmers Market lead us to Nic’s Island Coffee. Nicole Symthe is the proprietor of this neat coffee stand. She was very personable and offered really great customer service. Nic serves up a good cup of iced coconut coffee. N.I.C. travels to various Farmer’s Markets around Honolulu. Follow her on Instagram at: https://instagram.com/nicsislandcoffee/
Green World Coffee Farm
Located on the North Shore of Oahu Hawaii the Green World Coffee Farm provides a very unique coffee experience. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour on the 7-acre farm. There you will find approximately 2000 Arabica Coffee Trees. They roast beans everyday and offer a wide variety of coffee beans from other local farms around Hawaii. Customers can also sample many different types of coffee, teas, and chocolate covered coffee beans. Green World also has a coffee bar where they serve lattes, smoothies, shakes and pastries. Check them out on your next trip to Hawaii:)
Quality and Superior Flavor describes my experience with Vigalante Coffee Company. It was immediately clear that passion is the driving force behind what they do. You may ask…What is Vigilante Coffee Company? What do they do? What sets them apart? Well, I’m glad you asked.
First, the coffee beans come direct from farmers. Secondly, they roast the coffee beans on site! Thirdly, they educate. The Baristas show great excitement while serving up the best cup of coffee. All of this equals to an Esspressotrip! Wouldn’t you agree?
Vigilante is a big “warehouse like” space with garage doors, wooden beams and wooden tables. The open-rustic atmosphere is all one needs when the focus is roasting, brewing, and pouring over fresh coffee drinks.
As much as I love coffee, I had NEVER had a cold brewed coffee before! I know. It seems strange. Well , the Barista convinced me that the rich taste would be like no other Iced coffee. He was right! It was Strong and Bold…but yet smooth and velvety.
I am looking forward to my next visit to Vigilante. If you are in the area, be sure to visit. The proprietor is doing it big and doing it right.
Mill Mountain has become our “go to” coffee shop on road trips to TN, NC and SC. Their philosophy is “Be the Best”. Being the best can be achieved by roasting the beans on location and by providing excellent customer service. Mill Mountain roasts their beans for use in the coffee house and ships them globally. It is clear that this makes the difference cup after cup. However, Mill Mountain lacks a bit when it comes to great customer service.
The service is usually pretty slow (even when we are first in line???) and many times the cashiers are less than friendly. The barristers are a different story! It is evident that they enjoy their craft. From the Vanilla Latte to the Espresso Cooler each drink has been hand crafted to our expectations. Fresh and Delicious and Always Consistent! They also make a mean breakfast sandwich! The bacon egg and cheese is my favorite:)
If you ever find yourself in Downtown Roanoke, you should give them a try! It’s definitely the coffee that brings us back year after year:)
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:
esspressotrips 