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Tag Archives: coffee


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City Dock Coffee ~Downtown: Annapolis MD

City Dock

 

City Dock is a cozy and friendly establishment in downtown Annapolis, MD. It was evident from the moment I walked in City Dock that therein lies a seriousness when it comes to coffee, tea and it’s customers. I have to say that the cashier was one of the friendliest around. He carefully went through the menu and explained all of the drinks that I had questions about. After this tutorial on “ All things City Docks” I carefully placed my order.

I had a lightly sweetened Iced Almond Joy and a Strawberry Scone. As I sat down in this cozy coffee house I quickly noticed the barista behind the scenes. This young lady was completely focused of what makes a good cup of espresso! I watched her as she made many drinks and she never took her eyes off the prize! I am convinced that her careful attention to detail is what makes the City Dock House one of the best.

My drink was perfect in every way! Not too Sweet. Smooth. Creamy.   I enjoyed every bit. The Scone was extremely moist and also lightly sweetened. It was one of the best coffee experiences that I have encountered.

Do yourself a favor. Stop by City Dock. It will be worth the trip.

http://www.citydockcafe.com/home.html

Espresso Yo Self,

Alicia


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Barefoot Buddha~ Your Happy Place

Barefoot Buddha (BB)~ Your Happy Place

U.S. Virgin Islands

Your Happy Place: The slogan says it all!!!

My husband and I visited the Virgin Islands for our 1st Anniversary. It was an awesome trip with lots to offer.  We enjoyed the beaches,  site seeing, shopping, restaurants and much more.

Mr. Nice Guy (our transporter and guide) took us to BB at least three times during our visit. The breakfast and lunch menus are very gourmet, with unique flavor combinations. On one of our visits I had the Buddha Blessing Sandwich and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup. BB also has some of the most delicious brownies and muffins. The Carrot Muffin was the best ever!!! Also served, are a variety of teas, soups and salads.

The coffee bar was superb. The Baristas offer exceptional service and explained the drink menu very well.  After lots of contemplating,  I had a very creamy and perfect coconut latte.

Another unique feature is the boutique, located adjacent to the BB restaurant/coffee bar. BB is a must if you are ever in the Virgin Islands.

Check it out! You just may find your Happy Place:)

Espresso Love,

Alicia


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Mill Mountain ~ Coffee and Tea Downtown Roanoke VA

 

 

Picture Credit: www.pinterest.com

Picture Credit: http://www.pinterest.com

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:)

Here’s the link: www.millmountaincoffee.com/

 

Coffee is Love,

Alicia


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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

Walking Life~ Ashville, NC

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Walking Life

Walking Life (WL): Hand Brewed Coffee and Espresso

Simplicity at it’s Best. All together charming and quaint is how I describe this coffee house. It is located in an unassuming little house, mildly decorated with comfy seating.  I certainly felt at home in this fine, but simple establishment. The menu was short and to the point. The Baristas were serious and kind but professional at the same time.  It is all about the craft, love of the bean and value at Walking Life.

One of the Manifestos at WL is that “One should be geeky and excited about coffee! Imagine me: raising my hand, like a kindergartner saying,  “OOO, OOO, me , me, me! I’m excited.  I’m geeky and I care about coffee!”

Well, we all know the proof is in the bean. Right? So, I ordered the Raw Latte! It was so very delicious.  The milk to espresso ratio was perfect.  It was evident that this hand crafted drink was made with love by a Barista who was “Made for This!” Made to treat the bean with respect and care. Made to serve up a good ‘ole cup of deliciousness!

If you are traveling to Ashville, NC, this is one place you do not want to miss.  Their values speak for themselves. Try it. Find yourself a comfy seat. Sit back and enjoy.  This will be one of the purest cups of Joe you will ever have!

Coffee and Out!

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

Image

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