esspressotrips

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Tag Archives: espresso


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Getting caffeinated during the Coronavirus pandemic

There is no question that this pandemic has disrupted our day to day routine in a major way. Social distancing has arrested one of life’s simple pleasures. And that is sitting down to a good cup of joe in your favorite coffee house. Girlfriends meeting to catch up on the latest news while enjoying a latte has come to a halt. No more cofficing. No more leaving your office for that mid-afternoon #esspressotrip! Sigh!

Thankfully, some coffee establishments are coming up with new ways to keep their customers caffeinated. Zeke’s Coffee in Washington DC has made a way. Hallelujah! You can place your order over the phone and pick up your coffee on a table located at their front entrance. I’m loving it:)

This to shall pass…
My Oatmilk latte is on the table:🙂☕

If you are in the DC area, visit Zeke’s Coffee Roasters. You can also order coffee beans online at http://www.zekescoffeedc.com

To all my coffee lovers out there, Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay hydrated and caffeinate responsibly.

Yours in coffee,

Alicia

 

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Late for the Train Coffee: Flagstaff, AZ

Image result for owner of late for the train

Photo credit: Trip Advisor

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.

Yours in Coffee,

Alicia

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Espresso in Italy!

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Ciao (Hello)!

On a recent visit to Italy, I quickly learned that the way we drink and order coffee in the United States is completely different than the Italians. First of all, Italians drink espresso drinks all through out the day. At least 7-8 drinks daily. The portion sizes are significantly smaller and you will not find a Quad Venti Latte option on the menu. No Grande Caramel Macchiato in the streets of Venice! Not a chance! However, what you will find is a rich and luxurious cup of espresso. Bursting with rich flavor and without six pumps of white mocha:) Another important and defining difference is that coffee is consumed while standing -something that hardly ever occurs in the States! Unless, the coffee is ordered “to-go” in a disposable cup for walking. Also, there are no “coffee houses” in Italy.  For the most part, one would order coffee from what is called “A Bar”

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I am happy to say that I had my first shot of espresso in Italy! Rich~Dark~Smooth is how I would describe it. It is served in a very small cup, on a saucer with a small spoon. Definitely worth the wait. I also had my share of Cafe con Panas, Cappuccinos, and Cafe Lattes. A true favorite was the Affogato with Amaretto Gelato! Yummo!!!

When you visit Italy, order your espresso like the natives and Enjoy!

Fino alla prossima volta (until next time),

Alicia


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Shot Tower Coffee: Philadelphia PA

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Shot Tower Coffee is located in the Queen’s Village/ Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philly.  This contemporary coffee house with rustic features offers a nice place to enjoy a cup of coffee. With indoor and outdoor seating you are sure to find a good spot to relax.  The communal seating is a plus for meeting up with friends and family.

Nice music……..Check

Nice ambiance……..Check

Great baristas…………Check

Great customer service……..Check

Oh! You want to know my favorite part of this #esspressotrip? I thought you’d never ask:) The Iced Mocha! First of all they start with carefully sourced and handmade coffee from CounterCulture. Secondly, they make their own chocolate syrup for this handcrafted drink. Now it doesn’t get much better than that! Right? My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this “His” and “Her” espresso treat.

If you are ever in South Philly check out Shot Tower Coffee. You will quickly see who’s calling the shots:) Lol

Mocha Love,

Alicia


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UPRISING MUFFIN COMPANY

Uprising

Image: Yelp.com

Happy New Year Coffee Lovers!

Recently, I had the opportunity to hang out with my family at Uprising Muffin Company (UMC). UMC is located in Washington DC: Shaw Neighborhood.  It appears that UMC established this company on the basis of making fresh and tasty muffins.  I can tell you they have completely met the mark and are living their motto: “offerings are simple, fresh & seriously delicious”. Now who can pass that up? I certainly can’t. I sampled the sweet potato, savory spinach tomato parmesan and the strawberry and cream cheese muffins. They were indeed delicious. But this is a coffee blog. Right? My Barista prepared a very delicious lightly sweetened Iced Vanilla Latte (with an extra shot of espresso of course). It had the perfect blend of Stumptown espresso, house made simple syrup and cream. What a treat!

Looking forward to another visit. If you ever find yourself in the Washington, DC area do yourself a favor and go check out Uprising (http://uprisingmuffins.com/) You will be glad you did!

Happy Coffee,

Alicia


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Compass Coffee- Washington, DC

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Today my family and I visited Compass Coffee in the historic Shaw neighborhood in Washington, DC. It is clear that the proprietors of this establishment are serious about making good coffee. One distinguishing hint is that they roast their beans on-site in “The Lab”. Another good hint is that they choose their beans from various importers at the peak of freshness! This can only result into one thing…..”a real good cup of coffee!” How impressive is that???

Great customer service and a really good cup of coffee is what we received at C.C.! I had the Nutella Mocha- Iced and slightly sweetened. I seriously almost did a small dance when I took the first sip! Whoa, was it good. My husband had his new favorite, Nitro-slightly sweetened with caramel syrup. It had a very rich but smooth taste. We also had assorted cookies. My daughters said they were amazing:) Other interesting menu items are coffee cola, assorted teas and sandwiches.

If you live in or around DC or find yourself visiting, check out Compass Coffee (www.compasscoffee.com) where they are doing it good and right.

Coffee Love and Happy 4th of July,

Alicia


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The Corner Perk- Bluffton SC

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On a recent family reunion trip to “Beautiful” Hilton Head SC, our family had the opportunity to venture off to another lovely town: Bluffton SC. There we found a very cute and stylish coffee house:The Corner Perk (TCP). The Corner Perk is a locally owned coffee shop and cafe situated in the historic downtown Bluffton area.

TCP rates high on my list because they roast their own Organically Grown-Fair Trade beans! If you have read any if my post, then you know I believe this is a difference maker. Also, their customer service is A++. The staff is very friendly and they love explaining all of the cool things on the menu:)

I enjoyed the Hazelnut Truffle Latte. The flavor combination was perfecto! Our kids drank loads of the Strawberry Mint Lemonade:) The lemonade and the Peanut Butter Brownies were delish!!! My husband tried the brand new Cold Brew Nitro. This is a high caffeine “on tap” brew that pours like Guinness. He completely enjoyed this and the Chocolate Cupcake with cream cheese frosting!

If you ever find yourself in the Bluffton SC area, check out TCP ( www.cornerperk.com/). You will be glad you did!!!

Java Always,

Alicia


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A Common Ground Coffee Shop~Williamsburg, KY

pictured by esspressotrips

My family and I were on a road trip and stopped in Williamsburg for a good nights rest. As usual, the next morning I began to think about my next Esspresso Trip. After reading the reviews for “A Common Ground Coffee Shop” I became very excited to experience what they had to offer. It appeared to me that the people where friendly, enjoyed their craft and ultimately enjoyed connecting with people. So, off we went to the coffee house. As we approached the location, it was discovered to be inside of a church! This made me even more excited because as a Christian, I like to support the work of the Lord.

Unfortunately, they were closed. The hours posted were “5:00-10:00 pm”. I just assumed that it was 5:00 am but after further research I learned that they are opened from 5:00 pm -10:00 pm.

According to Google+, their mission is to cultivate the environment of the community and to provide hospitality and deepen the lives of people they meet, all in Jesus name. Now what and awesome calling!

Although disappointed I missed the experience of this coffee house, it warms my heart to know that one can find their calling in Jesus and marry it with Coffee at the same time. Now that’s what I call Heaven on Earth:)

With coffee love,

Alicia

PS. If you are in the area, check them out for me:)

A Common Ground-219 South 5th Street, Williamsburg KY 40769 856-707-6672

 

 


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Aromas World: Espresso, Sandwiches, Soups and Pastries

Aromas world picThis bustling coffee house is conveniently located in New Port News-Center City. Very nicely decorated with an Old World décor. Aromas is a nice spot to relax or hang out with family and friends. That is however, after you finally have the opportunity to place and receive your order!

The service was poor and extremely slow. The cashier was rude and uninviting. The Barrista clearly enjoyed his job but appeared overwhelmed with orders. He had NO HELP! We waited more than 20 minutes for three of our beverages. My husband had the pumpkin cheesecake latte. It was way too sweet. My daughters had the Apple Pie and European Steamers. While very tasty, they were too hot. I asked (multiple times) for the steamers to be mildly warmed, as they were “kid” drinks. My fix: Ice, to make them safe for my babies to drink. My son had a peppermint tea. Can’t mess that up so he was fine. Now, I had a lightly sweetened “Honey Do” Latte. It was pretty good but not something I would order again.

Honestly, even though our wait was long and our drinks not up to par, we had a good time with the Fam! I enjoyed that more than anything!

Momma and Dia

If you are in the area and need a nice large place to meet friends/family, check them out. Perhaps you will receive better service than we did:(

Yours in Coffee,

Alicia


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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