I just have two words….Yum-my! My girls and I just shared an amazing Acai Bowl. It was simply delish! Topped with Sweetsations O Gracious Granola. So worth the trip. You can learn more about Sweetsations at: My Etsy shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetsations
Happy Javadays!
Alicia
There is something pretty darn special about sharing a great cup of coffee (or Chai) with a few good girl friends. Today, I had the blessed opportunity to share Vigilante Coffee House with 2 other really great Moms.
I might add that we were there for nearly 2 hours!!! We laughed, talked and a few times nearly cried as we savored our Vigilante Juleps, Chai Tea, Apple Turnover and the O’Gracious Granola! It was All very delicious. Once again, the Baristas rock at Vigilante!
If you are ever in or around Hyattsville MD, do yourself a favor and check out this very awesome Coffee House! http://www.vigelantecoffee.com
For the Love of Coffee,
Alicia
Have you ever been to Ferndale MI? It’s a quaint little city just outside of Detroit. A recent family trip took us to Detroit and we stumbled across Red Hook Coffee House. What a great find!!!
In partnership with Pinwheel Bakery, Red Hook opened its doors in 2010 offering exceptional and freshly roasted Stumptown Coffee. They serve single origin coffee that is roasted weekly and prepared per order. This process makes for the freshest cup of coffee. Red Hook has a pretty solid menu serving cold press coffee and regular brews. The Pinwheel pastries are amazing too.
On our visit we shared an awesome cold brew, chocolate cake with salted caramel icing, a vegan molasses cookie and a sea salt chocolate chip cookie! Everything was delicious and the the customer service was exceptional. The barista was very professional and courteous. He took time to explain the menu and make suggestions based on our palate.
If you find yourself in or around Detroit MI, do yourself a favor and visit RedHook (http://www.theredhookdetroit.com/)
Yours in Java,
Alicia
Photo credit: yelp.com
On a recent trip to New York City I visited Bluebird Coffee Shop in the SoHo neighborhood located in lower Manhattan. This no frills coffee bar has limited seating and a simple decor. The barista was less than friendly but professional none the less.
The coffee menu was simple, traditional and to the point. They use Counter Culture beans though and their is nothing simple about this place! Check out their website here:(https://counterculturecoffee.com/contact/about-us)
Offering Lattes, Flat Whites, Cortados and brewed coffee, Bluebird appears to be purists when it comes to their craft. I believe this is in an effort to serve up a solid cup of coffee! A solid Latte is what I received at BB. I ordered an Iced Latte with an extra shot of esspreso. It was pretty darn good:) I didn’t purchase anything from the pastry menu. However, other reviews say they are really good.
I found this coffee bar to be a bit pricey but worth the trip. Check them out on your next trip to Manhattan: http://www.bluebirdcoffeeshop.com/
Always coffee,
Alicia
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
Today was an exciting day! I visted one of the most interesting coffee and art establishments by far: Plum Brew located in “My Hometown” Johnson City TN. I always feel a sense of great joy coming back to visit family but Wow this makes it a little sweeter!
Plum Brew is located downtown inside the Nelson Fine Art Center. They offer a variety of coffees, espresso drinks, hot teas and hot chocolate, local-made backed goods and house-made crepes! They even provide delivery to downtown businesses! P.B. has an online store but more excitingly they now serve Nitro! As you may have read in my last post, Cold Brew Nitro is a high caffeine “on tap” coffee that pours like Guinness.
My husband and I had the Johnson’s Nitro! It was so smooth and had a beautiful finish. The Crepes were amazing! We had the Skinny Italian: with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and balsamic drizzle. To finish, we enjoyed the Banarama: with Nutella and Fresh Bananas! Oh what a treat!!!
If you happen to find yourself in East TN, especially near Johnson City, do yourself a favor and stop by Plum Brew. You will be pleasantly surprised!!!
Plum Brew
324 East Main Street
Johnson City TN
Nitro Love,
Alicia
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
It’s a great day at Vigilante today!
Loving my cold brew coffee and the company of my fabulous husband. #morningdate
Started in 1992, Common Grounds Coffee was the first official coffee house in Lexington, KY. This company has grown into the largest locally own coffee business in Lexington KY. They roast their own beans in their local warehouse. This warehouse facility also serves as their commercial kitchen and coffee supplier in which they provide freshly roasted beans to other Kentucky owned coffee shops. The proprietors have also partnered with Willet Distillery to craft their own bourbon barrel coffee.
My family and I had an opportunity to visit “The Original” site; located at 343 East High Street Lexington Kentucky 40507. The décor is reminiscent of their appreciation for the Music and Arts. They have Open Mic Night and display the work of local artist on their walls. There is also plenty of nice seating and is a good meeting place for those who just want to hang out and connect with friends.
My husband and I enjoyed a few of their specialty lattes. He had The Buckeye: a creamy blend of peanut butter and chocolate. It was simply delish. I had the Depth Charge: a very rich drink with 4 shots of espresso, caramel, chocolate & vanilla. I requested this drink to be lightly sweet. It had a very unique and lovely taste. Full of body and flavor. This drink is for an experienced palate for sure! No newbies here!!! Overall, the Baristas and other staff were very professional and took time to explain the menu. We also shared a slice of Triple Chocolate Cake. Yummo!
If you are ever in the Lexington area, do yourself a favor and give Common Grounds a try. You are in for a Treat! For more information visit their website: http://www.commongroundsoflexington.com/
For the Love of Coffee,
Alicia
Picture from Sweet Donkey’s website
Oh How Sweet it is………..
Sweet Donkey Coffee House is the best coffee shop I have visited in Roanoke VA. This Roanoke “house” was built in 1922. Its homey feel completes the experience that I have come to expect when taking an “Esspresso Trip”. I enjoyed it’s comfortable seating options, beautiful art and décor. Each sitting area has its own unique design and personality.
During my visit I learned that SDC serves Counter Culture Coffee, a Durham-based company that provides organically certified brews. They also serve local pastries and dairy from local creameries. In my opinion, this further enhances their menu of fabulous coffee drinks. They sell tea as well but this is a coffee blog:)
My Cortado from SDC
I had a Cortado: 2oz of espresso finished with 2oz of steamed milk. I would describe this drink as sophisticated with a rich and robust finish. It is definitely for the more experienced palate. My husband had one of their seasonal drinks: A Pumpkin Latte. It was absolutely superb. My girls had the chocolate butternut squash muffin. It was insanely delicious.
It is clear to me that the proprietors of this establishment love coffee, their neighborhood, and their craft. The staff and baristas were beyond pleasant and professional. They really understand how to make a coffee house visit an experience. I will definitely visit again!
If you are in the Roanoke VA area you should check them out. Here is there website: http://www.sweetdonkeycoffee.com/
Coffee Love,
Alicia
esspressotrips 