About time. And product. And being more deliberate.
“It really does taste different: musty, heavy, rich, strangely complex. Hints of chocolate, old wood, hazelnut. Fresh out of the roaster, it smelled a bit like a newborn baby’s urine.” – Sam Buchanan On the first nice Saturday of the year, Sam Buchanan and I met at Coffee and Tea Ltd for a $10 cup …
Continue reading “First Crack 98. I Drink Coffee From a Cat’s Butt”
When I’m on the road, Starbucks is where I get my internet access. My taste for their coffee has gone from dislike to barely tolerable. These days, I spend $1.57 there on a small decaf that I sip for my 2 hours of laptop battery life. “Put another way, there are two markets for coffee …
Continue reading “Starbucks Tomorrow: McDonalds or Neighborhood Roaster?”
I’ve talked about the value of places like Starbucks in places like…Wausau…before. That was from a city-mouse in the smaller city perspective. Now that I’ve been in Wausau for a few days – popping to Starbucks for internet access – not coffee. I’m aghast. The place is packed. Filled with an amazing cross-section of the …
Continue reading “Starbucks – Community Building in Small Communities”
On my daily walk this evening, I noticed a coffee shop here in St. Anthony Village was no longer. Based on the emptiness on the other side of the windows, it’s been a while since they left. While it’s always sad to see small, local, non-franchise, non-chain, coffee shops close – it’s also sad to …
Continue reading “Why I’m Rarely Sad When Coffee Shops Close”
White Rock Coffee in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul (arguably the best coffee shop in Twin Cities) is running one of the coolest specials I’ve heard of since TextDrive‘s Mixed Grill / 3 Martini Lunch Hosting Plans – $99 gets you their travel mug + refills for the rest of 2006.
Last year, PodcastMN got it’s start over drinks at the Acadia Cafe. This week, I sat down with Ted Lowell – one of the owners. We talk about: The history of the Acadia Cafe. The decision to be an all original music venue. What it’s like having a Starbucks across the street. Riding the 75-cent …
Continue reading “First Crack 70. Ted Lowell from the Acadia Cafe on Being an Original Venue”
A couple years back I spent a good chunk of time in Minneapolis’ Warehouse District. Aside from convenience (it’s right between downtown and NE) it’s got a nice comfortable, creative vibe to it. Unfortunately, there’s not a hands down winner for a good cup of coffee. If you prefer coffee mixed with single speed bikes …
Continue reading “Moose and Sadies Almost Best Coffee Shop in Warehouse District”
A big thanks to everyone that helped keep Betty’s open. Betty’s is a great independent coffee shop and I’m happy to see the community pull together and keep it open. Tom Roe owner of Betty’s Bikes and Buns and I talk motorcycles, community, and the best coffee in Minneapolis. The First Crack podcast website has …
Continue reading “First Crack 37. From Betty’s Bikes & Buns”
Cindy, owner of Minneapolis’ Blue Moon and Second Moon, and I discuss the community value of independent, neighborhood coffee shops. Listen for a patron-thwarted robbery and why coffee should come in small cups. I end the show with “Don’t Tell a Soul” by the Revamps. For more on them, drop lead man Darren Harff a …
Continue reading “First Crack 19. Coffee and Community at the Blue Moon”
Greg Beale, a Dunn Bros. Coffee roastmaster, and I roast 8 pounds of Colombian beans, discuss holiday brewing tips, and the local flavors of the Dunn Bros shops. Intro: PodCat from PodCat’s Daily Best of Podcasting. Listen to Interview with a Roastmaster: Greg Beale [38 min] Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? …
Continue reading “First Crack 16. Interview with a Roastmaster: Greg Beale”