Cofflogger

See updates at the end. I don't normally frequent or write about the big chain coffee houses, but I wandered into St. Kilda thinking it was a NYC shop. Instead it's an Aussie outfit. I don't know how many shops they have  since the locations page on their website is blank at the moment. They stock "curated" coffees from a few different roasters and the quality is reflected in the prices.  Their espresso drinks are all derived from an Ethiopian bean, which was lovely and fruity, hints of chocolate backing up the fruit.  Tried the decaf, which was also fruity, with a nice lactic acid note, but maybe a blend. The barista didn't know what was in the decaf and unfortunately didn't bother to check around and find out, even though it was an exceptionally slow easy early morning. That would be my only knock against the place. If you are an expensive boutique coffee shop with indications everywhere that you take your coffee quality and connoisseurship seriously, t...

I think that I will have to start carrying my own ceramic mug. Black Cow doesn't have mugs. The waste involved in a paper cup with cardboard sleeve every time I get a cup of coffee is simply insane. Nice nutty aroma on the americano. Some chocolate. Sweet, smooth, slightly acidic as it cools.  Italian Roast. Label says: "rich, balanced blend..." - no other taste notes, but no disagreement on that general assessment.  Decaf has a nutty/fruity aroma, a bit like that almond extract/cherry combo I frequently get. Becomes a little bitter/woody as it approaches room temperature. Busy spot when I got here at 7:00 AM. Spacious interior area with covid-era spacing it seems. Coffee roaster in the corner, photography exhibit on the walls, plants along the street-facing windows.    Popular neighborhood spot and rightly so. Ratings (1-5 cups) Coffee: Ambiance/Comfort: Space/Size: Price (3 is average):

In Beacon, NY on Main Street. Opens at 6:00 am which is unusual, and an hour away from me unfortunately.  Americano is smooth and balanced. No particular flavor jumps out, but I think nutty with chocolate notes, sweet, maybe a bit of caramel. I'm not picking up any fruit.. Not over roasted, not burnt or bitter, quite nice to drink. Roasted in house.  Lets compare notes from the label: Oops, no flavor notes on the label, but a blend of Central and South American beans.  Decaf is also nice with more fruity flavors jumping out. The space doubles as a bar serving beer and wine. Big TV screens, which I hate, but I can sit at the window and ignore it. Seating indoors is limited but most customers this morning are grab and go. I suspect it gets crowded on weekends. There is a good amount of outdoor seating on a nice patio. Bottom line: Sweet little neighborhood coffee shop I would be happy to call home if I lived nearby.   Ratings (1-5 cups) Coffee: Ambiance/Comfort: Space/...

 Ossining, NY.  Despite the small facade (the door on the right is a different business) it's reasonably spacious inside with a front display/bar area where assorted book-store type materials are for sale, and a back room with numerous tables and chairs, plus the covid-era outdoor seating on the street. Coffee first impressions- nutty, a little fruity, hint of dark chocolate. That woody taste as it cools. Light and smooth, easy to drink. I felt a little awkward today for some reason, having nothing to do with the coffee house - it was my second stop after venturing up to Newburgh where I also felt ill-at ease and out of sorts - it's me, not the place. Point being I didn't linger inside or ask any questions about the source of the coffee. Cute coffee shop, soft biscotti again - guess that's a thing now. It was fine once, but I prefer old-fashioned hard biscotti.  Ratings (1-5 cups) Coffee: Ambiance/Comfort: Space/Size: Price (3 is average):

First thing I note is slightly fermented fruit. Berry of some sort. Blueberry even, but I wonder if my brain is just primed for blueberry after that Ethiopian I had at Drip. Something nutty, bitter nut in the taste. No way I can tell what type, but not almond at least I know that. Hard to smell anything past the fruit, which is powerful and nice. Of course as soon as I say almond, I start to get that almond extract/cherry aroma. The power of suggestion. Taste is bright, acidic, a little bitter, some of that woody taste that is so familiar. Not getting any chocolates, caramels, or florals, unless the fruity and floral are combining in a way that I can't separate - it is aromatic. And now for the label notes: Cacao nibs, Meyer lemon, roasted hazelnuts. Roast level - 3 on a scale of 9 (light) Retasting after reading the notes. Yeah, OK, I can get the lemony - it's a cirtusy but sweet aroma, that fruit that I was struggling to name, but I would need to have a Meyer lemon on hand to...

"Today was the day that anxiety came around for, I hope, a short visit. Didn't sleep well, had disturbing dream, woke up with a painful sore shoulder, spent the morning being cranky.  Nothing tastes good. ...I get no pleasure from food or coffee."   I started and never finished this post last week. Partly because of the state of mind, which passed, and then because I didn't want to dwell on the negative. But I think it's worth delving into the connections between mental states and sensory perception. My son studied and is now engaged in some research in neuroscience, so he could probably school me on this topic.  It's a simple point here that I won't attempt to explain. Being mindful of the nuances of coffee and perceiving the myriad flavors, let alone enjoying the experience, requires a certain calm and settled mind going in. It would be nice if the ritual of visiting a coffee shop, sampling coffee and identifying subtle flavors could somehow serve to lif...

Here's a MapQuest map of the coffeehouses I visited on my NY-FL trip, with a side journey on the way back to visit a friend in West Virginia - hence the circuitous route. Over 2500 miles round-trip including side-excursions in about 13 days, 15 coffee shops reviewed with a couple of repeat visits plus a few I didn't review. Open the link for a detailed view. Open in a private browser (incognito) if you are getting annoying ads.   Some of the visits were on the down trip and some on the way back. Mostly highways I-78 in NJ and PA, I-81 in PA and Virginia, I-77 in NC and SC, and I-95 in GA. Other stops in the cities of Jacksonville and Gainesville, FL.Side trip in West Virginia along I-79, I-68, and US 119 in Morgantown. A lot of this kind of thing - cheap motels along the highway. Rain is no obstacle: First stop in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Helmet flattens my head in a goofy way: The reason for the trip - visiting my awesome son in Gainesville, FL. Gators: Beach (Jacksonville B...

In Carlisle, PA.  Corner store with plate glass front to both streets. Looks like the kind of space that might have been a neighborhood drug store, once upon a time. The chairs are torture devices for the back. I couldn't sit in them and moved to the sofa. Rich dark espresso, caramel, dark chocolate...I can't get anything else. I detected something familiar when it was first brewed that I couldn't identify. Let's check the notes: "Earthy, chicory, caramel." Oh well, one out of three. Not sure what chicory tastes or smells like. Now that it's suggested I see the earthy - slightly cheesy in a nice way, if that's what they mean by earthy.  Flavors fade a bit as the coffee approaches room temperature but it remains smooth and easy to drink without any bitterness or unpleasant aftertastes.  The almond/cranberry scone was meh - needed a citrus glaze but instead has a white chocolate glaze that's just, no, not a good mix. Also a bit dry and crumbly.   Abo...