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Cafes

The Analytics Of Autumn: The 2019 Build-Outs Of Summer By The Numbers

By Analytics of Autumn, Beachcomber, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, cartel coffee, curtis, Featured, Fetco, intelligentsia, K30, KB90, La Marzocco Linea, Mahlkonig EK43, Mazzer Major, modbar av, Nuova Simonelli Mythos, Peak, Pilot, Prototype, Slayer Steam, Synesso MVP Hydra, The Meteor, Virgin Islands Coffee

The Build-Outs of Summer Season Seven is officially behind us. But even still, the Thrill of the Build shines brightly in the rearview, reflecting a small glimmer of warmth as we head full steam into the colder months. And so too do we reflect upon all that transpired, crunching numbers and finding trends for the Analytics of Autumn, our yearly wrap-up of our summer series.

This is our fourth year of making competely-justified-but-not-at-all-justified statements about the state of specialty coffee as told by the Build-Outs of Summer. And while it’s ostensibly difficult to claim that 40 cafes who didn’t even exist until a few months ago represent the totality of a global industry, there is nonetheless a lot of truth to be gleaned from them. As we’ve stated previously, the Build-Outs of Summer is an opportunity for owners to give an unfiltered account of what they want their cafes to be, regardless of how well they are able to live up to the standard they are trying to achieve. These are the cafes at their most aspirational. We are given a direct line to the Platonic ideal of the specialty coffee shop in 2019; the Greek philosophers would be green with envy.

What we’ve found this year bolsters claims from previous years. It’s as if there’s a trend or something. So let’s take a deep dive into the numbers and see what we can glean from the 2019 Analytics of Autumn: A Brief Reprise For The Build-Outs Of Summer, Who Went Away, But For Very Good Seasons.

Who’s Building Out

We saw a total of 40 entries in the 2019 Build-Outs of Summer, but unlike previous seasons, this year’s participants came solely from North America (come on, Europe, Asia, and Central and South America, what gives?!). Only four—Beachcomber, Prototype, Pilot, and Virgin Islands Coffee—came from outside the continental United States. Entries this year have a fairly even geographical spread, with 16 shops in the East, 13 in the center part of the continent, and 11 in the West.

Whereas previous years have told the story of good coffee happening anywhere—which it can and still very much does—this year’s Build-Outs is all about the big cities, the established players continuing their coffee dominance. For every Albuquerque or Cranston, there’s a New York City or Houston; in fact, exactly half of the 40 entries this year came from top 20 US cities by population (this includes Toronto, whose population would put them in the top five were they an American city).

But despite the ever-so-slight western bent this year, the cities with the most entries into the Build-Outs of Summer this year are Los Angeles (again) with four and Austin with three. These two cities share a similar arc in their coffee scene’s evolution; both are places coffee brands want to be. Of the three Austin cafes featured, two—Cartel Coffee and The Meteor—are from already existing brands making a move into the Texas state capitol (to say nothing of Intelligentsia’s recent cafe opening in ATX).

The Roasting Boom

Following last year’s trend of everyone wanting to roast, it turns out everyone still wants to roast. 28 out of the 40 coffee companies featured this year, a whopping 70%, roast their own coffee. Using even the most lenient definition of “multi-roaster”—having more than one roaster at a given time—only four of the remaining 12 cafes could rightfully fall under that moniker, all of them coffee companies opening their first location.

While the rise of the roaster accompanied by the continued decline of the multi-roaster follows what we have seen coming over the past few seasons of Build-Outs, what’s new for this year exactly how these roasters are plotting their growth. The roasting ilk breaks down evenly between those opening their first cafe and those now with locations, plural, and of the 14 first-timers, eight have been operating as wholesale-only accounts long before finally deciding to open a storefront of their own. The overwhelming theme we are seeing this year is companies focusing on steady growth over ambitious expansion.

The Year In Gear

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the La Marzocco Linea tops the list as most used espresso machine for the Builders this year. 14 of the 37 cafes using espresso machines opted for the Linea, 10 more than the machines tied for second, the KB90 and the Modbar AV (both members of the LM family). Including Modbar cafes, a total 25 shops use some model of La Marzocco espresso machine. The Synesso MVP Hydra and Slayer Steam were the two most used non-LM machines with three and two, respectively.

And if you want some more not-at-all breaking news, the Mahlkönig EK43 is still everyone’s favorite grinder. 18 of the 53 total grinders named, a total of 34%, are EKs. Like with La Marzocco in the espresso machine category, the second most used grinders are also Mahlkönig products, the K30 and PEAK, both of which had seven. 64% of the grinders mentioned in the 2019 Build-Outs of Summer were made by Mahlkönig. The most used non-King of Grinders were the Nuova Simonelli Mythos (both One and Two) and the Mazzer Major, both with five.

Hand-brew coffee continues its steady decline for Build-Outs cafes. This is not to say pour-over coffee it losing favor, but actual manually brewed coffee may be going the way of the multi-roaster. Overall, 16 of the 27 shops that discussed their filter options (13 didn’t even mention anything; take that for what it’s worth) have some pour-over option on their menu, but only five make any mention of actual, brewed-by-hand coffee. In general, we found folks more eager to discuss which model of FETCO or Curtis batch brewer they were using than any particulars about pour-over brew methods.

What Does It All Mean?

If there’s one grand theme that prevailed in the 2019 Build-Outs of Summer, it is how close it hewed to what we saw in 2018. Cafe owners want their spaces to be approachable and community focused. Respondents would much rather talk about how they want to be inclusive and a place for all than they would about how they are chockablock with the freshest gear. As we saw last year—and can now say more conclusively—the gear arms race is over. At least for now.

How folks talk about their new projects seems to signify a shift in how cafes want to identify themselves as amongst the ranks of the specialty world. Folks used to signal their bona fides by talking about what gear they had or how many different roasters they would be bringing in; now being a specialty cafe by and large means having a more social focus. The shift makes sense, especially when you consider the current political environment much of the world currently finds itself in. It wasn’t but five or six years ago when you could walk into a shop, see a Linea, an EK, or five different roasters, and know that place was “legit”. Of course, those things don’t actually necessitate that the cafe was in fact any good, only that they were aware of this broadly nascent thing called “specialty coffee.” But with the democratization of information, specialty coffee’s secret handshake became the formula for those looking to “cash in” on the hot new trend (only to realize any cashing in would be purely figurative).

And as specialty coffee evolved, a rejection of the old schema became the new calling card. What’s old is new again. Whereas coffee shops once wanted to be science labs where you waxed academic about a beverage you’ve consumed everyday of your life but are just now truly tasting for the first time, coffee shops are returning to the hangout spots, the place where everybody knows your name and your drink order.

In 2019, it’s deeply uncool to only drink espresso or consume exclusively hand-brewed v60s of fresh crop Kenya AAs. What’s cool now is broadening the pool of specialty coffee drinkers. What’s cool is espousing the virtues of the peoples’ drinks. It’s expressing unabashed and unironic love for the best damn iced vanilla oat milk latte you’ve ever had. In 2019, specialty coffee has, in a lot of ways, gotten over itself.

Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.

The post The Analytics Of Autumn: The 2019 Build-Outs Of Summer By The Numbers appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Canberra, Australia

By aeropress, australia, Barrio Collective Coffee Bar, Bodalla Dairy, Cafes, Canberra, city guide, coffee lab, Espresso Room, Greenhouse Coffee and Food Co., Guides, Harvest, Industry Beans, Oceania, Ona Coffee, Places, Sasa Sestic, Staff Picks, the cupping room, The Pines Dairy, Tilba Dairy

It’s easy to arrive in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and get caught up admiring all of the grand government buildings that neatly line the streets of the well-planned city—from Parliament House on top of the hill, to the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Australia. The city is also home to about 80 embassies and high commissions.

Nicknamed the bush capital, Canberra is home to a population of about 390,000 people and is also well-known for having lots of roundabouts (at last count it was about 406). For a long time it was never really considered a destination—mainly because there wasn’t much going on. The only time people visited was during school excursions or when visitors were in town, but even then that was a drag.

However this has all changed and frankly, part of that shift in attitude towards the city can be attributed to the local coffee scene. It all started when one of the city’s very own baristas, Sasa Sestic, was crowned the winner of the World Barista Championship title in Seattle back in 2015. Since then, he’s been training other baristas in the city, many of who have followed in his footsteps and have entered and won similar competitions like the master barista himself.

The burgeoning coffee scene has partially helped put Canberra on the map as a cool place to visit. These cafes have themselves become travel destinations for visitors in search of quality caffeine or a place to take refuge after all that exploring (or going through roundabouts).

 

canberra australia coffee guide

Photo courtesy of ONA Coffee.

The Cupping Room

If you had to pick and choose a handful of cafes that were responsible for starting the coffee trend in Canberra then there’s no denying that The Cupping Room is one of them.

The Cupping Room is owned by Canberra’s largest speciality coffee roaster, ONA Coffee, the company that was founded by award-winning Sasa Sestic and is also home to other champion baristas including Matthew Lewin, 2019 Barista Champion of Australia. Given how many awards ONA Coffee has, no matter the barista you’re almost guaranteed a good brew.

Part cafe and part educational hub, The Cupping Room is the go-to to learn a thing or two about coffee, beans, taste, and flavor with their education cupping sessions. Their seasonal menu features all-day breakfast—it could be a bacon and egg roll or something heartier like fritters or beetroot cured salmon with herbs and greens such as pickled fennel, asparagus, and cucumber.

The Cupping Room is located at 1/1-13 University Avenue, Canberra. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

 

canberra australia coffee guide

Photo courtesy of Barrio Collective.

Barrio Collective Coffee Bar

Opened in 2015, Barrio Collective Coffee Bar may be tiny in size but it packs a punch in the local coffee scene. Located in the hip neighborhood of Braddon, the coffee menu has been tailored to reflect the cafe’s traditional and contemporary brew methods. Their motto is to keep things simple and everything from their decor to menu delivers on that.

The community-like vibe of the space is best enjoyed with their range of small-batch-roasted coffees. In addition to nut milks, milk suppliers have been thoughtfully sourced from nearby regions: Tilba Dairy, Bodalla Dairy, and The Pines Dairy in Kiama.

The food at Barrio ranges from tasty coffee-pairables such as stroopwafels to hearty and warm grilled cheese sandwiches.

Barrio Collective Coffee is located at 59/30 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT 2612. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

 

canberra australia coffee guide

Photo courtesy of Kira Zhouyuan.

Greenhouse Coffee and Food Co.

Who knew you could find good coffee in a mall? In Canberra you can. On the top level of Canberra Centre is Greenhouse Coffee and Food Co. This gem is a welcome reprieve for anyone looking for more than just any average food court offering.

The venture was started by two of Canberra’s coffee veterans, Sasa Sestic from ONA Coffee and Michael Rose from Espresso Room, before it was recently sold to new owners.

Coffee is all locally sourced from ONA. With multiple blends available, drinks include filter coffees, single origins, and cold brews. Just as much as the coffee variety changes, the food menu also rotates each season. Dishes in the past have included pork benedict with braised pork hock, Béarnaise sauce, and pickled beetroot, and banana fritters with cardamom anglaise, vanilla malt crumble, and pineapple sorbet.

The space, as the name suggests, has been designed to replicate a greenhouse with a mix of Hampton styling. Arched French windows overlook the city and greenery hangs from the ceiling, making it an ideal refuge if you’re seeking to escape the craziness of the shopping mall. There’s also a balcony that’s suitable for the warmer months.

Greenhouse Coffee and Food Co is located at . Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

 

canberra australia coffee guide

Photo courtesy of Coffee Lab.

Coffee Lab

As the name hints, Coffee Lab is part coffee roaster and part science lab. There’s no better way to understand the coffee-making process and the science that goes behind it by watching the baristas, who pride themselves on experimental brews, trial, and test all the different coffee beans at the concrete bar. They’re happy to talk you through the process too—just ask.

Their experiments always produce a rotation of at least two milk-based blends, a single-origin espresso, and filter options, often poured with a bit of theatre.

Just like the coffee, the food served at Coffee Lab is ever-changing. Depending on the season it can vary from tiramisu pancakes to smashed eggs with chorizo to red velvet pancakes to shrimp patty burger.

It’s corner location decked out with hanging greenery suspended from wooden crates and a wall of coffee bags make it a popular go-to spot for public servants, who are often lining up out the door for their morning caffeine hit. To avoid the lengthy lines there are plenty of cosy spots to choose from. The best seats in the house are either on the banquette or by the large front windows where it’s a chance to watch passers-by.

Coffee Lab is located at 26 Narellan Place, Canberra. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

 

canberra australia coffee guide

Photo courtesy of Harvest Coffee.

Harvest

When your coffee options include pour-over, syphon, cold drip, or AeroPress, you know you’re at a spot where coffee is taken seriously. Harvest is all about serving a cup—or three—of some of the city’s best coffee from its wooden bar where all the dedicated work of testing new brewing methods happens. The moody venue uses a blend of beans from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Sumatra, and Honduras, sourcing it from other Australian roasters including Melbourne-based Industry Beans and fellow Canberreans, Barrio Collective.

While there, it’s hard to resist the sweet offerings that are always on display at the counter. It varies from muffins to banana bread, in-house baked chocolate chip cookies, and Portuguese tarts—all of which are ideal accompaniments to a fresh brew.

The ample low-stool seating and vibrant service that’s offered at Harvest has made it a favorable hangout for crowds to sip away over a few cups in the corner.

Harvest is located at 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook.

Aimee Chanthadavong is a freelance journalist based in Sydney. Read more Aimee Chanthadavong for Sprudge.

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Source: Coffee News

Inside Boku, Philadelphia’s Art Gallery & Coffee Bar Inside An Apartment

By 1-900-ICE-CREAM, Boku, Cafes, Fairmount, Gaggia, Mahlkonig EK43, North America, Onyx Coffee Lab, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Ryan Fitzgerald, slayer, Staff Picks, USA, Yours Truly Coffee

boku philadelphia pennsylvania

On a misty Saturday morning, you walk up to a rowhouse in Philly’s sleepy residential neighborhood of Fairmount. The buzzers are labeled with scraps of paper, the handwritten names of tenants. You buzz the first floor. The label is printed in thick, purple script: Boku.

Boku has been many things: a culinary experiment, a platform for local line cooks, and an intimate supper club serving never-repeated, reservation-only meals. Most recently though, Boku took on an ABC concept: “Art, Breakfast, Coffee.” Guests admire a gallery of work by local artists, then enjoy a simple, perfected breakfast sandwich and unique coffee service.

boku philadelphia pennsylvania

Ryan Fitzgerald, owner and founder, may be the only consistent piece of the ever-evolving business. Fitzgerald—who doesn’t have any formal kitchen training—started it as a way to explore the culinary arts. “I was making all this food and didn’t really have anybody to eat it, so I threw these dinner parties for my friends.”

Cooking for friends slowly became cooking for strangers. Then Fitzgerald began to host guest chefs, using his vacation days to hold the supper club in his apartment. When he ran out of vacation days in 2016, he quit his day job to run Boku full-time.

Fitzgerald jokes about the decision to turn Boku into an art gallery. “In the beginning, I was selling food out of an apartment and charging people for it. That’s illegal.” Now, visitors pay for admission to the gallery and food is complimentary.

boku philadelphia pennsylvania

Barista Frank Monzo and Boku founder Ryan Fitzgerald

This kind of agile maneuvering explains why Boku’s original logo was an octopus. “Octopi can get in and out of anything. They can adapt themselves to any situation.”

Fabrizio Verga of Yours Truly Coffee in NYC first introduced Fitzgerald to the wider world of coffee. “He’s like a brother to me and 100% responsible for my interest in coffee.” Fitzgerald started out with a hacked Gaggia from the 80s, replumbing the water tank himself and hooking the machine to a PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller to get consistent water temperatures. This kind of mad scientist behavior isn’t new for him. “I wish my parents were here to talk about it. I destroyed a lot of electronics.”

When he started to get more serious about the coffee component of Boku, he turned a coat closet into a (home) coffee bar to inspire jealousy. Floral wallpaper and a pink neon sign that reads “SLAY ALL DAY” are the backdrop to the crown jewels: a single-group Slayer and a Mahlkönig EK43.

He also brought on local barista Frank Monzo, who loves the setup. “It’s a playground.”

boku philadelphia pennsylvania

The equipment is key to their precise, unique coffee service. “[The Slayer] allows me to make what I’m serving more expressive,” says Monzo. “It allows me to tailor the machine to the coffee as opposed to vice versa.” Likewise, they use Mahlkönig’s EK instead of the PEAK because they’re tailoring every shot, every cup of coffee, rather than trying to perform at volume. They’ve chosen to carry Onyx Coffee Lab for their service.

And perhaps more importantly, it’s a very intimate service. “First and foremost, it’s my apartment,” says Fitzgerald. Three-quarters of people don’t know that, but when they get here I tell them, and that’s very disarming.”

They don’t have to worry about being crowd-pleasers, and their guests are much more willing to go along with their experiments than they might be in their usual coffee shop. “My favorite part of it is how different it is from working in a cafe setting,” says Monzo. Eating breakfast this close to their barista seems to break down some of the scripts they have about caffeine acquisition.

“There’s been so much more engagement in this setting about specialty from people who aren’t specialty-aligned,” says Monzo. “Every week we have a person say, ‘I didn’t know coffee could taste this way.’”

The format gives them the space to be patient and welcoming, and this allows them to provide a high-level coffee service while avoiding making people feel overwhelmed or unwelcome.

boku philadelphia pennsylvania

A few months ago, Fitzgerald started experimenting with wildly eclectic ice cream for his dinner service, including “God Mode” pints inspired by a locally-roasted coffee. Fitzgerald cold steeps whole coffee beans in the ice cream base, then adds ingredients to recreate the individual coffee’s flavor notes.  “Let the Q graders go wild. They want to call it mid-season Meyer lemon? Let me go find some mid-season Meyer lemons.”

Now Boku is evolving once again. The ice cream was such a success that Fitzgerald has spun it into its own business: 1-900-ICE-CREAM. With orders selling out as fast as he can make them, he has stopped dinner and breakfast service. It’s the end of one chapter of Fitzgerald’s culinary journey and the beginning of a new one.

Derek Beyer is a freelance journalist based in Philadelphia. This is Derek Beyer’s first feature for Sprudge.

Photos courtesy of Ryan Fitzgerald.

The post Inside Boku, Philadelphia’s Art Gallery & Coffee Bar Inside An Apartment appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Taproom Coffee & Beer/Ground Floor Coffee In Atlanta, GA

By acaia, atlanta, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, East Pole Coffee Co., Featured, Fetco, Flags of Origin, Flik Independent School Dining, georgia, ground floor coffee co, La Marzocco Linea, Mahlkonig EK43, MJO Studios, mount vernon, North America, Nuova Simonelli Mythos One Clima-Pro, Places, puqpress, taproom coffee & beer, USA, View Dynamic Glass

ground floor coffee atlanta georgia

We’ve seen cafes in just about everywhere here on the Build-Outs of Summer, or at least we thought we had until today. In Atlanta, Taproom Coffee & Beer has teamed up with Mount Vernon Presbyterian School to put a coffee shop INSIDE THE SCHOOL. It’s called Ground Floor Coffee and it’s my dream come true, if but a few decades too late.

After working with Mount Vernon for various class projects, Taproom Coffee had the opportunity to pitch the administration on the idea of installing a full-service coffee bar, an idea that was “student-initiated;” even the name Ground Floor was created by one of the students. In the end, Mount Vernon agreed and now they are definitely the coolest high school around, at least based on any coffee-based metrics. At Ground Floor, they are creating the next generation of coffee consumer, and making me extremely jealous in the process.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Jonathan Pascual.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

We’ve had the original location of Taproom Coffee & Beer since 2014. Like a lot of other coffee companies, we strive for excellence in coffee quality and customer service. We are proud to have been there at the start of East Pole Coffee Co. (their founder, Jared Karr, was one of our baristas for our first two years of operation), and they have been our core coffee roasting partner ever since. Our main location juggles the identity of both coffee bar and draft beer bar (the draft tower is an old four-group Linea shell!) and now we’ve opened a new store with a completely different concept.

ground floor coffee atlanta georgia

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

Our new location is housed in the Upper School building of Mount Vernon, a private educational institution in the Atlanta area with over 1,000 students from 700+ families. The coffee bar is in the same building where high schoolers go to class, and right next to the cafeteria where students and faculty eat lunch. The coffee bar serves the campus community, so only students, parents, and Mount Vernon employees are able to purchase drinks at the coffee bar.

I had the opportunity to work with a handful of Mount Vernon students on a class project where they explored the idea of placing a full espresso bar in their new high school building. Over two years, I periodically visited their class and did mini-lessons on the coffee industry, cost of goods, profit/loss, and what equipment works best in an espresso bar. Those students also came to Taproom to see a specialty coffee shop in operation, and to talk through how they could apply the concept to their school. They ended up pitching the idea to the school administration, and when it came time for their new school building to break ground, they pulled the trigger and put the espresso bar in the official plans! So this was student-initiated, and is ultimately for the benefit of Mount Vernon students. They named it “Ground Floor Coffee Co.” because students were in on the project “from the ground floor” and because of where the coffee bar is in the building.

We realize this is a unique thing to have in a high school, and we’re really excited to explore possibilities of leveraging Taproom’s presence for really creative educational experiences. Students could do work internships with us, we could be a testing ground for graphic design projects, and we could help fund student scholarships or at least contribute annual financial donations to the school. The doors are really wide open!

What’s your approach to coffee?

Just like with Taproom, we want customers at Ground Floor to experience approachable, consistent, high-quality specialty coffee. Even though students will probably order more smoothies than cappuccinos, we’re still maintaining our company standards of espresso training and technique, and we will happily engage in conversations about sourcing, process, roasting, and brewing. When you think about it, we’re actively cultivating the next generation of coffee consumers—the high school students we serve are forming habits and concepts of specialty coffee that will carry through to their college years and the rest of adulthood. With an on-campus espresso bar and daily interaction with our baristas, they’re getting four years of indirect specialty coffee education.

ground floor coffee atlanta georgia

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

From our pop-up test run that we did last year, we knew that students would swarm a coffee bar before school and during lunch. To handle the volume, we installed a three-group La Marzocco Linea AV. We’ve also got a Nuova Simonelli Mythos One Clima Pro, Puqpress, Mahlkönig EK43, FETCO brewer, and Acaia scales, which is all the same setup we have running at Taproom. We have a sizable kegerator and are kegging and pouring “Nitro Flash” (our flash-brewed nitro iced coffee) alongside “Nitropical” (our nitro-infused tropical hibiscus iced tea). We’re still partnering with East Pole Coffee Co. for all of our coffee used in espresso, bulk drip, and nitro iced coffee.

How is your project considering sustainability?

Our open area of the Mount Vernon Upper School building is surrounded by intelligent smart View Dynamic Glass. This glass monitors outdoor temperature, seasons, and cloud cover to tint to the most favorable environment for learning and sustainability. All of our hot cups are made from recycled paper through Georgette Packaging. Our straws for cold drinks are 100% compostable corn plastic. Mount Vernon students have reimagined the School’s sustainability efforts during the construction of the new building launching a new campaign around the words Reclaim, Restore, and Recover.

ground floor coffee atlanta georgia

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

The opening of our new location coincided with the start of the new school year on August 13.

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

Mount Vernon has partnered with many innovative companies including View Dynamic Glass in Silicon Valley, the creative and talented makers and carvers from MJO Studios in Asheville, North Carolina, and Flik Independent School Dining. Joshua Charles, Creative Director at Flags of Origin, crafted the interior design of the entire building, furnishing the spaces with pieces from Hay, Bend Goods, Industry West, VS America, and West Elm. There are large-scale murals hand-painted by Chris Sturdivant. This new and unique Upper School building pushes all the limits of what school can look like.

Thank you!

You’re welcome!

ground floor coffee atlanta georgia

Taproom Coffee & Beer/Ground Floor Coffee Co. is located at 510 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

Photos by Rikki Hagerty and Sarah Eaves

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Taproom Coffee & Beer/Ground Floor Coffee In Atlanta, GA appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Congregation Coffee Roasters In New Orleans, LA

By Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, Cochon Butcher, Congregation Coffee Roasters, la marzocco linea pb, Louisiana, Mahlkonig EK43, Marco SP9 Twin, new orleans, North America, Nuova Simonelli G1, Places, Staff Picks, USA, Wilbur Curtis G4 Therma Pro

congregation coffee roasters new orleans nola louisiana

With the autumnal equinox but a few short days away, we’re in the 11th hour of the Build-Outs of Summer, so we’re heading to a place that has a bit of a summer feel to it all year round: New Orleans, Louisiana—The Big Easy—home to Congregation Coffee Roasters.

We’ve featured Congregation previously here on Sprudge, profiling their original Pelican Ave location. And now they are back with a brand new cafe. With the new spot, Congregation is looking at the all-day cafe model, starting off in the morning with a pastry-forward menu that transitions into more substantial noshes around lunchtime; think roasted pork and eggplant sandwiches on brioche buns. And I know this is a coffee shop, but how could you not get a sweet tea while you’re there? Truly there are options aplenty, enough to justify a coupla three visits or so to the brand new Congregation Coffee Roasters in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Elysha Rose Diaz.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Congregation Coffee Roasters is an artisan coffee company in New Orleans. Its name comes from the collective noun for a group of alligators. The company was founded by a New Orleans native and a transplant from coffee-loving Seattle, who hatched a plan to bring specialty coffee to the New Orleans area and beyond while working together at Cochon Butcher. They launched the company out of a shed behind a shotgun house in April of 2015, later moving to a full-size roastery and retail location on Algiers Point.

congregation coffee roasters new orleans nola louisiana

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

The space at 644 Camp St has been a cafe, restaurant, and/or coffee shop since the 1800s, and Congregation is keeping that tradition alive with its second location. The newest outpost of Congregation offers a casual “all-day cafe” model, designed to offer a little something for everyone in the CBD, be it a grab-and-go coffee and pastry in the morning, or a relaxed sweet tea and breakfast sandwich for lunch!

What’s your approach to coffee?

The company focuses heavily on crafting consistent blends as well as a wide range of single origin offerings for restaurant, wholesale, and retail. We believe in making specialty coffee accessible to the public, using thoughtfully designed flavor profiles that bridge traditional and modern trends in coffee. While most of our coffees fall in the spectrum of medium and light roasts, we are sensitive to the history that dark roast and chicory plays in our market, so we do our best nod to traditional palates while at the same time pushing the region’s boundaries.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Since we forecast a high volume cafe, we went with a “tried and true” line up of equipment: La Marzocco Linea PB, Wilbur Curtis G4 Therma Pro and hot water tower, Nuova Simonelli G1 grinders, Mahlkönig EK43 filter grinder, and the Marco SP9 Twin pour-over brewers. The goal is to showcase our coffees without taking the barista’s focus away from the customers.

congregation coffee roasters new orleans nola louisiana

How is your project considering sustainability?

For environmental sustainability we do all the things we can, like using post consumer recycled paper products, recycling our plastic/paper/etc, and being part of the local compost network for our grounds, chaff, and food waste. But we are also looking at another definition of sustainability, one that is rooted in the health and well being of our team. We decided to bring the “service charge included” model to our Camp St cafe so as to remove the power dynamic between service provider and guest. We hope it will help temper the mental exhaustion that being tip reliant can bring, and offer our staff a more stable, predictable income.

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

We opened our doors on July 26th.

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

Co-owner Eliot Guthrie designed and built the 644 Camp St. cafe, but not without all hands on deck! We have some excellent creatives and craftspeople to thank:

Josh Musgrove with Matthews Construction
Silvia T Designs
Jeffrey Joslyn with Carrara Marble and Granite
Backroom Fabrics
And Prescott Trudeau. We thank all of you!

Thank you!

To all the folks who support us; especially through the hot air and high waters of this New Orleanian summer, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The appreciation is real, y’all.
-Team Congregation Coffee Roasters.

Congregation Coffee Roasters is located at 644 Camp St, New Orleans. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Congregation Coffee Roasters In New Orleans, LA appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Liturgy Beverage Company In Durham, NC

By aeropress, Anchor Coffee Co, Black & White Coffee, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, color coffee roasters, Durham, FETCO CBS-1131, heart, La Marzocco GS3, Liturgy Beverage, mahlkonig peak, North America, North Carolina, Places, ritual chocolate, Spirit Tea, Staff Picks, Strong Arm Baking, sweet bloom, timothy jones, USA, Videri Chocolate

liturgy beverage durham north carolina

You know, there was once a time when I was in your shoes. I was uncaffeinated and down and out with the blues. But then I found a place, a very special place. It taught me that there was no need to feel down and that all I needed was some freshly brewed grounds to do whatever I feel. And the name of that place? Why it’s Liturgy Beverage Company in downtown Durhman YMCA.

Originally a pop-up, Liturgy Beverage is establishing their first (semi-) permanent location at the Y, where they will serve all manner of coffee, tea, chocolate, and mocktails; there are just so many ways to have a good time! Currently featuring coffees from Black & White Coffee, Sweet Bloom, Heart, Anchor Coffee Co, and Color Coffee Roasters, it’s safe to say this multi-roaster keeps their pride on their retail shelves. So, if you’r looking for a coffee fix in Durham, there’s one place you can go—nay, nay should go—and that place is Liturgy Beverage Company.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Timothy Jones.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Liturgy Beverage is a specialty beverage company founded in Durham, NC in 2015. We primarily focus on serving specialty coffee, tea, chocolate, and creative non-alcoholic cocktails in diverse settings. Since 2015 we’ve operated a mobile business primarily doing pop-ups, events, and weddings. We are currently expanding into retail space and we are very excited about the future.

liturgy beverage durham north carolina

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We are partnering with our local YMCA here in Downtown Durham to create a new space for our neighborhood (including the Y’s membership) to get great drinks. While we plan for the future we have a semi-permanent coffee bar set up in the lobby. We’re open six days a weeks and serve a small but carefully curated menu of coffee, tea, juice, and some pastries.

What’s your approach to coffee?

We approach coffee with simplicity and intentionality. We source coffees from a small number of roasting partners both local to NC and across the US. We look for coffees that have pronounced flavors and sweetness. We tend to appreciate roasting styles that highlight the inherent character and sense of “place” that each coffee has. Some of our current partners include Black & White Coffee, Sweet Bloom, Heart, Anchor Coffee Co, and Color Coffee Roasters.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

We use a Mahlkönig PEAK and La Marzocco GS3 for espresso and we use a FETCO CBS-1131 and Mahlkönig EK43 for filter coffee, as well as AeroPresses for our rotating coffees.

How is your project considering sustainability?

We try to consider sustainability in a holistic way, starting with composting all of our organic waste, using commercially compostable take-away products and actively recycling. Because we operate entirely self-contained pop-up bars, we also use reusable water containers.

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

We opened to the public on August 12.

liturgy beverage durham north carolina

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

We built out are space ourselves, but we are grateful to work with many great vending partners. We are proud to serve products from Spirit Tea, Videri Chocolate, Ritual Chocolate, and Strong Arm Baking.

Thank you!

No, thank you!

Liturgy Beverage Company is located at 819 Midway Ave, Durham. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Liturgy Beverage Company In Durham, NC appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Recluse Roasting Project In Richmond, VA

By Aimee Biggerstaff, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, Diedrich IR-3, Fetco, Jack Fleming, la marzocco linea pb, Lucky Signs, Mahlkönig EKK43, North America, olympia coffee roasters, Places, puqpress, Recluse Roasting Project, richmond, Sherwood Press, Staff Picks, USA, virginia

recluse roasting project richmond virginia

The Build-Outs of Summer train is about to pull into the station for a nice nine month sabbatical, but before it does there are still a ton of cool projects we’re excited to share. One of those is the Recluse Roasting Project in the Scott’s Addition area of Richmond, Virginia. Started by two industry vets who met way on the other side of the country while working together at Olympia Coffee, Recluse is the newest edition to an exciting scene developing in Richmond right now.

In many way, the roastery/cafe is true to its name. Tucked back a ways off the street, the space is brooding and moody thanks to the dark, reclaimed wood. And there are no seats, only a standing bar that focuses on “fast high-quality takeaway coffee.” With moss and hanging greenery abounding, the space has a bit of an overgrown feel, but one that nonetheless adds an inviting touch. The word “vibe” gets tossed around a lot when talking about cafes, but Recluse definitely has a vibe all its own, and we’re here for it.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Aimee Biggerstaff.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Recluse Roasting Project is a specialty coffee company in Richmond, VA run by two coffee industry professionals Aimee Biggerstaff and Jack Fleming. They met while working for Olympia Coffee Roasters, where between the two of them have worked as baristas, managers, head roaster, and assisted with green buying at origin.

Originally from VA, when Jack left for Olympia, WA there was very little specialty coffee in Richmond. He had always planned on heading back to RVA to start a roastery. Aimee had already spent many years on bar and had developed a fascination with bar flow and hospitality, which grew into aspirations of someday designing her own coffee bar.

Fast forward a few years later to Jack and Aimee driving from WA state to VA with a trailer filled with a Diedrich IR-3, La Marzocco Linea PB three-group, two dogs, a cat, and everything they owned. Today they are a few months away from opening their coffee bar in a growing area of RVA.

Their goal is to source the best coffee’s possible while paying the producers they work directly with two to three times “fair trade” pricing. Doing this allows coffee producers to afford to commit to organic farming practices, add welfare to their team by helping build more structural homes and rest areas on their property, offer food packages for their workers, along with one producer offering scholarships to young women who work on his farm.

recluse roasting project richmond virginia

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We’re located in an alleyway behind a record shop in the industrial neighborhood of Scott’s Addition in Richmond, VA. The coffee bar is an intimate space. It only takes up 500 sq ft of a 1,300-sq-ft space. The rest being used for roasting and production. The majority of the Roastery and Coffee Bar has been built by us with the help of our family and friends. We are proud to say that after so much hard work, our build out is estimated to be under $15,000.

Our cafe has a tarnished brass, moody, hole in the wall vibe with a lot of dark reclaimed wood. The space is filled with shelves that overflow with plants throughout the cafe. We liked the green walls against the dark wood because it reminded us of elements of nature like moss, ferns, and of course trees. The main bar has a concrete bar top and is framed out by refinished pallet wood. We have reclaimed wooden bleacher seats as our two additional standing bars.

There is no seating or lines in our cafe. Customers will be able to order anywhere at the bar, giving it a casual feel. We believe this type of service can improve efficiency and create a unique experience for the customer. To help with barflow we will have a mobile POS model where we meet the customers where they stand at the bar. The transaction can take place anywhere in the shop.

What’s your approach to coffee?

We try to find and buy the best coffees we can. Over the years we’ve formed several relationships with producers while traveling that we’re now able to work directly with. We are trying to work towards a model where all of our coffees will be bought this way. It is difficult sometimes, being as small as we are, but it is one of the main values for us as a business.

Before Jack was in coffee he worked as an environmental chemist. His background in chemistry and knowledge of basic food science helped create Recluse’s roasting approach, which focuses on highlighting the natural sweetness in a coffee while showcasing a coffee’s unique terrior.

We will be offering batch brew and flash brewed iced coffee from our FETCO. To help keep things simple we will be offering limited drink sizes. We wanted to be intentional with every detail especially ones that impact the customer experience. It all comes down to bar flow. We know if we set ourselves up with a proper “mise en place” then we’ll be starting out strong. We are prioritizing fast high-quality takeaway coffee. For those who want to hang around we will have plenty of standing bar space where you can slow down and enjoy a break in your day.

Our main menu will be limited to the basics (brewed coffee, espresso, etc) for quick readability. We’ll also have a rotating off menu that showcases the current coffees in our line up through unique drinks. Having a small bar vs a large sit down cafe allows us to really focus on the coffee and hospitality. There is something beautiful to be found within limitation. We may not have everything but what we offer is going to be delicious.

recluse roasting project richmond virginia

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

On our bar is a Linea PB three-group, a Mahlkönig EKK43, and two PuqPresses. We’ll be predosing all of our espresso. All coffee will be brewed on a FETCO batch brewer. We’re not opposed to making a Kalita when we are slow if a customer wants to try a specific coffee. There is a good chance we’ll be opening with a slush machine if our build out is finished before the end of summer.

How is your project considering sustainability?

It’s been a very DIY buildout. Roughly 50% of the materials used were reclaimed and repurposed. The front of our bar is all refinished pallet wood. All of which we collected from the breweries in our neighborhood. Our local Restore has been a huge resource for us as well. We bought everything we could from them including our beautiful mahogany doors. There is no easy access to affordable composting in Richmond therefore we will be partnering with local farms who are more than happy to take it off our hands.

recluse roasting project richmond virginia

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

End of Sept 2019

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

We’ve been lucky to have the support of our family and friends who are super handy. They’ve helped with electric, building walls, and pouring so much concrete. Our good friend Jami Heinricher who owns Sherwood Press in Olympia has helped us significantly with designing our labels and making our brand shine. Also, we are working with an incredible local sign painter, Sarah Apple of Lucky Signs. She’ll be creating our menu and exterior signage.

Thank you!

No thank you!

Recluse Roasting Project is located at 1310 Altamont Ave, Richmond. Visit their official website and follow them on Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

Photos by Leah McDaniel

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Recluse Roasting Project In Richmond, VA appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Canary Coffee Bar In Milwaukee, WI

By barista guild, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, Canary Coffee Bar, colin whitcomb, curtis, Emily Whitcomb, la marzocco linea pb, madcap coffee, mahlkonig, milwaukee, North America, Optipure, Places, SCA, Snowdrift Coffee, Staff Picks, USA, Wisconsin

canary coffee bar milwaukee wisconsin

If there was a race for best coffee cities in America that no one really talks about, Milwaukee would be up in the front of the pack. Sure, Los Angeles, Portland, and New York City have great coffee scenes worthy of the press they receive, but there’s some homegrown excellence in the MKE, which really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise in a town counting both Brew City and Cream City amongst its nicknames. And thanks to Colin and Emily Whitcomb of Canary Coffee Bar, there’s another cafe to add to the city’s already stacked line-up.

For many, the name Colin Whitcomb will ring familiar. Formerly with Madcap Coffee, Colin is a member of the Barista Guild‘s Executive Council and can frequently be heard giving live commentary of the US Barista Championships for the SCA. He’s even done a little live tweeting over on Sprudge Live. But even as a recognizable figure in the national coffee conversation, Colin, along with his wife Emily, are focusing their efforts locally.

With Canary, the Whitcombs are hoping to appeal to as broad a coffee audience as possible instead of dogmatically beating the light-roast drum. Their hope is by bringing more folks into the fold, a brighter, more sustainable future for coffee will lay ahead. Sustainability through approachability, it’s a worthy goal and it’s what Canary Coffee Bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is all about.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Colin Whitcomb.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

We are a coffee bar owned by Colin and Emily Whitcomb, located in downtown Milwaukee.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We are renting a space in what was originally the Hotel Wisconsin, open in 1913. The Hotel Wisconsin was a fixture in Milwaukee for decades before languishing into a residential-hotel. In 2003 is was converted to apartments. Our space has been empty since that time—west of the river in downtown Milwaukee has only recently attracted new businesses. We opted for a cosy (for MKE) 1,250 sq/ft. Half the floors have original terrazzo tile, the ceilings are 18ft high, but unfortunately there isn’t as much to retain of the original space as one might hope—the original wood paneling on the walls is long gone. We will have blue velvet stools at the counter, wood and resin cafe tables, black leather bucket chairs, and some fun hoop chandeliers. Our hope is to create a space that zigs when they zag, so to speak, looking to capture an aesthetic is that urban, yet comfortable. Nearby are offices mostly, but we have a park across the street, and are next to the old Grand Ave Mall, which is now becoming a food hall.

canary coffee bar milwaukee wisconsin

What’s your approach to coffee?

To make a welcoming environment first. Barista skills and coffee knowledge will be tools that we can use to help people connect to our product, but not our raison d’être. Our offerings will include coffee flavors that span the range of what coffee can display: dark, aromatic, fruity, balanced, etc. I’m completely exhausted with telling people which coffees I like, let alone which coffee they should get off a menu of light-roasted coffees when they expressed another preference. Instead, we’ll try to celebrate many coffee styles. I’m totally freaked about the future of coffee. I hope that a larger menu of coffees will allow us to convey the message that all coffee has value.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

La Marzocco Linea PB, Mahlkönig EK43 and PEAKs, Curtis brewer and two Gold Cups, Optipure water filtration—good tools to get the job done. Madcap Coffee and Snowdrift are two roasters we will work closely with. Our hope is to work with Ant and Rita at Snowdrift to select some coffees that they will roast for us (that’s their model, not something we asked for).

How is your project considering sustainability?

Sustainability has many aspects. We will of course be looking to compost, and our roasting partners have commitments to sustainability in their operations. We’re also interested in the sustainability of coffee, and as naive as it may sound, we hope that by charging more and paying more for coffee we can contribute to a more equitable coffee supply chain. Finally, we have goals to try and make someone’s time as a barista as sustainable as possible. However, we can’t do any of that without a sustainable business first, so we will be looking to wow as many customers as possible, with the idea that without profitability we are unable to contribute to wider sustainability goals.

canary coffee bar milwaukee wisconsin

canary coffee bar milwaukee wisconsin

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

July 2019

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

Andrew and Marysol Whitcomb are our design team.

Thank you!

It’s super scary to put Canary, as we call it, and all these ideas out there. However, we hope to have a place in the specialty coffee world, and we’re excited to be part of a generation of coffee shops that are looking ever forward. I sincerely appreciate the interest.

canary coffee bar milwaukee wisconsin

Canary Coffee Bar is located at 720 N. Old World 3rd St., Milwaukee. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

Photos by April Larson.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Canary Coffee Bar In Milwaukee, WI appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Five & Hoek Coffee In Wheaton, IL

By aaron hoekstra, Amy Tromp, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, Catracha Coffee, Diedrich IR12, Farmers Project, FETCO CBS 2142XTS, Five & Hoek, Hayley Movius, Illinois, Jeffrey Swider-Peltz, La Marzocco Linea Classic, Long Miles Coffee Project, Mahlkonig EK43, Marianella Baez Jost, North America, Places, Robb Davidison, Staff Picks, tyler fivecoat, USA, Wheaton

five and hoek wheaton illinois

Sometimes a build-out isn’t about creating something new, but giving a new look to something already in place. And that goes doubly true for today’s entry, Five & Hoek Coffee in Wheaton, Illinois. After starting in 2013 under the moniker River City Roasters, Five & Hoek had to reinvent themselves due to some legal issues with the previous name. Now six years later, the cafe and roastery is revamping their space with a brand new expansion.

With more room to spread, Five & Hoek will be adding a brunch menu into the mix as well as giving the old space an update with some comfy leather chairs to match its newer sibling. More space, comfy chairs, and brunch? Sign me up for a few hours please at the all-new but not entirely new Five & Hoek Coffee in Wheaton, Illinois.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Tyler Fivecoat.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

We’re Five & Hoek. Most locals know us by our old name, River City Roasters. We had to make a name change for legal reasons and after a few months of not agreeing on a name, one of our owners, Erich, thought let’s name it after the other two owners? Tyler Fivecoat (that’s me) and Aaron Hoekstra which led us to “Five & Hoek.” We have been in Wheaton since 2013 and we are led daily by Beth Fivecoat who manages our staff and runs the cafe. Tyler handles the QC and roasting side of the business. Our company believes in building a brand that is focused on community starting with the farmer and ending with our cafe guests. This inspiration came from a trip to Assam, India where we wanted to bring their laid back village lifestyle of conversation over tea and biscuits to the states.

five and hoek wheaton illinois

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

Our new space is an expansion of our current cafe in Wheaton, IL. We are doing this to offer our patrons additional seating including a custom built in birch wood bench with a gorgeous backdrop brick wall original to the building built in 1908, and to introduce a new brunch menu to compliment our coffee program. We are updating our current cafe by redoing the old grimy industrial floors in October exactly how we sanded and refinished the expansion floor. We have replaced all of our metal chairs with new wood and leather chairs, replaced all of our table tops, and gave our current cafe some fresh paint and new countertops. Our space is meant to be a safe place to build community, so our focus in our design and decor is to make it as comfortable as possible to our guests.

What’s your approach to coffee?

Our approach to coffee is to handle it with care the best we possibly can. We do this by having great relationships with the importers we work with, as well as carrying coffee year after year from the same producers. Our approach is to tell a story with our coffee by sharing the stories of the farmers we work with to our community and to carefully roast it in a way that reflects terroir and origin characteristics we’ve come to know and love. We have worked with a farm in Cundinamarca, Colombia directly for two years and have worked with Catracha Coffee in Honduras for four years and Long Miles Coffee Project in Burundi for four years. Our newest relationship coffee is with an amazing project in Costa Rica called Farmers Project through Marianella Baez Jost.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

We have a La Marzocco Linea Classic, a Mahlkönig EK43 for drip and single origin espresso, FETCO CBS 2142XTS for our drip offerings. In the roaster we have a Diedrich IR12 and utilize a La Marzocco GS3 for pop-ups, caterings, and testing new coffees.

five and hoek wheaton illinois

five and hoek wheaton illinois

How is your project considering sustainability?

We approach sustainability mostly by not overcommitting ourselves. Right now we commit to the relationships we have so that we can pay at least 45% above Fair Trade minimum, which allows us to commit year after year to amazing coffee and encourages the farmers to grow incredibly tasting coffee. Our Honduras coffees from Catracha are grown using organic fertilizer that the farmers make themselves, and in Burundi Long Miles has a group called Coffee Scouts, which are primarily students just out of high school to have a job opportunity right away, that fight against the Potato defect. In the cafe we recycle as well as compost, save grain pro bags to share with Catracha, and give away our burlap for those seeking it in our community.

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

Late September 2019

five and hoek wheaton illinois

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

Our friend Dave Kral did all of our construction, Tyler handled all the interior design, and we worked with a few amazingly talented artists: Amy Tromp, Robb Davidison, Hayley Movius, and Jeffrey Swider-Peltz.

Thank you!

Oh no, thank you Sprudge 🙂

five and hoek wheaton illinois

Five & Hoek Coffee is located at 114 N Main St., Wheaton. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Five & Hoek Coffee In Wheaton, IL appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Cartel Coffee Lab In Austin, TX

By Arrive Hotels, austin, Build-Outs Of Summer, Cafes, Cartel Coffee Lab, la marzocco linea pb, mazzer, mercanta, North America, Oatly, paul haworth, San Franciscan, Staff Picks, Texas, USA

cartel coffee lab austin texas

Tempe, Arizona’s Cartel Coffee Lab have been spreading their wings as of late. Owner to multiple cafes statewide—including the very essential cafe in Terminal 4 of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport—thanks to a partnership with Arrive Hotels, Cartel has expanded beyond their Arizona confines and moved into Palm Springs, California and now, Austin, Texas.

Their newest location, on 6th Street in East Austin, is adding to one of the city’s coffee hotbeds; Cartel is a literal stone’s throw away from Cuvee‘s coffee bar (or at least I could throw a stone that far, YMMV), amongst many other, less-projectile distanced cafes. But even being 1,000 miles from home, Cartel still has the same feel of their Arizona cafes, thanks in no small part to in-house design and fabrication. Cartel’s Austin location is open now, so let’s pop in for a visit, shall we?

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista SeriesnotNeutralKeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Paul Haworth.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

We have been sourcing, roasting, and brewing the most exciting coffees we can find since 2008. We are primarily a retailer as opposed to a wholesaler and we have eight locations. Our home base is Tempe, Arizona, where we still roast everything on a 25-pound San Franciscan at the original location.

cartel coffee lab austin texas

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

We landed a great partnership with Arrive Hotels, which has gotten us out of being exclusive to Arizona. First, we opened a location in Palm Springs, CA and now we have this new space in Austin. We will also be opening a third space with them in Phoenix by the end of 2019. All are street facing, independent shops that happen to be sharing walls with the hotels. The feel is urban with lots of steel and neutral colors.

What’s your approach to coffee?

We work almost exclusively with an importer called Mercanta. We travel with them to source directly and love that they have a North American team of only three people. No secrets, just people finding amazing coffees and making sure producers get well above the cost of production for everything. Rotating single farm offerings are our specialty but we did also just launch our very first blend. We are a light roaster. Even our blend is a light roast. It’s how the most interesting coffees with the least defects taste the best, in our opinion.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

We love our La Marzocco Linea PBs and doserless Mazzers. Can’t go wrong with the classics.

How is your project considering sustainability?

We do everything we can in the municipalities we find ourselves serving to recycle materials and save our spent grounds, filters, and tea leaves for compost. We recently landed a distribution partnership with Oatly brand oat milk, which we are super excited about.

cartel coffee lab austin texas

cartel coffee lab austin texas

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

We opened on July 19th.

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

We do most of our design and fabrication work in-house. Actually, the founder, Jason Silberschlag designs and builds a lot of the furniture himself. The customer side of the bar and the oversize wheat paste on the wall were designed and installed by us. Our menu boards and bar top were designed in-house then fabricated by this place called Urban Plough in Phoenix. Those guys rock.

Thank you!

cartel coffee lab austin texas

Cartel Coffee Lab is located at 1813 E 6th, Austin. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Cartel Coffee Lab In Austin, TX appeared first on Sprudge.


Source: Coffee News