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Venice Fines Tourists For Making Their Own Coffee

By Coffee No Comments

Have you ever met someone who purports to love a thing but they always seem to find ways to suck all the fun out of it and you’re pretty sure they actually secretly hate it? That’s Venice with coffee. When it’s not charging tourist $48 for two cups of buck-fifty coffee, the city in northeastern Italy—no doubt replete with locals who will argue histrionically about how the way they do coffee is in fact the best in the world—is fining them over $1,000 for making their own.

According to the Independent, two German backpackers were sitting along the Rialto Bridge, taking in some lovely, lovely canal sights. When the pair of Berliners—presumably accustomed to the sort of brew available in their stellar coffee scene at home—grew thirsty for a nice cup of coffee, they decided to forgo the tourist upcharge and bust out their camp stove and make it themselves.

For their crime of coffeeing while in Venice, the pair was arrested by the local police. One city official stated the pair was offending “the rules of public decorum and respect,” and for this they earned a total of €950 ($1,065 USD) in fines—€650 for the male and €300 for the female—and a one-way ticket out of the city.

“Venice must be respected and those rude who think they come to the city and do what they want must understand that, thanks to the girls and boys of the local police, they will be taken, sanctioned and removed,” said Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor.

“From now on furthermore, we will also report them to the embassies and consulates of their countries of origin.”

Now, some might say the Berliners crime was having an open flame at a Unesco heritage site, which sure, that’s probably what Venetians want you to think. But if there’s any place an open flame is acceptable, it’s next to a body of water, like a canal. If the brewing goes sideways, you can just kick it in; it still wouldn’t be remotely close to the worst thing to have gone for a swim in those dirty, dirty waters, voluntarily or otherwise. What it really is is that they hate coffee, especially those who dare to not drink Italian coffee.

But them’s the rules. Dura lex, sed lex. So tourists, if you want to enjoy a nice cuppa next to a lovely canal, forget Venice. Go to Paris.

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

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Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters In St. Thomas, USVI

By Coffee No Comments

virgin islands coffee roasters st. thomas

virgin islands coffee roasters st. thomas

Out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean there is an island paradise by the name of St. Thomas. The US Virgin Island is but a short three-hour plane ride from Miami, but sadly it is equidistant from a good cup of coffee. Or at least it was, until Virgin Island Coffee Roasters came to town. Established in 2012, Virgin Islands Coffee has served primarily as a roaster/wholesaler to other cafes, but now, after seven years in the biz, they have opened their own cafe.

Attached to their St. Thomas roastery—the company also has a mainland roasting operation in Boynton Beach, Florida—VIC’s new cafe is serving tourists and locals alike a taste of specialty coffee. White sand and flat whites, what could be a more perfect vacation than that?

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

As told to Sprudge by Ramsey Smith.

virgin islands coffee roasters st. thomas

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

Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters was created in the summer of 2012 with one goal in mind, bring specialty coffee to an isolated remote island community. From roasting and distributing for seven years to recovering from back to back Category 5 hurricanes we now have opened a first class third wave cafe attached to our roastery for locals and travelers alike to enjoy the fruits of a dynamic industry.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

Clean, simple, open, and transparent with our roasting in view for the world to enjoy and learn. We have focused our energy on creating a dynamic space with very cool finishes from all white penny tile bar to custom lights from London as well as floor to ceiling coffee bush illustration.

What’s your approach to coffee?

Transparency from producer to roaster to customer.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Nuovo Simonelli Aurelia Wave

virgin islands coffee roasters st. thomas

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

May 2019

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

Designer: Malachy Carron – Royal Carron
Bar: Zack – Zook Zook Industries, Optimal Construction

Thank you!

virgin islands coffee roasters st. thomas

Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters is located at 9718 Estate Thomas, St. Thomas. 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.

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Source: Coffee News

Applications For The 2020 Glitter Cat Barista Bootcamp Are Now Open

By Coffee No Comments

One of the largest takeaways from the 2019 US Coffee Championship season was the breakout success of Glitter Cat. The barista bootcamp created by two-time US Barista Championship finalist T. Ben Fischer that focuses on providing training and resources to under-represented groups in coffee competition placed two competitors into the 2019 USBC Finals with a third, first-timer Anthony Ragler, just a whisper away from making the final six. The Glitter Cat baristas were northing short of a force to be reckoned with in 2019, and 2020 looks to be no different.

Now in its second year, the Glitter Cat Barista Bootcamp has expanded beyond just the Barista Championship to include the Brewers Cup, Coffee in Good Spirits, and Roasters Competition. And applications are now open!

Taking place throughout October and November of this year, each of the four disciplines will have a dedicated, all-expenses paid two-and-a-half day bootcamp, instructed by both last year’s US champion and a Head Judge from that event. The schedule is as follows:

Roasters Bootcamp
October 25-26th, 2019
Mill City Roasters in Minneapolis, MN
2019 United States Roasters Champion Shelby Williamson and 2019 United States Cup Tasters Champion Jen Apodaca instructing

Barista Bootcamp
November 2-4, 2019
Dillano’s Coffee Roasters in Sumner, Washington
2019 United States Barista Champion Samantha Spillman instructing

Brewers Bootcamp
November 16-18th, 2019
Work Bench Coffee Labs in Kansas City
2019 United States Brewers Cup Champion Kaley Gann instructing

Coffee In Good Spirits Bootcamp
November 23-25th, 2019
Kohi Coffee in Provincetown, MA
2019 Coffee in Good Spirits Champion Matt Foster instructing

Fischer tells Sprudge:

I’m pretty dang excited for the 2020 season. 2019 was filled with ideas, growth, mistakes, and a development of a program that had a foggy yet fabulous future. After the glitter settled from last year, I got to sit down, journal, and truly think about where Glitter Cat was and where it could grow. We wanted to expand access but make sure that Glitter Cats were getting plenty of individual instruction and follow-up help. We also wanted to make sure that the positive impact was felt across the whole competition scene. The best way for us to do this was to expand to three other competitions and have four bootcamps with limited to ten participants each.

As with the inaugural barista bootcamp, Glitter Cat is seeking coffee professionals with varying levels of experience “who identify as part of a marginalized community,” including but not limited to “LGBTQIA+, womxn, racial/ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.” Applications will be accepted through the 15th of August and can be made via the Glitter Cat website.

For more information about Glitter Cat Bootcamp, the 2020 curriculum, or to apply, visit Glitter Cat’s official website. And make sure you have a Twitter account. When you’re climbing the ranks through the First Round, then the Semis, and ultimately into the Finals, you’re going to want to know every time Sprudge Live live-tweets your name.

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

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Source: Coffee News

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Newcastle

By Coffee No Comments

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

The vibrant city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is known for its nightlife, its numerous bridges, its distinctive “Geordie” accent, and of course, brown ale. But if you prefer your beverages hot and caffeinated, you will not be disappointed with this northern city’s diverse and growing coffee culture.

Whether you are just visiting Newcastle, or already live here and are after a new place to get your coffee, there is no lack of great cafes in the city. There are also several roasteries based in the North East region, including Ouseburn Coffee Co., Tynemouth Coffee, Pink Lane, and longstanding classic Pumphreys. Furthermore, the many cafes and coffee shops in the area are varied in their atmospheres and approaches, resulting in a unique coffee scene and a lack of overt competitiveness. Newcastle offers everything from cozy hangouts with a focus on local produce, to sleek, minimalist, Aussie-inspired multi-roasters.

The locations of the shops included in this guide show that wherever you are in Newcastle, you are never too far from a decent cup of coffee. Whether you are exploring the shops of Northumberland Street, in the quiet suburb of Heaton or exploring contemporary art across the river in Gateshead’s BALTIC gallery, there is an excellent barista somewhere in the vicinity.

 

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

Pink Lane Coffee

Anyone visiting Newcastle by train is lucky enough to have Pink Lane to greet them almost as soon as they step out of Central Station. Conveniently located on the eponymous cobbled lane, the shop has been open since 2012.

Pink Lane is recognizable by a copper sign adorning the exterior. Inside, you place your order at a simple white and grey tiled bar, garnished by a range of cakes (and often donuts!) and lined with white metal bar stools. The walls are adorned with illustrations including a coffee-sipping badger. The shop has plenty of smaller tables, popular with laptop-users, as well as some larger spaces and a much-Instagrammed pink neon sign towards the back.

The shop offers a range of filter brews, as well as the usual array of espresso-based choices and other hot drinks. Despite being a multi-roaster shop, Pink Lane is known for the coffee produced by its very own roastery. Using responsibly-sourced beans from around the globe that are roasted on the lighter side, this roastery produces stunning, unique coffee favored by baristas for miles around. The company has been known to support new and local businesses and is, perhaps, the highlight of Newcastle’s independent coffee scene.

Pink Lane Coffee is located at 1 Pink Ln, Newcastle upon Tyne. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

BLK

There is no shortage of cafes in Heaton—a suburb popular with students and families—but BLK stands out. This place would be easy to underestimate, not least due to its compact size. However, visit BLK and you will see that it is well worth straying from the center of town for. I have never had a coffee from BLK which I could fault, and it is clear that effort goes into every drink.

While many of Newcastle’s coffee shops are understandably loyal to local roasteries, it is refreshing that BLK has chosen to go the multi-roaster route. During a recent visit, the espresso on offer was Round Hill Roastery’s Costa Rica Unit Fourteen, while the range of filter offerings included Has Bean’s Ethiopia Tadess Roba (v60) as well as options for Kalita and AeroPress. Past guests have included beans from Berlin’s Five Elephant.

The minimal-styled shop has just a few seats and offers a small range of cakes and pastries. However, if you choose not to sit in, there are worse ways to spend a sunny afternoon than strolling through leafy Heaton Park and exploring Chillingham Road’s quirky shops with a perfectly poured flat white in hand.

* As of July 1, BLK has become Brew & Bite and has expanded its food offerings.

BLK is located at 214 Chillingham Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

Camber Coffee

Located above Start Fitness on the city center’s Market Street, Camber Coffee [no relation to Camber Coffee in Bellingham, WA] is the definition of a hidden gem. Once you reach the stairs through rails of fitness gear and sportswear, you will find yourself rewarded by a spacious cafe with friendly staff.

Camber seems to have found the halfway point between minimalist and cozy, embellishing their tables with books and plants without creating a cluttered feel. With its generous seating and laid-back atmosphere, it is the ideal place for larger groups to meet up. Framed cycling jerseys adorn the walls, but you might just forget that you are in a fitness store once seated.

Camber offers a simple coffee menu, focusing on espresso-based drinks. The beans come exclusively from Pilgrims Coffee of Holy Island, showing their loyalty to local providers. Pilgrims is a small, rural roastery offering seasonal, sustainable, and ethically-sourced products. Camber’s food is all vegetarian and/or vegan. A new menu was recently introduced, and the kitchen now offers regular specials such as a black bean udon noodle bowl.

Despite being hidden in plain sight, Camber’s unusual location is a big draw, making it the ideal sanctuary from the crowds of shoppers in nearby Eldon Square.

Camber Coffee is located at 33-35 Market St, Newcastle upon Tyne. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

Backyard Bike Shop

By the River Brew Co opened in 2018 in Gateshead, just across the Tyne from Newcastle. Identifying as a “creative container community,” the waterside complex includes a street food market, a microbrewery and concept restaurant Träkol. In amongst all of this is Backyard Bike Shop, which has the capacity to both fix your bike and serve you some of the best coffee either side of the river.

The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming with a slight rustic edge. The space doubles as a cocktail bar by night, but during the day you can sit back with a coffee and enjoy a view of either the lively scene over the Tyne or the warm bike workshop, complete with fireplace. The container complex is a short walk away from cultural hotspots, including the famed BALTIC contemporary art center.

Backyard Bike Shop sources its beans from Pink Lane, and the coffee is consistently good. During my recent visit, the espresso was a creamy Peru Cajamarca San Ignacio, while the filter option was the floral Ethiopia Adado. A brunch menu consistent with the warm interior features dishes such as ricotta pancakes with berries and walnuts. Patisserie-standard cakes are always available too.

Backyard Bike Shop is located at Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2BA. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

 

newcastle upon tyne england coffee guide

Laneway & Co

Laneway & Co is a small but significant addition to Newcastle’s range of coffee shops. Hidden away down a quiet cobbled street, this shop mingles with a range of independent stores and restaurants including vintage store Retro and gin-drinker’s paradise Pleased to Meet You. This street certainly stands out in a city largely dominated by big-name brands.

In addition to its location, Laneway’s stylish white and wooden interior and laid-back soundtrack make for a relaxed spot to grab a coffee. They are laptop-friendly and the staff could not be more welcoming or knowledgeable. There are impressive cakes, pastries and several breakfast choices to enjoy. The house espresso is from Allpress and the filter options are usually via the excellent Origin.

Laneway & Co is located at 17-19 High Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also Worth Visiting

Ernest

This homey bar is based in the artistic Ouseburn area of Newcastle. The unique, quirky decor is clearly heavily influenced by Star Wars and it serves up some of the best brunch in the city. However, it is also a great place to grab a coffee, with beans from local roasters Ouseburn Coffee Company (OCC).

Pumphreys

Established in 1750, Pumphreys is by far the longest-established roastery in Newcastle. This family business offers training, equipment, and wholesale beans, but also has a “coffee centre and brewing emporium” located in the city’s indoor Grainger Market. While their beans are generally roasted a lot darker than those you would find in many third-wave shops, Pumphreys is certainly dedicated to the trade and are the beans of choice for cafes and tearooms all over the North East.

Emily Bolt is a freelance journalist and coffee professional in Newcastle. This is Emily Bolt’s first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Newcastle appeared first on Sprudge.

Source: Coffee News

Olympia Coffee Announces New Seattle Flagship Cafe

By Coffee No Comments

A little over a year after the opening of their Tacoma cafe, Olympia Coffee is breaking ground on a brand new Seattle location. In a Sprudge exclusive, co-owners Oliver Stormshak and Sam Schroeder have announced the 1,750-square-foot cafe in the Columbia City neighborhood that will serve as their Seattle flagship.

Their third location outside Olympia and second in Seattle, the historic 1920s building at the corner of Edmunds and Rainier will be home to a cafe, training facility, and community room. Stomshak and Schroeder, the latter of which live in the neighborhood, are hoping to add to the Columbia City Landmark District’s “Main Street vibe, with an old movie theater, a great bakery, multiple ice cream and pizza shops, a collection of independent retail, restaurants, and bars.”

Per Stormshak, the cafe will build upon the menu and bar flow of the other Seattle location, but with a slightly expanded menu still in the works.

Construction on the new Olympia outpost is expected to progress quickly. The space Olympia is taking over was at one time a coffee shop, so all the necessary plumbing and electrical is already in place, significantly decreasing the overall construction timeline. Permits are currently in the works, and once they have been acquired, Stormshak and Schroeder expect the entire build-out to take four months from soup to nuts.

Currently, the Columbia City cafe is very much in the “we’re excited to announce” phase of things. For more information or to follow along with the progress of the build-out, make sure to follow Olympia on on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Olympia Coffee Seattle flagship is located at 4824 Rainier Ave S., Seattle, Washington 98118.

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

Top image via Olympia Coffee

Disclosure: Olympia Coffee is an advertising partner with the Sprudge Media Network

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Source: Coffee News

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee Returns With A New Sponsor

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Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, the show were Jerry Seinfeld—a comedian—gets in a car with a fellow comedian to shoot the shit over coffee, is returning for a brand new run of episodes. Now in its 11th season, though only its second on Netflix, the show will rely on a similar format as previous years: famous guests, fancy cars, and coffee. But there’s a new question for this season: what coffee?

In previous years, Seinfeld has visited everything from diners to big name specialty cafes like Intelligentsia, Coava, and the now-defunct Handsome Coffee Roasters. In an interview with Sprudge co-founder Jordan Michelman, Seinfeld even mentions purchasing a single-group Slayer espresso machine for home use, so clearly the man takes his coffee somewhat seriously. But for season 11, CICGC has shacked up with Italian coffee brand Lavazza. How will this affect what coffee makes the airwaves?
Will confirmed guests Eddie Murphy, Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, Jamie Foxx, Sebastian Maniscalco, Martin Short, Mario Joyner, Melissa Villaseñor, Bridget Everett, and Barry Marder get to experience the entirety of the coffee landscape that have been seen in past seasons of the show? Or will they all be sipping from the same white and blue cuppa automatic brew, contractually obligated to look squarely into the camera and say, “mmm smooth”?

Or perhaps each show guest will be treated to a different member of the Lavazza family of coffee. Ricky Gervais seems more like an Espresso Armonico pod guy but I’d say Seth Rogan is more of a ¡Tierra! Nitro Cold Brew fella. I did think I spotted a Joe mug in Matthew Broderick’s hand in the trailer, but we’ll have to wait until the July 19th premiere to find out.

But hey, it’s hard to mad about someone for getting paid, even in the case of Seinfeld, who would be more accurately described as remaining paid. And honestly, I’ll tune in regardless; it’s still funny people being funny together, which I find to be, well, funny. There was just something exciting about seeing places I know and love getting some A-list screen time. It made the show better for me somehow. Hopefully that magic will still be there, regardless of the new sponsor.

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

Top image via Netflix

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Source: Coffee News

Build-Outs Of Summer: Beachcomber Coffee Company In Gibsons, BC

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beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

Ask any coffee company and they’ll tell you: repeat business is the key to success. And at Sprudge—also a coffee company—we couldn’t agree more. That’s why we are always excited to have repeat customers to our Build-Outs of Summer series. Beachcomber Coffee in Gibsons, British Columbia is the latest company to get their second punch in the Build-Outs Loyalty Card. Eight more and they get a free Sprudge!

Located along the glorious Sunshine Coast, this second Beachcomber outpost has all the hallmarks of the original: the prominent black and yellow aesthetic, a custom painted yellow Victoria Arduino White Eagle, and a prominent mural adorning the interior. It’s all part of what the self-described lifestyle brand wants to deliver to guests: a little slice of paradise. So let’s slide on our flip flops and grab a tandem beach cruiser and head on out to Gibsons for some easy living and easy drinking at the brand new cafe from Beachcombers Coffee Company.

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

As told to Sprudge by Martin DesRosiers.

beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

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

Founded in 2015 by Martin DesRosiers, a top 40 under 40 in Business in Vancouver recipient, Beachcomber Coffee is an award-winning craft coffee company based on the Sunshine Coast, BC Canada! Roasted in Vancouver but based in Gibsons, Beachcomber Coffee represents the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and produces proprietary blends of Certified Organic and Certified Fairtrade coffees. Beachcomber’s approach to coffee is to appeal to the daily Canadian coffee drinker by producing coffees that are chocolaty, sweet, and nutty in profile.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

Our new space is based around a To-Go model, either fuel up before or after shopping as we’re located at the only mall here in Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a 305-square-foot cozy space filled with the same personality that our customers are used to in our flagship location. It features another signature Ben Tour mural (local artist) of Sea Wolves, which are a breed of wolf found here on the west coast, the ultimate Beachcombers.

beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

What’s your approach to coffee?

Our approach from day one was to build a lifestyle brand representing what we feel is a slice of paradise here on the Sunshine Coast. We just happen to do that through coffee. Our coffees hold various roaster and coffee certifications to ensure quality, freshness, and ethical practices are in place. We are pioneers in the local coffee scene when it comes to sustainable practices and approaching coffee from a unique angle. We are far from our average coffee company and our shops are vibrant, filled with colors, loud music, deadly donuts, and an obsession about the customer experience. It’s not just a coffee, it’s a lifestyle…

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Our custom yellow-wrapped Victoria Arduino White Eagle will be producing those chocolaty shots for us. We’ve also standardized on FETCO equipment for batch brewing and grinding. For Espresso grinders, we went with our trusted Nuova Simonelli Mythos One.

beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

How is your project considering sustainability?

We have a variety of sustainable elements within our shop. Our to-go cups (12oz and 16oz) are double-wall insulated, meaning no sleeves are required which means less waste. We’ve moved to metal spoons at our condiment station to reduce waste even further and have eliminated stir-sticks. We were the first shop in Gibsons Landing to offer a “bring your own cup” program and save 25-cents off your drink. We were the first shop in Gibsons Landing to offer compostable paper straws by default (we’ve never had plastic straws). We launched a LOCALS to-go cup, which is a purpose-built reusable 12oz coffee cup, offering 10% off every single time its used with the goal of reducing our paper to-go cup usage.

Unique to our To-Go location is we’re launching a Coffee Growler program to reduce coffee bags landing in the garbage. We’ve partnered with another local company, Luumi, to offer their Platinum Silicone bags with stainless steel clips that hold one pound of coffee beans. We have a hopper/refill station in shop and plan to encourage customers to refill their beans on a weekly basis.

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

June 10, 2019

beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

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

HUGE shoutout to John from Blenheim Construction, he was our contractor on our original build and turned around our new shop in just over two months. Also a massive THANK YOU to Ethan from Ethan Luc Designs who was the Designer/Architect on this project and was also the Designer/Architect on our first brick and mortar location. Also a special thank you to our Graphic Designers since day one, John and Roberta from Topshelf Design, they act as our virtual design department and have helped us execute on our vision on countless occasions!

Thank you!

Thank you for reading and if you’re ever thinking about visiting the Sunshine Coast, let us know!

beachcomber coffee gibsons british columbia canada

Beachcomber Coffee Company is located at 6 – 900 Gibsons Way, Gibsons. 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 Damon Berryman

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Source: Coffee News

Is This The Best Coffee Beer?

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People are always trying to make coffee hard. Brew it this way, sift the grounds to exactly this size, pour water here but NOT here for precisely this length of time and not a second longer, otherwise it’s all ruined. Turns out, it’s pretty easy to make coffee hard, but to make hard coffee, well that’s a whole nother thing entirely. That’s where Pabst Blue Ribbon comes in. The makers of every late-‘00s dive bar’s favorite beer has just announced Hard Coffee, an alcoholic coffee drink that is somehow not a coffee beer.

As reported by Food & Wine, Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Coffee—I would have called it PeaBeRry or maybe just PBRry, but that’s just me—is a 5% ABV beverage “made using Arabica and Robusta coffee beans and rich, creamy American milk.” Per CNN, each 11-ounce can also contains 30mg of caffeine, roughly one third of that of an eight-ounce cup of coffee. The limited release malt beverage is out now, but currently only available in Pennsylvania, Maine, New Jersey, Florida, and Georgia.

But is it any good? Can we even define “good” in this context? Like, we’re talking about PBR here, a beer that made a comeback due primarily to its low, low price point. “Good” is just too much of moving target for any of use to hit. But according to Food & Wine, the crowdsourced beer rating website Untapped has Hard Coffee at 4.21 out of 5 caps (caps are like stars but for beer) in its first 160 reviews, which F&W rightfully describes as “an uncannily high rating.” Individual raters described it as tasting like Yoo-hoo and “like a Starbucks frappuccino bullshit,” which they appear to have meant as a compliment.

Is it any good? Most people seem to say, ironically or otherwise, that yeah it sure is.

So put down that barrel-aged golden coffee stout, that hazy Yirgacheffe IPA, and that cascara berliner weisse. This summer’s best coffee beer may not be a coffee beer at all.

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

Top image via Food & Wine

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Source: Coffee News

hot latte from The Curb Kaimuki

The Washington Post – A guide to local favorites in Kaimuki

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Kaimuki’s compact business district, its small, local companies and its 20th-century development as a suburb of Honolulu conspire to give the neighborhood its tight knit community feel. Many of the cafes, restaurants and shops are run by homegrown entrepreneurs, which means even the newer spots keep easy company with the old, as if they, too, had been here for ages, serving school kids to senior citizens and keeping their memories…

The Washington Post – A guide to local favorites in Kaimuki

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Crybaby Los Angeles Coffee Shop Bans Kawhi Leonard

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Kawhi Leonard shook the basketball world when news broke over the weekend that he was taking his talents to the Los Angeles Clippers and had recruited Oklahoma City Thunder defensive big man Paul George to join him. Noted “Fun Guy” Leonard is fresh off winning an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors feat. Drake, beating out former dynasty and next team to experience a grand herb bandwagon exodus, the Golden State Warriors.

Leonard heading back to his home city in hopes of ending the soon-to-be decade-long championship drought is sure to bring joy throughout the City of Angels, right? You’d think, but to do so you’d have to forget about the existence of Lakers fans, easily the most entitled fanbase in all of professional basketball and one that is making an argument for the top spot in all of sports. (I say this as a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, a team who hasn’t been relevant in two decades but whose fanbase still demands they be called “America’s Team.”) Lakers fans suck deeply. They are as good at being a group of whiny front-runners as their beloved team has historically been at winning championships. But even though the Lakers haven’t been winning championships in recent years, their fans have not stopped sucking. Last year, they got LeBron James, arguably the best player to ever throw a ball into a peach basket. So when Kawhi Leonard—arguably the best peach basketeer playing right now—became a free agent, Lakers fans assumed they had it in the bag; it id their birthright to get any and all players they ever want, whenever they want them.

Except this time they didn’t. And in true Lakers fan fashion, they didn’t take it well. According to Eater, it has even led to one Los Angeles-based cafe chain and gummy bear collaborator Alfred Coffee to issue an outright ban on both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George from all locations. The notice came via social media and “promised more details to come on the matter.” The original post appears to have been removed from Instagram, but all the clown emojis in the comments section of other Alfred posts remain.

Who cares, right? The board man got paid, to the tune of $142 million over four years, so what does Leonard care about not being able to go to a coffee shops with nine locations around the city? As an LA hometown kid, it’s probably tough to return home only to have people mad because you didn’t return home in the way they wanted (because again, this is a very entitled, very bandwagony fanbase that deserves all the sports misery that comes their way). And Leonard is notably frugal. Free coffee would probably lure the superstar into any cafe that would offer it to him.

So, Kawhi, if you’re reading this: first, hello, love your work. Thanks for not going to the Lakers. Second, if you were hoping to get free coffee in LA, I’m sure this Alfred news comes as a disappointment. If it makes you feel any better, there’s a really, really good cafe with six locations in LA that would love to have you.

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 Crybaby Los Angeles Coffee Shop Bans Kawhi Leonard appeared first on Sprudge.

Source: Coffee News