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Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Quest for Coffee



My lovely wife and I went for a drive to a nearby town. They have a new coffee shop and we had to check it out. I love good coffee shops. Some people hang out in bars; I'd rather hang out in coffee shops.

The only problem with the local coffee shops is the hours they keep. They open early but close mid-afternoon. That's fine for people who keep normal hours. I'd like a place where I could get breakfast at 5 in the afternoon and would stay open late in the evening. The closest coffee shop with evening hours is over an hour away in a tourist town. Their coffee and pastries are good, but they charge tourist prices.

I'm also not a big fan of large chain coffee shops. Starbucks suffers from bland corporate sameness. Dunkin Donuts isn't a coffee shop, even though they serve coffee, of a sort, there. It's a place where people end up when the bars close.

Sorry, Waffle Houses don't count either. Don't get me wrong, they have a certain charm. I happen to like sipping bland coffee out of a too small mug while people have fist fights in the parking lot. The hours are convenient, the food cheap, the waitresses hard working -but it's not exactly the coffee shop experience I'm looking for.

I like small independent shops with excellent coffee, acceptable prices, and an atmosphere that lends itself to conversation with strangers. Many years ago there was a local coffee shop run by a semi-retired jazz musician. For a few wonderful years I had the joy of good coffee combined with excellent live music. I knew it would not last. How he thought he'd make a living in a dying mill town is beyond me. However, I took full advantage of his business error while he was around.

My lovely wife and I made it to the new coffee shop by the crack of noon. Their coffee was strong and rich. The food was good and the prices very reasonable. The big downsides are that it's a couple towns over and they close at 2 in the afternoon.

There are rumors of a new coffee shop opening up just 20 minutes away in the next town. They say the new owners plan on having a jazz theme, whatever that means. I hope there is some truth to the rumors.

-Sixbears

10 comments:

  1. Maybe they'll open at noon, close at 2AM, and have good coffee, good food and good music. (In which case, enjoy it while it lasts.) - lol

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    1. That would be just my luck -the perfect place, but it only lasts a short while.

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  2. A good coffee shop? What's that?

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    1. In your case, something worth a long drive; I would imagine. Sorry you are missing out.

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  3. I am lucky a great local coffee shop just opened. Before that it was long line ups at Timmy's for not that great of coffee. Honestly McDonald's is better coffee. I better go now, CSIS probably flagged me for un-Canadian behaviour for not liking Tim Hortons coffee. Sorry! Eh!

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    1. Moose riding Mounties will haul you away for acts against Canada. Better enjoy that good cup of local coffee while you can.

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  4. That is why I brew my own triple extra strong Columbian coffee mixed with what ever other coffee is around the house. I sure do love good, strong, black coffee. . . OK, now I got to go brew me up a big, big cup.

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  5. As you might guess, good coffee is my passion. Haven't found exactly the right one yet, but the search goes on daily!

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    1. It's a noble calling. Good luck on your quest.

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