So many choices, so little time

Lookout Joe in Mt. Lookout has a wonderful coffee bar of sorts. Each day, they have about 6 different coffees, some decaf, to choose from. And the choices vary from day to day. Today, I was torn between the Sumatran Fair Trade Italian Roast and the Tiramisu. The need for a major caffiene boost won me over. I went with the Sumatran. Rich. Bold. I probably would have needed an additional packet of Splenda if I had been drinking it with nothing else to consume, but the chocolate croissant I ordered for breakfast helped sweeten it up. Perfectly.

The nice think about Lookout Joe is that when you order a plain coffee, the first refill is free and then a dollar after that. So, I tried about a half cup of the Tiramisu. Mild. Light. Good drinking coffee when you don't need to be over caffieneated. I also loooove their Highland Grog for this very reason. I could drink cups of it and be happy.

The Sumatran, 3.5 cups. The Tiramisu and their Highland Grog, 4 cups.

Hot chocolate, with a twist

Okay, yeah, this is a coffee blog, but not even I can drink coffee all the time. And since today was Big Sad Day in my department, a mocha just wasn't enough. Full on chocolate was the way to go. And now Starbucks has their new signature hot chokkies. The one that intrigued me was the Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. If you're one of those salty/sweet, "I like chocolate covered potato chips" type of people, or you put peanuts in your Mountain Dew like one of my former bosses is known to do, then you will like this hot chocolate. It has a unique flavor... Sweet buttery caramel... special sea salt topping... whipped cream. It's quite good, but oh, so bad for you. I ordered a grande and I think I consumed over 600 calories in one beverage. Holy frijoles! Make it a skim and skip the whip and you'll cut 130 calories.

Save this for a bad day. It will help a little. I want to say it's $4.29 or so? I didn't have to pay for it, so I didn't pay attention. It was a treat from a co-worker for Big Sad Day. 4.5 cups.

No Coffee Toffee?

I'm back. My computer died, and as I was job hunting/editing novels, this took a backseat to all of the things that NEEDED to be done. I have so much coffee to revisit and write up, but it will come in time.

Joseph Beth's is an excellent local bookseller with locations in both Cincinnati, OH and Lexington, KY. They also have Bronte Bistro where you can get coffee drinks (or lunch if you so desire). As it was one of the last 80 degree days of the year, I wanted something cold. The barista recommended a blended coffee. I asked about flavorings and she said it had a hint of a chocolate taste to it, otherwise no flavors. So, no Java Julep type stuff here? I'm sure they'd give it to me if I asked for it, but you can't just order something called a Raspberry Grasshopper. You have to order a blended coffee with a shot of raspberry syrup and a shot of mint? Or whatever's in those things.

The blended coffee... Smooth, good, and made my grocery shopping trip much more enjoyable. It doesn't really need extra flavoring. The hint of chocolate was just fine. A medium costs $3.99. 4 out of 5 cups.

Needs more caramel, please!

I must admit, I've been broke. So, I haven't been able to try anything terribly new, as I've either been making coffee that's already been reviewed at home, or drinking drek. Today is the first new report I've had to bring you.

Thornton's gas station. I think they have Dunkin' Donuts coffee, which is pretty darn good. But the display of options that goes along with it is a dream come true. Push a button on machine and it gives you sugar. Another machine dispenses cream. So, no making a mess when you peel open the little plastic tubs of creamer like at most gas stations. There's another machine that puts a tiny shot of liquid flavoring if you prefer, but when you push the button for that, it doesn't give you much. I usually have to push the button on the large coffee selection three times before I get something I can deal with. Anyhoo, there's hazelnut, french vanilla, caramel, and two other flavoring options. I just feel like I would have to push the button ten times just to get flavor at all. Maybe I need to be more of a purist and not need flavorings. ::shrug:: But it's $1.05 if you bring a to-go cup.

A good solid cup of coffee. Three out of five cups.

Mmm... Brew

Java Brewing Co., Cherokee Triangle roast. Good stuff. 4 cups out of 5. Perfect flavor. Good sweetened and creamed. I don't think you can get a cup of coffee here and go wrong. $1.50 or so if you have their to-go cup. Which is a pretty good deal if you ask me. Good coffee. Good deal. Good place to get some work done, provided that it isn't too busy and you can get near an outlet.

I've been putting this one off...

All right. I went to Heine Bros. today because that's where some of my friends meet up on Sundays. Because I'm broke I got a regular coffee. I put some cream and sugar in it. I drank it. I am not a fan of Heine Bros. coffee. In fact it gets 2 cups out of 5. I don't prefer it, I don't think it's great, but it's not revolting (0 cups) or barely drinkable (1 cup). So, why did I order it again? Because I keep hoping that I'm wrong. HB is a popular place in Louisville. It's locally owned. And I want to like it. But I don't. There's just this really bitter taste to it that I don't care for. I like their chai tea pretty well. Otherwise. Eh. $1.80-something if you have the plastic cup.

I will stick to locally owned places like Highland and Java Brewing Co., keep checking out Ray's and Quills, and see what else is out there.

There, I said it. All of you HB fans, please don't hate me.

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't.

Today, I'm consuming a medium-sized cup of Highland Coffee's Vanilla Nut house coffee. It has a vanilla flavor and a nutty flavor, so it is aptly named. The coffee definitely tastes nuttier than it tastes of vanilla though. Eh, I've never been a vanilla superfan anyway... I like it. It tastes good, but it will never be chocolate or peanut good in my opinion.

The coffee is mild, but satisfying. It gets 3 cups out of 5. I would give it a higher rating, because I think the flavor could be a little bolder. But in my rating system, a 3 cup-rated coffee is still a good choice... You can't go wrong... but it won't knock your socks off. Cost: $2 plus tip.

In a caramel sort of mood...

I went to Quills Coffee and Books for the first time, although I had been wanting to check it out for over a year. It's a proper coffee shop, a bit more urban in feel once you walk in with nice picture windows and plenty of seating. I like the olive green walls, the wood trim, and the crisp straight lines.

On to the coffee. I ordered a medium caramel latte. Very light. Slightly sweet. An excellent coffee:milk ratio. Extremely yummy for $3.75. 5 cups for this drink because it's perfection in a cup. But maybe it's because I'm partial to caramel. Honestly, without the caramel, I know I would still really enjoy the latte. I can tell. I think they serve Sunergo's Coffee... which is another destination I need to hit.

They also serve a lot of tea drinks that I would like to come back and try. Plus, I got a lot of writing work today. Low distractions, ample parking, and a lot of drink choices mean I'll be back.

I'm going to be up all night...

I tempted fate after drinking the Shockwave. I met with friends at Barnes and Noble and tried out the new Art of Espresso drinks that their Starbucks Cafe is now serving. I had a buy one get one free coupon, so I decided to get two talls and try two different kinds out, asking the barista to make one now and then the other later, which they happily agreed to do.

Both drinks were topped off with a crisscross of caramel or chocolate syrup, which doesn’t belong on espresso, but whatever. I don't know if this was the sole additional flavoring of the espresso or if there was another shot of caramel/mocha in the espresso itself.

Drink #1: Caramel Macchiato… Tasty. Mild. Would recommend this again. 4 cups.

Drink #2: Marble Mocha Macchiato… Decaf. After the Shockwave and the first espresso drink, I decided decaf would be the wise way to go. With the first couple of sips, I thought the decaf made the drink taste kind of eh, but I later determined it was the syrup. It was rich but... metallic. Sort of. It just didn't seem right. It wasn't bad, just a little off. 3 cups.

Because of the BOGO, the two talls were $3 total.

Caffiene + Energy = Shaky Typing

Auuggh! Coffee! Caffiene! Energy! All in one cup! My head is going to explode!

Today, I tried the Shockwave energy coffee. Because apparently, caffiene just isn't enough to get you through the day... you need added energy too! I don't really know what this added energy consists of as Speedway doesn't have it on their website... just that their coffee is gourmet. I actually got a cup on the way to the gym and added some French Vanilla creamer. Had a couple of sips before I went in and then polished it off when I got back in the car. I don't actually recommend coffee before working out, but I digress.

At $1.29, you get 20 ounces. Bring your own travel cup and it'll cost you 80 cents. Again, I push the travel cup. Get their saver card and you're earning a free cuppa every 6 coffee purchases. Auugh it's starting to sound like a commercial! Anyway, the Shockwave coffee gets 3 cups. A good all purpose cup of coffee for a good price.

Let the commercial continue... Also of note, coffee that's fast and convenient doesn't get any faster or more convenient than at Speedway. They have three or four selections of coffee daily plus the cappuccino/hot chocolate machine. Most stores have a great selection of creamers and sweeteners too, so if you're on the go, you really can't go wrong with their coffee.

I'll let you know what happens in a couple of hours after I've finished the coffee, caffiene crash-wise

Spring is here... Time for frozen drinks!

And now for something completely different.

One of my favorite coffee al fresco places is Java Brewing Co. on Frankfort Avenue. Their frozen drinks are awesome, but not for calorie counters.

So, in honor of spring and the frozen coffee drink, that is what I ordered today... I got a Java Julep, which is a favorite of mine. My other favorite is the Coffee Toffee, but since it's spring, I went with the Julep. It's mint, chocolate, and coffee all wrapped up in a blended drink. Cool and refreshing, I'm giving it 5 cups out of 5, because it's just that good.

I'm also just going to tell you right now, that their medium and dark roast coffees are at the top of my own personal list of coffee favorites, right along with Highland Coffee. Yes, I even like them better that Starsucks. They are that good. And the people who work here are very friendly. For a foodie treat, they have excellent brie and bread. Now you know. Go here.

Dark Roast, please!

It's been a while that I've gone out for coffee, but that will change next week. During an afternoon walk, I went to Ray's Monkey House and got a medium coffee. "Medium or dark roast?" they ask. Dark roast. Definitely dark roast. Mmmm... Coffee.

I got the Papua New Guinea Kimel... $2. It's good. That'll keep you walking for sure. Half and halfed and Splenda'd, I made my way down Bardstown Road, much happier than before. It gets 3.5 cups out of 5.

I was bad though and forgot a to-go cup, but Ray's uses eco friendly cups, so I didn't feel as bad as when I went in and realized I didn't have my cup. I'm putting this on my regular roster of coffee houses to visit, which also includes Highland Coffee and Java Brewing Co.

Third time's the charm...

Due to a tight budget this month, I bought a bag of coffee for $5 to make at home rather than go out and get a cup for around $2. Because I was so taken with the Folgers Gourmet Selections Caramel Drizzle, I thought I'd give the Vanilla Biscotti a try. I do want to try out the Dunkin' Donuts and Caribou Coffee offerings, but we will try that another time. When I have more cash.

The FGS Vanilla Biscotti smells awesome. After making it, I left the flat for a bit and when I came back, the aroma of coffee and vanilla filled the room. Sadly, it is not as good as the Caramel Drizzle. Don't get me wrong... it's not bad at all. I prefer the other one though. And in drinking it, is it strange that I taste more biscotti than vanilla? Seriously. It seems like there's this crisp cookie flavor to it. This flavor gets 3 cups. Not bad, but I will probably go with a different flavor next time, and the Caramel Drizzle for sure.

Round 2 of home brew

I woke up needing coffee. Needing it bad. I saw something in my sister's cabinet that intrigued me. Folger's Gourmet Selections Caramel Drizzle. I'm not a fan of anything that says Folgers, but can anything that says Caramel Drizzle be bad? I suppose this flavor and others like Vanilla Biscotti, Chocolate Truffle, and Hazelnut Crème is Folgers' answer to the kind of coffees I prefer. It's even packed to appeal to coffee snobs.

So, I make a whole pot for myself and the 4 other people in the house. If I pour myself a second cup, it's usually good coffee. Deffo got that second cup. It's a fairly light roast, so I wouldn't make it to help me wake up in an instant... I definitely could have used some stronger stuff that morning. It would be better as after dinner coffee rather than breakfast. I would consider buying some for home, depending on my budget and what my tastebuds want. Sweetened or unsweetened, I liked it. 4 out of 5 cups.

Two great tastes that taste great together

Okay, now to test some ground coffee, made at home.

Yes, I gave up sweets for Lent, but coffee does not fall under sweets for me. When we woke up Friday morning, after the long drive and the miserable fast food coffee, we decided to make some Royal Cup Coffee Bavarian Chocolate flavored to eat with our pancakes.

It helps that I'm decent at making coffee. Good flavor. Good with International Delight creamer. Good enough for a second cup. I'm going to give it a 3.5 out of 5 cups, because it was good, but not Vienna Cinnamon good or cappuccino good. But good.

Drive on by...

I'm not just rating the good stuff. You need to know where to get a quick, cheap GOOD cup of coffee for on the road, or just something that will do in a pinch.

During a late night drive from Louisville to Chicago, we stopped for gas somewhere between Indianapolis and Zionsville. Killing two birds with one stone, we stopped and got sandwiches and coffee at Arby's. The coffee was watery and tasteless. I added generic Sweet and Low, and I had a nice generic Sweet and Low beverage. I don't know what happened to the coffee but it sucked. You would think a pull over area would have decent coffee. I should have got it at the trucker stop. Now they would have stuff to keep you awake and going.

Other Arby's chains might have better coffee, but the stuff at this place was yuck. 1 cup out of 5 cups. And that's because it was still drinkable.

Vienna in the Highlands

Stop number three on my tour is Highland Coffee in the heart of the Highlands, Louisville, KY. If there were more tables here, I'd love to do Write Club here, but it's just not big enough. They also got rid of the comfy couch and now have two arm chairs here. Boo! The patio is nice though, on warmer days.

Anyhoo, Highland makes the most wonderful espresso beverages and what makes them better is the choice of whipped creams they have to put on them. Blackberry whipped cream atop a mocha = yum. I'll review one sometime after Easter.

Highland has a Hair Raiser coffee to get you going in the morning. I haven't tried this yet, but will someday, maybe on an early morning to see if it truly is hair raising. Besides this, they usually offer up five other house coffees. Today, I tried the Vienna Cinnamon, a 16 oz. cup going for $1.81 (that includes tax) if you bring in your own mug. Once slightly sweetened, a hint of the cinnamon comes through. It's almost like dessert, but not. It's also a milder coffee. I think my favorite house coffee so far is the Southern Toasted Pecan. In fact, I have to give the Vienna Cinnamon 4 out of 5 cups, because I thinke the Southern Toasted Pecan is that much better.

This is one of my favorite coffee houses in Louisville. They do the frou-frou beverages right and the assortment of coffee is awesome.

I think I'm giving up the picture idea. Unless it's a really pretty cup of coffee, coffee is coffee.

Go green with your coffee

I really wish more people would bring a travel mug into coffee places instead of wasting a paper cup, plastic lid, and sleeve every time they order coffee. Not only will you help save the planet by bringing your own, you'll save a little money too. Most local places will reduce your cuppa by 15 cents if you bring in your own cup. And maybe even 25 cents if you buy their logo cup and use it, but that's probably only worth it if you visit the same local. Whichever way you decide to go, bring a mug! Save some money. Save the planet.

No pie for you!

Like an idiot, I decided to give up sweets for Lent. So, when I went to meet with some friends at the Pie Pantry, not only could I have no pie, but I also had to pass on the Ehrler's Ice Cream. I'm so tempted to go get pie a la mode right now. But no. I cannot. And it's a shame, because I lurve all of the Pie Pantry offerings, from the butterscotch pie to the cake batter ice cream. Ooh, and the peach blackberry is the second best pie ever (Mom's rhubarb pie still gets the blue ribbon in my book).

Instead of sweets, I ordered a regular gourmet Columbian coffee for $1.59 + tax, hence the reason for this post. Sweetened and creamed. It's John Conti brand. ::shrug:: It's okay. I think Lynn's Paradise Cafe serves John Conti, and I can't get enough of it there. Maybe it's the way it's brewed? And I know people don't come here for the coffee, but it would be nice to have more selections than half and half tubs, sugar, and Sweet-n-low. I'm a Splenda person, myself. And again, you get no picture, because it's not worth taking a picture of. It's coffee in a mug that's black on the outside, red on the inside. I rate it 2 out of 5 cups.

So, yeah. If you're hankering for coffee with your pie and ice cream, this will do. If you're just looking for coffee, you won't be wowed. Do come for the pie and ice cream, though. It's amazing.

Peter Tork isn't here

For my first official outing, I thought I'd check out Ray's Monkey House (I can't tell you how often I want to spell the word monkey, M-O-N-K-E-E, thanks to a teenage obsession with the television band) in good old Louisville, KY. Ray's is a kid friendly place in which to get your cuppa with two play areas complete with books and toys, five cozy couches, and colorful decor. Kids even get their own open mic night. But as a sign states, "Unattended children will be given two double espressos and a puppy." You have been warned. They also have movie nights and open mic nights for all, so if you don't have kids, that doesn't mean you have to stay away. Ray's roasts their own beans, are environmentally aware, and most of their food and drink is organic with the typical beverages that most other coffee houses provide.

I ordered a traditional cappuccino for about $2.20-something. It's everything a cappuccino should be. Bitter upon first taste. Smooth from then on out. I usually add sweetener after drinking about half, just to have it both ways. Mmm, Mmm, good! There was only one thing wrong with it as the barista pointed out after I had taken a few sips. He asked if he could make me a new one because it didn't have the right amount of foam. I assured him it tasted fine and he didn't have to make a new one unless he really wanted to. I rate it 4 out of 5 cups, but mainly because of the lack of foam.

Which makes me wonder if I need to be more covert in my personal reviewing. Did he ask because he was really concerned about it, or did he ask because he saw me write down the words "Ray's Monkey House"? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

One thing I didn't bring is a camera. Bad blogger! Will make a point to do so next time. I'm deffo coming back with my laptop for a regular coffee. And a raspberry scone. I didn't partake in one this time, but I will be back. Oh, yes. I will be back.