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.

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.

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.

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.