Archives for September 2012

Cafe Review: Můjšálekkávy in Prague

September 26, 2012 By Michael Leave a Comment

If there’s a city that actually lives up to American fairytale stereotypes about Europe, it is Prague. Walking the streets of Prague is practically an architecture history class: Gothic, Baroque, Cubist, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau all blend to make one gorgeous, cosmopolitan city. It’s not surprising that the region of the Czech Republic that Prague is in, Bohemia, lends its name to artsy neighborhoods and their denizens around the world. And nowhere is the grandeur of the Old World more visible than in one of many historic Prague cafes. …

Cup Like a Champ: What Cory Andreen Can Teach Us About Coffee Cupping

September 20, 2012 By Darren 1 Comment

In the coffee world, the word “cup” is used as a verb synonymous with “taste.” To cup, or taste, coffee is to consciously interact with the subtle sensory components made manifest in the dynamic chemical process of brewing. Last Thursday evening, Prima Coffee hosted a small gathering with the current World Cup Tasters Champion (WCTC), Cory Andreen, at Quills Coffee. He communicated several great points on coffee cupping….

Barista Parlor: Anchoring Nashville’s Coffee Scene

September 13, 2012 By Michael 3 Comments

You’ve probably heard your favorite band being played in your local coffee shop, but you probably have never seen your favorite band there, unless your local coffee shop is Barista Parlor in Nashville, TN. But then again, Barista Parlor is far from your typical coffee shop.

Tucked away in a remodeled garage just off of Gallatin Ave, East Nashville’s main thoroughfare, Barista Parlor is marked by a giant horizontal anchor and a rather garish orange and blue exterior. The high-ceilinged interior has the aura of an abandoned WWII hanger, which may be influenced by BP’s penchant for 1940s and 50s music and vintage decor. Customers chat at hand-crafted tables that circle an island of high end coffee machinery. The far wall is filled with a contemporary art piece of a pixilated ship which only becomes visible when viewed through a smart phone or camera. Owner Andy Mumma’s meticulous attention to detail has even attracted the attention of the New York Times, whose article talked more about the furniture than the coffee.

If there’s one word to describe Barista Parlor’s approach to specialty coffee it’s…

Why You Should Put The Barn On Your Coffee Radar

September 5, 2012 By Michael Leave a Comment

Over the last decade several cities have emerged as coffee destinations: London, New York, San Francisco, Melbourne, and Oslo immediately come to mind. These trendsetting cities are home to acclaimed roasters and attract a steady flow of globetrotting baristas on coffee pilgrimages. But over in the Eurozone a wave of new coffee shops have been popping up around Berlin, and one cafe in particular, The Barn, is a big reason why your next cafe crawl should be in Germany’s capital.

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TNT Louisville: Latte Art and the Legacy of the River City

September 1, 2012 By Darren 3 Comments

I once read about a group of bicycle messengers in New York City who held weekly bike races at a local velodrome. I was struck by the fact that these men and women work long, grueling hours riding a bike all day, only to ride bikes for fun in their spare time. They clearly have a passion for what they do that few people share. But if anyone shares a passion for their job, it’s baristas at craft coffee shops….

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