South Beach: beautiful weather, beautiful people, beautiful coffee

South Beach…conjures up visions of beautiful beaches, al fresco dining, and the Kardashians.  Thank God we did didn't see the Kardashians (sorry CMK)!  However, we did see beautiful beaches populated by "beautiful people" who managed to make thong bathing suits with heals the standard dress code for not only poolside, but shopping and dining.  Let's just say I was under-dressed in my bikini and flip-flops.

What may surprise you is that Miami was home to some awesome Cuban coffee!  While it is true we were chasing warmer weather and sunshine…as well as hiding out from our 6 kids still at home--we were also in search of the ultimate local (South Beach) coffee experience.  We stumbled upon that experience at a small local Cuban coffee shop located several blocks away from the famed shopping district…including the Kardashian boutique--DASH.

Las Olas Cafe is located 6th and Euclid.  It is a small, local eatery and coffee shop that is frequented by the locals.  We were the only "touristas" amongst the local Cuban clientele.  The staff welcomed us with warm smiles and beverage and bakery recommendations.  I (Pam) had the cafe con leche and Mike had the traditional Cuban espresso.  We sat at one of the few small tables located in the diner atmosphere and thoroughly enjoyed our coffee experience.  The cafe con leche was rich and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness to be paired with my Cuban cheesy pastry of which I can not remember the name…so it will be known as the "cheesy pastry".  Mike enjoyed the strong, bold notes of the espresso which was served in a "wee" styrofoam cup--which simply added to the ambience and the experience.  His pastry was topped with white sprinkles…which cut the bitterness of the espresso perfectly.  We enjoyed the staff, the locals, and the whole South Beach Cuban coffee experience.  If ever in the Sobe area, you must make time for this cultural coffee gem.  Feel free to skip the Kardashian DASH adventure…unless you enjoy spending $60 on a t-shirt.  Save it for the coffee….this little Cuban diner is truly where the "beautiful people" and beautiful coffee is.

Next coffee shop adventure stop:  Dallas , Texas where my sister, Becki, will be filling in for my husband on this adventure as we run the Dallas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in the Lone Star State.  Cowgirl up!!

Life, Love…and the Pursuit of Coffee

I love Saturdays.  I love the sleeping in, lingering over breakfast that IS NOT a bowl of cereal, and the whole day stretched out before us like a blank canvas.  Saturdays are also coffee house adventure days!  Saturday morning greeted us with bright sunshine and a balmy 48 degrees for the high--manna from Heaven compared to the siberian wasteland we had been living in with the sub-zero temps and mounds of snow (I fought the urge to break out the flip-flops).  Michael had a surprise coffee house adventure planned...but sometimes the best laid plans lead to better plans...especially in the case of a closed coffee shop (special shout-out to Donatellos in the Carmel Art District for claiming they would be open Saturday morning)!

Not to be denied our coffee adventure, my guy and I headed to our current favoritand previously blogged about location...Hubbard's & Cravens!  H&C has become our favorite fall-back coffee house.  The bonus this time is that is was debuting its newest java offering...Tanzania Peaberry!  Michael, the more adventurous coffee drinker (or coffee stud as he refers to himself) savored a cup of the newest offering and really enjoyed its bold, rich flavor.  I, however, stuck with what I like best..my sugar free hazelnut latte with some awesome micro- foam art!

However, the moral of this story isn't the coffee...it's the time we spent together connecting after a busy week. Yes, the coffee was really good, the barista was wonderful, but the opportunity to sit face to face with each other was priceless. 

So, in pursuing a coffee adventure, we actually ended up pursuing each other. And the coffee tastes just a little bit better when shared with the one you love. 

Next stop MIAMI BEACH!  Flip flops, sunshine, hand holding and coffee adventures!  Michael has already researched and chosen two eclectic coffee house locations, including a Cuban coffee house!  Can't wait!

SoHo Is So-So

 Anticipation was running high on our first visit to SoHo Cafe and Gallery.  Maybe it was the billing as 2013 AList #1 Coffee Shop!  Maybe it was the location in downtown Carmel in the Monon Square shopping center.  Maybe it was the fake fireplace.  Whatever it was, the experience at SoHo was so-so. Corny?  You bet…but it effectively communicates the average latte's, the average atmosphere, and the average barista.  The one highlight was the chocolate croissant from Rene's Bakery.  Props to Rene for making an exceptional croissant!

So, without further ado, these coffee newbies rate SoHo as follows:

Coffee Essence:  Folger's.  Ok, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration…but I'm a lawyer, so I'm prone to exaggeration.  Maybe a 3 out of 5.  Maybe.

Accoutrements:  Being the highlight of the experience, Rene's chocolaté croissant was a tasty 4.8…you get the picture.

Brew Masters (aka Baristas):  I love a big smile and warm greeting.  Brew masters can make or break the experience…sometimes regardless of what's in the cup--it's what's behind the counter.  We stopped in for our coffee experience around 1:30pm on a weekday…clearly we interrupted the Brew Master's nap.  The lack of personality might have been a result of the lack of caffeine, which then leads me to wonder why she isn't drinking her own coffee!  

Coffee House Ambiance:  This had more of the feel of a coffee WAREHOUSE!  The rooms were large, with a lack of cozy seating.  We were drawn to the fake fireplace for some semblance of a cozy coffeehouse feel.  Ambience rates 2 out of 5.

Although this experience left us "in the grounds"…we are continuing our quest for the best coffee house experience this weekend.  Also, in March we are taking this show on the road and traveling to sunny (and hopefully warm) SOUTH BEACH AND MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA!!  Our search will continue in the Sunshine State!

Manna From Heaven!

Three words:  Best.  Coffee.  Ever.  I realize that might not mean much coming from a rookie to the coffee drinking culture.  In fact, to emphasize my rookie status, my husband (who is reading over my shoulder)  just pointed out that it was actually a LATTE that I had…and NOT a coffee??  Really?  Well, some may call it a latte, but I call this particular cup of coffee MANNA FROM HEAVEN!  Yes, this sugar-free hazelnut latte from Hubbard & Cravens was so tasty that I actually wanted to lick the inside of my cup…and would have done so had we not been in an upscale Carmel coffee house!  Rich and tasty crema and microfoam topped this warm mug of heavenly grounds!  Where had this delightful coffee-house experience been all my life?  My sweet, slavic grandmother had LIED to me throughout  my formative years!  As she sipped her cup of joe with a smile on her face, she informed me that coffee stunted one's growth, stained the teeth…AND PUT HAIR ON YOUR CHEST!  And thus began my aversion to the beverage that has been described as "good to the last drop"!  The last thing I needed was HAIR on my chest!  Well, Hubbard & Cravens has started my journey as a budding coffee connoisseur and has set the bar high!

Michael and I have developed a rating system we believe captures the crucial aspects of an excellent coffee house experience!  With great fanfare (insert confetti in the air and balloon drop) we rate H&C coffee house experience as follows:

Coffee Essence:  Wanted to lick the inside of my cup.  I don't need to say any more!

Accoutrements:  Michael enjoyed a banana walnut muffin that he describes as warm and tasty and a perfect accompaniment to his french press coffee.  I scarfed down a cranberry scone that had me licking my fingers after dipping it in my latte.  H&C offers really delicious baked goods that pair perfectly with the hot beverage of your choice.

Brew Masters (aka Baristas).  Our Brew Master was warm and friendly, with a great smile and mad brewing skills!  On our scale of 1-5 Michael and I rate her a 4!  The only reason she didn't receive a 5 was the lack of crema/microfoam art.

Coffee House Ambiance:  While the coffee was fantastic, the ambiance was more of a bar/cafe atmosphere rather than a true coffee house vibe.  Regardless, Michael and I recommend a visit to Hubbard &Cravens on a Saturday during the Farmer's Market for a truly enjoyable coffee house adventure.

And so the adventure begins….

Michigan…"The Great Lake State"--known for it's cold winters, great college basketball, the auto industry and delicious Michigan cherries is also the birthplace for the idea to start a coffee blog!  What would possess a Neuroradiologist and his new attorney wife to start a coffee blog...especially when one of them is a complete rookie when it comes to drinking coffee??! Unfortunately, alcohol was NOT involved...just our enthusiasm for a spectacular cup of coffee we enjoyed at Morsels Espresso and Edibles…a hipster coffee shop tucked away off Front Street in Traverse City. That coffee shop experience coupled with an 8 hour car-ride home resulted in a lot of laughter and planning for a coffee blog. Crazy? Maybe. Will we totally love sharing the coffee shop adventures and blogging about it whether anyone reads it or not? ABSOLUTELY! We're stupid like that! But, life is short and each experience should be celebrated! And so the adventure begins....  First stop:  Hubbard & Cravens in our home town of Carmel, Indiana (Money Magazine's 2013 Best City to Live In)!