Get ready to amp up 2006 and speed your way through the rest of
winter. Our primer on the latest in all things coffee will have you
raring to go. -Jenna Schnuer
STAY PUT
For a unique spot to get your morning fix when on the road, here
are four of our favorite independents around the U.S.
Bonté, 130 South 17th Street, Philadelphia (215)
557-8510
At the original location (above) and now at its brand-new café at
922 Walnut Street (215-238-7407), Bonté serves up coffee from one
of Philly's favorite roasters, La Colombe, to complement its food
specialty - Belgian sugar waffles called gofras.
The Coffee Girls, 310 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas
City, Missouri, (816) 221-2326
Lattes have never been this much fun. The Coffee Girls offer up
board games and Ms. Pac-Man to go along with their bevy of tasty
beverages and sweet treats.
The Java Room, 14 Littleton Road, Chelmsford,
Massachusetts, (978) 256-0001
Doing business - or wandering the wintry world - outside of Boston?
The Java Room is a serious coffee place that offers up free - yes,
free - wireless Internet access. Meeting clients? Put the Java
Room's private conference room to work.
Joe, 9 East 13th Street, New York City (212)
924-7400
A favorite from the moment it opened the doors to its original
corner café (141 Waverly Place), Joe recently added this second
location. And, according to one connoisseur, the baristas won't let
a bad cup of espresso make it into your hands.
FAIR BREWS
Give your coffeemaker - and your morning - an international boost
with the new trend of "choosing coffee like you do wine - from a
single origin or single region," says Kenneth Davids, editor of the
Coffee Review (www.coffeereview.com). So instead
of a cup of your favorite French roast from wherever, brew up a pot
that will send you on a flavor trip to Ethiopia, Peru, or beyond.
Another movement we love: the emergence of more Fair Trade coffees.
("Fair Trade" signifies that the farmers are paid a living wage.)
These five bring both trends together beautifully:
From Uganda: Mirembe Kawomera Dark
With "hints of pecan sweetness and a malty finish," this Vienna
roast is the perfect complement to a lazy Sunday morning. $10 for
12 ounces.
Buy: Thanksgiving Coffee Company, www.thanksgivingcoffee.com
From Ethiopia: Yirgacheffe
Fend off dark winter mornings with Yirgacheffe's "suggestion of
citrus." $10 per pound
Buy: Peace Coffee, www.peacecoffee.com
From East Timor: Maubisse
Give your evening a cinnamon boost with this dark roast. $8.49 for
12 ounces
Buy: Higher Ground Roasters, www.highergroundroasters.com
From Peru: Cafe Femenino
A medium-bodied dark roast carefully tended by female growers
trying to brighten their futures. $10.95 per pound
Buy: Grounds for Change, www.groundsforchange.com
From Guatemala: Guatemala Full City
This coffee's distinctive smoky flavor is unforgettable. $9.95 per
pound
Buy: Café Campesino, www.cafecampesino.com
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
1 > Put pump power to work on your espresso — just like the pros do. The Krups XP5080 turns your kitchen counter into an espresso bar, so you can pull shots that rival your favorite barista’s. It takes grounds and, for those who love convenience, pods. $450.
www.krups.com2 > Bodum Double-Wall Thermo Glasses are the sexiest beverage holders we’ve seen in years. Your guests will get to see all the hard work you put into their after-dinner drinks but won’t burn their fingers as they sip. Pair the Assam 13-ounce glass with the Coffee Nudge recipe below, and you’ll have the perfect cup of joe. $20 for a set of two. (800) 232-6386,
www.bodumusa.com3 > Stop playing guessing games with your grinder. Capresso’s Infinity Conical Burr Grinder features 16 different settings so that when the whirring stops, the grounds will be perfect. Available in a polished- or brushed-chrome finish for $140, or in black for $90.
www.capresso.com