Driving and Coffee

So I'm on a road trip, out to visit my sister in Iowa. It's about a 9.5 hour drive...which meant, even though I was splitting it roughly in half I would need some coffee.

I took the classic prepare-but-still-plan-to-forage approach: I brought coffee with me at the start (Good old Extra Large Dunkin Donuts with cream&sugar) and planned to hit up gas station coffee along the way.

This plan worked out pretty well. The whole trick was (and is, on a long drive) to pace oneself. Near-constant sipping will keep a steady flow of caffeine into your system, giving you maximum use of the coffee as well as preventing you from running out of the juices of life too quickly.

I found an interesting item on one of my stops for coffee... I think it was at a BP just inside Illinois... it was something to the effect of an Extreme Cappuccino. See, it came out of the machine, but it claimed to have triple the caffeine and triple the flavor...hmmm...had to try it.

It definitely did make me a little jittery, and it did have a way-too-intense vanilla flavor, which had a funky after taste. BUT it was sweet, and kept me from dozing on the last leg of my trip. Not something I'd recommend if you had any other options...but...not bad if you want a break from the over-cooked standard brew coffee.

Tune in next week for my review of the Mean Bean Caffeine Lounge in Delaware, Ohio!

Jason Does a Taste Test of Starbuck's VIA

I was amused to find this post from Coffee Cup News in my Bloglines today, because I had just been in a Starbucks (for the first time in MONTHS) just the other night and saw the VIA instant coffee.

Between you and me, I think Starbucks is generally only a step or two above instant anyway...so I don't really plan on checking this out for myself. But if you've got ten minutes to kill, Jason does a blind taste test and gives you his thoughts not only on the VIA, but instant in general.

Talk about Falling Down on the Job

So for a wide variety of reasons, I haven't been the best coffee blogger ever. Why? you may ask. And I'll tell you...I don't know. It probably has something to do with a temporary feeling of not wanting to open a coffee shop, and the subsequent putting energy into my job. There was a big chunk of time without reliable internet. And really, a lack of stick-to-it-iveness. I allowed myself to get discouraged by a lack of constantly rising numbers.

But screw that. Coffee is great. And I need to write about it. So HA. Watch this space Friday for the new post.

Disease, and Silly Companies...

So, first I was sick. Not quite deathly ill--and definitely not swine flu, or H1N1--but not exactly functional either. Then, I get rested and well and head back into work...

...where I find out I'm working overnights. So I end up working 2 shifts without sleeping (because I was so well rested I couldn't sleep that day...ironic). And in the process, had the evil sick rear it's ugly head yet again.

That means...no energy, time nor inclination for posting. Sorry.

Tho, with the new schedule, it makes a late-ish coffee shop run possible...mmmm...potential special series brewing!

(Ha ha, totally not an intended coffee pun. So sad.)

That's it for now...sorry for all the crap-posts, but...it happens. Go get a cup of coffee and fume if you must.

It's Thursday...

...which means I owe you folks a post. But the plans to do a coffee shop were foiled by illness. And that was my primary plan for the post. Hrm.

Bloglines isn't turning up much to link to. Curses.

It's time for silly tests.

Your result for The Caffeine Addiction Test...

A Bit Overboard

You're 40% Caffeine-Addict!

You're getting a bit carried away with this caffeine business. At the levels of caffeine you're consuming you probably aren't even enjoying the drug anymore. When was the last time you even had a good coffee-buzz?

You know, more doesn't always mean better. Consider taking a caffeine-vacation for a few days every week. Then, during the days when you do help yourself to some coffee you'll be reminded of what made you fall in love with the drug in the first place.

Your result for The Coffee Knowledge Test...

Coffee Snob

71 % knowledge

I can see the passion rising in you.Go forth, Grasshopper, take what you have learned here and thrive. I have nothing left to teach you.

Your result for The Caffienated Test...

The Puritan

44% Caffienated! 30% Sweet! 57% Coffee addicted!

You like your coffee, and you like it solo. You probably enjoy having a good cuppa, but you aren't addicted to caffiene or sugar per se. Fru-Fru coffee drinks aren't likely to be your forte.

Scottie's Coffee and Tea House

I finally made it out to Scottie's Coffee and Tea House, in Ye Olde Worthington, OH. I actually visited the place twice last week, once with a friend and once on my own. I really enjoyed myself, and I may just have to drop in more often.

If you need a reminder on how I've set up my review system, you might just want to go here.

Wifi
Free wifi is available. I didn't catch the service they use, and since I used my Centro while there I didn't find out for myself. There were quite a few people online both times I was at the store, and several of them looked camped out for extended periods (class projects, one guy editing a power point presentation). No equipment provided for computer users...but there are old-school Ms. Pacman and Centipede machines available for 50 cents a ride.
Rating: Full Mug for free access and making patrons comfortable enough to stay for hours.

Space/Layout
Scotties is laid out essentially as a roomy horseshoe. There are two doors in, and either one leads to a couple of intimate seating areas. The bar runs along one wall, facing the main room where you find larger tables, a couch, and several armchairs that accomodate large groups easily. Drip coffee is served from a table of vacuum pump carafes, and the condiment bar is right across from them (easy as pie to find).
Rating: Full Mug for having plenty of space, a variety of comfy seating, and simple to find essentials.

Menu
The drinks offered strike a good balance between espresso classics (cappucino) and pricier, more exotic fair (Surly Girl Scout). The menu itself is clear and uncluttered without being boring. In addition to some excellent drip coffee (I enjoyed a cup of Highlander Grog, always a winner) Scotties offers a full range of hot and cold espresso products, and well as smoothies, teas, and simple food (PBJ sandwiches, hummus, coffee cake).
Rating: Full Mug for having a simple menu that delivers what a reasonable patron would want.

Price
Prices are reasonable. You can get a 20 oz. cup of coffee for $2, and refills for $1 a piece. There's also a bottomless mug option for $2.68 a cup...free refills, but it'll take you three mugs to earn back the investment. Other price checks: 20 oz latte, $4. Flavored latte, $4.75 for 20 oz.
Rating: Full Mug for not price gouging, and providing a balance between profit and value with the bottomless mug option.

Ambience
Scotties has one of the best coffee house feels I've run into. It smells like coffee, has the classic coffee shop patrons (college students, bohemians, old men playing chess). The furniture has a unique, not-bought-from-Sysco feel to it. There's even original art work on the walls and for sale...photographs by Cheryl and Doug Kneisley, underwater scenes from the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida Keys.
Rating: Full Mug because I don't think they could be more like an indie coffee shop if they tried...because, well, that's what they are.

Let me finish off with a couple pictures of the place...I neglected to get a shot of the storefront like I'd planned, but I might be able to update that at a later date. If you're anywhere near Worthington, Scotties is a great place to stop for a bit...just a couple minutes south of 270 on US-23.

Rating Overall: Five full, steaming mugs of java!

The Late, Anti-Climatic Post

I had intended to write a late post, a review on Scottie's Cafe and Tea House. I had it in mind all day, even while I had one of the worst days at work ever. I made myself drag my tired, vegetable-like butt off the couch and head down to Worthington. I made sure I had my review template on my Palm, and realized I could shoot some pretty cool pics with it once I got in the space and saw how neat it was.

Then my friend showed up, and we spent the hour visiting. Ooops.

I'll go back very soon, 'cause this is one of the coolest shops I've been in, period. In the mean time, informal poll time:

In order to atone for dereliction of duty, should the author

1. Be made to post on the weekend
2. Submit to a kick from each reader
3. Write "I Won't Forget to Take Notes" 25 times
4. Just write the dang review ASAP
5. All of the above

Make your selections, choose your druthers!

Rapid Turnover...?

Sorry its a day late...I didn't realize I had only saved the post, not published it!

I'm pondering what to do when you lose two key employees on the same night, a situation my sister is indirectly coping with. It's a simple issue...what are you gonna do when you have to fill slots on the schedule? You can only ask the remaining employees to cover so much, so you gotta hire new people soon as possible.

That often means hiring someone crappy though...someone you don't vette properly because of the time crunch.

This is a two fold issue, since as an owner/operator you sabotage the culture, the efficiency, maybe even the safety and security of your business. As one of the new person's coworkers, you have to directly put up with someone who you have to train, who might have attitude or ability problems.

It's a cycle that means the rest of your key people lose their value as they become demoralized, or even quit. And if you have no key people, you have no culture. If you have no culture (or a culture of "It's just a job") you won't be able to retain employees OR customers.

Death spin! Oh noes.

How do you deal with the issue then? How do you avoid the death spiral of bandaid hiring?

You, as an owner/operator, have to get on line for a few days and fill the spot. Or get buy in from the team, pay out overtime or other perks for people picking up shifts. Bandaid moves...but bandaids that are sterile, and won't infect the wound.

I'm also a big believer in always hiring...so in my shop, I'd have a few people I'd just interviewed not long ago I could call up and get started. Somewhere in all of these options, the shop would weather the storm, with a stronger sense of self. It's more art than science...but I'll try and keep exploring this topic, since good human resource management is hard to find.

Thoughts?

Sorry!

There's been a lack of posting this week, which apparantly I explained on my other blogs but not here. Sorry :-( The short version is: my girlfriend and I have split and the drama of that, coupled with getting things in our apartment squared away, hasn't left me a lot of time or inclination to blog.

But now, we gotta fix that.

I still haven't made it to any coffee shops...sorry. However, I did find a new blog that does some really in-depth reviews...they're working their way through the Columbus specialty coffee scene, and it definitely seems like they know what they're talking about.

Check out Columbus Coffee Review today!

I'm hunting up some other coffee blogs out there, so if you know of one please drop me a line!

A pretty good article on how to grind coffee showed up on my Twitter page courtesty of Coffee Zen. It's on the site Ezine Articles, and you might find it helpful.


I started to add to this post, then realized it would make a lot more sense to have it as it's own post. You'll see what I mean Monday.

Take care and enjoy!

Review? Nah.

So, my plan was to have a review to post today...but, the coffee shop I was going to (Tutts, over near Worthington) is no more. Thanks, Google.

Because of my schedule, any other reviews will have to wait until the weekend...meaning...there isn't much here for you today. Sorry :-(

However, over at Coffee Cup News Jason posted a pretty neat article a few days ago...about how drinking coffee BEFORE excersizing can lessen the pain.

I generally try to avoid coffee before working out because of the dehydration effect...but I DO drink it before work each day, and that's a physical job. I don't usually get the aches and pains a lot of people do either...connection? Mayhaps.

That's all I've got today...tune in again Tuesday, hopefully to hear about my visit to Scottie's Tea and Coffee House.

The Culture

Recently, I took it upon myself to stick around my day job an extra fifteen minutes and show a new guy a couple things. Nothing serious...just where the store-use tools are, how to mark down damaged stuff, whom to pay attention to.

It was enough to remind me of the days when I did orientations for Wendy's. Orientations were probably the best part of my job, with training a close second. When you bring a new person into an organization, the first couple days are the key. It sets the tone for their entire experience. Its when you set the standard a person will measure other input against.

It's re-creating part of the organization. Making what you have better (or ensuring its continued success) simply by taking the time to set someone up properly. I think about a startup, a cafe or restaurant from scratch where one doesn't have to inocculate against staff with the wrong idea or attitude...and it makes me happy.

My sister has worked in a coffee shop off and on for the past few years. She's also worked in a small restaurant, closely with the owner/operators. Her opinion is that I romanticize the start up process, creating that culture. Her opinion is that the initial training wave is great, it goes just as you expect...but, after successive waves of new employees, things get less and less shiny. There's more drama, more disappointment.

I think there's a lot of truth to that. I never said it'd be easy to create a culture of excellence, to maintain it, to get buy in from the employees. If it was easy, we'd never complain about the crap service at McDonalds. We'd never wonder why Starbucks can't get our drink right. We'd never hate our boss. I've come close a few times, but I've always been sabotaged by the company. The GM won't buy in, or the company wouldn't allow enough labor hours for training, or the pay is too low for anyone to give a rat's ass.

Starting from scratch, with a blank slate to draw on? I could do a heck of a lot more than try to make a guy feel valued by showing him where to find a wrench, while warning him that Jimbob is full of shit. The possibility is what excites me, the idea of no outside limits on what I want to accomplish.

Review System

I've been trying to figure out how to better review coffee shops, in a more fair and objective way. While I like writing my impressions on these things and letting you come to your own conclusions, I realize some people may not want to interpret my thoughts. They want them on a platter, ready to digest. And I understand that with no judgement.

There's also the element of trying to keep my thoughts more or less consistent. This isn't talk radio, where I'm going to condemn the first caller for taking a particular action, then praise the last caller for the same thing. The key with most things of this sort? Keeping track of what your stance is, what the rubric is.

So what's the rubric? There's the hard part, friends. That's what I'm going to try and come up with today (in no particular order).

1. Wifi. Is it there? Is it free? How much does it cost? Is there space to use my computer? How long will I be able to sit there without the stink eye? Do they provide equipment to enable internet addiction?
2. Space/Layout. How big is the place (uncomfortably huge, uncomfortably small, or just right)? How is it laid out? Is the furniture "coffee shop appropriate?" Do you have to hunt for the condiment bar? Where are the bathrooms?
3. Menu. Are we looking at something too simple? Too filled with custom (expensive) drinks? Are there helpful explanations on the board? Easy to read in any event? Does it have anything I want to drink/eat?
4. Price. Self explanatory, but...are they delivering a good value for the cost? Especially compared to other shops.
5. Ambience. Does this place feel like a coffee shop? Like an independent shop, or a supermarket Starbucks? Is it a community center...live music, message boards, charity work, whatever? (Those places feel different from the others).

I think five categories is more than I can really keep track of. Thank goodness for the PDA.

Now...how to rate? Using stars is traditional, which is why I shun them without consideration. Coffee mugs...hrm...there's an idea. Partial mugs of coffee makes even more sense than partial stars, as well, and I definitely believe in giving partial credit where due.

By George, I think we have it.

Reset!

Ayuh. That's what we got here, a situation for a reset. In recent weeks, I've quit my second job and had a decided interest in refocusing on writing, specifically blogging. With a little luck, we'll start seeing some more posting action happening around here.

I need to figure out a better review system, something that can keep things more on an even keel. A rating system, perhaps, something that can rate specific things. Or categories. I dunno, and I'm rambling now. If you have any suggestions...please, offer them. I'm open to suggestions, 'cause I know I ain't the smartest clown in the blogosphere.

Right now I'm grappling with the best amount of sugar to put into my coffee. I like darker blends, which are pretty bitter if you take them straight. I also drink Folger's during the week, which is not exactly smooth. 1/2 & 1/2 helps, but it's not foolproof. When I go too light on the sugar, it's hard to keeping drinking it. The taste is lost in the bitterness.

Too much sugar? Not only do I start hearing "Diabetes runs in the family!" but only the first half is really drinkable. Sugar settles on the bottom as sugar is wont to do, and no amount of stirring will get it to dissolve evenly. By the time I'm in the bottom half of the mug, I'm grimacing just as bad as if I didn't put enough in.

Part of my problem is I don't really measure it in. I eyeball it, using a plain scoop. If I started using a measuring system, I'd at least be able to knowing how much is too much, etc and adjust.

But I'm resisting that. It seems too...artificial. Too mechanical. No feel. Am I just being an idiot? I think maybe.

Vacation

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the lack of posts the past two weeks. (The blank review has been removed, since it was...y'know, blank.)

I'm currently on vacation, visiting family in Colorado. That meant no time for posting this past weekend.

The weekend before, when I should have been creating filler material? I was off travelling, visiting a friend of mine who's going to be vanishing off to sea for nine months.

So...poor planning means I've let you blog readers down. But on the plus side, I think my priorities aren't TOO much outta whack.

Thanks for the patience, and regular posting will resume next week!

---John

Travel Mugs, Thermosae, the Worst Way to Start a Day and How to Avoid It

I haul myself into work for 4am each morning. That's...early. Really early. Especially when sometimes my other job keeps me out until 10pm. Do the math, and be appalled.

And understand why I leave home every morning with a full travel mug of coffee.

I started using Sarah's travel mug a while back because the ones I own don't fit in cupholders. Not in my car, not in the forklifts at work, nowhere. I kept setting the mugs down in the car, and getting spills. I kept setting them down at work, and forgetting them (and burning about a half hour a day hunting for the mug...not good if you want to keep getting paid).

Sarah's worked great tho. Wide top, skinny bottom. Fit into cupholders, kept 20 oz's of coffee pretty warm. I approved.

But. And there's always a but.

The lid doesn't stay on very well. If you look at it the wrong way, the lid pops off. Couple it with a sort of inherent instability (like I said, skinny bottom-wide top) and you get coffee on the floor.

I work with my hands, which means the cup gets put down a lot. I'm not an idiot, I pick pretty stable, out of the way places to put my coffee down on. Usually. But sometimes you can't. Or sometimes, a forklift will crash into the table, and rattle it enough the unstable mug falls and the weak lid comes off.

No coffee left. Not even a drop. This usually happens after a single mouthful of coffee or less.

I'd like to say this happened once before I found a solution. It actually occured six or seven times over a four month period. Once it happened twice in the same week.

Not. Good. Mornings.

I still use the same mug, but now I brew extra coffee and put it in a thermos. The thermos stays in the breakroom, so that if someone wipes out my coffee I'm not deprived of my caffeine for the morning. It's also a nice bonus to be able to refill my coffee cup...some days you just need an extra fix.

Redundancy redundancy redundancy. Learn from NASA, kids.

Vending Machine Coffee

I once spent a year in a long distance relationship. And I'm not talking about, an hour's drive away. That's not distance. If you can't make an hour or two work, you're just not that interested (or they don't kiss well...either way...).

By long distance, I mean I spent 12-14 hours driving anytime I wanted to see this girl. And yes, it was worth it each time.

And of course, I would pack my snacks (or have money to stop with). I'd buy a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee before setting out. Once I even had a thermos filled up by those helpful guys. But eventually, the coffee you started with is going to run out; if you finish a 13 hour drive with the same cup of coffee you started with, there's a serious problem.

Now the problem I had, because I never finished with the same cup of coffee. Look at my typical route:



I travel through a whole lot of NOTHING in Indiana, then hit Chicago, then a whole lot of NOTHING in N. Illinois and Wisconsin. I mean, seriously. It amazes me that there can be so little, for so long at a time. Especially in Wisconsin. I mean, nothing but trees.

So where can I stop for some decent coffee? Maybe Chicago...but really, have you ever tried to drive through Chicago? No? If you ever do, you'll understand that once you're in the flow of traffic...you won't want to ever leave it. There's no excuse for ever pulling off the highway (assuming the traffic lets you get off the road in the first place). You'll have to merge back on...and...um. Damn. Suffice it to say it's not worth stopping in Chicagoland for coffee.

This leaves me with really just one option: Rest stop vending machines.

The trick with vending machines is to not take the standard coffee. It'll have caffeine, but taste absolutely AWFUL. I mean, gross. I mean, you'll never touch coffee again after drinking plain coffee from a vending machine. Especially if it's one in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin that gets a visit once every two weeks for a fresh-up.

So what's that leave you with? The flavored stuff. French vanilla. English toffee. I once had a memorable experience with a "Butterfinger" flavored coffee drink. They cost a bit more, but are totally worth it. You get the caffeine, but none of the truly gross flavor.

That's my official advice, the path I take whenever I'm faced with a vending machine-or-nothing situation. You're welcome to it.

Java's

I deliver pizzas in the Gahanna area. Every now and again, I drive by a sign advertising Java's Cyber Cafe drive thru. I'm always intrigued by new coffee shops, but I deliver pizzas too late to drink coffee and I'm rarely down that way if I'm not working. C'est la vie.

So when I decided I would make weekend trips to various coffee shops and review them, Java's made the list right away. Sarah and I made the trip last Sunday.

Java's sits as an anchor on a newish strip mall. They do have a drive thru, and free wifi. They also offers several computers with internet access for you to work on, their claim to fame. You can print in color for $.50/page.

Aside from the computer work stations and some local photography for sale on the walls, Java's is very reminiscent of a Starbucks. Not in the important ways: The coffee was better, and the atmosphere less corporate, and the net access is free. But the layout and decor of the lobby, the look of the bar, and the items on the menu are nearly interchangable.

The service was excellent! The barrista was very friendly and involved in our order. Java's serves Crimson Cup coffee, fair trade and organic, which is quite tasty. They also serve smoothies, which Sarah assures me are quite yummy. Decaf available, but I didn't see anything specifically sugar free or otherwise health conscious.

While the space is just about big enough to host music or poetry events, I didn't see evidence of such goings on. Java's offers a few prepackaged foods, like cereal boxes and pastries, but nothing made on site. You see the beginnings of being a player in the community (the art on the walls, the business card rack full of local businesses) but as Sarah said, there is plenty of room to expand that angle.

Java's is not a bohemian, characteresque coffee shop but it doesn't have to be. If you need a place for a good cup of coffee and internet access, Java's is more than up to the task. Perfect for that cup of coffee on the way to work or on the way out for the evening, or if you need to use a computer/printer in a hurry.

If you're ever in Gahanna jonesing for some coffee, stop in or drive thru Java's Cyber Cafe!

Grounds for Change

One of the standing gift ideas for me is coffee stuff. A grinder, bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee, mugs, gift cards to coffee places. All of these and more have worked very well in the past, and I can't see them ever getting old.

A new idea my sister had was, "Well, what about those coffee clubs?" You know the type, where each month you get a new type of coffee to try. I thought it was a neat idea, especially since I like to try new coffee (Folgers and Maxwell house are good for the weekday grind, but...not exciting, you see) but I don't usually have the time or the money to really search good coffee out.

You don't know my sister, so I'll fill you in: she recently exploded into global awareness. She sponsors a woman in a 3rd world country, buys free trade widgets, and is disgusted when people say things like "It's too expensive to buy responsibly produced stuff." All this ties into her choice of a coffee club for my birthday gift.

Grounds for Change is the name of the company, and as you may imagine it's a fair trade, organic, shade grown, carbon-free company. More importantly, it's so far been damn good. Right now I'm drinking the Solstice Blend (the December coffee I received). It's truly fabulous. I love a dark roast, and this stuff is nice and dark. The bag describes the blend: "Notes of chocolate and toasted nuts." How many ways can one say, "WINNER!"?

I also like the cut of the company's jib. I like to judge a company by it's mission statement (the simpler the better) and it doesn't get much better than this:

"To support social equity and environmental sustainability through fair trade, organic, shade grown coffee."

And how much does all this eco-friendly, progressive silliness cost you? About as much as a pound of Starbucks coffee (for much better flavor). Go check them out...it's a very well put-together website.

Instant Coffee

It's time to discuss instant coffee...specifically, the acceptable and the will-get-you-beaten.

And just a tip here: if someone's choice in coffee offends you to the point of violence...just go get something you like better. Someone brings you a cup that's just...awful? So what? Have them hold down the fort while you go get something better. They have some awful instant coffee in their cupboard? Don't beat them; buy them some Clasico.

Since we're on the subject, Clasico is really the only kind of instant I'll consider. Remember that camping trip I took a few weeks back? I'm totally capable of using a percolator over a stove or fire, but it's kind of a pain. So I went looking for a package of instant. And not just ANY instant. The Nescafe Clasico.

This stuff is great. I'd had instant a few times before meeting Clasico, and it was...lacklustre, to say the least. Weak and bitter, no matter what I did to it. I swore off instant for several years.

Enter Juan. I used to work at an international fast food chain, and while there I met an incredible guy named Juan. I could write a whole blog about how great Juan is/was, but since this isn't the Juan-Blog I'll limit the discussion to his contribution to my coffee repetoire.

It was Sunday morning, just before open. The work was pretty much finished, and I was thinking about unlocking the doors early for the hell of it. Juan was smarter than I: he was making some coffee that smelled amazing. I followed my nose to see him mixing up some instant coffee.

"Juan! Instant? No bueno, amigo." I started to turn away.

"Oh no, Jone-a-tan. Es MUY bueno. Here," and he offered me the cup, already mixed up con leche style the way I like it (that is, a lil coffee with the milk and sugar). Before I could protest, he was mixing another cup for himself.

So I drank it. And swore that first thing after my shift, I was going to buy me some Nescafe Clasico, even if I had to travel to Jungle Jim's to get it. Joe came in not long after this, and also took a free sample...and immediately asked Juan for another cup.

Juan's a good guy, and gave Joe the second cup. Like I said, Juan is amazing.

Long story shorter than it could be? If you need instant (and yes, there are situations that call for it) coffee, make sure you have some Clasico on your shelf. It's freeze dried...so...it'll keep. Long as you need it too, I reckon.