Coffee Break

I found a PEARL

 The Pearl Cup Espresso Bar
1900-B Henderson Ave, Dallas
thepearlcup.com


We went to the Pearl Cup because we read about it in The Observer, then on Yelp. Everybody that we read had great things to say, so we headed down on one of those unseasonably cold Saturday mornings when the wind was whipping and everyone was saying "What happened to spring??" Perfect coffee shop weather to say the least.
The pastry display was not over abundant but I immediately caught sight of the Red Velvet cookies, and the Carrot Cake cookies that I had read about in several of the reviews. Cookies for breakfast, though, I wasn't sure about that. The nine year old was.
The decor at the Pearl Cup I'd call Urban Loft style. Lots of windows, a tall ceiling with clean but industrial feel to it, local and edgy artwork on display and just an all around uptown feel to it.  There is no drive through, this is definitely a neighborhood spot, but one worth driving to and worth making a u-turn to find a parking space. On the way I noticed all the furniture and art consignment shops and thought it would definitely be a cool way to spend a Saturday (maybe a slightly warmer one than we were enjoying that day) starting with a book and coffee at the Pearl Cup then exploring the shops around.
We walked in and my son immediately set up the laptop, accessed free wifi and started drinking his organic chocolate milk, while Paul and I explored the menu.
They have a signature drink, the Pearl Latte, a proprietary drink that I almost bypassed, but customers in the store were raving about it, encouraging the obvious newcomer to indulge in the favorite product. It's a lightly sweet latte, I had "for here"...love my lattes in an actual ceramic mug. The recipe is a secret, it hints of vanilla, but is so light, the froth was like cotton candy. I don't know if that's even a good comparison for a serious latte.
The baristas timed every shot we saw them pull and there was a scale under the tamper/portafilter pad for consistency in the shot process. Little details a former coffee shop owner and coffee geek can appreciate, but all you really need to know: they pay close attention to quality and it is obvious in the flavor of the drinks. Originality pays off as well. So let me tell you about the breakfast sandwich I had. A panini that was made with nutella and sliced bananas. I rolled my eyes when I paired this with the latte. It was fabulous. I'm ready to head back uptown now.
Paul got the Italian cappuccino which they described and listed separately from an American cappuccino with less milk. The smooth taste of their espresso was prominent in his cappuccino (yes, I tasted his cap, too, maybe more than once) The coffee roaster, Coffee Eiland from Dallas is known for his smooth, not bitter espresso delicato. Lattes on Location uses it, so did Coffee Dreams. I am so excited that the owners Rita and Carlene from the Pearl Cup use it, too.
They also worked with Coffee Eiland to develop their own Pearl Cup Blend.  I enjoyed talking with Rita and Carlene about that process, it envelopes both of their taste in coffee into one unique cup. Yes, I have to say it...it's poetry. You can purchase whole bean coffee to take home, packaged in environmentally friendly gold and silver bags with the Pearl Cup Label. Branding is a good thing, especially on good coffee.
I did buy one of the famous cookies to take home with me, and it was rich and tasty, I enjoyed nibbling on it all day. And wishing I had a much bigger latte when I was there.
My take is that this is perfect for Saturday morning if you live in the burbs, an everyday must if you live on Henderson, and a good place to take friends.
You'll impress them with your discovery of the Pearl Cup.

Out of this world...

When you are in Denton, Texas it's kind of a world of it's own. The city is full of students, as well Texans of all ages who merge together into the square for live music at virtually any time of day. There are so many venues here that offer so many specialties from the music to the food that it's no wonder my daughter has come back to Denton, declaring that she has found her people again. So she has fulfilled her duty and brought me to the Hot Coffee shop in the square, Jupiter House.
Out of this world.
I'm enjoying a single cup...only $1.00. It's the perfect dose to follow the giant waffle cone I had at Beth Marie's.(I don't do Ice Cream Parlour reviews, but if I did I'd mention it's on the list at WFAA best ice cream...and if you vote for them you could get free ice cream!)
Patrons can benefit from the coffee station here, it's educational! All the pots are well labeled with a succinct description of the coffees origins, undertones, brightness...smokiness, citrus, etc. For example:
I'm enjoying right now:
Natural Sidamo of Dewa Valley, Ethiopia
Aroma: Citrus Honey
Brightness: High
Body: Light
Finish: Sweet Berry

To me it's exceptional.They had several types/roasts/blends to choose from. There are lots of tables next to outlets. Is this not a college town? Of course they have the full espresso menu and offer smoothies, odwallas, sodas and Fuse beverages. There is an abundance of pastries and snacks. You could certainly camp here until the paper is written, the blog is posted, the client is landed, or the date is ready to head to a concert.
Local art is for sale on the walls and it's nice and bright in here.

I haven't room to taste the espresso today, but I saw them making it and I understand the baristas get hired after extensive resumes are studied. Baristas here compete in the SCAA barista competition, like David.

I'm going to move along to the giant used book store shortly, and catch up with my Dentonite daughter and ours sons.

If you are in Denton...check out Jupiter House on the square!

Coffee Shop Review: Coffee N Cream, Allen, TX

Talk about HOT!

The Village at Allen on the north side of town, go east at Stacy road, and check out all that's back there. besides all the shops and restaurants, my friend-- there is great coffee to be found. Right across the way from the children's village style play area, is the biggest, best yet Coffee N Cream coffee shop. Originating in downtown McKinney, the third location of this family owned business is my favorite yet. I'm saying if you loved Coffee Dreams a couple of years ago, you are going to love Coffee N Cream!
I tried two of their drips, they do a mild, a bold, and a decaf everyday. Their bold was great, not too strong and no bitterness.

I enjoyed a piece of their home made coffee cake. Coffee N Cream has it's own kitchen, does their own baked goods right out of the Allen location. Good coffee cake, not outstanding, but good. Their selection of pastries was basic, and they had a nice presentation.

I look forward to going back some evening and trying more of the desserts. 

But the rainy morning I sat in Coffee N Cream with @sarah_crisman, and we worked on our laptops utilizing every smart coffee shop owner's free  wifi I bought and enjoyed: 

the bold drip in a ceramic mug...yes!
a doppio con panna, it worked. It wasn't so super smooth that I could drink it without sweetening it a little, but it wasn't burnt, bitter or watery either. The barista did a good job, and I enjoyed visiting with her while she answered my questions and made the variety of drinks I needed to have in order to review.
and a soy chai latte, their chai is stronger than my favorite chai, has a good spicy kick to it.

The decor is great! It works bringing the atmosphere to go with the experience. Good job, CNC! It's going to be a great place to be in the summer, live music on the patio, ice cream for the kids, cappuccino for me.
They also have a nice selection of coffee STUFF, mugs, shirts, locally made artsy stuff.

Lest you think I just love everything, I have to say, right now I would not recommend their mocha.
They use a regular chocolate syrup that is too sweet and doesn't do the espresso justice.It may be fair in hot chocolate. Get the white mocha, or one of their novelty flavored drink specials.

All in all, I can't wait to go back and bring a friend. It is ideal for business one-ones as well as a good date night place. I enjoyed visiting with John, the owner. He has a passion both for the model they've created there and for the communit y.

Thanks, John and Mary for coming to Allen. Good luck. We'll be in soon.

Discovering the blog secrets of my writing soul.

You can tell by the frequency of my posts that I haven't gotten into the blog swing yet. I have no excuses for it, I can make the time. My computer hasn't crashed, I didn't spill coffee on my laptop. That is evidenced in the frequency of my facebook status updates. I can do the computer thing, no problem.

And I can write. My family is full of writers, none making scores of money at it yet, but we have some wit about us and no shortage of words. I even believe I have a topic of interest, so what is up? Why do I have a mental block that seems to navigate me away from this page?

I really don't want to bore anybody. I get bored reading some blogs, so I need to have one that will catch your attention in the first five seconds. I'm not that sure of myself.

It's my own fault. One of the best, and most amusing bloggers I know has already begun coaching me, and I just haven't finished my homework!

How to blog:
write 3 pages a day, hand write about just whatever comes off the top of your head. In this exercise you are not trying to blog, or be fascinating, it is an exercise and it will stimulate the ideas that you will blog about later.

read other people's blogs. a variety. your business interests 1, your social interests 2, spiritual 3, physical  interests or maybe entertainment 4. How many blogs can you read in a day? HOw do you schedule that in?

think i'll put it on my calendar.

change facebook status, read one blog

check bank balance and pay a bill online, read another blog (go for funny after that chore)

book an event, send an invoice, return a free quote to a customer, read a blog.

maybe i should read a blog at lunch.

will I get over my hesitation and step into something more like an addiction?  will it be like the novel I'm reading and just forget housework, ever? !

HOw about when I pick out a title then ramble on about something entirely different...now I have to change my title from Building my Business dream to....discovering the blog secret of my writing soul.

I also feel like I need a punch line....guess I better get busy reading all the other bl

ogs...

One of the coolest things for the countertop you'll ever have

I admit it, my kids are getting pretty spoiled this winter. I'm sure all the kids get hot chocolate, made with real milk, topped with whipped cream every day, though, so I don't feel at all guilty.

Here's the secret:
Part one: Froth au Lait. It looks like a little blender, has a spigot on the front and a mixer inside. Mine is stainless steel.

Part two: Milk, Ghirardelli ground sweet chocolate powder, vanilla syrup for coffee: Monin, or Torani, Sterling, 1883, whatever you can find, whatever you prefer. Right now we've been using Vanilla Bean.

Part three: Getting up before the kids by ten minutes, pour the milk in the froth au lait, scoop in the chocolate, add a squirt or a splash of the vanilla. You turn it on, it heats, stirs, heats and stirs, so that the kids come out and put their mug under the spigot, top with whipped cream (you know if you buy the light whipped cream in a can it has only 15 calories?)

I admit I live in Texas, and we've had cold then warm then cold then warm weather this winter, and you guys up north have much more winter weather to deal with. I just don't know how your kids are doing without this.

The one drawback, it can't go in the dishwasher. I put some dish soap and water in it as soon as I'm done in the morning, and finish cleaning it out later.
The other drawback/benefit? Add two shots of espresso to this cocoa and you've got my reason for putting on five pounds this winter! Mochas every day! I've got to take the dog for an extra walk now, or I'll keep on putting on sweet Ghirardelli pounds!
Don't run out of whipped cream!

Holiday Moments

Anyone who has heard me promote my business has heard me say...it's about the atmosphere. Isn't that what coffee shops really have to offer? If you are going to coffee shops for the beverage only, you are missing a huge piece of the American dream. Or European, or whatever. 

Admittedly there are days when we are grateful for the drive-thru quad venti mocha that keeps us company on the commute (not me, personally, I work in my home office and walk into the kitchen to refill) but I know you, it's a luxury that blurs the line of need/want. I do wish that the community where I lived allowed the kiosks for drive thru cappuccinos or fresh roasted drip, and I envy the pacific northwest who probably can't imagine our lack of them. 

But day to day coffee for survival business aside, I love, relish, and propogate the coffee shop atmosphere. Living room warmth, baristas on duty, fresh pastries, coffee grinding and milk frothing in the background noise along with the good music. Wi-Fi so people can plug in their laptops and work for that home office not at home feel. 

Starbucks coined the phrase the third place. The place where people go that is theirs, but isn't their home, isn't their work, it's just their other place to go and be. 

What do you most like to do there? Go alone and read? That sounds luxurious, doesn't it? I'm thinking big overstuffed chair, a mocha with a shot of some extra little flavor in it, do you think anybody would notice if I bring my fuzzy blanket and wear my slippers?
Most people, though, from my observations, if they are not working or playing on line, really like to use the coffee shop as a place to meet. Business, friends, mentors, colleagues, yes, family and dates.

I was a barista in a coffee shop, yes the big chain, when I came up with the idea for our business, and our ministry. Bring that atmosphere and the beverage to homes and business events, including the professional baristas, the menus, and the aroma. It's been so fun. I love meeting people and visiting over a cup of well made coffee. 

So the Holidays? Same thing, different flavor. Main point...slow down during the hustle and bustle to enjoy the atmosphere, the decorations, the company and the limited time flavors of the season. Don't let December zoom by without stealing some special Holiday moments, even if you have to put them in your calendar!
Merry Christmas!
See you egg nog chai and don't forget the nutmeg on top!

getting the ball rolling

Seriously, I love to talk, I love to talk about coffee, I love to talk about coffee shops, and get to know people, so starting a blog in this subject should be a natural process for me. Except for the whole blogging part. So I've got a coach to help me, a social media expert. I'll let you know how famous and successful that makes me and how quickly it happens.

My favorite coffee place over the weekend, and I was totally biased, admittedly, was in the foyer of Northplace Church in Sachse, TX. The new espresso bar they put in there is so stylish and the sounds and smells of Espresso Delicata being ground in the middle of the wonderful crowd there was so exciting. That's partly because my husband and I have been in the coffee ministry there for five years. It was in making mochas to raise money for missions that we started our business of catering espresso beverages. It is there that we make coffee for some of our favorite people in the world. And it is there that we get to see the impact of relationship building over a cup of coffee, the atmosphere of warmth that is added, not for making money so much as for conversation. Of course there is so much more going on at Northplace Church than the coffee bar, but we are so excited to be a part of that in a small way, I mean, you should hear the music at this church and the preaching...just be sure to stop by the coffee bar on your way into service!

Aaah Fall

What's your favorite question to get to know somebody?
Come here often?
Live around here?
What do you do?
I love to find out what someone's favorite coffee beverage is. Hazelnut latte or mint chip mocha frappe...Tea interests me too, but not like coffee.
I especially love talking to other coffee geeks that know what region they like their coffee to come from. Last week I talked to someone who liked Zimbabwe coffee. We gabbed on about the effects of geography on the flavors of coffee (or beer, or wine, I'm less familiar but understand they are like that too.)
My favorites are always Latin American. I find them to be smooth, low acid, and I like to drink it black.
Now if I get some good African coffee, I love to grab something good and blueberry..a blueberry crumb cake, tart, pie, cobbler, something like that. Nothing beats it. I guess it might be the other way around, if I get a hold of some wonderful berry pastry, I'll get some good African coffee to go with it. Kind of a roll your eyes back in your head good. Now I'm going to have to go to the neighborhood coffee shop because I don't have any berry pastries or African origins in the house and I've developed the deep desire to research that further. For you. All for you.
Here's a good idea for fall...hot spiced cider!
I have a great concentrate that I get from Vermont, it comes in a cool gallon jug, is spiced just right, and all you do is add hot water! It's liquid, too, so not that powdered stuff off of the shelf at Kroger. It's all natural, can I say enough? It will be on my menu for all my fall/winter events.
Don't forget Lattes on Location when you are planning your holiday parties, in fact, think of us early...as soon as you have the date, call me, email me get yourself on my calendar!

You've got to start somewhere

Piles on the desk? Pile of clothes? Dishes? No, don't stop and run away, it's fine that you are sitting here, and I won't remind you of those piles again until we're done.
We've got to start somewhere, and today I'm starting the blog posts that will become my coffee newsletters.
I'm sure the water will be fine once I jump in, and now I've crept up to the edge and I can't wait to get started.
I'm sitting here at Saxby's in McKinney, Texas. My bff and I are working on our laptops, something I dreamed of when I was a barista in a coffee shop only about years ago. I practically drooled over those people who were sitting there working while I cleaned up the crumbs around them and refilled their cups.
What I'm trying to figure out is why it took me so long to start this phase of my business. I'm here with the support of a media analyst telling me how to go forward, and which direction. With my business, Lattes on Location, I'm a coffee geek and a coffee shop hopper, now for official business. Coffee Shop reviews on Coffee Break.
So let me tell you about Saxby's. If you live within 20 miles of Virginia pkwy in McKinney, you'll want to stop by and enjoy one of their excellent pastries, and a cup of coffee. They have a good selection of teas (I'm enjoying their chai latte this morning) and also a few retail items, mugs and such, which is always nice. Of course, free WIFI.
It's not a huge shop, it does have a drive-thru which would be important if I lived in the neighborhood. This is a nice atmosphere for work, and there is a nice flat screen over the fireplace where you can sit on the couches and watch cc when you need a break from your computer screen. Saxby's is a franchise coffee shop, so there are a lot Saxby's merchandise and franchise information available, but since it is locally owned, well, I'll call it an independent.
Not so much a date night place to me, but hey, there's sandwiches...I'll probably hang out here longer today just because of that. They're on croissants....perfect.
One more thing, they have a coffee card that you can load up with money and it keeps track of your drink purchases and will reward your frequent purchases with a free drink every ten or so.
I look forward to telling you about Scooters next time.
But as for those piles, a little at a time. I have seven kids, a growing business, and a church ministry that keeps the piles well stocked, and I may never have all the piles eradicated at one time, but you can imagine me perched on the pole by the beach with one leg and both arms in the air....balance in life and business.
There's peace. I wish there was a beach nearby, I'd show you.