Jaunted - Tag: Coffee

Travel Mug Solves Age-Old 'How To Avoid Getting Tongue Burns' Problem

Omri — 2009-10-14T16:58:37-05:00

The travel mug designers at Jolex have developed a new travel cup that promises to solve one of the central dilemmas in coffee drinking: what to do during that delicate period when the coffee is still scalding hot but you want to drink it anyway. The trick is usually to get just enough but not too much plasma-temperature coffee on your tongue. Experienced coffee drinkers can pull this off while driving, doing makeup, and blogging into their smartphone. The rest of us just look comical, jerking the cup back and forth trying not to get burned.

The new Brugo coffee mug, which uses an innovative design to cool off the coffee one sip at a time, is made for the rest of us.

New York: The Donut War Is On As Canada Moves Into Dunkin Donuts Territory

BS — 2009-07-13T11:19:17-05:00

As committed lovers of all things donuts, we’re always happy to hear about another contender challenging Dunkin Donuts for the crown. Now that the Krispy Kreme kraze has cooled down a little bit, our money’s been on the Fractured Prune to grab the title of next big donut, but it looks like the winds are blowing southward—are Canadian donuts the next big thing?

Apparently, the Canadians actually consume the most donuts per capita and have more donut shops than any other country in the world. Who knew? And now they’re ready to take on DD on their home turf. Tim Hortons, the annoyingly un-apostrophe’d Canadian coffee-and-donuts mega-chain, is opening 13 locations in New York City today, and just to rub it in they bought ten more DD locations over the weekend.

The northern bakers are most famous for their very maple-y donuts and "double double" coffee (two sugars, two creams), and they also serve something called "timbits"—bite-sized round donuts that sounds an awful lot like what we call "munchkins."

To promote their invasion, Hortons is giving out free coffee to the first 500,000 commuters who stop by their new branch in Penn Station today. Let us know if you make it; we’re curious to know if these Canadian donuts are worth the hype!

Related Stories:
· Tim Hortons [Official Site]
· Dunkin' Donuts loses out to Canadian invaders Tim Hortons in war of donuts at Penn Station [NY Daily News]
· Dunkin’ Donuts Alternatives [Jaunted]

[Photo: taekwonweirdo]

Vassalboro: Maine's Topless Coffee Shop Reopens as Topless Tent

BS — 2009-06-12T10:02:10-05:00

We've got good news for New England travelers who like their caffeine fix but hate it when their servers wear shirts. Turns out the nation's oddest Starbucks Alternative is down, but far from out.

The Grand View Coffee Shop, which was burned to the ground by a moral crusader last week, has already reopened. Owner Donald Crabtree erected a tent on the site of his destroyed cafe, and the topless waitresses have volunteered to work just for tips (to be fair, we'd bet they get better tips than your local Starbucks barista).

Topless Coffee one; moral crusaders zero.

[Photo: AP]

Vassalboro: Arsonist Destroys Maine's Topless Coffee Shop

BS — 2009-06-04T16:17:05-05:00

Earlier this year we told you about what we thought was a pretty fantastic moment in the history of coffee shops. Grand View Topless Coffee Shop opened its doors in Vassalboro, Maine. As far as we know, Grand View was the only place in the country where you could order a cappuccino and crueller and have it served by a topless waiter or waitress.

An ingenious business plan if you ask us, but unfortunately, not all of Grand View's neighbors were so enamored. A fire destroyed the coffee shop early Wednesday morning, and police say it was set by an arsonist. The fire came just a few hours after the shop's owner, Donald Crabtree, had appeared before the local planning board to defend his operation, and followed several complaints about Grand View.

Undeterred, Crabtree vows to reopen his business, but for now, the nation has lost its most unique Starbucks alternative.

Related Stories:
· Topless coffee shop destroyed in arson fire [Boston Globe]
· Maine Opens Topless Coffee Shop; Hopefully With Frost Bite Insurance [Jaunted]
· Maine travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Boston Globe/AP]

Rome: In Rome, Bars Are For Coffee

egw — 2009-05-11T15:21:10-05:00

Is there really no place like Rome? This week Ellen Wernecke chronicles her first visit to the Eternal City.

My first morning in Rome, a well-meaning hostel manager gently shoved me out the door with a cheery "Now it's time to go sightseeing!" Dazed, I stumbled to the nearest hole-in-the-wall cafe and sidled up to the bar, grateful that "cappuccino" was in the local language.

Seconds later, an old man entered, exchanging what I can only hope were gruff pleasantries with the workers. He ordered a coffee (which on that side of the pond means a freshly pulled shot of espresso) and, after being handed a bottle, filled the rest of the glass with Sambuca. Dare you to try that at Starbucks.

Would You BYO Coffeemaker?

egw — 2009-02-20T10:02:09-05:00

For travelers on an extreme budget, it's a Hobson's choice: Getting to know a place via the local cuisine can be one of the most memorable attractions to go there, but who wants to swallow their whole museum and excursion budget? We've had this debate with ourselves before, but never when it comes to coffee, which is why we're saying "no way!" to the Quick Cafe II travel coffeemaker.

Well, okay, in places where there is no coffee, it might be nice to whip up a quick, steaming cup. But if there isn't coffee, there might not be a power source either, meaning you just toted an 18-oz. white plastic brick all the way to the Savannah or the beach. And hey, you're on vacation! Why not give the local brew a try, whatever it is?

Make no mistake about it: A world without coffee is one we don't much like the idea of living in. But we might be able to get by without it for a few days. Would you carry your own coffeemaker?

Related Stories:
· Starbucks Alternatives: The Coffee Mill [Jaunted]
· How to Brew a Decent Cup of Coffee in Your Hotel Room [HC]
· Starbucks Alternatives [Jaunted]

[Photo: Amazon.com]

Kailua-Kona: Get Your Caffeine Buzz on the Big Island

kjb — 2008-10-27T13:20:02-05:00

Hawaii's oldest food festival kicks off on November 7 and runs through November 16 in celebration of the island's famed crop. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, as the name implies, also attempts to reveal more about the community and its heritage in addition to just serving up tasty beverages.

The International Lantern Parade starts things off on Friday evening. Groups take to Alii Drive dressed in ethnic costumes. On Sunday, practice your coffee picking abilities in a timed competition. Both experts and novices are welcome as you compete for prizes, including cash.

On Thursday, November 13, head over to the Keauhou Beach Resort to witness the final round of the Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition. Growers from up and down the coast eagerly anticipate who will be honored with the award for finest coffee. Finally, if your caffeine high is still going strong, wrap things up on the final festival weekend with the Kamehameha Schools Kona Coffee Grand Parade. Try you best to sit still as floats, costumes and even Miss Kona Coffee march through town.

Related Stories:
· Kona Coffee Cultural Festival [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: lrargerich]