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'Sexpresso' Stands Proliferate; Will They Put the ‘Bux Out of Biz?

June 19, 2009 at 9:07 AM | 0 Comments

We’ve been covering the saga of Maine’s Topless Coffee Shop pretty religiously here on Jaunted, so we’re pleased (and a little perplexed) to report that the concept of barely-clothed baristas has now officially spread from coast to coast.

We don’t know how we missed this one up until now, but it turns out the birthplace of coffee shops itself—Washington State—is pioneering a new trend of so-called “sexpresso” stands like Lakewood’s Hot Hut and the mini-chain Moulin Brew, which has locations in Yakima and Tacoma. The stands all feature lattes served by female baristas who wear outfits that Starbucks most certainly would not approve of. No one is actually topless, but there’s an awful lot of duct tape and not much actual clothing. It's a bit like the thrill of watching scrambled adult cable channels.

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Craving Peet's Coffee in New York? Then Book a Flight Out of JFK

June 15, 2009 at 3:59 PM | 0 Comments

Peet's Coffee is a revered West Coast coffee chain that keeps a humbler, lower profile compared to other java joints. We love their great roasts and powerful latte drinks, not to mention their refill policy (90 cent for a large coffee refill) and their two hours of free WiFi.

In our personal coffee rankings it's scores a solid second place standing ahead of Coffee Bean and Starbucks but behind Dunkin' Donuts and that's only because we live in Los Angeles where DD is forbidden.

While we pine for Dunkin' on the West Side, our East Coast friends do the same with Peet's. But they won't have to pine anymore if they are flying out of T4 at JFK. A small Peet's Coffee counter has opened right near the Virgin America gates. So anyone coming from the West Coast and already missing Peet's can have one last cup of joe. Similarly, westbound passengers can get a head start on acclimating by taking a latte on the flight.

Peet's is also available in NYC grocery stores but you know, it's much better when someone else makes it for you.

Maine's Topless Coffee Shop Reopens as Topless Tent

June 12, 2009 at 10:02 AM | 1 Comment

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.

Related Stories:
· Arsonist Destroys Maine's Topless Coffee Shop [Jaunted]
· Maine Opens Topless Coffee Shop; Hopefully With Frost Bite Insurance [Jaunted]
· Burned topless coffee shop reopens in a tent [Jaunted]

[Photo: AP]

Arsonist Destroys Maine's Topless Coffee Shop

June 4, 2009 at 4:17 PM | 2 Comments

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]

In Rome, Bars Are For Coffee

May 11, 2009 at 3:21 PM | 2 Comments

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.

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Three Not-So-Traditional Coffee Houses To Try in Vienna

March 17, 2009 at 12:54 PM | 0 Comments

All this week, Carolyn Banfalvi will be taking us on a eat-and-drink tour of Vienna, Austria. If you have any questions or suggestions for Vienna Travel, let us know and we'll have Carolyn get back to you. Enjoy.

If there’s anywhere in the world to avoid the coffee chains, it’s Vienna. Think Vienna, and its gilded coffee houses come to mind. These are places where waiters dressed in black and white serve coffee in porcelain cups on silver trays, and the delicate cakes are made as they have been for hundreds of years.

Such iconic Viennese coffee houses have long been places where locals spend significant chunks of their lives, but the city also offers a more modern take on the traditional coffee house, where the younger generations take their coffee and check their email in surroundings ranging from hip Bohemian to sleek revamped versions of landmark cafes.

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Maine Opens Topless Coffee Shop; Hopefully With Frost Bite Insurance

February 25, 2009 at 9:14 AM | 2 Comments

America still clings to its Puritanical roots when it comes to individuals and their...um... birthday suits. While the French Riviera has their well-known topless beaches and Brazil loves the thong (on women and men), America can't really handle the sight of human flesh unless it's in the privacy of our own homes or in a place where money is exchanged like a strip joint. (Ah! Our the joys of our capitalist society!)

Now you can add "coffee shop" to the the list of places where Americans can witness topless action in action. Yes, where most of us are used to hearing the word "bottomless" when it comes to coffee promotions, a brand-new java joint is advertising "topless" and it's got nothing to do with coffee.

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Some Starbucks Alternatives in Cartagena

February 24, 2009 at 1:36 PM | 0 Comments

All this week, Amanda Pressner will be bringing us reports from her recent trip to Colombia. Was her adventure more "Romancing the Stone" or more "Medellin"? Stick with us this week to find out. Any questions about traveling to Colombia? Let us know.

Pop quiz, caffeine junkies: What’s the only coffeehouse that’s actually headquartered in a coffee producing country? It’s Juan Valdez Café, a multinational chain created in 2002 by Colombian National Federation of Coffee Growers. Named after the country’s longtime java icon (you know, that mustachioed guy with the donkey who hand-delivers beans to sleep-deprived Americans in commercials) the company has locations in 25 Colombian cities, nine countries, including the U.S.

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Would You BYO Coffeemaker?

February 20, 2009 at 10:02 AM | 1 Comment

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]

A Starbucks Alternative in Valparaiso

February 4, 2009 at 9:14 AM | 0 Comments

West Coast web media princess, and the latest Jaunted Embed, Shira Lazar is making her way through Chile on a top secret travel mission. She will be posting daily for the next week, in hopes of creating a glorious on-the-fly travel guide using as much point oh social webbing as she can. Enjoy.

As we approached our first day in Chile’s Mediterannean heartland, Valparaiso, we left our memories of $4 non-fat, soy, triple lattes and frappucinos behind.

It was 10am on a Saturday, and we sat waiting in a booth at the charming but empty Café El Desayunador (above) for two local Valpo bloggers we’ve never met in person. Desayunador means "breakfaster" in Spanish and according to my email acquaintances, it’s pretty much the only spot that opens early and actually “does breakfast”. Most cafes just offer media lunas (sweet pastries).

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Starbucks Alternatives: The Coffee Mill

July 29, 2008 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments

In Seoul, where the locals generally prefer their morning brew to be of the hazelnut-flavored and watery persuasion, finding a decent cup of coffee can be an endeavor. Cafes here are often pricey with plush, tacky decor, so stumbling upon a simple spot to while away a rainy summer afternoon is even more rare. Which is why we were delighted when we came upon The Coffee Mill.

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Celeb Beverage Travel: Who Drinks Starbucks In New York City?

June 26, 2008 at 9:08 AM | 0 Comments

New Yorkers are supposed to be over celebrities--a harder proposition thanks to Gawker Stalker. But when Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler ducked into a Manhattan Starbucks with his girlfriend this week while staying at the Trump International Hotel, he ran afoul of a crazed fan... of Jesus!

That's right, there are nuns in SoHo, and one of them jumped up and down when she spotted Tyler in "her" Starbucks.

Seems like another great reason to check out our Starbucks Alternatives series: No screaming nuns! Even better that these shops don't feature has-been, Croc-wearing rockers.

Related Stories:
· Nun Sees Miracle [NYP]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Superficial]