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Tags: Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee Shops / Coffee Travel / New York City / → All Tags

Cafe Grumpy Keeps Picky NYC Coffee Geeks Happy

You never have to look far for a cup of coffee in NYC, but that doesn’t mean New Yorkers can’t make an obsession out of the search for the perfect cup—and we don’t mean the ubiquitous “best cup of coffee in the world” that Will Ferrell got so excited about in Elf.

Lately, NYC java is more about the super-serious independent coffee shops that have popped up throughout Brooklyn and lower Manhattan, attracting devoted followings by treating a cup of coffee as something akin to an art form. Beans are carefully sourced and locally roasted, baristas are trained on top-notch equipment with all the seriousness of a culinary institute, and customers not only know what country their favorite brew is from, but its town of origin and even the farm.

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Tags: Starbucks Alternatives / Sexpresso / Coffee Shops / Bizarre / → All Tags

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

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

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.

Tags: Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee Shops / Coffee / Bizarre / Crime / Maine Travel / → All Tags

Maine's Topless Coffee Shop Reopens as Topless Tent

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]

Tags: Crime / Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee Shops / Coffee / Bizarre / → All Tags

Arsonist Destroys Maine's Topless Coffee Shop

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]

Tags: Geek Travel / Star Wars Travel / George Lucas / Yoda / Coffee Shops / → All Tags

Make A Pilgrimage To The Shrine Of Yoda

To fans of Star Wars, there’s no greater hero than George Lucas. Sure, he may have missed the mark with the most recent movies, but geeks everywhere hold him and his characters in high regard. That’s why we suggest trying to get a glimpse of the man and the myth at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco.

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Tags: Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee Shops / Topless Travel / Grand View Topless Coffee Shop / → All Tags

Maine Opens Topless Coffee Shop; Hopefully With Frost Bite Insurance

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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Repurposed Travel: Deptford's Recycled Train Cafe

A retired railway carriage in Southeast London has gotten a fresh makeover that's transformed it into a beautiful new gathering space. Called The Deptford Project Cafe, the rail car has been hand painted with retro song lyrics, bright colors and bold fonts by Studio Myerscough and Luke Morgan. The cafe is the opening move of a regeneration project to breathe life back into the Deptford Train Station area.

Besides serving locally sourced food and sustainably farmed coffee, The Deptford Project Cafe will also play host to art shows and a weekend creative market that will showcase art, design, music and film.

If you get there soon, you may also be able to catch one of their barbecues--and be sure to check out the bathroom dedicated to Elvis.

Related Stories:
· The Deptford Project Cafe [Official Site]
· Derailed Delight in Deptford [Joes[a]fiend]
· London Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Missed Connections / Ryan Gosling / Rachel McAdams / Restaurants / Coffee Shops / Bars / → All Tags

Missed Connections in Toronto: The Admit It, You've Seen "The Notebook" Edition

OK, so the romantic weepie starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling was pushed on us when we were terribly ill and couldn't fight back. But even if you believe it's a load of Hollywood hooey, the reunion of the movie's It Couple can make you believe, unlike Gena Rowlands, that love will find you again.

And with the Toronto Film Festival just a few weeks away, don't you want to be seduced in the dark?

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Caffeinated Travel: Mobile Coffee in Copenhagen

If you're strolling through downtown Copenhagen and need to get your caffeine fix, keep an eye out for the Espressomanden. Ole, the espresso man, is the proprietor of a very cool mobile coffee shop mounted on a cargo bicycle.

He can be found daily, parked on the streets of Copenhagen, and is available to serve coffee at weddings, receptions and company parties. You can also wave him down, taxi style, and he'll stop and pull you a tasty double shot.

The Espressomanden is completely self sufficient. The cargo bike can carry loads up to 150 kg and the coffee machines are powered by natural gas on board.

As it happens, Copenhagen is one of the world's most bike friendly cities. More than 50 percent of the population ride bikes as their primary form of transportation. Cargo bike based businesses are also taking off in a big way. If you don't like coffee, you'll also find fruit bikes, newspaper bikes and a whole bunch of rickshaws.

Related Stories:
· Espressomanden [Official Site]
· Espressomanden Ole [Copenhagenize]
· Copenhagen Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Copenhagenize]

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Missed Connections in Atlanta: "Cuz You's a Cutie"

Hey, did you see the video HotelChatter posted from the reopening of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis? We're definitely checking it out the next time we're in town!

Check in first if you need someone to party with--it worked for R. Kelly!--and then hit the town to find your hotel-bar partner in crime:

Octane Coffee and Lounge :: This Starbucks alternative offers free wireless, its own blog, ample seating and women with beautiful smiles. 1009 Marietta St., NW

Bulldog Bar :: It proclaims itself Atlanta's #1 Gay Bar, serving up guest-DJ stands and shy guys. 893 Peachtree St., NE

Two Urban Licks :: This spicy Southern joint may not have takeout men, but if you can take the heat, request seats near the rotisserie! 820 Ralph McGill Blvd., NE

Related Stories:
· R. Kelly and Cassidy, "Hotel" [Lyrics007]
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of "Forbidden Love" dance as performed by the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company: bylander]

Tags: South Korea Travel / Starbucks Alternatives / Coffee / Coffee Shops / → All Tags

Starbucks Alternatives: The Coffee Mill

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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