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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by benh
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]
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by egw
Philadelphia isn't one of those towns that's overflowing with quirky coffee shops, but it's worth a ride out on the SEPTA train to hit up Milkboy Coffee, an always-happening cafe in the Mainline suburb of Ardmore.
Set between Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore, the spacious venue is always buzzing with studious types--probably thanks to the free WiFi and 10 percent student discount. Evenings are a little more lively, offering live music, indie movie premiers, art openings, book readings and DJ nights. The drinks menu is limited to java, but like many of Philly's finer venues, you can bring your own booze.
There's also a smaller offshoot of Milkboy about two miles up the Mainline in Bryn Mawr; it features live acoustic performances. Both locations serve breakfast and a menu of sandwiches and grill items.
Related Stories:
· Milkboy Coffee [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: jessiezhng9]
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by BS
Remember that scene in "Pulp Fiction" where John Travolta is shocked by the $5 shake at Jack Rabbit Slims? Better add River Maiden Artisan Coffee to his list of places to miss: The cafe serves up a $15 cup of Panama Esmeralda.
The ultra-rare beans that River Maiden uses are also available by the half pound for $100. One customer interviewed by CNN swears by the stuff:
It is very complex. It's wonderful. This one has some tropical fruit things coming through, notes of pineapple and a little bit of mango.
But not everyone's a fan. Another customer says she'd need a good reason to spend 15 bucks on a coffee:
Maybe if it was in Turkey or some place, but not off the streets here.
Related Stories:
· River Maiden Artisan Coffee [Official Site]
· How Much Is That Coffee? [CNN]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
This quirky North Boston cafe is about as far from a corporate coffee shop as you can get.
Owner L'angelo--who goes by one name--named his place after his two favorite dances, and that should give you a hint to Flamepoeira's artsy sensibilities. The sandwiches are all named for famous artists: You can go for the classic Da Vinci or the eclectic Dali, but you'll get more props from the staff if you venture for the avant-garde Warhol or the screaming hot Munch.
The espresso is strong and the WiFi is free, but this isn't the place to put on the earphones and dive into work. The lounge-y open room inspires conversation, and the cafe draws a crowd of artists and activists who are quick to slide in next to you and talk your ear off about the eclectic artwork on the walls, Barack Obama's election chances or the virtues of fair-trade coffee.
Related Stories:
· Flamepoeira [Official Site]
·
Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: GV Chang]
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It's a story well told, two guys sitting around, reminiscing about some killer concoction they had overseas one night. Like any good tete-a-tete, a challenge is laid forth and from it, a blessing to all mankind. In the case of The Buena Vista, on Fisherman's Warf in San Francisco, it's the Irish Coffee for your Aunt Pauline to drink without looking like an alcy.
Born in 1952, the Irish Coffee was a collaboration between owner Jack Koeppler and international travel writer Stanton Delaplane, and it's based on a drink served at Shannon Airport in Ireland. The pair toiled over getting every component just right, the crux being the float of smooth airy cream on top. Maybe if the US wasn't so inherently puritanical we'd all be sipping Irish Coffees every afternoon instead of soy half-caff jerk drinks?
The Buena Vista has yet to go chain on us and the original Irish Coffee still remains the best. Yes, it's located in one of the craziest tourist sections of the city, but it's still worth a stop to drink up some real history.
Related Stories:
· The Buena Vista [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: whiffer]
Calling a cup of coffee 4-star is a bit too hyperbolic. It makes us think of all those dirt-bag delis in midtown NYC that claim they have the "World's best cup of coffee!" But at Napa Valley Roasting Company they do in fact create individual coffee blends for 4-star Napa Valley restaurants like French Laundry, Bouchon and Martini House.
This coffee cadre of buyers, roasters, brewers and baristas located in St. Helena take the art of coffee seriously. Manager Douglas Dunlap explained to us that they purchase their beans from regions of the world that are having the best seasons. All coffee is roasted in-house, in small batches of 20 pounds at a time for better consistency.
But don't think you can't sit down in the comfortable sunny space without the woman next to you quizzing you on the flavor profile of your cup of Sumatran. The shop is very laid back, offers free wifi and is an early morning meeting place for locals. Buy a pound of the French Laundry blend and head home to brew it yourself--and cry into your mug about never scoring that impossible-to-get reservation.
Related Stories:
· Napa Valley Roasting Company [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
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by DanielR
Always a corporate-lovin' town, Washington, DC's java options skew the chain route, with more Starbucks and Cosi outposts than corrupt politicians and lobbyists. But local Mayorga Coffee has crept up on the big guys, building a mini-chain of nine area locations, from the grab-and-go counters at BWI, Dulles and Reagan National Airports, to a massive lounge and performance space in Silver Spring.
The company's newest offering, Mayorga Lounge and Coffee, is in suddenly happening Columbia Heights, recently insta-gentrified with a flurry of new establishments both cool (uber-hipster bar Wonderland Ballroom and vegan bakery Sticky Fingers) and corporate (Target, Ruby Tuesday and, yes, Starbucks).
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