Seen on the Road: Allentown, PA





On the way to see Mr. Espresso's family for the holidays, we stopped in Allentown, PA for an errand. Were we surprised to see this coffee shop! I regret we couldn't stay to have a cuppa Jamaican coffee and get a Caribbean tan. Maybe on the way home . . .

The Good Life

CoffeeCat has grown fat & lazy, as any cat worthy of the name should be! I've been lazy about posting, but that doesn't mean I've slacked off on my coffee shop habit. Mr. Espresso says I need to carve out time to write, as though snoozing in sunbeams and sipping cafe au lait isn't fulfilling enough! So, look for more posts soon - including some new coffee road trips.

And, for the last minute shoppers, remember to Buy Local at your locally owned Triad Coffee Shops!

More Coffee Shop Art

Coffee Cat loves coffee shop art! From the coffee-themed art hanging on the walls, to open mic nights and performances of local musicians, you can find it all at locally-owned coffee shops. I’ve blogged before about an oasis in downtown Winston-Salem, and it’s time to blog again about the Community Arts Café.

Imagine Coffee Cat’s delight when I introduced Mr. Espresso to this gem and he, too, loved it! Songwriter’s Roundtable, Songwriter’s Sound off, a Carousel, comedy improv, and a jazz performance have given us some great nights on the town in Winston-Salem. We can enjoy on-the-verge-of-hitting-the-big-time artists for a tiny cover charge ($5 or $10). To make the deal even sweeter, we can enjoy coffee, wine, or both! And delicious treats like sweet potato quesadillas and chicken salad sandwiches. Did I mention the brownies?

When there’s a performance starting at 7 and you just can’t quite get your work day to end, don’t worry. Just show up at the CAC and enjoy a lite dinner, coffee, desert, wine, and stunning performances all in one room. The Underground Theater is cozy, elegant, and popular! So, be sure to get there on time for a table! Let Jim and Cathy know you appreciate what they’re doing for local artists, and show your support with a bit o’ green in the tip jars!

What is your favorite venue for coffee shop performances? Tell CoffeeCat about it!

Coffee Shop Art

Coffee Cat loves to support local artists. Unfortunately, my wallet doesn’t get it. My wallet has this predisposition toward the mortgage, utilities, and other so-called “necessities.” But as you know, coffee is a necessity for this cat! So, I love to get my fix of coffee and art at locally owned coffee shops. The price is always right!

Thanks to Mr. Espresso, I have my very own piece of locally-produced coffee shop art. One evening at Café Roche, I admired a photo series that spells out “I Love Coffee.” Was I thrilled to find that wrapped up for me at Christmas! It was the starting piece for a coffee station in my kitchen. The portrait holds a place of honor over my coffee maker and coffee. We set up shelving to hold all the necessities for a home coffee station: grinder, European espresso spoons, mugs, sweeteners, extra filters, assorted coffee beans, and more. We even have a selection of teas for visitors like Mocha Mutt. Mocha Mutt even pitched in some coffee-themed towels, plates, and baskets. Geez, wasn’t that sweet!

On those rushed mornings when I just can’t make it to the coffee shop (uh, like, every weekday), I have my own mini-coffee bar in the kitchen. I’d love to hear about your home coffee bars, coffee fans!

Coffee (& Rescue) Road Trip

Coffee Cat and Mr. Espresso recently took a bow-wow for a ride on the way to his new home. Yes, Coffee Cat has recruited my coffee shop buddy to help rescue animals. Our passenger was Joey, an Aussie Shepherd mix who loved us immediately! After we handed him off in Durham to a rescue angel to drive him the next leg, we were (almost) done with good deeds for the day.

A road trip with Coffee Cat and Mr. Espresso would not be a trip without a stop at a locally-owned coffee shop! Just a few miles away, we found Joe Van Gogh, a haven for university students, professors, and neighbors.  I cooled off with a delicious iced coffee and Mr. Espresso enjoyed his four shots straight up. We wouldn’t be Coffee Cat and Mr. Espresso without a cookie, which I highly recommend for the sweet tooth!

Ah, what a luxury to have a carefree Saturday afternoon in the coffee shop, made even sweeter by the sight of students hunkered over laptops and books. Once again, I gave thanks that I am done with that! When I pull out my laptop at the coffee shop, it is to write about coffee shops, cats, and animal rescue. Life is sweet in the espresso lane!

Joe Van Gogh roasts its own beans in Hillsborough to supply its coffee shops in Durham and Chapel Hill. So, if you want to relive your school days (or be reminded how grateful you are to have them behind you), stop by for a cuppa caffeine. And for students at the ‘blue’ Triangle schools, you are lucky ducks! Enjoy your locally-owned Triangle coffee shops!

Coffee Road Trip: Raleigh

I recently had an all day meeting in Raleigh. While the meeting was productive and entertaining (crazy, I know, right?), it ended in the mid-afternoon, which, as most dog lovers know, is prime napping time for mutts. I wasn't about to venture onto I-40 without some caffeine enablement, and, fortuantely, the caffeine gurus were on my side. As many of my fans know, I am not a coffee drinker, but I LOVE the many varieties of non-coffee drinks offered at locally owned coffee shops.

As I was leaving the downtown area via Hillsborough Street, and admiring the campus of North Carolina State University, I happened upon Cup A Joe, located at 3100 Hillsborough Street. And, to my sweet surprise, it has it's own parking lot, and a spot was reserved just for me (at least I like to think so!). It was 4 pm, and the place was alive with the sounds of people, music, coffee grinders, and milk steamers. I ordered my usual, a chai tea latté, and was surprised to hear the question, "Would you like our chai flavored whipped cream on that?" I had never heard such a question, but I've never made a decision that quickly. "YES!" And was I pleased with the result!! I spent some time savoring the double chai effect of the drink and the whipped topping while enjoying some reading material and the sounds around me.

I was recharged and ready for my I-40 trek back to the Triad.

Thanks, Cup A Joe, for being right where I needed you, when I needed you most!