Somebody's Gotta Do It

It's a great job, and CoffeeCat's just the one to do it!

This weekend I will be pounding the pavement looking for some new coffee shops in a Triad city that I'm just getting to know. I've heard rumors of coffee shops and bakeries in this city, so I'm going to put my feline curiosity to work and sniff out some cafe au lait!

If I'm successful, I'll blog about these yummy new finds. If I fail, well, you know the answer - CoffeeCat will travel to another Triad town and find success! In the Triad, there is never any reason to go a weekend without a coffee shop fix. And CoffeeCat never gives up on local coffee shops.

One recent Sunday, Mocha Mutt and I were seeking a new coffee shop. We drove around and around the shopping center where it was supposed to be, but with no luck. With caffeine headaches threatening to ruin our day, we booked it to a tried-and-true coffee shop. But, we later found out the lost coffee shop had moved and all is well!

Coffee shops are just like life - sometimes you want an adventure and the thrill of a new discovery, but other times you don't fix what ain't broke. Whichever way comes out on top this weekend, you can be sure that I'll manage to get my caffeine bzzzzzz and some good info for coffee shop fans!

Be sure to check out the Events Guide to plan your weekend bzzzzzz. By the way, I'd love to hear from you about last weekend's STUFFED calendar. What events did you enjoy?

Conversations in a Cafe

Here's proof that CoffeeCat isn't the only one who sees life happening at coffee shops. A world-premiere play set in a coffee shop starts this weekend at Korner's Folly in Kernersville. Conversations in a Cafe follows eight characters who cross paths at Newton's Cafe, a small coffee shop in New York City. All characters are in one phase or another of seeking love, lust, a relationship or even just a friend, while their waitress contributes and comments.

Get full details here: http://www.billcissna.com/conversationsgen.html

Coffee Road Trip: Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach
on a cloudy fall morning -
just steps away from a coffee shop!

So a coffee shop may not be the first thing on your list when planning your beach vacation, but wait . . . don't you need a good cup of coffee or chai just the same as you do at home? Don't you miss your favorite coffee shop where everyone knows your name (or your dog's)?

Lucky for vacationers at Wrightsville Beach, NC, there's Cafe del Mar on Lumina Avenue - just a few yards from the ocean. This tiny cafe offers locally roasted coffee, espresso, smoothies, biscuit sandwiches and breakfast wraps.

You can play it the Triad Coffee Shop way and enjoy your favorite coffee shop beverage with the neighborhood regulars (people and pooches). Or, you can get your drink and a breakfast sandwich to go and carry it just a few yards to the ocean front. What tastes better than a great cup of coffee on the beach, with a view like this? So what's a few grains of sand on your sausage biscuit or blueberry muffin?

Cloudy, breezy, cool fall days like the ones we had this weekend are perfect "coffee drinking on the beach" weather, especially in the mornings. No one asks, "Isn't it too hot to drink coffee?" No one yells, "Come on in, the water's fine." (Like CoffeeCat would fall for that one).

Triad Coffee Shop fans, don't forget to support the local coffee shops wherever your travels take you . . . and please tell CoffeeCat about 'em. I need more excuses for random road trips and travel destinations off the beaten path.

National Coffee Day

I would celebrate like crazy, but EVERY DAY is coffee day at Triad Coffee Shops! We're having a great time keeping up with all the coffee shops we know and discovering new ones almost every day.


BOO! A spooky latte
at Cafe Roche.

So we'll reserve some celebration for the days to come. Keep watching the blogspot for the latest coffee shop news, and join our facebook page, too!

We love the e-mails, but don't be shy . . . you can post your coffee shop news & comments on the blogspot . . . just remember, CoffeeCat likes 'em all, so be nice.

Most Likely to Succeed

Do you have the rainy day blues? Do you need a new outlook on life? Are you feeling down in the dumps about anything at all? Then you must go to Greensborough Coffee on Friday night and see just how fortunate we coffee shop fans are.

A 28-year-old former refugee from Burundi named Ndabarushimama Christopher has seen the worst in human nature -- things we can't imagine and certainly don't want to think about. Yet he is making a name for himself as a talented, cheerful, giving human being. Thanks to Greensboro, this young man and his siblings have escaped the refugee camps and are building successful lives in the U.S.

Christopher will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greensborough. Take the family and a pocketful of tips for this hardworking musician and, of course, your friendly neighborhood baristas!

Kudos to Triad Coffee Shops that give not-so-ordinary folks the chance to share their gifts with the Triad.

This is the week

It's OK to hide until you've had enough
coffee to adjust your attitude.
CoffeeCat understands.

to check out the great weekly events at Triad Coffee Shops! Every day of the week, there's something special planned - see the Events Guide. CoffeeCat won't be trying the French conversation club (it brings back bad memories of French 101, French 102, French 201 . . . uh, you get the idea!). But, I'd love to hear from someone who tries it and enjoys it! I will give you a virtual gold star!

On the other hand, if you feel like being grumpy and not going along with the program, as we coffee drinkers sometimes do, then avoid the crowds and special events, by all means! Sneak into a new coffee shop where no one knows your name, hide behind the newspaper, and drink coffee until you're in a better state of mind. Trust me, it works! In fact, I should be at a coffee shop right now!

Have a great week, coffee shop fans.

Coffee Road Trip: Raleigh

Larry shows tourists the
silos full of green coffee beans
waiting to be roasted &
distributed to coffee shops

Larry's Beans, a Raleigh coffee roaster that distributes freshly roasted beans on the East Coast, opens its doors twice a year for a free tour. What a treat for coffee shop fans! People of all ages - babies, their parents, their grandparents, 20 somethings, and even a couple of teenagers showed up to see where the magic of coffee roasting  happens. Everyone got to sample different roasts and brews (cold and hot), eat yummy gourmet appetizers, and listen to music by Freylach Time, the Klezmer Dance Band.

 The fans also got to see some of Larry's "greenovations" - little things that add up to an earth friendly business. Their delivery bus runs on biodiesel (recycled vegetable oil), the plant hosts a tank of biodiesel that serves Raleigh drivers, and the plant incorporates extensive use of natural sunlight and other energy-saving practices.

 Larry also explained fair trade practices and how the company partners with the farmers year after year to grow the best beans possible. This has helped Larry's develop unique, tasty, and dependable blends of coffee year after year.

The veggie bus delivers coffee
around the Triangle region



To get an invite to the next tour, you need to sign up for Larry's e-mail list. Larry's Beans are used in Triad Coffee Shops, including Washington Perk & Provisions, Tate Street, and Espresso Doctors (Kernersville). Look for the funny cartoon guy drinking coffee (he's on the bus, too).

Be sure to find out which roaster supplies your favorite coffee shop. Many of them offer tours for their fans!