Hello, my dear friends,
Welcome to my IRL friends who are probably reading this because they are amazing and always the most supportive (xoxo). And a special welcome to my new friends who are coming along for a whimsical journey with me! Don’t worry, you don’t have to love green eggs and ham to be a part of this adventure. You only need an open heart and a curiosity about coffee to find a home here.
These are the words that you will find on my resume and that’s mostly true. But boy, do I hate being put into a bucket. I’m left-brained. I’m right-brained. I’m creative. I’m a Type A personality. It is what it is. But just like every other millennial out there, I’m on a journey to express my true authentic self and find some type of meaningful connection. Part of that is sharing my passions with the world. And for me, one of them is coffee! Which is why we are here today.
So I’ll keep my biopic to a minimum and instead lead you on a hunt to find nuggets over time. Instead, I’ll get right to the point.
Sam I Am, With Coffee In Hand
We are embarking on a whimsical and caffeinated adventure through local coffee roasters and cafes. I will share my joy of discovering local coffee gems and fun reviews of different shops & beans.
So here’s how it works:
Ratings for Shops
Coffee’s Symphony, Quality, and Selection in Harmony (Basics)
- 1: Limited selection and low-quality coffee -> 5: Exceptional range and top-notch quality, a true coffee connoisseur’s delight
Atmosphere’s Glow, Ambiance’s Flow (Vibes)
- 1: Uninviting atmosphere and lack of ambiance → 5: Exceptional atmosphere, creating a memorable and cozy coffee haven
Experience Elation, Location Lure (The Main Event)
- 1: Poor overall experience and inconvenient location → 5: Exceptional experience and a perfect location, making it a must-visit destination
Ratings for Bags of Beans
Flavor Profile
- 1: Lacks depth and complexity, with little to no flavor notes → 5: Exceptional flavor profile with bold, vibrant, and well-defined flavor notes, a true sensory experience
Ease of Use for Home Brewing
- 1: Complicated or cumbersome to use, requires significant effort → 5: Effortless to use, user-friendly design that requires minimal effort or skill
Packaging
- 1: ‘Meh’ packaging, prone to damage or deterioration, lacks protection for the product→ 5: Exceptional packaging, luxurious and innovative design, highlights the product and enhances the overall experience
Each shop or bag will get a rating from 1-5 beans (average from 3 criteria). For the love of coffee shops and recognition of the true grit and determination that it takes to operate a local business, I will never post a shop or bag review lower than 4 beans on this blog. This is meant to be a place of positivity, creativity, and joy! I will however go into details on why each shop receives a particular rating. Thanks for your understanding!
Who put you in charge?!
What does it even mean to be an expert? I have a PhD and I still don’t feel expert on nearly anything in my life. I’m still figuring it out along with everyone else. But I do love coffee and worked as a formally trained barista for several years. This ignited my passion for coffee, and it has only grown in the years since.
At home, I brew espresso on a manual press. I try to buy only locally roasted coffee – from both my hometown and from places I travel (shameless plug: support local businesses!) My preference is for African beans and light roasts (please, please – I know everyone has their tastes and opinions, these are just mine!) I’m dairy free so milk alternative options are also important to me. When visiting shops, I love friendly and knowledgeable baristas and lots of beans to browse! Plus comfy, cozy vibes never hurt anyone.
But fear not, we have our criteria set in place and I will follow those so that you can decide if you’d like to visit and share your thoughts!
With that, I’ll leave you until our next meeting (with a real review!)
❤️ ~S
