Starbucks is not a thing of the past but their adapting to a new trend. Known in the coffee industry as the second wave of coffee shops, stores such as Starbucks, Peets Coffee, Caribou and yes – Cup of Joes or slowly becoming the “McDonalds” or “Dunkin Donuts” of good coffee. Led by speciality coffee buyers and roaster Stumptown in Portland, Intelligentsia in Chicago and Counter Culture in Raleigh – these coffee connoisseurs are trendsetters that are changing coffee culture and are part of what is know more commonly known as “the third wave.” South Minneapolis acquired two local shops of this nature this past fall with my personal favorite selling Intelligentsia’s black cat espresso at a place called The Angry Catfish.
Most of these places are run by people our age, fed up with the standardization of food and beverage and with a believe that the concept of coffee and it’s potential for farmers, taste, flavor, growth, culture, etc. hasn’t even begun to be tamped (no pun intended). We’re talking no 20 ounce caramel latte macchiatos with whip cream, no burned coffee brewed every four hours and no wondering where, when and how your coffee beans were grown and purchased.
Honestly, I’ve been sucked into a new world and unsure if I want to look back. I’m including some videos from Intelligentsia’s new store in Venice so you get the idea. They’ve changed the way coffee stores are laid out. Espresso machines are in various places throughout the store on individual hydraulic lifts that swivel so customers stand next to a barista while they explain where their coffee came from and how it came to be or talk about whether or not Brett Favre will come back… not on the other side of the counter. All drinks are by the cup. This is an art, something to approach with care and ease… it’s about the style, the feel, the music, the look
Caleb… get that portafilter tattoo and get to Intelligentsia and Stumptown’s NYC locale. Let’s open a shop. Bryan, get some designs going
A friend of mine I worked with at Java House in IC just moved to NY and is working at Stumptown’s NY roastery. All about it…those guys are killing it.