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Coffee
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Today, HealthSaver came out with the results of its annual survey conducted "to determine the caffeine consumption habits and attitudes of consumers across the U.S." The first thing that caught my eye about was the strangely strong pro-caffeine assertions worked into the release:
The health benefits of caffeine are plentiful and well-documented in numerous studies in recent years. Coffee and tea, in particular, have emerged as good health food sources that can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, colon cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver, as well as lift your mood, treat headaches and even lower risk of cavities. Caffeine also enhances athleticism, endurance and performance, according to health care experts.
Caffeine enhances athleticism? HealthSaver is in bed with Big Java.
The second odd thing about the "study": There is very little information in the release explaining how the by-city caffeine consumption data was compiled, which is why it's incredibly difficult to figure out Philly's role in the whole thing. Check it out: In 2007, we ranked second in "Least Caffeinated Cities" and second in "Cities Least Addicted to Caffeine." (What's the difference between these two categories? They don't say.) In 2008, however, we ranked second in "Cities Most Addicted to Caffeine." According to this, we somehow went from one of the five least caf-hooked cities in America to the second most hooked in the span of 12 months. But how?
I need some La Colombe to figure this out.
While I try to get HealthSaver to explain, check out all the survey's Philly mentions, from both 2007 and 2008, after the jump. Let me know if you can make any sense of this.
(Thanks Pat)
2007
#2 in Least Caffeinated Cities
#5 in Least Caffeine Consumption (regular coffee and specialty coffee drinks)
#1 Least Cola Consumption (regular Coke, regular Pepsi, Mountain Dew)
#4 Most Tea Consumption (green tea, iced tea, black tea)
#1 Least Energy Drink Consumption (Red Bull, Monster, etc.)
#2 Cities Least Addicted to Caffeine
2008
#5 Least Chocolate Consumption (candy, ice cream, cake, cookies)
#5 Least Energy Drink Consumption (tie with St. Louis)
#2 Cities Most Addicted to Caffeine
Back in July, I mentioned a concept tentatively called "Bierista" in Feeding Frenzy:
South Philly Taproom's John Longacre and Joe Bedia are saying fall for Bierista — a 1,200-square-foot coffee shop and beer takeout that looks to become the boldest destination in Newbold. About 40 linear feet of cooler space will house hundreds upon hundreds of domestic and international bottles hand-selected by Bedia (Stoudt's, Yards, PBC).
Some updates on the project — it will now be called BREW (1900 S. 15th St.). The takeout, mix-a-six bottle shop concept still stands — they'll feature between 500 and 600 selections, and they're playing with the idea of retailing hops and "other beer geek toys." Here's some more on the java end: Coffee operations will be handled by Aaron Ultimo, the former Director of Coffee Quality for Washington, D.C.-based Murky Coffee. SPTR owner Longacre met Ultimo through local musician Denison Witmer*; he's organizing a school of sorts that'll feature regular cuppings, or coffee tastings. There'll be some simple eats available in-house, including pastries, fresh mozzarella and the like.
Longacre says that the buildout at 15th and Mifflin will be completed in less than a month. When they reach that point, he says, it is likely that they'll get the coffee arm of the operation up and running while waiting for their liquor license to land.
* Witmer has a local coffee connection of his own — his brother, Douglas, is the co-owner of West Philly's Green Line coffee shops.
[...] Bierista, the coffee shop and beer takeout store planned for 15th and Mifflin is now going to be named BREW. Buildout is a month out and coffee up and running shortly afterwards, beer will follow with the liquor license. [Meal Ticket] [...]
[...] first bit of press. We’ve had a bit of pre-open press from the Philadelphia City Paper’s Meal Ticket. Hopefully the first of many. Back in July, I mentioned a concept tentatively called [...]
[...] from South Philly Taproom owner John Longacre, beer dude Joe Bedia and uberbarista Aaron Ultimo, earlier this month. Keep tabs on the progress of the 15th-and-Mifflin project by checking out Ultimo’s blog, [...]
[...] from South Philly Taproom owner John Longacre, beer dude Joe Bedia and uberbarista Aaron Ultimo, earlier this month. Keep tabs on the progress of the 15th-and-Mifflin project by checking out Ultimoâs blog, where [...]
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Jill Fink, co-owner of Mugshots, tells us she's putting the finishing touches on a major expansion project to her coffee shop near Eastern State Penitentary. (Mugshots' second location is in Manayunk.) They've expanded the coffee shop into an adjacent apartment just west of their corner stake at 21st and Fairmount Avenue, creating an additional 35 seats. In addition to expanding the kitchen to allow for more in-house baking, they've added a dessert selection that features products from Bethlehem-based Vegan Treats as well as a rotating selection of six Capogiro gelatos. Sustainable building materials such as low-VOC paint and reclaimed wood were used for the project. And if you're a Lower Merionite, you might recognize the tables and chairs in the new space: They were originally used at the The Point, the Bryn Mawr coffee shop/music venue that closed in 2005.
New hours of operation, which will go into effect in 2009: Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
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| Photos | Drew Lazor | |
In the latest edition of Feeding Frenzy, we shared some details on Wazobia Café. Here are a few shots of the cozy coffee house and "ice cream lounge" at 13th and Catharine (267-324-5884).
This greenified Catharine Street coffee house, the handiwork of partners Ayo Jemiri and Olayinka Odunlami, opened Dec. 13. "Wa-zo-bia" (no affiliation with the same-named eatery at 11th and Mount Vernon) is a portmanteau combining the word for "come" in the three major dialects of Nigeria; it's meant to symbolize welcoming and unity among disparate traditions. As such, Jemiri and Odunlami are aiming to establish their café as a community meeting place. They're pouring La Colombe coffee, shakes and smoothies. Eats include bready-pastry-type deals, a menu of salads and sandwiches and a cold case selection of Breyer's ice cream (waffles, too!). Hours are Mon.-Fri., 7-10:30 a.m. and 2:30-8 p.m.; and Sat.-Sun., 8 am.-8 p.m.
Blink and you'll miss City Paper's cameo 42 seconds in.
(Via YouTube user bry2086)
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Starbucks is working with the Red Campaign to raise support funds on World AIDS Day, which is Dec. 1.
Join us in support of World AIDS Day. We're giving 5¢ to the Global Fund for every hand-crafted Starbucks beverage sold on December 1, 2008 at participating US and Canada locations.
Invite your friends! We're counting on every customer to help make a difference. Together, we can do a world of good.
Naturally, this ostensibly positive (and rather benign) charity function has been met head-on by a bunch of assholes who happen to have Internet access.
After the jump, check out a minute cross-section of the thousands of thousands of terrible people who have posted comments on the event's Facebook page (must be logged in to view).
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Here is my personal favorite:
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You might've noticed that the storefront of Caffé Hausbrandt (207 S. 15th St.) has been dark for weeks. Carrie Lapp, who purchased the café in 2004 with Trieste-born husband Massimo Taurisano and partners Max and Nicoletta Tuccone (at that point, it'd been open for a year already under different management), says shuttering was a business decision, and that the building will be coming down, so the fate was inevitable. The café was the retail face of Hausbrandt USA, which held exclusive import/distribution rights to all of the Italian roaster's products in the United States.
Though the flagship is gone, they're still plugging along with six locations of Academia del Caffe — 1 S. Penn Square, 1616 Walnut, in the Design Center at 2400 Market, in the Public Ledger Building at 620 Chestnut and in the Curtis Center at 601 Walnut — the espresso bar brand the couple first introduced to Philly in 2006. One important distinction: All the Academias are now serving Miscela d'Oro, a coffee brand from Sicily, instead of Hausbrandt.
For more on Philly's caffeine cognosceti, see my Nov. 2007 story on Saxbys Coffee.
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What's the best way to promote a fledgling coffee roasting business? You could pour free samples in Rittenhouse and hope La Colombe doesn't notice. Don a sandwich board and try to fit through the doorways of established cafés, sacks of beans in hand. Hire a PR firm to get all the espresso nerds salivating.
Or you could open your own coffee shop.
That's exactly what Jean-Luc Fanny, who's French by way of Cote d'Ivoire, has done with Cafe L'Aube ("the dawn"), a bright and cheery café that's taken over at the long-empty Jouvay Java spot at 1512 South Street. Open for about a month now, L'Aube serves as a neighborhood launching pad for Peregrine Coffee, the Tacony-area bespoke green bean roaster that Fanny (a statistician by trade) recently founded with Kevin Lawrence. (They specialize in single-order coffee beans roasted to order.)
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A joint venture with wife Fanny's wife Rachel, L'Aube has all the caffeine needs on lock, but there's also a surprisingly extensive selection of eats (click thumbnail for full menu). Savory crepe choices include ham, swiss and mushroom; gouda, turkey and herbs; and ham, mushroom and béchamel sauce. On the sweet side, try out brown sugar, Nutella and assorted fruit varieties. Croques monsieur and madame say bonjour, as well.
Yet another specialty: Brussels waffles, which are lighter and crisper by design than what people normally understand to be a Belgian waffle. L'Aube tops theirs with anything from fruit and honey to creme fraiche and chocolate. When I stopped in, Fanny shared loads of information on regional Euro waffle differences — did you know Brussels irons crank out 3-by-5 gridded waffles, whereas their thicker, heartier Liege counterparts (what Bonte serves) come 6-by-4? I did not know that. Start slinging fresh siroopwafelen and I'm moving into an apartment upstairs.
Café L'Aube, 1512 South St., 267-614-2109.
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