Friday, May 29, 2009

The Note That Started It All

This was the note that I posted on Facebook that started this whole rigamarole.

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If You Get Your Coffee On the Outside, Then Read This...

Today, I woke up in dire need of a cup of coffee. We were out of it at the house, so I stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way in (that drive thru gets me every time). I was immediately filled with regret. It was almost undrinkable.

I have had coffee at just about every place between Old City and Center City, so I have rated the ones I have tried from best to worst.

(This list is based on regular coffee only)

Naked Chocolate
Last Drop
Cafe Ole
Starbucks
Hausbrant
Loftus
DoubleShots
San "Something" (tiny place on Broad and Locust)
Museum Cafe at the Art Museum
Cosi, Ellen's
Dunkin Donuts
WaWa
Jean's Cafe
Cool Beans

Some of the ones I still need to try: Bon Bon, Bonte, Joe Coffee Bar, Saxby's (which hasn't opened yet), au bon pain, Brew Ha Ha.

In NJ coffee places are scarce.

Courthouse Coffee - isn't bad, but it's not open on the weekends

Einsteins - is OK, but their lids tend to leak on you while in the car which is a HUGE negative.

CoffeeWorks - is the pits. it was undrinkable, however, the Movie theater next door (Ritz 16) has good coffee so go there.

As for diner coffee, which has its own distinct flavor, is on a sliding scale. The coffee at one diner will be great one day and undrinkable the next.

Now that the weather is getting nicer, I am going to venture further from the office and continue my quest for the best cup of coffee in Philadelphia.

Here is where I am going to get Preachy, ready,

Try to support local, independent shops when you can (or brew your own). As good as Starbucks is (consistency of orders from locale to locale is what draws me), they are the Walmart of coffee shops. They come in and destroy local businesses.

Also save some trees, invest in a good travel mug. Some places in Philly give you a discount if you bring your own.

Your Daily Barista

Bring on the Dedications!

It was a beautiful Friday night in springtime Philadelphia. However, I didn’t have the roof of my Beetle Convertible (Bubbles Jr.) down. Usually on a night such as that, I would totally be rolling to the BF's, Captain Fantastic, with the roof down. I really wanted to, but that night I was ashamed and embarrassed.

Why? It was a beautiful night. The moon was bright; a nice warm breeze was blowing all around. My hair should have blowing in that breeze, damnit.

But alas on that night…

I had rediscovered the sugary awesomeness of B101’s late night call in show, Delilah, and there are a lot of red lights between my house and Captain Fantastic’s. For those not familiar with the show, it is the cheesiest piece of entertainment to come around since...I don’t know what cause she has been on the air for as long as I can remember.


I wasn’t sure what I loved the most - the sappy, early 90’s, synthesizer heavy love songs or the dedications to loved ones called in by sad and lonely ladies (oh, and the occasional man). It could even be the random glimpses into Delilah's private life. I always imagine her sitting in a garage-like studio on her home ranch in the Midwest. The walls covered in dark wood paneling and she sits behind her microphone wearing flannel PJs and sipping a cup of coffee.

Since my rediscovery, I have looked forward to reveling in its schmaltzy earworms on the nights I go to the Captain’s.

So in honor of The Delilah Show, I have developed my own Delilah iPod playlist (here is just a sampling):
  • Shania Twain – You’re Still the One
  • Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn
  • Selena – Dreaming of You
  • Heart - What About Love
  • Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
  • Savage Garden - Truely, Madly, Deeply
  • Faith Hill - Breathe
  • Aerosmith - Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
  • Roxette - It Must Have Been Love
  • Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
  • Madonna - Crazy for You
  • The Pretenders - I'll Stand by You
  • Warrant - Heaven (my personal favorite)
  • Firehouse - When I Look Into Your Eyes
  • Motley Crue - Without You
  • Journey - Open Arms
  • Meatloaf - I Would Do Anything for Love
  • Taylor Dane - Love Will Lead You Back
  • Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting
if you want to call in a request and dedication visit
http://www.b101radio.com/static/airstaff/delilah.asp

So log on, make a dedication. I’ll be listening (and laughing at you).

Your Daily Barista


* Graphic taken from the link above.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

So what about this 3 o’clock Coffee name?

From when I was little I can remember my mom would brew a pot of coffee everyday at 3:00pm. It was like clock work. She would come home, get changed and make a pot of coffee for her and my dad. As a little kid, I never really understood this daily ritual? Sure it smelled really good, but why did it seem like a necessity.

When I started working my 9-5 it hit me. Work sucks…balls. It not only sucks in general, but it sucks the life out of you, too.

So, what’s my favorite part of the day? When my co-worker, Lans, knocks on my office door and says “3 o’clock coffee, cupcake?” Going to the coffee shop down the street is the best excuse to leave my desk for a few minutes and take a breather.

I hope you think of this blog as a breather from whatever you are doing…or should be doing.

Your Daily Barista

Are you ready for your first fix?

Well after months (and months) of talking and kicking around topics, I have finally started my blog.

This blog started as a review of local coffee shops in the area. The plan: everyday I would buy one small cup of black coffee at a different coffee shop near my home or office and write about it. I wanted to find that most perfect, most delicious cup of coffee in the Greater Philadelphia region.

I abandoned that idea rather quickly. It wasn't so much buying coffee at the local shops, it's just the reviewing of them on a daily basis. I also remembered that I had a full time job. But when I do find that most perfect, most delicious cup of coffee, you will be the first to know.

So now, Three PM Coffee is simply a blog about my somewhat interesting and, at times, amusing life.

Your Daily Barista