Cups Espresso Cafe | Jackson, MS
Cups Espresso Cafe came highly recommended by several locals in Jackson, so I figured it was worth a try (3 to be exact). When I first pulled up I thought that the place had a great feel with lots of people hanging around outside, not to mention it was a beautiful day 
On to the review, and then my closing thoughts…
Atmosphere - 6
Cleanliness - 5
Chi - 5
Price - 5 (partially because there were no prices listed)
Coffee knowledge - 4
Friendliness - 4
Quality of coffee - 16
Pastries - 8
Selection - 9
Total 62/100
One thing I will note about Cups is that we were there on 3 different occasions and that the review was based on the 1st time (if it would have been on the 2nd time, it would have been worse, and if it would have been based on the 3rd time it would have been significantly better). This I think is the one of the biggest problems that coffee shops (or businesses in general ) have, which is that the experience has to be consistent each time a customer walks in, regardless of who is working.
On a brighter note… the barrista on the 3rd time made latte art which gets mad props from me!
Amavida Coffees | Seagrove Beach, Florida
I first came across this wonderful cafe while driving down 30A. 30 A is a road that runs right along the gulf and is nothing but cool beach towns. As I was driving I passed up Amavida coffee and had to turn around. I’m glad I did. The Baristas at Amavida were super helpful and knowledgeable.
The Frothy Monkey | Ruston, Louisiana
The Frothy Monkey is a small coffee shop in located in Ruston, Louisiana. The atmosphere was very relaxed but a little scattered. The Barista was a little short and I had to talk her into making my Iced Americano.
Atmosphere: 5
Cleanliness: 6
Chi: 3
Price: 6
Coffee Knowledge: 4
Friendliness: 3
Quality of Coffee: 15
Pastries: 6
Selection: 8 Total Score 56/100 I would recommend this shop over Starbucks, but I wish that there would have been a little better service. 
Perks Coffee & Tea - Baton Rouge, LA
today was my first time visiting Perks, although I have heard about it several times. After parking the car I almost felt that I was in a different city than Baton Rouge. On of the main things I noticed was a great spacey patio with a ton of greenery. I think sometimes places focus too much on packing as many people in as possible instead of giving people a great environment to enjoy a cup of coffee.
I had a great cup of coffee and here is my review.
Atmosphere: 8
Cleanliness: 4
Chi: 6
Price: 8
Coffee Knowledge: 8
Friendliness: 7
Quality of Coffee: 18
Pastries: 8
Selection: 9
Total Score: 76/100
One thing I will also note is that when we first arrived we received our coffee, they were in real mugs. At first it almost seemed out of place but I then realized how nice it was to actually drink from a real cup. Also I will note that my half medium, half flavored, au lait with whole milk at 170 degrees was great (really a bit more simple than it sounds).
-Jason
Grounds for Change
All of my coffee that I drink at home comes from Grounds for Change. I highly recommend them. Grounds for Change only sells organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee. They also roast the beans after you order them in very small batches.
If you like a darker roast
Read the rest of this entry »
Highland Coffees - Baton Rouge, LA
Let me first start out by saying that this is probably one of my favorite coffee shops I have ever been to (I have been to a few ;). Highland roasts all of their own beans in house and the aroma seems to hit you even before you walk in the door. If you are ever in the LSU area in Baton Rouge make sure and stop by, I highly recommend any of their drip coffees. On to the ratings….
Atmosphere: 7
Cleanliness: 4
Chi: 5
Price: 6
Coffee Knowledge: 8
Friendliness: 6
Quality of Coffee: 18
Pastries: 8
Selection: 7
Total: 69/100
As I said before Highland is one of my personal favorites (sometimes I will drive an hour just for a cup) however it is definitely not a “looker.” The furniture and general look is somewhat dated and it always seems to look like a tornado came through. Their pastry selection is outstanding and they always seem to be extremely fresh and I have never had anything stale. I actually spoke for about 1/2 hour with the owner talking to him about how the quality of the coffee is really what makes the difference, which I found really refreshing. Don’t let the total score deter you from this great coffee shop, in the end it is all about the coffee, and Highland has some of the best.
Zibetto Espresso Bar
This is not your average coffee shop. I came across Zibetto Espresso Bar as i was on my way to Central Park. I decided to stop by as I can’t pass up a coffee shop without stopping. When I walked in I realized that I was in for an experience. I realized that I was not going to be offered any frozen flavored concoctions common to other coffee shops. The Barista working the bar served me a glass of iced water and one of the best shots that I have had. Zibetto is the place to go if you are looking for wonderful espresso drinks. Heres how I rated it.
Atmostphere: 9
Cleanliness: 8
Chi: 7
Price: 5
Coffee Knowledge: 8
Friendliness: 7
Quality of Coffee: 19
Pastries: N/A
Selection: 5
I would recommend checking out Zibetto Espresso Bar. If you like alot of added flavors tough this might not be the place for you. This shop caters more to the purist.
This Review apperaed in New york Magazine on 6/26/06
Profile
It takes nerve to open an espresso bar across the street from Starbucks—especially an inconspicuous nook without drip coffee, free wi-fi, or even seats. But Anastasio Nougos, who moved here from his native Sweden to open Zibetto, is relying on his readily apparent strengths: pulling and serving the hands-down best espresso drinks we’ve had in recent memory. Trained at Sosta in Stockholm and devoted to his craft, Nougos serves Danesi-brand coffee in ceramic cups, each with a glass of ice water, at a stand-up white-tiled marble bar. Pressed panini, Italian sodas, and mini pastries round out the menu, but Zibetto’s draw is its exquisitely rich, smooth coffee, and Nougos’s attention to detail. For now, it’s a one-man operation, but when he hires baristas, he intends to train them for two months before they make a single drink.
The Coffee Shop -Manhattan
I visited this unique Coffee Shop a few times while I was in New York. I really enjoyed this shop. It is located at Union Square. Coffee Shop had an amazing Iced Cappuccino. They use Lavazza Coffee which I really like. Coffee Shop is much more than just a coffee shop, they have a full bar and restaurant. Coffee Shop is a hot spot in the city, It is one of those places you go to be seen. Anyway here is my ratings
Atmostphere: 8
Coffee Shop had hip music and a retro feel to it.
Cleanliness: 6
Chi: 5
The place was rockin
Price: 7
Coffee Knowledge: 7
Friendliness: 7
Quality of Coffee: 18
pastries(or food): 8
Selection: 7
Total Score 73/100
I would recommend checking out this hip location at Union Square. take the Subway to Union Square, take the 16th street exit and you are there.
Today’s Coffee - Houston TX Baby!!
So this is my first blog post. I am actually posting this from the coffee shop, so I think this is our first official live review! I had a wedding this weekend in Houston and we stopped at Today’s Coffee just south of Houston for some “fuel” for the road. Here is what I thought…..
1. Atmosphere = 5
2. Cleanliness= 7
3. Chi= 4
4. Price=7
5. Coffee Knowledge= 2
6. Friendliness= 6
7 Quality of the Coffee= 16
8. Pastries= 4
9 Selection= 5
Total score = 57/100
Overall I really enjoyed this spot (wireless internet is always a plus in my book), and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good cup of coffee. The atmosphere was lacking a bit for a coffeeshop, but the coffee quality in the end is always what is most important to me.
Good Espresso: How To Get It.
Espresso as we know it today originates from early 1900’s Italy. There is much confusion about espresso and how to brew it.
Isn’t Espresso just really strong drip coffee?
Nope, Espresso is made from a special machine that is powered by a pump or lever. The machine forces water through the fine grounds at a force of about 135 psi. This will create a 1-2oz shot of Espresso in about 25-30 seconds. If the Espresso is brewed correctly
Read the rest of this entry »