Jake’s Brew Bar, Littleton CO

Barista Matt (GREAT guy!) Hand-labeling Jake’s to-go cups.

Who gets to hold the baby?

Looking onto Main Street, Littleton, CO

In honor of Jake.

Isn’t it great to be local?

Jake’s Brew Bar … is a “brew” bar serving brewed coffee and brewed beer!  Clever, eh?  They have been open about 12 months, and today have tons of business walking through the doors in the revitalized Main Street of Downtown Littleton, Colorado.

Barista Matt was gracious from the moment I walked in the door, offering a friendly smile with a kind demeanor.  He made me feel at home for the afternoon I spent in the front window writing and blogging.

They have chosen two different local roasters as their coffee vendors: Novo Coffee and Corvus Coffee; both are well respected roasters in Colorado.

Some coffeehouses are heavy on one type of customer or the other; you may see mostly students or a lot of artists.  This place seemed to draw a nice blend of the community with folks chatting with each other comparing qualities of local craft beer and a few folks sitting at their computers sending last minute emails on a Friday afternoon.

Jake’s was named after the owner’s father, Jacob Barth.  He is from Albuquerque, NM and served in the Army during of WWII.  Owners, Janie and her daughter, Vanessa, also own a wine bar around the corner off of Main St. called Katie’s ~ named after her mother.

It is a family affair!  Step in during the Western Welcome Week coming up this summer.

Luvin’ local, Lisa

Jake’s Brew Bar

2540 W. Main Street

Littleton, CO 80120

(303) 996-1006

http://www.jakesbrewbar.com

Our ultimate vision: to keep the small, local independents alive and THRIVING!

Paris on the Platte’s Sidewalk Sandwich Sign in LoDo, Denver

I had a long conversation yesterday with a coffeehouse owner about the business of owning a coffeehouse … you know, the challenges associated with keeping it going on a daily basis.  ”The margin in coffee is just so low”, he said.

His coffeehouse has been in Denver for over 20 years and also has experience in fine dining.  He has chosen to diversify his offerings to include alcohol and live music in the evenings.  The location of the coffeehouse used to be a popular destination, but now sits on a very busy neighborhood street and feels it is lost in the shuffle.

He indicated these as his biggest challenges:

1. Keeping overhead low; especially getting reasonable pricing on dry goods and condiments from suppliers
2. Attracting and keeping knowledgeable, involved baristas
3. Staying abreast of the growing, changing coffee culture both locally and globally in the midst of a 7-day work week
4. Finding that niche again: offering unique products, services that keep customers returning

This is where I’d love to help by creating a community of coffeehouse owners  to support each other, where they can build camaraderie and brainstorm ideas.  Where I could assist them in building a co-op to purchase products and services that help their bottomline while maintaining a thriving local economy.  Let’s just do it!

Contact me at lisa@thelocalcoffeehouse.com if you’d like to find out more about my vision.

Luvin’ Local, Lisa

Bill Cosby @ Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co, Los Gatos CA

Bill Cosby Likes Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company’s Triple Short Caffè Latte!

by Sheila Sanchez, Editor

LosGatos Patch

Bill Cosby at Los Gatos Roasting Company, a local coffeehouse in CA

Comedian Bill Cosby stopped by Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 West Main St., Friday afternoon on his way to a performance at The Mountain Winery and liked its triple short caffè latte so much that he ordered another one and called owner Teri Hope to congratulate her on having such an exquisite hot brew.

via Bill Cosby Likes Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company’s Triple Short Caffè Latte! – Entertainment – Los Gatos, CA Patch.

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company

101 W. Main Street

Los Gatos, CA  95030

(408) 354-1155

http://www.lgcrc.com

 

Kauai Coffee: A visit with Hanalei Coffee and Tea Company by Eddie

 

Green (unripe) Coffee Cherries in Hanalei, HI

An exclusive post by Ed with Seattle Coffee Scene (thanks, Eddie!)

When I think of Kauai, I think of sunshine, beautiful sandy beaches, and… chickens. Yup, chickens! If you’ve never been to this Hawaiian island, you’d be amused at seeing so many chickens running around everywhere- from the beaches, to city parking lots – to coffee shops.

Many of you probably already know that Hawaii is the only state in the United States that actually cultivates coffee, which isn’t the only reason why I’m here. (Since I’m from Seattle, the truth is that there really isn’t a better place in the U.S. for me to replenish my annual intake of Vitamin D.)

But let’s talk Hawaiian coffee. When it comes to the Hawaiian bean, the weather, the rich volcanic soil, and the agricultural know-how, and its world demand, is really transforming the local economy here. Word on the street is that much of the land for sugar cane crops is slowly being replaced by coffee plantations that have been here for centuries.

I was fortunate to visit with one local roaster and owner of a café in the town of Hanalei who has been roasting Hawaiian beans for the last eight years. Mark, the owner of Hanalei Coffee and Tea Company, was in the middle of roasting his beans when I walked in on a warm mid-morning lull.

Mark’s café is situated in a beautiful century-old wooden building just off Kuhio Highway. Seating can be found just outside the café’s door around a beautiful deck by which to perch oneself and watch the locals or other tourists come and go.

Green coffee runs about $16 per pound here, which is nearly six times the world commodity market’s rate. Labor laws and environmental regulations, among others, push the coffee prices well beyond the world’s top prices. One fact I didn’t realize is that coffee here isn’t traded on the world commodity market. The result, Mark argues, is the world’s fairest trade coffee.

I ordered an espresso and Americano and walked towards the door to get me a seat when I was greeted by the owner. “Not too many people order just a shot of espresso,” Mark commented, which is probably why he came over to introduce himself.  “We do get a lot of orders for iced coffee,” he added with a smile.

Mark and I chatted for awhile about his business and what running a café is like in Hawaii. He usually roasts single origin Hawaiian coffee every morning during the week. “It doesn’t get more local than this,” he said.

Below is a video of Mark roasting his beans to meet the demands of his customers and thriving internet sales.

Hanalei Coffee Roasters, Kauai, HI

Hanalei Coffee Roasters

5-5183C Kuhio HWY

Hanalei, HI 96714‎

(808) 826-6717

http://www.hanaleicoffeeandteacompany.com

Panama’s in Seward, Nebraska

Panama’s had people galore!  Every room was full of chatty patrons enjoying their Friday evening.

They even have a drive-thru on their downtown corner spot.

These must be the non-high-school-football-luvin’ folks as there was a game being piped through the parking lot speakers of the neighboring grocery store in pure Nebraska style!  They love their football out there.

Home of the Cornhuskers, Lincoln NE is about 30 miles away from Seward.  That is where they get their coffee.

Yay, locavores!

Peace, Lisa