Let's Talk Coffee

[Jeffrey Petrovitch]

Let's talk coffee... Where do you get your coffee?? I use to go to Brewbakers all the time, when they sold Terra Nova Coffee. It's fairtrade and organic and just great coffee... But of course they stopped selling it and moved to Mocha Joes from Brattleboro, VT, which is just horrible. There is no other way to put it, but horrible.

Now, I go to Prime Roast every morning for my coffee, but still buy Terra Nova Coffee from the owners or Hannah Grimes Marketplace. Kristin's Bakery has started selling Terra Nova Coffee, but I always forget to walk up there...

What do you like? What do you drink?

[Brett]

I used to be a Brewbakers regular myself, but there are many reasons that I just don't go there anymore, and the coffee is one of them. I like Prime Roast well enough; the folks there are friendly, and the coffee is yummy. They have great chai too. I just wish Prime Roast had more natural light, so it would feel like a more welcoming place to spend the morning with a cup of joe and my laptop or a good book.

[Gordon Peery]

There are two subjects here: the coffee, and the venue.

In my opinion Brewbakers had okay coffee (I have not tried the new kind, but I've had Mocha Joe's in Brattleboro, and I liked it fine). Prime Roast has, in my opinion, the best coffee for flavor, and it's also possible to learn a lot about coffee from talking to Judy - she really knows her stuff. I've tried maybe a dozen roasts from small companies like Prime Roast (from all over the country), and I have never found anything as good. I like the iced lattes from Starbucks - their regular coffee is reliably decent but not excellent. Over in Peterborough they serve Prime Roast coffee - it is dependable, but they don't rotate the blends like they do in Keene. The coffee in Twelve Pine is usually disappointing. There is a small coffee roaster in Peterborough - can't remember the name of it, and I was unimpressed from a couple of tries there.

The gourmet coffee trend has created a whole new category of beverage, so it's easy to forget about good old diner coffee. In my book Timoleon's does a nice job with this. The Pub's coffee is a bit anemic. I don't have specific recollections of other places in Keene. I've written a short piece about coffee houses which includes some kind words about Dunkin' Donuts coffee (click here to read). I am happy with their iced coffee. When getting hot coffee there, I always just get a small, because it is the only size that is still served in a paper cup - the larger sizes are styrofoam.

Kristin's Bakery might be improved if they are (as Jeff notes) selling Terra Nova coffee, but what really makes them worthwhile is the food - by far superior to anywhere else in town. It would be nice if the gourmet coffee shops in general started providing more alternatives to the sweet stuff. Prime Roast has a decent (for pre-fab) ham and cheese croissant, as well as a spinach and feta. But there are a lot of folks who, for various reasons, want to eat less sugar. It's possible to do pastries and muffins that are less sweet and still good, and it's also possible for certain types of pastries to be made decently with sugar substitutes, which is especially nice for diabetics.

For venues, both Brewbakers and Prime Roast have a nice Bohemian/art decco ambiance, though recent remodeling at Brewbaker's have diminished its appeal. In general the staff at Prime Roast are the most customer focused. Just like Judy knows coffee, I think she knows customer service pretty well, and evidently is able to train her folks accordingly. The Starbucks staff is usually ultra friendly, but they usually clueless when it comes to being able to talk to a customer in a way that makes them feel important or valued. Aesop's in Peterborough is very cozy. Twelve Pine has a slick decor, but it's not particularly welcoming, and the staff is not very customer-focused.

Ah - one could go on and on. I'd be interested to know what other folks experience is, including places I have not frequented.

[Jeffrey Petrovitch]

You can love them, you can hate them, but there is no doubt in my mind Starbucks have changed the way we drink coffee. They have added a whole new awareness, a whole new culture to coffee and espresso. Though I am not a supporter for a number of different reasons, I think it is worth noting they have contributed to our coffee culture.

I would agree with Gordon about the Timoleon's cup of coffee. There is something to be said for that dinner coffee and Timolean's does it well. I go to Bagel Works on a regular basis, they have the best bagels in town, really the only place in town to get a bagel, though I would argue it really is almost impossible to get a good bagel in New England... But I don't go there for my coffee...

BTW, looks like Brewbakers is for sale again...

[Letitia]

I find diner-type coffee to be pretty terrible, especially when they leave the creamers out all day, but I can see the attraction.

I used to love going to the Coffee Roaster in Peterborough because the owner is so friendly & accommodating. I didn't often get coffee there, but she has an amazing selection of teas/herbal teas.

[Tracy]

When I'm in Keene, Prime Roast. Good strong coffee, great people, and not pricey.

[Matt Goodwin]

Prime Roast is tops. Good coffee and great staff. I've tried Starbucks once; just once. Never again. PR has a great bumper sticker on the back wall that reads: "Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks."

[Bob B]

Lateaddition: I buy Judy's coffee and make it at home with drip filter. Contained in a thermos, it remains fresh and tasty all day! Beats Star*, Tim*, Brew*, Bagel*, and all the other *s! Takes about 15 minutes extra in the morning - I think worth the time.

[Bob B]

Late, Late reply. Sorry, I forgot to add - when I have lots of time, I do like grandma did: large black frying pan, green coffee beans, cover, roast 'til desired color, quick cool under cold water, grind immediately, make one cup at a time with filter. Drink the best damn cup of coffee you've ever had!