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Posted by on Nov 24, 2015 in Blog, Cafes & Coffeehouses, Coffee In America, Coffeehouse Scouts, Main Street USA | 0 comments

Bartender Turned Beantender

The Local Grind Coffee House, Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina
By Ginny McKinney, Marshmallow Ranch

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Jessie Walls was a bartender for twelve years. She was “over the bar scene” yet she loved the mixology aspect as well as contact with the customers. It wasn’t a very big stretch for her to determine a coffee shop would give her both. Jessie purchases her beans from Charleston Roasters, a small-batch local roaster. Most of their beans are organic unless you get into some of their blends. They also sell loose leaf teas.image7

The Local Grind offers a simple sandwich menu along with in-house baked goods. (I had the carrot cake which was divine!) local artists are featured as well as Art and Music Nights. Located in an original 1940’s Murrell’s Inlet cottage, you can sit in the garden room complete with live fig ivy walls. Jessie hopes you will step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and relax for a while, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The Local Grind Coffee House
880 Inlet Square Dr.
Murrell’s Inlet, SC 29576

M-F 7:00-5:00
Sat 7:00-3:00
Sun Closed

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Posted by on Nov 21, 2015 in Blog, Cafes & Coffeehouses, Coffee In America, Coffeehouse Scouts, Support Mom-N-Pop Businesses | 0 comments

Family With 8 Children Run The Roasted Bean

Family With 8 Children Run The Roasted Bean

The Roasted Bean, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
By Ginny McKinney, Marshmallow Ranch

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In a family of 8 children, there is always someone handy to assist owner TJ Weeden in her darling little coffee shop. Originally from Syracuse, NY, TJ and her husband began roasting their own coffee beans for personal co sumptuous after their daughter sent a gift of fresh roasted beans from Vermont. A passion was soon born and they decided to share all the good things of fresh roasted beans. They new they wanted to be located in a place with a lot of foot traffic and stumbled upon the perfect location in the SOHO Shops of The Market Common in Myrtle Beach.

image5Baked goods come from locally owned and operated Benjamin’s Bakery. A variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks are available as well as a breakfast and lunch menu.

TJ hopes you come away from her shop feeling like family after having a really good cup of coffee.

 

The Roasted Bean
Conveniently Located in the SOHO Shops of The Market Common
2954 E Howard Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

TJ Weeden, Owner
Open 6:30-5:00, Monday-Saturday

You can follow The Roasted Bean here:
Facebook – The Roasted Bean
Twitter – @bean_the
Instagram – @theroastedbean

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Posted by on Nov 19, 2015 in Blog, Cafes & Coffeehouses, Coffee In America, Coffeehouse Scouts, Main Street USA | 0 comments

Mom & Daughter Duo Take The Plunge

Mom & Daughter Duo Take The Plunge

River Blend Coffee House, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
by Ginny McKinney

image4Lisa Nieslanik and AJ Hasbrouck have always loved quaint little coffeehouses. This mom/daughter duo decided to take the plunge and open their own place when Lisa retired. While AJ always dreamed they would open on a beach somewhere, they both were thrilled when the opportunity for the perfect space presented itself at the perfect time.

Located off the lobby of the Hotel Denver, directly across the street from the Amtrak Station in Historic Downtown Glenwood Springs, CO, you would be hard pressed to find a more suitable place for River Blend Coffeehouse to open. On any given day of the week, this bustling little venue serves up locally roasted Bonfire Coffee and handcrafted pastries from a local baker.

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The biggest reward this team has gained are the stories they hear from their customers about the history of this lovely mountain town. Lisa and AJ love sharing their town with the tourist who flock in to visit and grab a leisurely cuppa on the sidewalk cafe outside their door. Come sit awhile and gaze up at the Glenwood Adventure Park with their rides high above the canyon wall or listen for the whistle of the California Zephir as it pulls into the train station. You’ll find yourself coming back again and again.

River Blend Coffee House
402 7th Street, Suite #120
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

970-230-9632
Hours: 6am – 2pm Daily
www.riverblendcoffeehouse.com
info@riverblendcoffeehouse.com

by Ginny McKinneyimage2
FB/marshmallowranch

 

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Posted by on Jul 11, 2015 in Blog, Coffee In America, Local Coffeehouse Visit, Main Street USA | 1 comment

Sweet ColoraDOUGH!

Sweet ColoraDOUGH!

ColoraDOUGH Aaron BadolatoGrowing up in an Italian home taught Aaron Badolato the true joys of food. He and his wife, Anne, enjoyed the plethora of delis and bakeries available in the Denver Metro area, but when they relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2012, they were hard pressed to find the quality and variety they had become accustomed to. Out of frustration, they developed that coffee shop/bakery/cafe they wanted to frequent in the form of Sweet ColoraDOUGH.

Located on the main drag at the south end of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, this quaint little shop opened in May 2014. The last year has far exceeded their expectations as they serve locally roasted coffees and a variety of sweets and savouries from finely tuned recipes they developed themselves.

When asked what his most popular coffee drink served at Sweet ColoraDOUGH is, Aaron readily responds with “The Dirty Hippie!”…a blend of coffee, spicy chai, mocha, and steamed milk. A must try!ColoraDOUGH Edible Aspen Feature

With a staff of 24, this locally owned shop gives back to the community that supports it by handing out over 500,000 donuts to over 600 organizations in the past year alone. Whether just passing through, or making Glenwood Springs your vacation hotspot, Sweet Colorado will fill the bill with their freshly roasted coffees, baked goods, and light dining fare.

 

by Ginny McKinney

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Posted by on Jan 19, 2015 in Blog, Local Coffeehouse Visit, The Local Coffeehouse Guide Facebook Page | 5 comments

A look at coffee in Hawaii

I’m writing an article about coffee in Hawaii … its past, present and where it’s headed, based on my research and intuition.  

I love gathering facts and opinions and deciphering what is truth and perspective! Lucky for me I was able to spend some time on the Big Island myself and get a sense of the energy, movement and vibe. I met many coffee people whom I interviewed and chatted with about their love of coffee and interest in the future of the industry.

If you have a perspective to share with me, please comment on this post. The article will be published  in an industry magazine soon. I’ll share it with you then 🙂

Mahalo, Lisa

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Posted by on Jul 31, 2014 in Blog, Local Coffeehouse Visit | 0 comments

SPIN Laundry Lounge, Mississippi District, Portland OR

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SPIN Laundry Lounge Coffee & Cafe

Oh happy day!!

Have you done laundry at a laundry mat? Trust me …. the experience can be horrifying! One time I was doing the weekly duty and stepped in doggy doodoo ~ IN the facility !It can feel a bit degrading as a guest. Not anymore!

Enter: SPIN in Portland, OR 

SPIN Laundry Lounge

SPIN Laundry Lounge Cup! They also have their own Permanent Press Blend Coffee Roast!

 

It’s sustainable – She took an old building in a trendy neighborhood and designed it to use less energy then chose the most energy-efficient washers and dryers on the market.

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