Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on Nov 28, 2015 in In The Press | 0 comments

Nationwide local, independent coffeehouses in the palm of your hand!

Buying Local Just Got a Whole Lot Easier!

The Local Coffeehouse Guide App & Website provides a dynamic, searchable, mapping platform for users to effortlessly locate unique, independently owned coffeehouses and micro-roasters across the United States. This not only provides retailers with local visibility but with national visibility. Additionally, consumers can easily find these independent businesses to easily support the local economies they live in and visit.

Why Coffee and Coffeehouses

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) reports that there are over 29,300 independent coffeehouse retailers in the US.

Our founder, Lisa McIntyre, has personally visited hundreds of locally-owned and operated coffeehouses and micro-roasters and has had many one-on-one discussions with the owners and managers. She learned that these entrepreneurs tend to be more involved in their own local communities. They participate in community happenings, often provide the venue for community gatherings and are always conscious of how they can and do give back.

She also learned that many are struggling to keep their doors open. These small businesses do not have the deep pockets of many of the national chain coffee shops and competing with large corporations is nearly impossible for them.

Brick and mortar coffeehouses, cafes and roasters bring people together, however the coffee itself is also central to American culture. Coffee is part of every office meeting and social gathering. It also expresses itself (with the help of java-obsessed people) creatively when growing, harvesting, roasting and preparing the perfect cup.

The Impact: The Local Coffeehouse Guide Benefits Local Business

The App and Website level the playing field, Little Shop vs. National Chain, by acting as a marketing department (so to speak) for the independently owned business members in the directory. This is facilitated by providing them with free listings in the directory as well as custom tailored robust marketing tools that will significantly increase their online and mobile visibility in their surrounding areas and nationally.  Their listings alone, combined with the multi-platform national marketing of the app and website will allow these small businesses to compete more effectively as a community of small businesses against corporate chains. This level of visibility and exposure would typically be unattainable for most small businesses to achieve on their own.

A FREE claimed listing provides a retail location with the following on both the mobile app and website:

  • A map marker that automatically geo-locates the user.
  • A listing that displays their information; address with a link to directions from the user’s current location, a link to the retailer’s desired URL, a photo of their location and a place to share their story or a brief description of their location.
  • We highly encourage our retailers to share their personal story in order to really connect with people even before they walk through the door. This feature truly separates us from the rest.

The additional tools we offer our members are push notes to app users in their area, searchable defining characteristics (gluten free, patio, drive-thru, etc), animated map markers to draw extra attention to their location, and much more.

In early 2016 we will be offering three levels of paid membership which include the claimed listing specifications (above) complimented with the additional tools (i.e. push notes, categories, and animated markers). Also in early 2016 we will be offering all of our tools a la carte to members as well. To learn more about our membership programs and the tools for retailers, please visit our membership page.

Criteria for Inclusion in the Directory

In order for a local coffeehouse, cafe or micro-roaster to be represented in our directory they must meet the following criteria:

  • Location must be locally-owned, independent businesses. No corporate chains or franchises are eligible.
  • All locations must serve espresso drinks as a primary product offering or be a small batch roaster.
  • The business has 10 or less locations in the US.
  • Locations must be in the United States.

The Local Coffeehouse Guide Benefits Coffee Drinkers

According to USA Today (4/9/13), 83% of adults in the US drink some kind of coffee daily and the National Coffee Association reports that 34% of adults drink specialty coffees daily.

We currently have over 16,000 coffeehouses, cafes and micro-roasters in the directory and more are added every day. The app is a user-friendly tool for consumers to find the independent specialty shops nearby – anywhere in the US from the palm of their hand. It’s perfect for travelers exploring a new town or for local residents interested in pursuing a new local experience in their own communities.

Website                     Short video about the App

Apple Download App               Short video interview with Lisa McIntyre, Founder

Google Play Download App

Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign – For Next Phase of the App & Website

Read More

Posted by on Jan 15, 2014 in Blog, Happiness, Local Coffeehouse Visit | 0 comments

Wanderer Wandering Through Portland in Search of Coffee

I CONFESS … I AM!!

Henry, Gypsy Daisy and I got stuck in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe it was a rut from one of the Oregon Trail or Lewis and Clark Expedition wagons that  helped persuade us, but we’ve made camp for a bit.

... ready to explore Portland's coffee culture!

… ready to explore Portland’s coffee culture!

In January I’ll be starting a tour of the famous, deeply rooted coffee culture here in the Portland area over the next several weeks and will share many of them here on the pages of my blog.  I love to sample the roasts, watch the baristas as their craft and sit along side the regulars it take it all in.

Please share your favorite Portland coffeehouse or specialty roaster with me so I can make sure to find the best.

A toast to the roast!

Lisa

Read More

Posted by on Oct 1, 2013 in Blog, Local Coffeehouse Visit | 0 comments

Rock Rabbit Coffee & Bistro, Pinedale, WY

Rock Rabbit!!!!  Makes me want to get up and dance 80’s style!  The name is reminiscent of the 80’s song by the B-52’s, Rock Lobster.

Dan and his partners have created a space in Pinedale, Wyoming that screams music. They have a stage and several big monitors looping musical performances including Jimmy Buffet, The Doobie Brothers and Phil Collins. I was able to attend their Tuesday Open Mic Night and was simply blown away by the talent in that town with a population of 2,030.  If you count the people who live in the outlying areas it goes over 5,000 of the most talented people per capita I’ve every been around (as if that accounts for much).  Five musicians performed their own music with guitars or a keyboard …   AMAZING!!!  Oh, and one comedian who was allowed to give one joke (Jeff)  LOL!!

They serve coffee roasted in Wyoming and make most of their goodies from scratch.  I devoured “The Big Fat Rolled One” one morning that knocked my socks off; for some reason I took a nap shortly afterward.

Rock Rabbit Coffee & Bistro
432 Pine St  
Pinedale, WY 82941
(307) 367-2448

Read More

Posted by on Sep 27, 2013 in Blog, Local Coffeehouse Visit | 1 comment

Metro Coffee Co., Casper, WY

Siesta time!

The guys at Metro Coffee Company in Casper, Wyoming take the afternoons off!  Isn’t that great?  Gotta love local business and the freedom they have to make executive decisions like this one 🙂 They’ve been doing it for over 10 years in downtown Casper. It  gives them the the opportunity to be 100% for both the morning buzz rush and for the evening study groups and acoustic music stage.

The baristas there were some of the most attentive that I’ve met.  They love pulling shots and being an integral part of the community.  Cody said that it makes him happy to brighten the mornings of the customers … and he truly meant it!

The place is full of plants and local art.  The most unique piece of art is their old Mac computers …. available for public use IF you can sit long enough to get online 🙂

Stop on in when you’re in the neighborhood!

Metro Coffee Company
241 S. David
Casper, WY 82601
(307) 472-5042
www.metrocoffeeco.com

Peace, Lisa

PS – I will add the names of “the guys” once I find that little piece of paper with their names on it 🙂

Read More

Posted by on Sep 21, 2013 in Blog, Coffee News, Lisa's videos, Local Coffeehouse Visit | 0 comments

Coal Creek Coffee, Laramie, WY

First stop on my indie coffee road trip: Laramie, WY

“Home to Malcontents, Revolutionaries, and Do-Gooders of all types” is on the door.. A grand description of many coffeehouses I’d say, as they have historically attracted people that gather for the greater good.

Coal Creek Coffee Company has been part of downtown Laramie‘s landscape since 1993; an old-timer in the industry by U.S. standards. The founder is local entrepreneur, John Guerin. According to another John, one of his three employees behind the counter today, the owner is passionate about coffee and owns two coffeehouses and a roastery also in Laramie. But it doesn’t stop there … Founder-John also loves to bake tasty sweets like homemade graham crackers drizzled with dark chocolate, granola and cookies to name a few of the tempting treats behind the glass.

Next on his list of loves is brewing beer and is in the process of opening a brew pub next door to the coffeehouse on Grand and the railroad tracks … does this guy have it goin’ on or what? His business partner and wife is Jodi Guerin … A fellow Sister of mine with Sisters in the Fly!  I love the synchronicity!

I just had to post a photo of their retro Elektra espresso machine … wow!

It is a Saturday afternoon with bright blue skies and a crisp, almost-autumn breeze swirling through town. the customers I see are musicians, students, local homeless, young families, and a Tibetan monk. All are welcome and comfortable here.

My drink of choice? … a made from scratch iced chai!

by Lisa via PressSync

Read More