Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: Coffee

Method Coffee

The last leg of our day trip to Deep Ellum took us just north of the neighborhood to Method Coffee.

Method Coffee 6

Matt and I have gotten into a habit of trying to explore new coffee shops or bakeries when we have some down time. With the baby in tow, it is the perfect way to get out of the house and try something new. Needing a final stop for our day in Dallas, Matt suggested Method Coffee. We hadn’t been before, but had heard about it and driven by, so we were excited to add it to the agenda.

Even after a long day of standing in line for BBQ at Pecan Lodge, enjoying the brews at Deep Ellum Brewing Co., and generally being in the heat, Method was a welcome haven for tasty drinks, air conditioning, and great conversation about the direction of From Texas to Beyond.

Method Coffee 8Method Coffee is nestled in between Deep Ellum, Bryan Place, and Old East Dallas neighborhoods at the intersection of Ross Ave. and Hall Street. With a large sign on the side of the building, it isn’t easily missed. Inside, the cozy atmosphere seats about 20 people. The seating arrangements aren’t meant for larger groups, but it seemed a popular place for individuals to be productive whether they were there to read, work, or visit with a friend.

Don’t expect to see the menu overhead, instead you’ll take in the ambiance of the brick wall with neat shelving that features some of the various methods they use to make coffee. The baristas were exceptional–they were attuned to the various methods of coffee making and explained very clearly the tasting notes that you might get should you choose to order your coffee via Chemex or Kyoto cold brew. A very small menu is available on the counter where you can select your coffee, chat with the barista, and pay for your item(s). As patrons, we were very impressed with their knowledge, passion, and dedication to delicious coffee, a hallmark you don’t usually see unless you’re in a specialty shop.

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Coffee Flight

Noticing the option for a “coffee flight”, Matt and I chose our standard cappuccino and the flight with the options for an espresso, the Yama (or Kyoto–a Japanese method for brewing coffee), house brewed kombucha, and the traditional drip coffee. Yeah, we knew we’d be loaded up with caffeine, but one thing is for certain, we take advantage of the offerings when we’re at a coffee house! David and Rebekah shared a chai tea latte and obviously, their hearts weren’t racing as much on the ride home.

Chai Tea Latte

Chai Tea Latte

Of the options we chose, my favorite by far was the kombucha–yeah–not even the coffee! I’ve only recently started to enjoy kombucha so I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did, but with the tastes of basil, citrus, and cucumber infused into the fermented tea, it was the most refreshing drink. Matt enjoyed the cappuccino the best: it was simple, smooth, and well made with beautiful artwork. David and Rebekah had samples of our drinks as well, but really loved the chai’s fullness of flavor, including the extra hints of cardamom.

If you’re in the neighborhood, and interested in trying a craft coffee house, we completely recommend Method Coffee.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino

Buon Giorno Coffeehouse and Roastery

Close to downtown Fort Worth is a wonderful coffee shop that is brewing up legit freshly roasted coffee. Buon Giorno coffee is a local coffeehouse and roaster that started in Grapevine in 2006 and later opened up a location in Fort Worth. Buon Giorno specializes is offering locals a taste of a European coffeehouse. This means not only roasting and serving coffee in a more traditional European, particularly Italian style, but offering a place  where the community can gather.

Buon Giorno specializes in two classic forms of coffee, Espresso and the French Press. They do also offer a variety of coffees that have been brewed using the slow drip method for those in a rush. If you are looking for a place to hangout , or meet someone, take a date, hear some live music, or use as an office, then Buon Giorno offers this setting.

Now on to the my analysis of the drinks. I try to grade a coffee house by selecting certain controls, aka wonderful coffee drinks; this includes a macchiato, cappuccino, and a typically a pour-over.  For Buon Giorno, we will look only at the cappuccino and macchiato as well as the atmosphere and a couple other notable mentions.macchiato

Macchiato: 4 (out of 5) – This reminded me of my time in Italy with David. It was very good and true to the style of Espresso you would find in Italy. It was bold and fairly strong, yet smooth. It was not so bold that it caused me to make a strong coffee face, but it was assertive. Even so, it was easy to drink and was full of flavor. The smokiness of the roasting process seemed to be prominent, yet it did not make you feel like you were drinking liquid smoke. It had rich flavors with a slight hint of chocolate. It also had an earthiness to it.  There was some nice bitterness that was associated with it. Overall, a very good and traditional taste.

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Avoca Coffee

Nestled in the “Near Southside” district, off of Magnolia Avenue, Avoca Coffee is by far my favorite coffee house in Fort Worth. There are so many things to think about and look for when you go to a coffee house. What is the ambiance? Clientele? Can you study there or is it more of a place to meet up with friends? Do they have good coffee? A menu with variety?

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Local Art

The atmosphere when you walk into Avoca is casual, relaxed, filled with locals, and fun. People always seem to be engaged in conversation and having a good time and it is always easy to strike up conversation with the baristas or other customers. One of my favorite things at Avoca is that  local art is featured on the walls. And it rotates! My favorite coffee shop during college did that and it was always so fun to take a study break and check out the art. Seating in Avoca is abundant with comfy chairs and couches, or tables and chairs. Avoca also has the equipment to host live music, although I’ve never been there when it has been available. The baristas are SO friendly,knowledgeable, and helpful–you can tell they take pride in where they work and enjoy themselves while on the job.

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