Secrets of the City

Cetter coffee? Is that a Columbian brand?

StarCucks.

This is a great idea for a topic here! I’m dying to hear answers.

I will say that when I’m on the road covering stories, I enjoy the 99 cent mocha or hot cocoa or lattes that come out of the machine at Holiday and Super America.

It’s supposed to be *Better**. Oops!

baricou

I like to say that 3/10 coffees served @ Starbucks is burnt, and that the other 7 just taste burnt.

For some reason I seem to get an extra jolt from Dunn Bros, and I love the smell of the fresh roasting coffee that wafts over to our house from our local DB every Sunday evening.

I’m a big fan of SA. Those 89 cent specials get me through the morning!

Duncan Donuts

and you have their word on it.

Dunn Bros. I start nearly every day with a small mug of dark roast, neat.

I enjoy my free coffee at work in the morning. Free is the best spice!
You people spending $4 for a latte or whatever every morning are throwing your money away.

Dunn Bros., because it’s the most local brand, they have a great fair trade/organic selection, and none of their coffees are anonymous blends of arbitrarily-selected beans. Those are like the “dark” varieties of generic lagers, which give the drinker the illusion of sophistication.

Oh how I miss the organic Peru.

For once I’m with wayng on this one…free coffee at work gets me going in the morning

that and an old whore’s diet

My addiction trumps my need to save $4.

oops. Post title fixed

McDonald’s coffee is actually not bad. I’ve been getting one with my bacon, egg and cheese biscuit about 2 days a week for a month.

Of the options, I like dunn bros., but what local places do you people think are good?

And of course, you have to brew it yourself, but I’m not religious about grinding.

My need to save $4 is king.

Free coffee is the best coffee, but a coffee shop has its own benefits, and for me, it’s always going to be Dunn Brothers. The only reason for a visit to a coffee shop is an escape from the house and work, and the price is only two dollars plus tip (I hope all of you bastards are tipping). DB’s has a place in my heart because it has a better grasp of the coffee shop “aura” than most of its competitors, and each location has a varying style of interior design that calms me and perfectly facilitates my mind wandering, newspaper reading, people watching, or whatever it is that I’m doing as I recoup from my outside life.

But when it comes down to price and time efficiency, as it does most days, nothing can beat the office coffee pot or the one in my kitchen.

Favorite DB location: 34th and Hennepin Ave. S, just South of Uptown and East of Lake Calhoun

what does an old whore eat, anyway?

and don’t say old c-nevermind.

lotta people don’t know, but downtown caribou’s offer 1 free refill with your coffee purchase. so you can buy your java in the am, head back to work for a few hours, then come down in the afternoon for your refill. nice little deal.

lotta people don’t know, but downtown caribou’s offer 1 free refill with your coffee purchase. so you can buy your java in the am, head back to work for a few hours, then come down in the afternoon for your refill. nice little deal.

Coffee and Tea, Ltd. in Linden Hills (per the website he’s in the MOA, too) has the best drip coffee in the TCS…guy is just fanatical about his beans, roast, grind and drip…as long as you’re in no hurry, just name any varietal that you want he will brew it to perfection one cup @ a time.

For a good buzz, nothing beats Bob’s Java Hut. It’s like coffee flavored jet fuel.

stupid double posts….speaking of coffee, can anyone recommend a coffee shop that’s open late within walking distance from univ/broadway? i know there’s 1 or 2 in wayne’s world, but don’t they close kinda early?

Bob’s Java Hut coffee is pretty darn good, and the atmosphere is cool. (Is it still cool to say “cool?”)

I used to love when they had their own black cups with the Bob’s logo on them…now, with the plain white cups, it’s harder to pretend to be a hipster while drinking one.

I like lattes from Starbucks, but drip from Dunn Bros. But nothing beats home brewed expensive coffee. In many ways, it’s the best part of waking up.

Nordeasters – Wilde Roast makes some wicked good espresso drinks.

In response to champs, with whom I agree with in point, I have to disagree with him/her in principal. Local, shmocal; a good product is a good product whether it’s made here or in Japan. I’m also knawingly frustrated with the word “organic” these days, but for no other reason than just a passive-aggresive apprehension for the self-rightous.

I’m not a daily coffee drinker but I sure do like an Iced Americano from Audubon Coffee on 29th and Johnson.

LOOK LOOK I’m linking to sotanlife.com

I’m also a Dunn Bros. fan. I haven’t gone there as much now that the NY Times made an agreement with Starbucks. Going to a Dunn Bros., grabbing a coffee, and reading the Times was one of my Sunday morning rituals.

There are lots of little independent shops that are nice and serve a good cup ‘o joe. Nina’s at Western and Selby in St. Paul comes to mind, as does Global Grounds off Central Ave. in Spring Lake Park.

Speaking of global grounds, how about Vietnamese style coffee? I have had it hot and cold at Mai Village and Hoa Bein and it’s great at both places. Kinda a coffee milkshake, made with espresso and sweet condensed milk. Totally addicting.

stupid double posts….speaking of coffee, can anyone recommend a coffee shop that’s open late within walking distance from univ/broadway? i know there’s 1 or 2 in wayne’s world, but don’t they close kinda early?

Wilde Roast is open late and is pretty good. Tarracino and Stone Arch close far too early, though.

I don’t think any of the chains compare with the local independents. The three places who make the best espresso drinks in Minneapolis are Isles Bun & Coffee, Crema Cafe and Passport Coffee downtown.

That sounds divine! I’m going to make one at home tonight.

Wilde Roast is open late and is pretty good. Tarracino and Stone Arch close far too early, though.

yeah, those are the 2 i was thinking of. oh well. i don’t go to WR anymore cuz they burned the hell out of my sandwich (after they forgot to make it and i had to remind them after waiting 20 minutes), then when i politely complained they were ultra-pissy about it. that was like a year ago though, so i really should be over it by now.

The secret with Vietnamese coffee is to add the hot espresso (I suggest a long pour) to the sweetened condensed milk and stir vigorously before adding it to the ice…I always get one with the Almond Joy dessert @ AZIA…sweetened condensed milk, coconut ice cream, chocoalte drizzle, shaved almonds…simply delicious.

Those of you who stop in for one $4 triple-whatever on your way to work every morning are spending a thousand bucks a year on coffee. A thousand bucks. On coffee.

I ain’t sayin’, I’m just sayin’.

I will occasionally buy french vanilla cappucino from a Super America. I tried it once at Caribou and almost puked, like I do with any other kind of coffee.

(Disclaimer: I used to serve several pots of coffee to old men and women everyday. I’ve you’ve heard the things I’ve heard over coffee, you wouldn’t drink it either)

As you were…

LOOK LOOK I’m linking to sotanlife.com

Sotanlife still exists?

Starbucks has no taste — which isn’t a bad thing. Everything there is pretty bland (but their lite blended fraps are pretty good)
Caribou tastes bitter — their mochas are like chewing aspirin and the chocolate they use is like Hersey’s syrup. Sweet, but no flavor. It is awful. (but they recently got rid of Tmobile and put in free wifi)

Dunn Bros is amazing. It’s like a totally different drink — way beyond caribou and starbucks.

Now that’s something to puke about!

“Those of you who stop in for one $4 triple-whatever on your way to work every morning are spending a thousand bucks a year on coffee. A thousand bucks. On coffee.“

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That makes me think that, had I instead been putting that money into the bank for the kids’ education over all these years of morning coffee, I would have, by now, gone so totally damn ballistically cranky-apeshite-wild from lack of caffeine in the mornings that I would have no doubt ripped the heads off of each one of my kids for even speaking to me before noon, which would really make the whole “college fund” idea sort of stupid.

So, I’m probably better off spending the grand.

the service at wilde roast, while pleasing to the eye, is not terribly efficient or friendly.

I second Isles Bun & Coffee.

And what’s this about a place called Wayne’s World in town? Really? Do they schwing there?

well if you ripped off their heads AND saved the money, you wouldn’t even have to spend it on them!

doesnt’ that warm your conservative heart? more for you!

http://www.sovereigngrounds.com/ Chicago and 48th Street. Hakan roasts it on site, the Turkish Roast is divine. Great play area for kids too.

dunkin donuts.

it’s wayne’s (the poster) little neck of the woods, which much to my dismay, i share. hennepin/university area – surdyk’s, nye’s, the awesome lunds, etc…

aint no dunkin donuts around here.

The last time I was at a Dunkin Doughnuts was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after I went to a country two stepping dance and got hit on by red neck cowboys. Don’t remember the coffee much, but I do remember the good times!

Bring Dunkin to MN!

thanks, cubz, I luv u 2.

the lunds is totally not awesome, though. and I miss dunkin donuts.

Dunn Bros. has great coffee. Starbucks is pretty good but I think their coffee often tastes burnt. Today, I had some good stuff at a place called The Smooth Grind in Roseville that was pretty damn good, too.

nothin but love on a friday.

man, i was within 500 feet of a dunkin donuts while in chicago (suburb) this week….but thanks to the stupid blizzard i was stuck in my room drinking hotel coffee all day. it sucked.

is that coffee shop in seward still stinking up the neighborhood with the burnt coffee? drove by it a couple weeks ago, what a brutal smell.

That’s something my wife was mentioning the other day…for an area with so many fat folks, we have a remarkable dearth of donut shoppes, especially Duncan Donuts.

“doesnt’ that warm your conservative heart?“

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(pssst . . . we don’t have hearts. just wee little openings where we keep our stocks and insurance policies and the deeds to our slaves . . )

Is there anything comparable to the Dunkin in Minneapolis? Dex says there’s a Doughnut Hut, a Dounghnut Connection and a Granny’s Doughnut in St. Paul. Anybody up for a 4 AM doughnut run? Anyone? Anyone?

in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after I went to a country two stepping dance and got hit on by red neck cowboys.

They don’t have cowboys in Iowa. Thems sodbusters you had hit on you.

grote, I thought exactly the same thing when I moved here. There were so many donut shops where I grew up and I figured minneapolis, with its hearty embrace of the strip mall culture of the west I grew up with, would be littered with places to buy delicious fried goodness topped in sugary excess. But no. Do y’all eat bagels or something?

I’m partial to Dunn Bros. I like Isles Bun & Coffee, too. Maybe more because I giggle every time I see the word “Bun.”

There is nothing comparable to Dunkin’ Donuts. I really wish we had one of those around here.

When I first moved here, I was also terribly disappointed by how hard it was to find paczki for Fat Tuesday. It’s a big thing in Detroit, and I didn’t realize that it wasn’t so everywhere.

My favorite cups of plain coffee in order:

1. Bob’s Java Hut
2. Mayday Cafe (on Bloomington Ave.)
3. Nina’s
4. Muddy Waters
5. Birchwood

Starbucks always tastes like it’s been on the burner all day, even first thing in the morning.

Yes, bring the Dunkin to Minnesota!

Also, if we had a Dunkin’ Donuts, I would probably move out of my house and start looking for an apartment across the street from it. Those little breakfast egg and cheese thingys are the only food I would ever eat.

Erica–fatty baked goods from the D.
–Paczis in Hamtramck @ New Martha Washington Bakery!
–Dutch Girl Donuts @ 7 Mile & Woodward…24 hours, cheap greasy donuts for junkies
–Sanders Bumpy Cake

bobby, do you have a long and magnificent moustache which curls slightly upwards at the ends and you are prone to stroking while laughing maniacally? If not I’m very disappointed. You should wear a top hat and a cape, too.

don’t know about a moustache, buy according to Keillor bobby has a hairy back.

lucky for me i live in chicago and hit up my local dunkin every morning. i’m willing to ship some back to mpls for a small fee if anyone is interested.

we’ve lamented the lack of donuts in this town before.

i went to sara jane’s last weekend up on johnson in NE. not impressed.

oh my god, the grocery store down the street at school used to carry paczki! I love that stuff so much, but yeah, I have not seen it here at all. Where is That bakery grote?

“You should wear a top hat and a cape, too.“

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We’re business casual here. Now excuse me, I gotta’ go tie up Nell again.

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Not here. You should ask @ Kramarzcuks if they know of anyone who makes them…the bakeries in the old Polish sectoin of Detroit (Hamtramck) would hire extra staff and open @ 4am to meet the onslaught of Fat Tuesday paczki eaters…they are easily the deadliest food in the world (other than puffer fish) each one those things has like 2000 calories and 150 grams of fat

good luck finding active railroad tracks these days, though!

villainy just isn’t as easy as it used to be.

oh, pisser.

they’re horrible for you, but I am so craving one right now.

I’d be happy if some place around here sold bialys.

I refuse to spend more than $1.50 on any drink that doesn’t contain alcohol.

How about a road trip south to Montgomery for a Kolacky? Far from healthfood but durn tasty.

As far as Dunkin Donuts goes, Austin (MN) had one but it’s now a Donut Connection. and a damn shame too.

as a coffee purist – someone who refuses lattes, cappuccinos, au laits or any additive to my black brew (cream, sugar, etc.) – I have to say that Dunn Bros gets my vote hands down. not only are the beans the freshest roast you’ll find anywhere, but they don’t do blends. where the coffee is from is what it is. if i want a straight up guatemalan (one of my faves), ethiopian or columbian, that’s what they give me. a close second is sebastian joe’s.

it’s already been said, but starbucks and caribou always taste burnt or completely stale to me. i suppose it probably taste just fine to those who use cream and sugar or who haven’t tasted the glorious brew at Dunn Bros. I mean, if you get a latte, it really covers up a lot of the actual coffee taste anyway, so why would you care where it comes from? starbucks is probably where you should go anyway. and i swear to god i don’t own a franchise even though it sounds like i do, and hell, i probably SHOULD.

A Fine Grind on Marshall and Cleveland in St. Paul.
Cahoots on Selby and Snelling in St. Paul.
Coffee News Cafe on Grand and Macalester in St. Paul.

I guess I don’t drink much coffee in Minneapolis.
I think of it more as a beer and liquor town.

The coffee at the 400 bar is pretty good.
Liquor Lyle’s is ok.
Lee’s Liquor Lounge isn’t bad.
Stand Up Frank’s is horrible.
Am I missing any?

the barista at the 400 bar is an ass.

I used to work at Caribou and if grinds were in the coffee, which they almost always were because the filters were too small…. we would simply place a filter under the spout… thats disgusting, and they dont have a sanitizing machine like starbucks.. so they just wash dishes in the sink

Oh noes, they just wash dishes in the sink. Everyone’s gonna die!

I like Dunn Brothers. Cute woman there, too. I go there to work sometimes.

Moose and Sadie’s used to be awesome. I haven’t been back in several years though, mostly because I have a kickass espresso machine at home.

alamn- the folks at global grounds also make their own chai-herb-and-spice mix, so it’s really tasty as opposed to that oregon concentrate stuff. also, j&s bean factory has your vietnamese style coffee, but they call it a tai latte(I’m guessing it’s the same thing because it’s also made w/ espresso and sweet condensed milk)

Don’t be standing in line in front of me Courtney.

I shoot daggers with my eyes.

According to their web site, Dunkin’ Donuts will deliver their coffee to your home or office daily, even if you don’t live near a store. Unfortunately, they don’t deliver the donuts.

https://dunkindonuts.com/delivery/

Way too frequently you DO get coffee grounds in your cup from Caribou. Bleccch! It can happen from almost any of their locations, and it’s an annoying surprise on those last few sips. They obviously have some kinda equipment issue.

Starbucks is in the milk, baked goods and CD business, not the coffee business.

Dunn Bros. all the way. Much better coffee and quality control than the other corpo-robo-chains.

Beware the retail coffee business with emloyees in uniforms or corporate logo embroidered clothing.

In the Fridley Dunn Bros. now (University & Osborn) enjoying a cup of french roasr even as I type. Noted that the aptly named Freedom station across the street is selling E85 for $1.75 a gallon right now. Wish I could use a little corn liquor in my VW Golf…sigh…oh, well, as my parents said, “Do as I say, not as I do…”

Just picked up “Lonesome Dove” at the local Targheto. Yes, its a TV miniseries. Also one of the best horse opras ever made since the Ford/Wayne team hung up its spurs.

Dunn Brothers by far is the superior choice in Mpls. I am at one right now-the aroma of freshly roasted beans is heavenly. Very smooth and rich tasting coffee-even the dark roasts.

96 posts and noone has mentioned that Caribou is owned by Arcapita, formerly known as the First Islamic Investment Bank.

I figured for sure Maz and the Bobs would be all OMGWTFBBQ!!!11!! IN UR CARIBOUZ LIBERATING UR PALESTINEZ about it.

Oh, and you guys are all wrong. The best cup in the Twin Cities is the Jungpana Estate Darjheeling at Tea Source.

Thanks, Bob. I was wondering what the official American Lung Association stance on “Lonesome Dove” was, and now I know. I’m not sure what that, or E85, has to do with coffee, but I remain grateful.

Bob must be on the clock, even on a Saturday

grote:

You should ask @ Kramarzcuks if they know of anyone who makes them…the bakeries in the old Polish sectoin of Detroit (Hamtramck) would hire extra staff and open @ 4am to meet the onslaught of Fat Tuesday paczki eaters…

Dutch Girl is my favorite. I have memories of my mom occasionally taking us there on the weekends when we were little. It was a Big Deal.

I had a friend in college who was Polish and way into being Polish. He would take orders and then get up and drive from Ann Arbor to Hamtramck and back to bring us packzi for our 8:30 class on Fat Tuesday.

I tried Kramarzcuk’s once and was sorely disappointed, so I stopped trying.

It’s also nice that the American Lung Association endorses use of terms like “Targhetto” through their spokespeople. Bob, what’s the ALA approved term for Brazil nuts?

“Bob, what’s the ALA approved term for Brazil nuts?”

I don’t know. My coments and posts just seem to attract nuts from Minnesota.

Just giving you a hard time, Bob. I know, you have separate alamn and “just plain Bob” personas, but the distinction is kind of fuzzy. The alamn persona should probably stick to the subject, no?

heh. being a conservative means never having to say you’re sorry.

Point taken, Jim.

In that spirit, what’s your favorite java joint?

as an impressionable teenager, i was brought up on dunn bros. sumatra. it will forever be the yardstick by which i measure coffee’s goodness. few other things compare to its power.

My hip Mac college-student kid bought me some Dunn Bros. as a gift once. I tried it. I prefer Folgers Classic Roast, thanks.

According to their web site, Dunkin’ Donuts will deliver their coffee to your home or office daily

Don’t know why, but I don’t think their coffee tastes the same when brewed at home. I’ve tried. Maybe it’s something in their landfill clogging styrofoam cup from the store that brings out the full flavor.

dunkin donuts hands down.

the sandwiches at dunn bros are completely inedible, however.

they really, really need to get rid of those.

If anyone is still reading this thread…

My vote is for Limu Coffee at Co. Rd. E2 and 5th Ave in New Brighton. As far as the ‘burbs go, this place makes working there bearable. Gedam, the owner, got kicked out of her St. Anthony Village location when Caribou, which hasn’t received much love here anyway, rolled in and signed a lease that didn’t allow competition. Delicious.

http://www.limucoffee.net

Just attempted to drink a Northern Lites Latte from Caribou……YUK! Couldn’t finish it-it tasted so artificially sickening sweet!!! Since it is a limited time offer drink, I won’t miss it when it’s gone! Don’t waste your money trying this drink-I tried the Chocolate Raspberry and my daughter hated the Turtle as well. Poured a couple of bucks down the drain buying this awful drink.

“I tried it. I prefer Folgers Classic Roast, thanks.”

I don’t criticize that coffee because I might be old and weak one day.

The secret Rat, is one scoop per two cups. Dats some yummy navy coffee.

My favorite Twin Cities coffee: Target cafeteria. Starbucks coffee, brewed at the cafeteria, then allowed to sit in one of those big-ass coffee dispensers. It took away the burnt and replaced it with a very rich, very dark flavor.

Hands down my favorite. Dunn Bros. is a close second.

One heaping tablespoon of European Roast MGB per cup in my home machine. Dat’s ARMY coffee, Squid.

Sometimes I just munch it dry.

Heh!

““Bob, what’s the ALA approved term for Brazil nuts?”

I don’t know. My coments and posts just seem to attract nuts from Minnesota.“

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This was just too good not to replay. I love a good line.

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Hard Times Cafe is a favorite of mine . . . and they’re open from 6 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Didn’t we just see you at The Birchwood?

How about any coffee not served by the designer coffee establishments?
Ill proudly drink my mud the local businesses anytime over your crappy choices.

Holiday gas station

The only place in town that I’ve found that actually makes “real” italian style espresso and drinks is Kopplin’s in St. Paul. I’m talking about the kind of coffee you’re only going to find out on the west coast. Everything else has too much milk, too much water and not enough style.

On Hamline and Randolph. They even have a website. Seriously, try it next time your over int he middle of nowhere.

http://www.kopplinscoffee.com/

saloth star, thanks for the link! i’m definitely going to check kopplin’s out this weekend! st. paul is a little closer than seattle.