Red Barns of North Country

At the tippy top of New York is my inspiration for my coffeehouse blog–North Country. Farms are everywhere and you can buy worms on Main Street. North Country has cities such as Potsdam, Canton and Brasher Falls. It’s beautiful.

While I was visiting last year, I heard a story about a men’s coffee klatch. They meet regularly for the local gossip inside of a barn.

There are many Amish people, vegetable stands alongside the road, and several colleges. There are no Starbucks, which makes it a great place for a coffeehouse.

It gets cold there, which keeps many people away from North Country. But you can get a lot of house and land. A 4 bedroom house plus land for less than $100,000.

CNN Poll on Starbucks

In case you haven’t heard, Starbucks is closing for training tonight.  

CNN asks: How will you survive the three-hour Starbucks closure?

Visit another coffee shop	9%	5086
Hide under my desk	8%	4626
I don’t go to Starbucks	83%	47400
Total Votes: 57112

Come on people, you go to Starbucks once in a while. Admit it. It’s okay. There’s room for the fantastic independent coffee shop as well as the giant McStarbucks. Even I, who hope to have a lovely little coffeeshop someday, go to Starbucks sometimes.

I like the idea that 4,626 people will hide under their desks.

Starbucks Closing Early Tomorrow

Baristas are getting a bit of learning at the behest of chief Howard Schultz.

And now, he’s closing stores for training that he promises will re-energize baristas and enhance the customer experience. Translation: Baristas will learn how to pull the perfect shot again and steam milk to order, not just press a button on the automatic espresso machine. AJC

Espresso Spritz

Here is a fab recipe from I Love Coffee.

1 cup of ice coffee

6 oz of crushed ice

soda water or coke, just a wee bit

My addition, fresh whipped cream on top.

Fun With Foam

My rather lame attempt at latte art. Do you know what it is?

I’ll put in some more practice time.

Complaining of Coffee Roaster Smoke

I love the smell of a coffee roaster but it seems that the smoke was offensive to some in Maine. So Rock City Coffee Roasters is going to raise its smokestack.

ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — Neighborhood complaints about the odor emanating from a local gourmet coffee roaster have prompted its owner to come up with a plan to increase the height of his roastery’s smokestack.

The proposal by Patrick Reilley, co-owner of Rock City Coffee Roasters, was filed with the code enforcement office after the city cited the business for violating its odor ordinance, which could lead to heavy fines.

The rules barring foul odors are an outgrowth of the public outcry two decades ago when this city of 8,000 along Penobscot Bay was notorious for the stench from a waterfront plant that processed fish waste.

The closing of that plant set the stage for Rockland’s transformation from a down-at-the-heels factory town to a mecca for the arts and a magnet for tourists. AP

Kiss Coffee

Beth I hear you calling But I can’t come home right now Me and the boys are playing And we just can’t find the sound….

Starbucks to Train and Free WiFi

Starbucks has answered the call. 

Employees are going to get some learning and free wifi is coming. Starbucks is always a good second choice.

The comprehensive educational curriculum for all U.S. store partners will provide a renewed focus on espresso standards that will help ensure the exceptional quality of every beverage. As a result, baristas will be better prepared to share their passion and knowledge with customers. Customers will be able to truly enjoy the art of espresso as Starbucks baristas demonstrate their passion to pull the perfect shot, steam milk to order, and customize their favorite beverage. starbucks

Coffeehouse Confession

I’ll do that here regularly.

Okay. So I fancy myself a writer. I make a living at it anyway. But what I really want to do is finish writing a children’s book I started 2 or 3 years ago. Seems I get bent on doing other projects and never seem to get amped up on mine. What’s the deal?

I like the story a lot. Maybe I just don’t want to do the hard work. Nah. I think I’m stuck. I’m stuck in a sticky spot and I’m not quite sure how to get out of it. That means you can find me early in the morn in the local coffeeshop reading the newspaper, writing (about something else) and daydreaming.

I’ll figure it out, I suppose. Or I’ll go fly a kite.

This I Believe

Here’s a great coffeehouse writing exercise, This I believe. I’m a fan of the NPR series, which is now a book.

The most popular This I believe essays.