Some Random Thoughts

I just have some random thoughts concerning the Nashville Coffee Scene:

1. Cold Brew Coffee has taken Nashville by storm. One year ago, no one did it. Now I can't find a place that doesn't do it (I haven't checked on Starbucks, but I have no intention of finding out). If I don't get an iced coffee to find out, I still ask. And it's not just the high-end places; even the cheaper coffee places seem to have switched to cold brewed. Amazing.

2. Why is it that the mall areas are completely bereft of coffee places? Rivergate has nothing; Cool Springs has nothing; Bellevue has nothing; even 100 Oaks only has one place (Sam & Zoe's) and that's not well known outside of that area. Even Green Hills has nothing unless you go north to Hillsboro Village, northeast to Belmont, or East to Franklin Pike area. Never forget: Starbucks doesn't count.

3. Cupping Events are beginning to appear intermittently in Nashville. Newcomer Roast, Inc., cups regularly, as they roast single beans instead of blends. Cupping is useless for places that use blends, whether they roast their own, or buy roasts from outside. West Side shop Dose is getting into the cupping game with single bean roasts, also. Expect this to be a trend for those places that use and develop single bean roasts.

4. Nashville Coffee Co. is definitely not returning to the Nashville Farmer's Market. I never had a chance to try it, and that's a shame. I hope that another shop will fill the place, because a local coffee place would be a great partner in the Market.

5. Look for vendors at the regional farmers markets. South Nashville Market, Franklin Farmers market, West Nashville Farmers market all have at least one shop represented. Check them out as you gather fresh produce.

Check back later in the week for the regular reviews.

DrinkHaus: Fun, but a little sharp?

Drinkhaus Espresso & Tea
500 Madison St
Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 255-5200
http://www.drinkhaus.com/

Perhaps the most visible manifestation of the Germantown renewal is DrinkHaus Espresso and Tea. There are many places which help define Germantown as the gentrified area just north of downtown: The Germantown Cafe, Zackie's Hot Dogs, The Cocoa Tree. DrinkHaus, however, is clearly visible from Jefferson St. With it's yellow awning, black and gold shield, and German spelling. When I first saw it, I assumed it was a bar, but later found out online that it's a coffee house.

DrinkHaus does a lot of things right: they offer high quality drinks, snacks, and gelati; They keep their prices reasonable; they are friendly and conversational. They have ample parking in an area where you might be concerned it at a severe premium in the narrow streets of Germantown. They are even family friendly, with toys and small games for the young'uns: not expected for such an upscale establishment.

I like everything about it except for one thing: their coffee is so bitter. I ordered the Iced Mocha, and the bitterness shone right through. It was a disappointment. A sweet, strong beverage on a brutally hot summer's day is a wonderful thing, but if it tastes like cough medicine, it's hard to enjoy as much.

They, unlike many of their centralized counterparts, neither roast their own beans nor bring them in from local roasters like Bongo Java or Drew's Brews. Now a different flavor might be a good thing, like The Perch in Brentwood. But when the coffee flavor is canceled out by the bitterness, as it is at DrinkHaus it's hard to appreciate.

Hands down, DrinkHaus is the absolute best place for coffee from Charlotte Pike North until you get to Metrocenter. If you have kids, go to DrinkHaus; if you want a discreet but fun date, go to DrinkHaus; if you want a sweet treat or a healthy snack to go with your coffee, go to DrinkHaus. But if you are downtown, and prefer a smoother brew, and a little more variety of coffees, I recommend Dunn Brothers.

Casablanca Coffee: Desert Hot!

Casablanca Coffee
602 12th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 942-7666

Casablanca, at the Icon in the Gulch, has been around for a little more than a year, and if the Gulch needed something to hold it over until the recession ends and more stores open, it's a coffee shop. Sure, it could have been a crappy Starbucks, but thankfully, they chose an independent coffee shop, and that bodes well for all locals.

Now Casablanca has a lot going for it, Drew's Brews, an excellent brew based in Nashville, is served, and it's mild and familiar taste is comforting. They have a plethora of coffee drinks, ranging from basic brews, all the way to the high end espressos. They also cold brew their iced coffees, which gives a much less acidic flavor, and is much more refreshing. They also have a selection of baked good, wifi, and unique sodas. This is all standard to coffee shop, and to be expected.

A nice touch is that they have classy and very comfortable tables and furniture. I have grown tired of the cheap Bohemian look, especially when nothing matches, and Casablanca will have none of it. They also carry the Casablanca "theme" into the shop, so it has a touch of desert all around: very pleasing to the eye.

Now I do find it odd that a coffee shop feels the need to double as a semi-bar. I guess they figure they can stay open later by selling beer, but I don't get it, and would rather they stick to coffee. I get that people like something to drink with their live music, which is also offered in the evenings, but it's still weird to go into a coffee shop and have beer pushed on me.

However, as a coffee shop, it serves the Gulch very well. The baristas are knowledgeable and offer good service. They're generous with their products, and everything they do it first class. So if you're between downtown and the West Side, Skip Fido (always skip Fido!), don't feel the need to run down to Bongo Java or downtown to Dunn Brothers (though hit those places when you're nearby), and avoid the traffic to Crema. Grab a Casablanca: a great representative for the Gulch.

Dunn Brothers: a Chain with no weak links

Dunn Brothers Coffee
401 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37219
615-252-2567
Local Nashville Website

I'm going to tell you a secret. This bit of information is something that runs deep in me, and has grown in me as long as I've been drinking coffee regularly. I really can't stand Starbucks. It's not because it's a chain, but I have every reason to believe it doesn't help. I find their coffee bitter, overpriced, and uncreative. Generally, I think the snobbery at Starbucks is just as great at some of the Hillsboro coffee spots, and for no good reason. I consider it the McDonald's of coffee: ubiquitous, over-branded, and just greedy.

But chains don't have to be bad: Dunn Brother's, downtown on 4th Ave. N, is definitely a great coffee shop that is also a chain, and definitely gives you your money's worth for good coffee.

To begin, the place is deceptively large: at first you think it might just be this tiny store, but when you find the steps down to the back, it actually holds far more with their small couch areas and their restaurant-style tables. A place that first feels dark and cramped suddenly becomes open and brightly lit. That's especially welcome when coming in from the brutally hot Nashville summer downtown.

They roast their coffee onsite, so it's going to be fresh. They have a wife variety of coffee drinks, ranging from basic brews, all the way to the high end frappes and flavored espresso creations. They have several fine baked goods, excellent wifi, and friendly and knowledgeable staff. If I have a question, not only do they have the answer, they often volunteer information about making it yourself or how to enjoy it better.

Something else that's neat is when you walk in and find the owner roasting his own beans. He'll talk about his methods, and make recommendations. It adds to the experience greatly.

Now my main caveat (and the main reason I don't go more often) is the fact that it's in the L&C building downtown: therefore, no parking. There's just no cheap way to get there if you come by car. So I really only go there when I have more pressing reasons to get downtown. Also, due to the awkward layout of one-way streets, it might be slightly hard to find. My best recommendation is to take Church St., then turn south (the only direction to go) onto 4th Ave., and it will be on the right in the blink of an eye. Don't miss it.

Beyond complexities of getting there, Dunn Brother's Coffee is a great place to get your java on. It's tasty, reasonably priced, and fun to hang out at. If you can get there, you should really enjoy it.