Category Archives: Coffee Shops

Iron Chef of Lattes at the Regional Barista Competition

  * Description: Coffee cortado (An latte...Image via Wikipedia

Pittsburgh has been getting very serious about coffee in the past couple of years.  The coffee shops around the city are not only great places for coffee but have become hubs of different neighborhoods.  Some of the local coffee shops have come together to form PACA – Pittbsurgh Area Coffee Association.The PACA website is PittsburghCoffee.org, which includes a map of local coffee shops and a listing of coffee blogs.This weekend Pittsburgh will host the Mid-Atlantic & Northeast Regional Barista Competition.  This is kind of like the iron-chef of coffee making.  Baristas from 11 different states will be competiting for fame and prizes.  Check out some of the baristas from Tazzo D’oro who are experience competitors and bloggers.   The competition is free to attend.  They will be selling deserts to accompany the coffee – all proceeds benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Communty Food Bank.Friday, Satruday & Sunday, Feb. 6-8, 2009 11am-5pm daily (Complete Schedule here) @ Pittsburgh Marriot North in Cranberry More on the competition:  

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

New Coffee Shop in Morningside

A friend and Morningside resident recently took me to the Morning Glory Coffeehouse on Chislett Street (1806 Chislett to be exact).  I’m a simple drip coffee drinker with a spoon-standing test for strength and the Morning Glory passed with flying colors.  Also, the apple turnover my friend purchased was delicious.  The decor was bright and modern with lots of vintage accessories like flowered thermoses and cool milk carafes.  While any coffeehouse that invites you to “throw a record on our turntable” garners immediate hipster cred, the staff is friendly and the bright colors of the vintage books and games keeps everything feeling fresh.  Morning Glory also has free wireless and live music events.    window.jpg   counter.jpg

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Homemade Ho Hos at Big Dog Coffee

Homemade Ho Hos, originally uploaded by IheartPGH.

I was finishing lunch with Friend of IheartPGH who suggested that we check out the newest coffee shop on the south side. Big Dog Coffee is located on Sarah street near the South Side works. This place is beautiful – the counter is an old wooden antique, bright walls, comfortable seats (I am sitting in a rocking chair as I write this), there is a patio for outside seating when the weather is a bit warmer. The main room has a lovely fire place – if IheartPGH was a podcast I would be recording the sound of a crackling fire for you.

his place is really that cozy. The desert counter is beautiful and they have homemade ho hos. I think I had forgotten about ho hos, but the idea of a homemade one is amazing. Watch out cupcakes, there is a new tasty treat in town.

For more info on Big Dog Coffee…

I Love Me Some Good Lawerenceville Eats

Lawrenceville, PA has everything I love about Pittsburgh right in a row. Cupcakes at Dozen, pizza at Piccolo Forno, vintage gems at the several thrift shops and great art in a collection of galleries. I lunched at a new eatery today, Coca Café and can safely say it is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Just a few doors down from Piccolo, Coca Café sits comfortably on the corner with a trendy red and blue paint job. The specials were written on the sign outside and my eye went directly to the pumpkin bisque, YUM! The eclectic chairs and tables made the shop just funky enough without trying too hard. I ordered the chicken and artichoke wrap, which was a great combination of warm and toasty yet light and fresh. Of course, I had to do a cappuccino and biscotti afterward. I couldn’t decide what kind to get, so I had our lovely server choose her favorite, which turned out to be vanilla apricot, YUM again! The music was just loud enough to get you groovin’ in your seat without inhibiting conversation. And something I love about local places; they accept local artwork that they display, which gives them an extra gold start in my book. Yet another Pittsburgh gem that dazzled me to the point of blogging, check them out online!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Learn Coffee at The Grind

I have this event marked on my calendar but I was grabbing some lunch yesterday at the Union Project and the flyer for this event really caught my eye. The printed version of this flyer is really beautiful as the printing is in gold metallic. Anyhow here is my list of reasons why you should attend this event, in no particular order:

  • learn about coffee from some of the best people in coffee in Pittsburgh – I really don’t know what the difference between a cappuccino and a latte is (yes – I have been pretending I know, but I really don’t) and I think it is about time I find out.
  • The people from Aldo Coffee are latte art experts and they have a great blog
  • La Prima Expresso is the most amazing coffee I have ever tasted – I wasn’t a coffee drinker until I discovered La Prima and I usually drive to the strip district on the weekends just to visit La Prima.
  • All proceeds benefit the Union Project
  • Snacks! I really like snacks
  • Who knew there was a Pittsburgh Area Coffee Association – PACA – they also have a website that links to more coffee place in Pittsburgh