I Love Bourbon (Coffee)

My friend from the Vineyard was in town for a weekend trip to the city. Brunching, running around the city, meeting up with friends, toy shopping for her daughters, scarf shopping for her mom, etc., etc., we somehow ended up walking down 14th Street from 6th Avenue to Union Square. I’ve generally dismissed the scenery of the stretch between 6th & 5th Avenue because most of the shops look beat up, or their signage looks very dated, or it’s fast food. So, to my surprise I see a few changes.

Okay, everyone knows I’m an admitted social drinker, usually vodka or bourbon. So, like a beacon, I notice a glowing sign in the dusky sky. Bourbon Coffee. I almost think I heard a record scratch (in my head). Huh? Well, it got my attention. Another non-surprise is how much I dislike the burnt roast taste of that corporate behemoth (cough-cough, starsucks). Wink. Blink…blink. Pardon the detour. Well, they had me at the name.

Their coffee (and chai) are quite good! The staff is very friendly. On this particular day, the barista making my latte was singing while she did so, and her voice was beautiful. They even let her keep in her Marilyn piercing, so that scored extra bonus points for me. Then, I start to notice the decor. It’s nice! The warm colors are inviting and rich, with an African feel. With good reason.

I picked up a pamphlet of theirs, Bourbon Coffee brewing up change, from crop to cup…for Rwanda. It’s actually worded better in the printed material, but from their website:

Bourbon coffee is an international brand of specialty coffee and the first retail brand to originate from Africa. Our retail brand is built around the philosophy of producing great coffee from “crop to cup.” By building the brand in this manner we are able to directly impact the value equation for coffee farmers in Africa.

They also list four core values in their copy: quality, equity, sustainability, and cultural integrity. That’s awesome. And since we like to judge everything based on a separate set of criteria, I give them top marks in atmosphere, service, beverage/food, and overall experience. Yes, taste is subjective, but I’d gladly take Rwanda’s offerings before Seattle’s (unless, of course, I’m actually IN Seattle, in which case it still wouldn’t be the place with the green logo (and by green, I mean literally green, not ecologically speaking).

This is my new destination of choice when I need my caffeine fix. It’s a short walk from Union Square, on the north side of the street or conveniently located near the F,M or L trains. They’re open til 10pm every night and of course, there’s wi-fi!

Read more about Bourbon Coffee on their website, www.bourboncoffeeusa.com.