All posts in Saint Paul

  • itsagreatdayforcoffee.com and Digital Reputation Management

    06 Sep

    It’s A Great Day For Coffee is a a website started in January 2011 that is emerging as the preeminent digital destination for local coffee coverage in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Bringing the experience of hanging out at a local coffee shop online for an extensive and growing audience.

    By leveraging various social networks and the execution of a content strategy, Panacea3 quickly optimized its Digital Reputation for It’s A Great Day For Coffee.

    itsagreatdayforcoffee.com

    panacea3.com

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | Macchiato

    13 Jul

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    http://www.kopplinscoffee.com

    490 Hamline Ave S., St. Paul

    It’s always a pretty easy call when I have a friend in town who wants to have a taste of some of the drinks that I post on this site, and Kopplin’s in St. Paul is more than worth the trek from South Minneapolis. I need to find more time to get out and try some other St. Paul coffee sites, as a lot of my posts have been in the Minneapolis area to date. Kopplin’s was nearly fully just 45 minutes to closing time on this warm evening and I figure this shop, just like any other, has some of the old classic regular customers who enjoy this quiet getaway spot as much as I do when I visit.  The macchiato tasted as good as ever and it is starting to be my drink of choice in a lot of shops, aside from a good cup of black coffee. I like the smaller portion of milk and the flavors from the espresso that still reside and pop through the drink. I hope to concentrate on some coffee profiles at some shops and get some write ups about some of the origins of coffees being sold throughout the city. It’s interesting to see people’s different reasoning for liking certain coffees when you’re working behind the counter, and I hope to share some of the flavor profiles that other shops describe. Kopplin’s does this well with an unique menu and actual globe that shows the locations of where your coffee is coming from. I feel like if you are a daily coffee drinker, being knowledgeable about some basics of the coffee and where it is sourced from is important, especially at a time where coffee prices have never been higher. Sourced from their website, “Our buying decisions support farmers, co-ops, and local companies that deliver real, quality ingredients. By supporting products that are created responsibly and sustainably, we know that our enjoyment of great coffee and food does not come at the expense of the people that work hard to create them.”

    itsagreatdayforcoffee.com

  • 10,000 Official site views since our launch in January.

    27 Jun

    We have officially breached 10,000 site views on itsagreatdayforcoffee.com since our launch in January 2011. Thank you to everyone who has shown their support. Minneapolis and St. Paul are serving some good cups of coffee.

    John Waltmann

     

     

     

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | 490 Hamline Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55116

    17 May

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    490 Hamline Ave. Saint Paul, MN 55116

    http://www.kopplinscoffee.com

    “Using state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge methodology, our baristas are trained to embrace their own style to create each and every beverage.

    Kopplin’s believes that environment is the cornerstone of experience, from the well-being of the farmers, to creating a beautiful and warm aesthetic for all to enjoy.”

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | El Salvador Clover

    17 May

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    http://www.kopplinscoffee.com

    El Salvador, Clover Brew

    “The major contributing force to this flavor complexity lies in the concept of the French term terroir. Loosely translated, terroir means “a sense of place.” Coffee, like wine, is sensitive to the environment in which it is grown. Coffee bean characteristics can vary drastically, based on small variations in soil type, climate, and topography.”

    The trip out to Kopplin’s is always well worth it, and I normally start with an espresso drink as well with a taste of some of their great single origin coffees. I had the choice between a Burundi or the El Salvador and went the safe way, as I haven’t gotten along too well with Burundi before. I am beginning to really notice different flavor profiles with the various types of brewing methods. It seems like most specialty shops are setting their standard with the Clover brewing method. The amazing tasting drinks and relaxing environment of Kopplin’s will definitely have you coming back for more.

    itsagreatdayforcoffee.com

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | Cappuccino

    17 May

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    http://www.kopplinscoffee.com

    490 Hamline Ave S., St. Paul

    Cappuccino

    There has to be a reason that I go out of my way almost 40 miles about once a week to visit Kopplin’s, and that answer is inside of this cup. Right off the bat, their motto is “The Perfect Espresso”, and they serve their espresso drinks with grass-fed cow’s milk from local, organic farms. The last few times I have visited, it has been the same barista and she has continued to serve a consistent delicious drink. They described the cappuccino on their menu as 1 part espresso, 1 part milk and 1 part “micro foam” which was the first time I had heard that term. If you live in the Hamline University area or just want to get your fix, make the effort to stop in here next time.

    itsagreatdayforcoffee.com

  • Black Sheep Cafe | Latte

    19 Apr

    Black Sheep Coffee Cafe, South St. Paul, MN

    http://www.blacksheepcoffee.com/

    Small Latte

    I was definitely looking forward to a day where I could make the trip out to Black Sheep Cafe. It was about a 40 mile round trip drive to go and check out this specialty shop, but it was well worth the haul. They do all of their own roasting and had their beans priced well for the micro-lots and other single origins they were offering. I ended up getting a 12 oz. of their Kenya “Gathiga” with the Clover. It was a nice cup of coffee. I saw that they also were offering several brewing options including a siphon, Hario V60 pour-over, Chemex, and french press. I liked that they also offered great lunch and food options. They have live music on the weekends which has me thinking about playing some jams there sometime and drink amazing coffee all night.

    itsagreatdayforcoffee.com

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | Soy Macchiato

    18 Feb

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    Soy espresso macchiato $3.25

    I was definitely excited for a day off and a trip out to St. Paul to grab a cup. I ordered a “soy macchiato please”, and the cashier insisted that the drink would taste better with whole milk and told me I should try it regardless. I told her that I was aware of the drink taste and prefer soy a lot of the times. In this case, it was no different. The soy brought out the espresso for me with a rich and sweet chocolate taste. The barista who prepared the drink had it up quickly and it was a perfect start to the day.

    http://www.kopplinscoffee.com/

  • Kopplin’s Coffee | Espresso & Ethiopian “Yirgacheffe”

    12 Feb

    Kopplin’s Coffee

    490 Hamline Ave S., St. Paul

    Espresso “Short and Sweet” double shot

    Ethiopian “Yirgacheffe” coffee

    If there is one place that is doing everything right, this is the spot. This was my first time visiting Kopplin’s and it did nothing but impress. As I sat waiting for my drinks, I watched the barista, which I believe was Andrew Kopplin himself, serve beautifully crafted mocha’s and latte’s with perfect rosetta’s. One older lady commented that “It looked so cool.”, but this is more than just a coincidence that your mocha looks and tastes so well. It’s an art and a passion that is being served. Rustica Bakery was being sold along with a selection of teas. I really enjoyed the information on the farms and quality of the products they serve that was displayed throughout the shop. Nearly every seat in the place was filled and I will definitely be making a stop back here soon.