Sparrows Part 1

So like usual I put things off. But finally I visited the Sparrows Coffee Tea and Newstand again. My buddy Chris was the Barista this time.

My wife wanted tea (which is my second love next to coffee) and the Sparrows has a formidable selection of tea. You can buy tea loose in bulk for your French press at home. "In the mood tea" is what my wife chose. Chris states that this particular tea has proven aphrodisiacs as he smirks my way… we'll see. The tea holder is interesting, it lets gravity push the water through the tea and down into the cup.

I order my usual mocha, this a first though, I have never pesonally known the barista. As Chris prepares it he tells me they just got a new batch of Ghirardelli's chocolate syrup in so it should have a richer taste. Chris is newer barista, but not that new. He takes his time pouring the foam on carefully. The taste was very well balanced with the chocolate and the expresso, the steamed milk came on a bit stronger than I am used to, but not in a bad way. I asked Chris about the milk taste and he tells me is non-homoginized so it has a bit sweeter flavor than regular milk because it has it's enzymes intact, making it more digestable.
Well thats round 1 for now stay tuned for further updates from the Sparrow's…

Handpresso and Presto! Expresso!

I know summer is over but Christmas is coming… or whatever holiday you may celebrate. I know we can just ask for the same old gift cards or coffee beans imported through fair-trade, remembering the warmth of the season. This is good and all—but lets say you really want to wow your coffee lover. Try this… Handpresso! Its a portable, hand pressurized expresso maker. All you need is hot water in a thermos, a small packet of ground expresso, Handpresso and boom high quality exprosso anywhere. Handpresso's pump presses the pressurized hot water through the packet and out a spout into your camping expresso cups (oh yeah you may want to gift those as well). Its a new product so I haven't found too many reviews on it. Regardless it is a cool idea and its French so at least they know their coffee product.

Can this coffeemaker save Starbucks?

An interesting article from Wired Magazine's website I came across:I will be keeping on eye out for this Clover machine if I do find myself at starbucks. Should any find one please post about it thanks. Regardless click on the photo and let me know what you think.

The Sparrow Coffee Series…

I have unique opportunity to get the inside scoop on a coffee shop, The Sparrows. My co-worker Chris is becoming a Barista there and the owners have some new techniques they picked up at a Barista conference. Now I am not gonna get any secrets but give you a story series of a great local coffee house striving to become even better. With photos interviews and video to come it should be interesting. They are #4 on the Top 10 list. Will they move up? Stay tuned…

Guilt Free…

Well it has been a while people, but I've gotten a second to post. And post I will. The Historical marker today is the economic crises going on right on now and the presidential race. So yeah a lot of lies and half truths going on. Good time to point the finger and talk about guilt. I am guilty for not updating this blog (among others), the federal reserve and congress are guilty of stealing our wealth, hey we are all culpable (but that's another story). Regardless I give you the newest lie of the guilt free mocha:

Yes this is their claim, but here is their nutritional info on the sinless drink:

Café Mocha (Sugar Free)

Nutrition Facts
Café Mocha (Sugar Free) Nonfat	20 oz.
Calories	338
Total Fat (g)	0
Saturated Fat (g)	0
Trans Fat (g)	0
Cholesterol (mg)	8
Sodium (mg)	341
Carbohydrates (g)	58
Fiber (g)	2
Sugar (g)	26
Protein (g)	21

That's right, like our national debt, there is 338 bloated calories hidden in this nonfat, sugerless, whipcreamless mocha… Personally I'd opt for the full fledged mocha at 558 calories. I mean you can drop a meal in place of a caffeinated drink… right?

Well back to the economy…

The days of ordering a 13 shot venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel with total cost of $13.76 (with tax, there's that Fed again, kd.) are gone.


No more proving how ridiculous corporate coffee shops are. People as a whole are frequenting there local coffee bars less, because of our economy. The credit crunch is really difficult on the small coffee shop that has been running on fumes with the banks calling loans. With a venti (20oz) mocha going for around $4 at most shops, to go 3 times a week you would need $624.00 a year. I usually keep it to once week: $208, that's nearly an 8GB ipod touch ($229)!

There is a different value we forget about though. That is the value of good conversation over a cup of coffee with our friends, neighbors, countrymen/women. Still, next time I buy a mocha or any other specialty drink I will savor it more with a twinge of guilt of those going without because of the economy. And what a terrible economy it is. Nothing that can't be figured out over a good cup of Joe. God bless America!

Old friends say goodbye

"Four Friends Coffeehouse, one of the city's oldest, plans to shut its doors next week and the owner blames a dispute with the landlord."

This in the July 01, 2008 Grand Rapids Press. And it has closed 2 weeks ago. This was one of my first and best experiences in a coffee house. Though I must say it was always a bit pricey, they had some of the best coffee in town. But Four Friends more than just a coffee shop, it was an anchor to the social scene, a place where people "got it", a haven for designers, and a mecca to the first days of mocha in GR. It was a wise sage in the sea of wanna-be expresso-bars.

I wish I could write something more eloquent with this epitaph, this dirge. I wish I was a better writer so I could do this place more justice—to show the weight of it's absence. Just know that it was much like the coffee house where you and your friends find refuge from the busyness of this world and relax over a gift of warm crafted coffee that fuels the best conversations of your life.

And if you get to downtown Grand Rapids, MI and you find yourself in Rosa Park's Circle, look across Monroe Center at the door 136 and remember. This song goes out to those Four Friends who started it and to those who will look back to fond memories of being there.

Goodbye old friends you will be missed.

Starbucks and the 21st century

I am turning 30. And I feel like everything is changing around me. I remember my first car (it was a truck). I remember my first kiss. I remember having my first Mocha was in at a Cafe in Grand Rapids Community College (better than the first kiss). But I do not remember walking into my first Starbucks.

That is NOT to say that I do not respect Starbucks as a company. I do. Yes send the hate-mail now. I do like Starbucks because despite what might be said of them they are a creative well designed entity. An entity that has pushed REAL cafés into parts of America that might never know a place where kids can gather with their friends and share quality time together. Yes I said it, I think Starbucks has changed the way America does community. At a coffee shop.

So where is Starbucks now? Closing 600 stores and I hear people cheering. Why?

I think it is the fact there are SO many Starbucks out there, its growth was too aggresive, even for itself. But 600 stores closing?

Some point at the reason being the economy and I would have to half-heartedly agree. Hopefully there is a real authentic self assessment going on internally. A getting back to what is important—making great coffee. At least I hope.

You may wonder how I rate Starbucks. I do believe much of it tastes the same but there are times, yes, there are times when the Barista makes something special. I hope for those times again.

This time I will remember…

Coffee Swag

Time to time I we will feature coffee related items. Feel free to post any items you have come across as well in the comments section of this post…

So are you looking to be the coolest person in the café? Well if so check out these items from Veer.com:

Helvetica Coffee Mug
"Coffee, like Helvetica, has many flavors. To satisfy both habits, this white ceramic mug features four weights of the timeless font – in corresponding caffeinated shades – and a sensibly squared handle. Holds 15 ounces of your favorite beverage but, like the typeface that adorns it, has bottomless potential."

I love the smell of caffeine and typography in the morning…


Coffee Cuff
"Answer the siren call of the coffee shop in style. When your drink is called, the Coffee Cuff slips off your wrist and onto your cup, taking the place of a cardboard sleeve. Your hand stays cool and so does your environmental footprint – Coffee Cuffs are shaped by hand from reclaimed black walnut veneer. Designed by Contexture. 2 1/4" wide."

Serious café-cred to you when you sport one of these babies in front of your local barista!…

Frenz Coffee House

After work I joined my Dan down at at Frenz Coffee House which is located in the older strip mall that has an MC sports right next to I-96 on Plainfield. I must say knowing that it was in this mall and seeing it made me think dilapidated mess, and on the outside, it is. Upon entering though it was a better feel. They offer artwork from local artist for sale and had a small town coffee-shop feel. I ordered my usual mocha and we sat down and started chatting about the economy. My first sip was a pleasant surprise. The chocolate was top-notch—smooth and not overpowering. The expresso coffee in the mocha was a bit masked but I was not totally disappointed by this since the chocolate was so good.

Overall I give the mocha a 8 out out of 10. I would recommend this coffee shop if you are in this area but not really worth a special trip. While Dan and I where talking the barista walked over and turned off the open sign—I looked and my wattch said 6pm which is disappointing. I can see how this coffee shop would be just a good stop off for morning commute onto I-96, and that is pretty much what it is.



Frenz Coffee House

3150 Plainfield Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI

(616) 447-0080
(located in MC sports mall where Plainfield and 96 meet)

Best coffee in China?

Too good to be true… I guess you decide…

The Bitter End

Located in an authentic neighborhood near downtown The Bitter End is everything you expect a true community coffee shop to be. The interior was just as deep and rich as a French roast coffee with Tin ceiling, wood paneling and great artwork on the wall. Now this our first 24 hour coffee shop review and I believe this one will prove an exceptional one way of the usual seedy 24 hour shops I've experienced.

I ordered the ghirardelli dark chocolate mocha. This is a dark chocolate lovers dream - very well mixed and balanced. Now I tried my friend Dan's drink, an Almond Joy, and it was even better—that is saying a lot seeing mochas are my drink of choice. My wife Colleen got the white mocha and it was super smooth and refreshingly light.

With the quality coffee drinks, open 24 hours, and the great ambiance I believe this to be the best coffee shop in Grand Rapids at the time of this post. I definitely recommend this shop to anyone living or visiting Grand Rapids ,MI

The Bitter End
752 W Fulton St
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

A Manifesto

This is the start of Grande Rapids. A blog about the coffee shops in Grand Rapids, Kent County, West Michigan and beyond. My name is Mark, with my friend Dan, other friends and you we will do our darndest to get you the scoop on the best coffeeshops we can find. We will highlight the shops who have the goods and try to keep you from the ones that are bad and overpriced.

In order to do this we will need your help. We need suggestions otherwise we are shooting in the dark (no cream).

Here is to the brewing future!