Some NSFW language
Author: admin
a few random statistics, for no particular reason whatsoever
Coffee (including coffee products) imports for fiscal year 2024
$9,001,262,447
source: US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service data
Rank of coffee (including coffee products) among agricultural products imported to the US for fiscal year 2024
4th
source: US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service data
Top countries supplying coffee to the US in 2023/24
Brazil (32 percent)
Colombia (20 percent)
Vietnam (8 percent)
Honduras (7 percent)
source: US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service data
Newly enacted US “reciprocal” tariffs
Brazil, 10 percent
Colombia, 10 percent
Vietnam, 46 percent
Honduras, 10 percent
source: Executive Order of US President, dated April 2, 2025
(coffee) room with a view
I’m a sucker for a beautiful coffee shop. This one was very nice but the real show is what you see out the window.
Kaigo Coffee Room, Brooklyn, NY
hammer time
A few weeks ago I stopped for coffee in a small Pennsylvania town and was greeted by this beautiful Victoria Arduino machine with old school pull down levers. Hammered tin finish really was spectacular. We just won’t talk about the coffee made with it.
Salt & Pepper Diner song <snippet> of the day for Sept 24
Not long ago I was on a long drive and Kate Bush’s best-known song came on the radio and yadda yadda yadda I was hoarse from singing along as I played this clip on a loop for over an hour.
Apologies to anyone triggered or otherwise harmed from watching this.
one DC coffee shop I won’t be visiting
This is absolutely nuts. Staying far far away, hopefully it will be gone soon.
UPDATE: they’ve been closed down by DC authorities, at least for now
coffee & booze, a beautiful friendship
I’m not much for Irish coffee and its derivatives (especially those buried in whipped cream), but I do love me a well-made espresso martini. Not too long ago I discovered an even better way to enjoy coffee in an adult beverage.
Behold, the frozen coffee drink:
This delight can be found at Snappy’s Small Bar, in DC’s Petworth neighborhood. Terrific owners and staff, friendly as all get out, timeless decor. It’s the go-to place if you’re a fan of Underberg, as they always have a ton of it available.
Beauty
Love the new-ish La Marzocco machine at DC stalwart The Coffee Bar‘s Shaw location.
artistry
Very skilled barista today. Kaldi’s Social House, Arlington, VA.
why, you cocky little…..
Had a great time recently visiting my hometown in upstate New York for my high school reunion. The area used to be a desert for good coffee, but as the Hudson Valley has become the Hamptons north (that person looks so familiar, are they an actor…… rock star……. someone I went to high school with……. someone whose parents went to school with me….) that is slowly changing. There’s a lot of independent roasters aspiring to greatness, and more and more cafés trying to do things the right way.
The barista at a café in the hamlet of Tivoli (I-lov-it spelled backward) spotted my Onyx Coffee Lab tee and made me out for a coffee guy. He was pretty cocky in a funny kind of way, but damned if he didn’t make me a terrific beverage. Congratulations, my confident friend, you just earned your shop The Coveted Asterisk of Quality.
Tivoli General
54a Broadway
Tivoli, NY