Special thanks to DCILY for bringing this video to my attention.
3FE (3rd Floor Espresso) is a Dublin-based coffee company founded by Colin Harmon. His story, featured in the video below, is as wild as it is wonderful and it shows how passion and fulfillment beat money every time. Colin’s enthusiasm is palpable and illustrates how the complete coffee process is equal parts art and science. Check it out.
The Coffee Guy
When I think of Utah, the first word that doesn’t come to mind is coffee. It’s Mormons. Being from Idaho and having plenty of LDS friends, I understand Mormon customs well, which is why I was surprised to find truly excellent coffee in the Salt Lake City airport.
I travel a fair amount, and in my experience airport coffee is rarely palatable. For all the crap I give Starbucks, you’re probably not going to find anything better than the Green Siren in most airports. When I first stumbled upon Milcreek Coffee in SLC, I was more than surprised: I was overjoyed. Not only do they make great lattes and espresso beverages, their brewed coffee is surprisingly great.
Millcreek Coffee Roasters started in 1993. Like many coffee origin stories, theirs started with a small roaster in a little downtown building. Millcreek now roasts their coffee daily so that their two locations can brew the freshest cup possible. They have a store on Main street in downtown Salt Lake City, and in the SLC airport.
Their airport location is an interesting choice, but makes sense given the demographic they are surrounded with. Located at the end of Terminal C, the spot is a walk-up coffee bar with fresh pastries and bags of coffee for sale as well. It’s a little bit of a hike to get to if you fly into another terminal, but well worth it. Their baristas are friendly and knowledgable, and their menu is simple.
I’ve never been let down by Millcreek’s coffee in my many visits to Salt Lake. The latte I had while passing through today was well balanced, and the espresso they used was excellently pulled. I enjoyed it to the last drop, and it left me wanting another. Their coffee is selected from all around the world and you can buy a bag on their website for around $14.
Millcreek stands apart for two reasons:
1. They offer green coffee beans for sale on their website. This is great for home roasters, but also illustrates that they care as much about their unroasted coffee as they do about their finished product. This speaks volumes about their partnership with coffee growers as well.
2. Their website offers a few pages of education about growing, roasting, and brewing coffee. While it’s not the most robust set of knowledge available online, it is well put together and instructionally correct. Millcreek’s tips about brewing and storing coffee are right on. This reinforces their dedication to the entire coffee process and their desire to create a better-informed customer, which is especially notable.
Local coffee shop owners would do well to follow Millcreek’s lead in focusing not just on their product. It’s obvious to me that the owners have a passion for the coffee process from start to finish, and it shows in finished cup.
In a world where airport coffee is dominated by chain shops and big brands, sipping Millcreek coffee is a refreshing reminder that some folks still care about every step that it takes to get a coffee cherry into a roaster, then into my cup. Next time you fly through Salt Lake City, take a short detour to Terminal C. I promise that you won’t be let down.
The Coffee Guy
Like Millcreek Coffee Roaster’s Facebook page here.
Lola coffee, located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, was recommended to me by a local friend. He said that Lola “is where you go if you want a great cup of coffee.” That prospect was good enough for me, and I set out with a few family members in tow. Located on the corner of Roosevelt and 3rd Ave, Lola isn’t especially large. It does, however, have a patio area for sitting outside when the Phoenix heat is tolerable.
A few things immediately struck me when I walked inside: the people who run Lola clearly have an eye for design. The small-ish area for sitting is maximized with bars along the back wall and front window. A few leather chairs and a couch decorate the interior, and three large, wooden tables great for using a laptop or (as one couple was doing) completing a crossword puzzle. The back wall is decorated with a massive, somewhat abstract, oil painting on four large canvases. A large glass case stands in front of the espresso machine, filled with baked goods and topped by jars of homemade cookies and croissants. On the front wall hangs an old wooden door with a glass panel – black marker spells out the relatively simple, no-frills coffee menu. Beside the door a metal sheet with “Lola” cut out hangs.
Lola’s menu is comprised of espresso drinks and automatic drip coffee. No manual drip methods are available, but what Lola does do, they do well. I chose a normal latte, which they served in a ceramic mug with simple coffee art on top. My dad ordered a hot chocolate (I didn’t inherit my love of coffee from him) and they asked if he wanted whip cream. My dad said yes, and instead of pulling out a pressurized can of store-bought whip cream, the baristas used their own, homemade, brown sugar whip. I tried some of my dad’s, and it far exceeded my expectations.
The espresso was great, and it’s no wonder considering Lola roasts all their own coffee. I enjoyed my latte immensely – it was creamy and smooth from the well frothed milk, and left a bright finish from the lightly acidic espresso. Along with coffee, my family purchased a “Sal De mar” chocolate chip cookie, sprinkled with Maldon sea salt. The cookie was delicious and went perfectly with our respective cups of coffee.
The baristas at Lola were cheery and helpful, speedily pulling our shots and smiling the whole way through. I could tell they enjoy working there, and their happiness was well represented in our mugs.
Phoenix isn’t exactly known for its coffee scene, but places like Lola make me re-think my preconceived notions about where a great cup can come from. Lola and smaller coffee shops like it are living reminders that you don’t need to be from Seattle, New York, or San Francisco to make great coffee. Dedicated employees, a passion for design, attention to detail about the small things, and a cheerful attitude go a long way in pushing forward quality coffee all around the world.
Next time you’re in Phoenix, don’t hesitate to stop by Lola Coffee. You won’t regret it.
The Coffee Guy
Links:
Lola’s website
Facebook
