a coffee shop alternative to Wired Beans, who wants one (no diss on WB)??

[allarevessels]

Do you find the decor and/or coffee of Wired Beans disagreeable? Would you prefer to visit a neighborhood corner chill spot with sturdy furniture, good art and strong coffee (old city)? if so, where? and what coffee gets your whistle blowing?
'lil market research.

[bruhinb]

Do you find the decor and/or coffee of Wired Beans disagreeable? Would you prefer to visit a neighborhood corner chill spot with sturdy furniture, good art and strong coffee (old city)? if so, where? and what coffee gets your whistle blowing?
'lil market research.

My dream coffee house?

• Well made (and professionally kept -- NO burner bitters!) La Colombe coffee.
• NO television!!
• Quiet, environmental music.
• Sandwiches and baked goods. Maybe a soup of the day.
• Open into the evening on Friday and Saturday, with live performances after eight or so.
• Across the street from a park or playground, such as Cliveden Park.

My favorite coffee house right now, the Highpoint, only meets around half of these requirements. Others in the neighborhood don't even come close.

[übercraft]

My 2 cents. Baked goods both sweet and savory go well with coffee. Reading (lighting, seats, newspapers, magazines) and WiFi go well. A place needs a good balance of people who hang out long term, those who buy coffee-stay 20 minutes and those who come in for take out coffee and snacks. If this balance swings in either direction, the shop will either appear always empty (creepy) or full with people taking up all of the available space (not reliable when needing a place to meet freinds). When a coffee serving establishment ventures into restaurant territory with foods like soup the finacial risk goes up as does the work of managing staff to keep things clean and code worthy. There is also need for extra equipment, which after the initial investment will continue to use electricity 24hrs a day. Utilities are better spent on cold a/c in the summer and heat in the winter. Fresh coffee smell is important. Interior should be designed so that it can be easily cleaned and look clean. Employ baristas not cash register operators. The barista is addicted to good coffee and knows their stuff, remembers repeat customers. The unskilled make great employees at Target. If the person behind the counter is able to serve me drip coffee that is bitter it tells me that the owner doesn't care, server is lazy, ignorant of their duties, ignorant of coffee and/or the establishment is attempting to save money by not brewing fresh coffee. A shop that serves bitter coffee in an attempt to save money (unskilled employees, limited coffee brewing ) is on life support. I want better coffee and more choices than I can make at home with great service. In the beginning, keep it simple and work up to whatever your local market will support.

[bruhinb]

My 2 cents. Baked goods both sweet and savory go well with coffee. Reading (lighting, seats, newspapers, magazines) and WiFi go well. A place needs a good balance of people who hang out long term, those who buy coffee-stay 20 minutes and those who come in for take out coffee and snacks. If this balance swings in either direction, the shop will either appear always empty (creepy) or full with people taking up all of the available space (not reliable when needing a place to meet freinds). When a coffee serving establishment ventures into restaurant territory with foods like soup the finacial risk goes up as does the work of managing staff to keep things clean and code worthy. There is also need for extra equipment, which after the initial investment will continue to use electricity 24hrs a day. Utilities are better spent on cold a/c in the summer and heat in the winter. Fresh coffee smell is important. Interior should be designed so that it can be easily cleaned and look clean. Employ baristas not cash register operators. The barista is addicted to good coffee and knows their stuff, remembers repeat customers. The unskilled make great employees at Target. If the person behind the counter is able to serve me drip coffee that is bitter it tells me that the owner doesn't care, server is lazy, ignorant of their duties, ignorant of coffee and/or the establishment is attempting to save money by not brewing fresh coffee. A shop that serves bitter coffee in an attempt to save money (unskilled employees, limited coffee brewing ) is on life support. I want better coffee and more choices than I can make at home with great service. In the beginning, keep it simple and work up to whatever your local market will support.

This. Every word of it. Especially the part where I added emphasis.

[Mt. Airy Brewer]

So, anywhere but Wired Beans and Infusion? High Point seems like your only other option and their coffee is pedestrian at best. Trolley Car serves La Colombe but it's watered down to save Ken a few bucks.

[bruhinb]

So, anywhere but Wired Beans and Infusion? High Point seems like your only other option and their coffee is pedestrian at best. Trolley Car serves La Colombe but it's watered down to save Ken a few bucks.

I'm afraid you are quite correct on both counts. I patronize both the Highpoint and the Trolley Car, but in spite of their coffee, not because of it. When I'm downtown I usually take the easy route, literally, and walk past Old City in the Terminal rather than walk the extra blocks to the La Colombe store on Penn Square. That's my failure, though... and partially due to the fact that Old City is my number two local roaster, anyway.

The coffee at Chestnut Hill Coffee is also very, very good, IMO, but I don't get up that way as often as I used to.

[Mt. Airy Brewer]

I'm afraid you are quite correct on both counts. I patronize both the Highpoint and the Trolley Car, but in spite of their coffee, not because of it. When I'm downtown I usually take the easy route, literally, and walk past Old City in the Terminal rather than walk the extra blocks to the La Colombe store on Penn Square. That's my failure, though... and partially due to the fact that Old City is my number two local roaster, anyway.

The coffee at Chestnut Hill Coffee is also very, very good, IMO, but I don't get up that way as often as I used to.

Ants Pants at 22nd and South serves fantastic coffee from Blue Mountain coffee which used to roast in Germantown and The Corp. used to sell it. Not sure if they are even in business anymore.

[Mt. Airy Brewer]

Sorry, Blue Water Coffee on Wister Ave.

[Kukla65th]

Stop in Town Hall coffee in Merion and tell me if you can imagine coffee being any better. I'm very partial...would never in a million years imagine that owner considering Germantown, but it would be great to see.

Exciting to see at least any coffee shop opening in Germantown; but I am sorry to hear the complaints about Wired Beans...haven't been there in a long time as I don't live in G'town/Mt. Airy vicinity.

I hate to say it at risk of backlash, but even if Starbucks opened at Chelten and Wayne, it would likely make money. Is that such a crazy idea? I don't like Starbucks for a host of reasons, but lots of people do, and I just see it making money at a location like that - it is a kind of fast food after all. Let's face it, some people even from Mount Airy would drive there to get something. If only it could be as annoyingly crowded and full of "resident customers" as the one in Chestnut Hill!