In April, we wrote about our time in the “Cinque Terre” in Italy. Glancing at our notes and pictures confirmed our desire to return someday. The five little towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore were impossibly beautiful. We hiked to four of the towns and found nothing but friendly, welcoming people and tremendously delicious food.
When I discovered Old Crown coffee, and began brewing their beans at home, it didn’t take long for me to notice my Mr. Coffee drip brewer was no longer cutting it. I needed something that brought out the flavors of the gourmet coffees I was trying, so I purchased a cheap French press at the grocery store. Initially, the results were not great. I was getting a lot of sediment in my mug, and the coffee was either very strong or too weak. After some research and practice, I finally had a method that yielded consistently good results. If you are new to brewing with a French press, or if you are curious about moving beyond your drip coffee maker, this article should get you headed in the right direction.
A quick update on the new Higher Grounds that will be opening in the STAR Financial Bank building. When I talked with the manager of Higher Grounds Midtowne, Scott Herndon, he shared some of the ideas he is kicking around for his new business. I was particularly happy to hear he will be supporting as many local vendors as he can.
Like many people, I was shocked to hear Higher Grounds Midtowne would be closing on Oct. 28th and will be replaced with a Jimmy Johns. I used to be one of their regular customers when I still worked downtown. Their Americanos, Red-eyes, and occasionally Black-eyes, kept me from napping through long afternoons of staring at a computer screening in my dark office. Every time I went in, the place was hopping so I couldn't imagine the business was closing because it was no longer profitable. To get some answers, I sat down with the manager, Scott Thrasher Herndon. What’s been brewing since the announcement will have fans of the downtown Higher Grounds breathing a sigh of relief.
Fort Wayne is a great place to live if you are a coffee geek. For a city our size, this far from an ocean and generally not considered to be a college town, having so many coffee roasters is unusual. First there was Old Crown Coffee and then came Higher Grounds, Crazy Sisters, and Espresso Gallery. Unbeknownst to me until a few months ago, there is yet another roaster hidden in a warehouse in downtown Fort Wayne. The entirely web-based Utopian Coffee Company has quietly been roasting small batches of superb coffees and shipping them all over the country.
Having slept off the many miles of travel from the previous day, we awoke early, refreshed and ready to see this amazing city. We had a full day ahead of us, so it was good Josh found plenty of Nutella at breakfast to give him strength. Every street was a new adventure and around every corner was a picturesque canal, a high-arched bridge or an intimate courtyard. A scenic walk led us to the Galleria dell’Accademia and, from the similarly named bridge, we got our first truly majestic view of the Grand Canal. Once in the Accademia, we absorbed as much of the Bellini, Carpaccio, and Titian paintings as we could. When the substantially cracked walls of this old convent-turned-museum began to hold our attention more than the art, we headed out for fresh air.