20 cups of coffee: PT's Coffee Roasting Company

Cup no. 4: PT's Coffee Roasting Company
Topeka, KS

Got to spend a week at my capitol back in February at a government leadership class called Teenpact. It's awesome! My goal was to get to some kind of coffee shop during the week but time was never really on my side. I'd heard that Topeka had some good ones and couldn't stand the thought of not getting to try at least one. On the last day right before heading back to Wichita, my dad let me drive out of the way to one of the PT's coffee shops. I'm telling you, after a week of nasty hotel coffee, this place was like heaven!

Didn't have a ton of time there but still managed to buy a bag of coffee beans, nutella no-bake cookies, a hot mocha for me, and a couple iced mochas for my dad and sister. Somehow I ended up coming out of there with zero amount of pictures which will explain the lack of them. I know. It's terrible. But hey, this gives just you a another reason to go there for yourself and drink more coffee.

The coffee shop itself was different. A lot of brick & wood. Very, very tiny, but then again maybe my coffee shops in Wichita are huge. I don't know. Anyway, I wasn't very impressed.

The barista was nice though. When he didn't have anything in particular to recommend, I got my mocha. It was good. Nothing stood out about this mocha being different from the others I've tried. The nutella cookies were amazing though!

The beans were awesome! There was a whole shelf thing full of different kinds of packaged whole beans that had been roasted that week. I couldn't make up my mind so I went with the AD ASTRA since it had to do with Kansas. Took it home and those beans turned out to be a very good dark coffee. If I go back, I would definitely get more of the Ad Astra. Very, very good!! Totally recommend it!

So in the end, I liked the mocha, loved the coffee beans, and didn't care for the coffee shop itself so much.

Now you must go check out their Facebook page.

Has anyone else been there? What did you think? I'd love to hear about it!

~Susanna

20 cups of coffee: Reverie

Cup no. 2: Reverie Coffee Roasters
Douglas Street in Wichita, KS

If you came to Wichita and had me show you around town, Reverie Coffee Roasters would probably be the first stop on the list. This is my no.1 favorite coffee shop in town all because their coffee is seriously the best! They put a ton of effort into making their products awesome. Reverie Coffee Roasters has been open for a little over a year and is doing great. They are trying very hard to make it a community thing by using and selling local products in their shop.  

My very first time to visit the Reverie was January 2nd of this year. Since then I've been there several times and have spent every penny I own. No seriously, it's bad.  Almost ever time I've gotten cold brew Toddy. The reason for that is because I love Toddy coffee and theirs is seriously good!!

The coffee shop itself is super cute! I love the big red sign on the back wall that has the meaning of their name. Plus, in my opinion you have to have brick walls in a coffee shops and they've got them.

A few more cool things about the Reverie are...
-They roast their own coffee beans and sell them.
-Friday afternoons they give free cupping parties.(I've been to one. It's a great way to learn more about coffee and meet other people.)
-Only coffee shop in Wichita I've been too that sells pourovers and Toddy cold brew!
-Staff here are super nice, friendly, and helpful.

I was in just a while ago and tried an iced mocha made with Cocoa Dolce's chocolate.  This one was ok. If you read my review about Cocoa Dolce you would know that I really like their hot mocha made with their chocolate. But there is something just a little strange about the cold coffee and chunks of chocolate mixed with ice. Now I've had Reverie's regular iced mocha before and I love it! So next time I'll stick with that or a Toddy because I know they're good.

Now go check out Reverie's website and Facebook page where you can learn more. And come to Wichita. I'll take you there!


~Susanna

20 cups of coffee: Cocoa Dolce

Cup no. 3: Cocoa Dolce
Found at Bradley Fair, in Wichita, KS


Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates is an adorable little chocolate lounge on the east side of Wichita. Here, the atmosphere is perfect to have that long conversation with your best friend. The music is always perfect and the decor is very cute! 

Cocoa Dolce is first and foremost a chocolate shop. And their chocolate is GOOD! They also sell coffee, wine, and gelato. This gelato is my absolute favorite in Wichita! No one else tastes near as good. Seriously! In the fall, Cocoa Dolce has a pumpkin cheesecake flavor that is to die for!


About every time I get coffee at Cocoa Dolce, it's gonna be their special chocolate mocha. Unlike any mocha I've ever had, this one is made with their chocolate. It is super rich and super good! Definitely a lot sweeter and way more chocolaty then your normal mocha. I love it! If you go in and can decide what to try, get this!!!

As you can see in the photo above, presentation is somewhat lacking on the coffee end. But the taste of this mocha actually did make up for most of it. 
 
Now go check out their Facebook page. They have a lot here pictures than I do.  :) 

~Susanna

20 cups of coffee: Mead's Corner

Last year I decided that in 2014 I'd like to try 20 different coffee shops and then write a little about each one. The only reason I picked 20 was because I turned 20 this year and it seemed like a good number. 

If you have any recommendations for coffee shops to try please leave them in the comments!! I love to hear about new places!!

Here we go!

Cup no.1  =  Mead's Corner
1/1/14 ~ New Year's Day!

On New Year's Day our YMCA was holding a Frosty 5k through Downtown Wichita and by the river. Three of my siblings, several friends, and I decided to go run. I mean what else could be more fun to do on New Year's Day? The Frosty 5k ended up being my favorite run I've done so far and I can't wait for next year!!

Always in the mood for coffee, we headed over to Mead's Corner afterwards. It was only fitting that I start at Mead's since I hang out there the most.

Mead's Corner is a cute hole-in-the-wall in Downtown Wichita. It's been there for over 5 years and almost everyone has been there at least once. I've been to Mead's many, many times and it feels like home. I love coffee shops that have that warm cozy feeling where you never want to leave. Mead's has definitely got that feeling.

I got a mocha. Hot, of course. Their mochas are very good. I like them because they aren't sweet and have a hint of chocolate but you can still taste the coffee very well. Plus, you can never have enough whipped cream! If you were to ask me what I recommend from Mead's, the mocha is what I'd say! I get it every time and it has yet to fail me.

Mead's coffee is pretty good. It's not anything super terrific but at least it isn't bad. Compared to Starbucks, no, it doesn't even compare to Starbucks. I shouldn't go there... But if I did compare it to Starbucks, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, I'd put Mead's coffee at 10 and Starbucks coffee at 1. 

Now, as a coffee shop Mead's is awesome! I love to come and just work on my laptop or hangout with friends. It's easy to hide in a corner and have a good conversation or actually get some work done. It has a rustic look and I like a lot.

Mead's Corner also sell great gelato, other drinks, baked goods, and sandwiches.

So there you have it. I think you should go to Mead's Corner the next time you try a new coffee shop!


~Susanna