24-Hour Coffee Shops

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I want a good cup of coffee in the middle of the night and I’m feeling too lazy to do it myself. I could go to a gas station or a 24-hour diner or fast food restaurant. Let’s be honest. With some exceptions, the coffee that comes from these establishments leaves a lot to be desired. Once and for all, I would like to go to a coffee shop that's around the clock, producing great coffee for anyone who wants it. The other places might serve coffee. Coffee is not their obsession though. I want to go to a place that's obsessed with coffee.

It’s beyond me why Starbucks or some other national coffee chain hasn’t jumped on this and at least opened a few locations that never closed their doors. Between night owls and people who were going in for a late shift, 24-hour coffee places would have a good customer base. I understand that a lot of people are in bed after 9 pm, which is when most major coffee places close. Not everyone is in bed though. I know I’m not in bed.

Starbucks would be lying if they said they wouldn’t do great business in the wee hours of the morning. Granted, most locations do open their doors at 5:30 am or so. While this time is all well and good, it leaves a majority of each day uncovered. I guarantee that the line would be around the block if Starbucks decided they wanted to go into the all-night coffee business. After all, they’re starting to serve wine and beer. A majority of wine and beer drinkers do not go to bed early.

I will give some shops credit. They have taken up the mantle of serving coffee to the late night crowd. These place include Shore North Coffee House in Columbus, Ohio, Ava Roasteria throughout Oregon, and E’s 24 Hour Café in Memphis, Tennessee. The fact that these were the only places I could come across after performing a thorough search is a shame. I’m sure that I am missing a few and I would happily accept being proven wrong in this regard. 

Daylight Mind Coffee Company

Let me be the first to say I'm not the most organized person in the world. The words you're reading now are perhaps the most organized thing in my life and even they have a tendency to go awry from time to time. I'm the kind of person who starts projects and never finishes them. I'm forgetful and messy. There are moments where I can get my act together. Unfortunately, they don't come around often enough.

I have a tendency to get full of myself too. I become oblivious to the fact that I am so discombobulated. The people I come across when I am absorbed in my chaos are often left bewildered and irritated. It's not until someone comes out of the mist and slaps some sense into me that I truly get my act together. Most recently the entity that assumed this responsibility was Daylight Mind Coffee Company.

Apparently I had contacted them on several occasions while I was trying a million different things to light a fire under me to get this blog going again. Conversations were started and never completed. Additional dialogue was initiated in a way that made it seem like no other dialogue had taken place. It was a mess. I'm a mess. Rather than condemning Daylight Mind Coffee Company for taking this stance, I would like to say I'm sorry and express my thanks and appreciation.

From the moment you look at the coffee page on their website, you will see that Daylight Mind Coffee Company is no two bit establishment. They're a world class coffee destination located in one of the best places for coffee: Hawaii. I am so impressed with the way they present their coffee is presented that I can almost smell and taste it and I haven't even held any of it in my hand. I'm simply just looking at pictures on a screen.

Going forward I will do my best to improve my organizational capabilities. In the meantime, I recommend that you check out this company. I assure you that you won't regret it.

Cape Cod Coffee Roasters

Cape Cod Coffee Roasters was impressive from the word go. Opening their package was like opening a gift on Christmas Day. I cracked open the cardboard and was greeted with a sea of brightly colored, shiny bags. I am a big fan of companies that make their products look appealing while also making them taste great. I swear I had written this review many times before. I guess the only versions I had created are left locked in my mind.

I would rank Cape Cod Coffee Roasters as one of the best coffee companies in the country. Ranking companies in this industry is so difficult because coffee quality is subjective. Everyone who drinks coffee likes something different. A lot of coffee companies fall into niche categories. The people who run them have a limited perspective of what coffee is all about. The best coffee companies are the ones that offer something for everyone. Cape Cod Coffee Roasters succeeds in this regard.

Companies that have expansive inventories tend to lose sight of quality as their inventories grow larger. Cape Cod Coffee Roasters has perfected having a large amount of products with no weak spots in their repertoire. You can't beat that. Coffee lovers often find themselves in a position where they have to go to different companies to get what they want. That problem would become a thing of the past if every coffee lover went to Cape Cod Coffee Roasters.

It doesn't matter where you start with Cape Cod Coffee Roasters. You will find yourself ordering different types of coffee just to see how they taste. After you have filled your cupboards with their coffee, you will develop feelings of fondness and loyalty that every Cape Cod Coffee Roasters shares. Your passion for their brand is only rivaled by their passion for having you as a customer.

Those of us who love coffee will admit that it's a major part of our lives. We have our favorite brand of coffee and we rarely veer away from it, even if other brands step to the forefront and attempt to claim some of our attention. We are almost too focused on getting our brand of coffee to notice how the company that makes it treats us. Bigger companies have so many customers they lack the necessary resources to deal with us as individuals. Smaller companies might be busy, but they still have that small business mentality where the customer is still always right and important.

If I were to pick a company that fit the values I described in the previous paragraph, it would be Cape Cod Coffee Roasters. I'm not located near their main location, but I know that if I were I would have the ability to become friends with the owners. I am not sure if this scenario were likely to come to pass considering that this company was one of the ones from the first incarnation of this blog. I would hope that they would read this article, accept my heartfelt apology, and realize that not only did I appreciate what they sent me, I loved it.

Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters

Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters was a company I came across during the first failed incarnation of this blog. They were nothing but friendly with me and sent a pack of coffee shortly after we first established contact. I lost control of the project, failing to write a review of them in the process. I contacted them periodically via Twitter to sing their praises and offer to help them fill out their website.

Recently, Paper Tiger reached out to me to see if I was the same person they had been communicating with previously. I told them that I was, reinforcing my policy about being the main point of contact on anything which bears my name.  Their reply took me by surprise, but it's one I should have expected considering my previous ineptitude in dealing with them.

Paper Tiger started off their response by calling me out for receiving their product and never writing a review about it. I deserved a much more potent brand of criticism than the one they sent my way. They were as nice and professional as they were the first time we communicated with one another. The only difference is that they were using their kindness as a weapon and not a warm greeting.

Out of all the companies with whom I communicated during the first incarnation of this blog, Paper Tiger was perhaps least deserving of the raw deal I gave them. They are a humble coffee producer who cares a great deal about the quality of their product and it shows. I can't say enough about how impressed I was with the coffee they sent me.

Prior to my time as a coffee reviewer, I didn't know anything about coffee from other parts of the world. It wasn't until I got the package from Paper Tiger that I was exposed to international coffee. In the package, they had given me a number of flavor saving pouches. This was a good touch as the beans were so fresh it was almost like they had been roasted that day.

The only thing I didn't like about their package was the fact that each package was so small. This isn't a slight to them as much as it's a declaration of how much I loved their coffee. I ran through their package within days. If it weren't for the fact that I became overwhelmed, got a case of writer's block, and lost my confidence, this review would have come years ago.

I would love nothing more than to do business with Paper Tiger again. Based on the tone of our last chat, I doubt that this is a possibility. I'm hoping that they read this review and have a change of heart. I would understand if they didn't. There is no reason for them to have one.

I encourage everyone reading this review to check Paper Tiger out at the first opportunity. Their a top of the line organization that excels in both customer service and product quality. Anytime you can find a company that flourishes in these areas you need to pay attention. Paper Tiger is just that kind of company.

Redbud Roasters

I don't know the first thing about Redbud Roasters and that's a beautiful thing. I look at coffee as a social thing and the companies that make it as friends I haven't met yet. I'm not sure if Redbud has an option to buy their beans online. Their website is appealing, but devoid of content in many areas.

I'm sure I would not have a hard time figuring out what Redbud is all about if I lived in their neck of the woods. I don't though. These previews are a little strange, especially if I have no previous experience with the company. I have decided I will use them to introduce myself to companies I'm interested in profiling.

My first incarnation of this blog was a total flop. I wasn't prepared for the interest I would receive. The product piled up and I couldn't deal with the workload. This time is different. Somehow I feel like my writing is better and I want to use this platform to talk about companies like Redbud.

Whenever I see a company with a website like the one Redbud has, I feel the need to offer my services. I would happily fill their website with content at no cost to them. This blog is not merely a tool for me to blather to you about coffees I've tried. It's a mechanism I want to use to take what makes coffee great and make it greater.

I am a big fan of coffee companies that serve types of coffee from around the world. I don't think it's right when companies offer only one type of beans. There's nothing wrong with it. Variety is always better though. The experiences I've had with companies that have a diverse inventory have been consistently impressive.

I'm eager to hear from them because, if their reviews are any indication, they are well regarded for their high level of product quality and customer service.

Publik Coffee Roasters

Publik Coffee Roasters leads the pack of companies I've written about, but have never heard from. To be fair, they responded once to tell me they were currently undergoing renovations. That was three years ago. I sent them a message this week. They looked at it. No reply. What more does a guy need to do?

Now, I know what you're saying. "They're trying to send you a message by not responding. Take a hint. Give up." While these sentiments are accurate, I feel like it's not unheard of to expect even the most succinct of responses. Honestly, how long does it take to type "No" or "Stop"? I am not saying I'm deserving of either reply. I would accept it if Publik felt like this is what I deserve though.

On their Facebook page, Publik has a mountain of reviews that toot their horn and praise their dedication to quality. I have no doubt that these reviews are true; however, I never base my content on reviews alone. It seems like a majority of reviews have everything to do with the quality of service, not quality of product. So far I would give them low marks in quality of service, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I have no idea why my luck has been better with coffee companies located anywhere else in the country than it has been with ones in my backyard. Your guess is as good as mine in that area. Don't be surprised if you see another Publik article coming from me in a few months. Say what you will about me. I'm one of the most persistent people out there.

Any time a writer decides to cover a specific topic they need to do so until there's nothing left to say about that topic. I haven't interacted much with Publik so this remains an unfinished chapter. Hopefully they will reach out and put the finishing touches on this tale. I know that once we get in touch with each other we will become the best of friends.

Mason Jar Coffee Roasters

I used to live around the corner from the old location of Mason Jar Coffee Roasters. In my one visit to their store, I purchased some of their beans and got one of their waffles and coffee drink. The waffle was good, but too small for the price. I enjoyed the coffee drink (for some reason, my final judgment of it proved inconclusive) and looked forward to brewing the beans.

Anytime I purchase coffee to brew at home I look at the value I'm getting in return for what I paid. I knew that the coffee would be great from the moment I first smelled it. The cost of the beans set me back a bit, so the expectations were high. I loved the coffee. They are skilled roasters that produce appealing blends; however, I was somehow left wanting more. I can't put my finger on it. I wanted to be impressed. Instead, I was confused.

My efforts to conduct a follow up visit were thwarted when I realize their location was closed. I gave up on contacting them online after several emails and posts on their Facebook profile produced zero replies. I don't fault them for taking this approach. I understand it. At the same time, their lack of responsiveness serves to complicate my already apparent issues with Utah coffee producers.

I was delighted to find out that Mason Jar Coffee Roasters is still serving coffee. I'm always willing to give coffee companies the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they will see this post, establish contact, and thaw the ice in our relationship. I have no expectations, so I will be surprised with any outcome.

I like the concept of Mason Jar Coffee Roasters. Their beans are sold in mason jars. I have seen so many bags of coffee in my day. There comes a time when these bags become indistinguishable from one another. It's difficult to keep coffee in bags fresh. I found that the coffee from Mason Jar stayed fresher for longer because of the container in which it's sold. Being able to get coffee in something unique is a welcome departure.