Notes from the Trail

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If you’re from LA (Lower Arkansas) and haven’t yet discovered the brown goodness brewing at the Coffee Bean, I want to urge you to make it a regular visit. Although a cup of the good stuff (like a flavored frappucino) will set back almost the same as a gallon of gas, you will enjoy spending your dollar the Coffee Bean far more than you will at the gas station.

The CB serves up a variety of gastro goodies, ranging from incredibly thick, delicious and uncommonly-flavored shakes to bagels, frozen hot chocolate, and lattes. It’s not just for cold-weather warm-ups. The CB offers just what you need to enjoy a freezing jolt for our intense summers.

Then there’s the owners. Richard and Vonda Russell are amazing people. Truly. Richard recently shared his testimony of God’s healing grace in his life at our church, and the atmosphere they’ve sought to carefully create at the CB is both faith and family-friendly. 

Throw in FREE WIFI, and you’ve got a coffee-lover’s and blogging junkie’s haven. I find myself “officing” at the CB 2-3 times a week and have met some wonderful friends through the CB that I would not have met if I hadn’t been “out and about.”

So, if you’re looking for the perfect cup of joe or a great cold treat, I recommend you put the Coffee Bean on your radar and make it a regular stop-off. 

I don’t know how many of you have discovered the delight of a coffee press. I’ve been through three now. Mainly because I broke one and had to reorder it. (No, it’s not a Donald coffee press… But that does make me wonder if I have an advanced case of break-ism.) I now have two coffee presses, one that’s a two-cupper, and the single cupper above in the picture.

If you’re unfamiliar with coffee presses, they’re wonderful inventions. Also known as the French press, it’s been around for a while. Basically, you put a scoop of fresh ground coffee (or if you’re lazy, Maxwell House) into the glass beaker, add hot water, stir and let steep for 2 minutes. Afterwards, you slowly “press” the plunger down, pushing the grounds to the bottom of the beaker. The result is a fresh, espresso-like cup of incredible goodness. There’s a good article here about how to achieve the best brew.

It’s become a part of my evening routine. It makes for a perfect evening, after the kids are in bed to press a cup or two of coffee, snatch up the book of the moment, climb into an easy chair and drink up the quietness of the evening. (Of course, the quietness is often interrupted by Caro’s favorite shows - Design on a Dime, Deal or No Deal, or Dancing with the Dorks.

So what’s your nightly routine look like? Post kids? Keep it clean, please! ;)