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Winans Fine Chocolates & Coffees

Perking Up for National Gourmet Coffee Day

January 18, 2013 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

messagepart-3Jules Winnifield is not a coffee connoisseur. While hiding a dead body in his friend Jimmie Dimmick’s garage in the groundbreaking 1994 Tarantino movie “Pulp Fiction”, Jules was offered a cup of coffee and was astonished at how good the quality was. “Mmmm! Goddamn, Jimmie! This is some serious gourmet s***! Usually, me and Vince would be happy with some freeze-dried Taster’s Choice right, but he springs this serious GOURMET s*** on us! What flavor is this?” Jimmie, being concerned about the contents of his garage, was not amused. “I don’t need you to tell me how good my coffee is, okay? I’m the one who buys it. I know how good it is. When Bonnie goes shopping she buys S***. I buy the gourmet expensive stuff because when I drink it I want to taste it. But you know what’s on my mind right now? It AIN’T the coffee in my kitchen.” His pressing concerns are not our pressing concerns, but one thing may have stuck out: how did he get gourmet coffee in a non-Starbucks cup? We celebrate National Gourmet Coffee Day on January 18 by exploring the evolution of the gourmet coffee scene.

Gourmet coffee in the United States is still relatively young. The first gourmet coffee store was Peet’s Coffee and Tea, started in 1966 by Alfred Peet in Berkely, Ca. He was an immigrant from the Netherlands, and was used to having good coffee available to him. European coffee was rich and crafted, with depth and flavor that Peet did not get out of American coffee. Peet’s set the table for other gourmet coffee shops in the United States. Coffee in America had been in a state of decline since the end of World War II. People had become used to an inferior brand of coffee through rationing. It carried on for a few decades until the 1970’s and the growth of Peet’s and the birth of another giant in the industry, Starbucks. These two companies began their growth as gourmet coffee roasters; it was not until the late 80’s when Howard Schultz bought the company and began to expand from Vancouver to New York.

It was the national growth of Starbucks that created a demand for espresso and other European-style coffees across the country. Gourmet coffee messagepart-6went from something only immigrants enjoyed in their own homes, and possibly some shops in local ethnic neighborhoods, to something everyone wanted. It became a very affordable luxury, and the demand was huge. The espresso machine was originally created to take the gallons of coffee that had to be brewed and reheated for each patron and turn them into individual cups of freshly made coffee. The coffee was delicately roasted and finely ground to make a delicious, dark coffee that would fit in a small cup. The espresso machine had an added benefit; not only did it make water piping hot in a rapid manner; it could also be used to make milk hot. Espresso became the base for a core group of coffee drinks: the café latte (hot milk is added to the espresso in a taller glass), café au lait (foamed or steamed milk poured over a shot of espresso in a shorter glass), the cappuccino (espresso, hot milk, and steamed foam layered on top), and the macchiato (espresso is added to warm milk, the coffee leaving a mark on the milk). The Americano was also created, which is a shot of espresso with hot water, for American soldiers that could not handle the richness of the espresso. These drinks became the base for the First Gourmet Coffee Movement. Looking closely at the menu of most gourmet coffees shops, those drinks are the base for all of the other drinks they created.

messagepart-7Like any good movement, people kept moving forward and discovered something else. Coffee could stand on its own in terms of flavor. It did not need to be something fancy, including multiple flavors and a long list of instructions to make. Coffee could be simple, just water and beans, possibly some cream and sugar. The information age has allowed us to really dig into where the coffee you drink comes from, down to the farmer. People have become fully invested in the whole process, from growing to roasting to brewing to tasting. Experts choose and roast the beans according to where they are from and what flavors they are looking to bring out. They are focusing more on the underlying tastes of coffee, from the berry and citrus flavors that emerge from Ethiopian coffee to chocolaty and sweet coffees from Central America. Classic brewing techniques have become more familiar, with French presses and vacuum pots coming back into vogue for their brewing qualities. Special coffees are selected to be prepared with certain dishes, similar to what you would expect from a wine tasting. Coffee shops and private individuals are conscious of the full range of flavor they can get out of the dark beverage, and the focus is now on the basics, enticing the natural essences of the beans out.

We are very lucky to have so many great coffee shops in Dayton to help us with this process. Winans Fine Chocolates and Coffees has been open since the 1961, serving chocolates with their coffees (which they have been brewing for about fifteen years). Boston Stoker was soon to follow, roasting beans and offering gourmet coffee since the early 70’s. The Ohio Coffee Co. has been doing a brisk trade in the coffee business as well, keeping downtown awake since 2009.  The great places to get coffee downtown continue to open and offer incredibly well crafted coffees and foods. Ghostlight Coffee, Press, and Eclipse have all opened within the last two years, adding some great environments as well as some interesting coffee options.

Check out ALL of the best coffee shops across the region in our new Dayton Dining Guide!messagepart-8

From its beginning in the mid sixties, gourmet coffee has explored a wide range of meaning to a wide range of people. Some people look at it from a classic standpoint, embracing the espresso and its kin as what is gourmet. Almost as a reaction to the complexity Starbucks injected into upscale coffee, there has been a movement towards just embracing coffee as it is, enjoying the roast, the bean, and the process of enjoying a fine cup. If you have a favorite coffee shop we have not mentioned, feel free to add it in the comments. And if you need anything else, just chill out, enjoy a nice cup of coffee on National Gourmet Coffee Day, and The Wolf will be coming directly. Cheers!

 

Filed Under: Dayton Dining, The Featured Articles Tagged With: Boston Stoker, cappuccino, coffee, cream, Dayton Ohio, Downtown Dayton, DyatonDining, Eclipse Coffee and Tea, espresso, ghostlight coffee, history, latte, macchiato, milk, Press, Starbucks, The Ohio Coffee Co., Things to Do, Things to do in Dayton, Winans Fine Chocolates & Coffees

Food Adventures Crew Offers Some Last Minute Gift Ideas

December 22, 2011 By The Food Adventures Crew Leave a Comment

SMALL BITES for 12/22/2011:

When it comes to Christmas, do you procrastinate like The Food Adventures Crew??  Need some last minute gift ideas??

Your humble and favorite Dayton foodies offer up some food related suggestions to fix your problem in this edition of  SMALL BITES!

Winan’s White Mint Jewels

WINAN’S CHOCOLATES:

One of our favorite items to give to friends at Christmas time is chocolate and he feels nobody does chocolate better than Winan’s Candies.  There are many gift sets to choose from or you can create your own.  We love the White Chocolate Wetzels, Bourbon Cherry Cordials, and the their staple….the White Mint Jewels.

 

 

TROPHY NUT:

Got Nuts?

For those shopping for the extremely picky……buy them some nuts!  Who doesn’t like nuts?  (Excluding those who are anaphalactically challenged.)  We feel that nuts from Trophy Nut make an excellent Christmas gift.  Purchase a prepared tin of nuts or bust your nuts and create a personalized tin.  Either they will love them or “re-gift” them.

 

 

 

Boston Stoker’s Most Popular Coffee Flavor: Highlander Grogg

BOSTON STOKER:

For the coffee lover on your list or someone who fancies a high quality cigar, Food Adventures recommend heading over to the closest Boston Stoker store.  They offer a variety of whole bean coffees, cigars, sweets, and gift baskets from which to choose.  They also have coffee makers, french presses, coffee grinders, and espresso machines with a knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist shoppers. We love the Highlander Grogg!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Flavors Upon Flavors of Popcorn available

WHAT’S POPPIN’:

Gourmet Popcorn at its best!  Located in the Washington Square shopping center in Centerville on State Route 48, this place has a variety of gifts and treats.  Their popcorn comes in a multitude of flavors ranging from different cheeses, to different kinds of spices, and even chocolate covered creations!  These bags or tins make perfect gifts and guess what.. they will ship them anywhere!!  Oh, there is more than popcorn at this store.  They also have a nice selection of fudge, buckeyes, jellybeans, shaved ice and soft pretzels.  The staff is attentive and very welcoming.  If you have not tasted their items, you are missing out !  Check out their website for more info.

 

 

Esther Price’s Chocolate Covered Mikesells’ Potato Chips

ESTHER PRICE CANDIES:

The Big Ragu has always thought Esther Price has the best chocolate, and he likes the variety of gifts available at their stores.  From light and dark chocolates to chocolate covered potato chips, they have you covered.  They even offer diabetic friendly candies for your sugar free family members and friends.  You can get a great box of candy for around 15 bucks.  If your special someone lives outside of the Dayton area, they can ship your order nationwide.  Their candies are also conveniently located at many local grocery stores.  In Ragu’s opinion, you just cant beat the taste.

 

DOROTHY LANE MARKET:

Another legendary Dayton place offers great gifts for the people on your Christmas list.   Food Adventures thinks the

Killer Brownie Tray

“Killer Brownies” at Dorothy Lane Market are to die for.  We recommend the “original” kind, because we are old school.  Another tip is that you can get a platter of brownie bites that are cut into fourths so you can stretch your dollar for more small bites.  The display tray prices make it a decent option for a party or gift idea.  The bakery also offers a ton of exclusive desserts, unique items and flavors that are definitely worth checking out.

We hope these ideas may help out with a last minute gift need, or give yourself a special treat and make your own personal FOOD ADVENTURE.   Enjoy the photo album associated with this story, below.  Click on any image to enlarge and get a true taste of Christmas!

Check out FOOD ADVENTURES  on FACEBOOK and “like” our page to become an official fan.

[album: http://www.daytonmostmetro.com/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/Small bites 122211/]

 

Filed Under: Food Adventures Tagged With: Big Ragu, Boston Stoker, Christmas, DLM, Dorothy Lane Market, Esther Price, Food Adventures, Small Bites, Trophy Nut, Whats Poppin, Winans Fine Chocolates & Coffees

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