Now Pulling 21 Grams

You see, it’s like this. Espresso is our thing. As it turns out, we can produce a great deal more of the sweet, luscious, amazing, aromatic, crema-laden flavor we all love if we tweak our preparation procedure just a bit. So we did…

How? We’ve always pulled ristretto shots. Ristretto means “restricted”. This means stopping the flow of water before it has a chance to start OVER-brewing the lovely coffee. The unfortunate downside of the double ristretto is the size. Sometimes one loses the coffee flavor in the larger drinks. Now, when you start putting more coffee in there… well… you get big, full coffee back, without sacrificing the pleasingly perfumed, fabulous beauty of the ristretto shot.

This way, you get the same incredible espresso you’ve always found, with the quality you can only find at Brewed. Only better.

Why would we do such a thing? Because we love espresso. Because you love espresso. Isn’t that enough?

Brewed Awakenings… Save the Crema

Still sharing a plate

Our customers are one of the best things about Brewed! Read the following story about a couple of these awesome customers.

An elderly couple came into the shop today and ordered two decaf coffees, a chocolate chip cookie and a butter rum scone. Brandon poured their coffees, and as I slid them two plates with their respective goodies of choice, the man informed me that they only needed one plate.

“We sleep together,” he announced. “We can share a plate.”

His wife sheepishly looked down at her purse, giggling.

“Well, that’s good,” I said, thinking how nice it must be to be old and still in love.

“I bet you don’t hear that often,” he remarked.

“Nope,” I answered, smiling.

“Not many people still sleep with their sister at my age!” I watched his wife’s shoulders shake as her giggles intensified, and so did mine.

“This is the first time we’ve been here,” he continued. “We’ve been driving past here for a year, but it’s the first time we’ve stopped in. And I sure like it. It’s just like I imagined it would be.”

I was very, very glad.

Mocktails are here!

Since we’ve introduced our newest batch of drinks, I, Katie, have enjoyed watching people browse the new menu and hesitantly try something new.

“Hmm…what mocktail shall I try?”

The first evening we offered the new drinks, I sat at the shop with some fellow Brewed kids.  As Henson ordered his third drink for the evening, I overheard him promise to pay for it himself, rather than hemorrhage his mother’s account.   I considered reminding him overindulgence is not necessary; he does not have to try the entire menu in one evening.  I figure he already knows: Mocktails are here to stay.

“The Long Chailand”

Henson favors the Eskimo, while Kylee is a fan of the fruity-flavored faux-tinis.

We hooked other regular customers on the Long Chailand, made of soda and chai, and the DirTea, a chai-espresso mixture.

“The Eskimocha”

I enjoyed an Eskimocha, a small, iced concoction of espresso, cream and chocolate, shaken and served in a martini glass with a special Brewed Awakenings cocktail napkin.

“Kyle tries The Dude”

The new mocktail menu, comprised of cocktail-inspired, iced espresso, chai and soda drinks, also includes tasty appetizers.

A few afternoons ago, while working on the island of Brewed at St. Luke’s Hospital,  Brooke and I decided that Ellen’s spinach artichoke dip, featured on the mocktail menu, would likely be a part of our last meal.  (Yes, it’s that good.)

And don’t forget, it’s all available nightly from 6 to 9, Monday – Friday.

Come chill at Brewed this summer!

Dr. Suess visits Brewed

The thing is, I don’t write well, so I think, “What’s the use?”

Maybe folks will dig my blog, if i write like Dr. Seuss.

I’m here at Brewed Awakenings, a quiet Friday night.

Thinking a Sidamo press would hit the spot just right.

Lovely Brooke, she hooked me up, and served me with a smile.

I think, perhaps, i’ll grab a chair and stick around a while.

Chris is drinking something he invented on the spot,

Strawberry chocolate something, i’ll NOT have what he’s got.

Brooke said he should add some cream to see how it would taste -

It only changed the color, and the cream has gone to waste.

New coffee is available, we just restocked the shelf,

The  iPod song  just thanked me for letting it be itself.

Now we have some Elton John, a super-mix for you…

So far I’ve heard some Steppenwolf, Prince and Blondie, too.

What an awesome place to sit and study, drink and chat.

Come down to Brewed Awakenings, and you’ll be where it’s at.