Starbucks' new brew

I was craving Starbucks this morning after a staff meeting where it seemed like everyone had a cup except for me, so I stopped by and ended up getting a free cup of their new "everyday" brew, Pike Place Roast. According to this story, Pike Place Roast -- named after Starbucks' first store in Seattle’s famous public market -- is supposed to have a bold, robust flavor profile but a smoother, more buttery finish. As the baristas dutifully explained to me, it's ground at the stores (they'd been serving pre-ground coffee for years), and they throw out any batch that hasn't been served within 30 minutes. I don't get Starbucks very often these days because I'm making more of my own at home, but I did like Pike Place Roast better than the mild blends I typically get, I think because it had less of an aftertaste. Have you tried it yet? What did you think?

AP photo by Ted S. Warren

How to make the perfect latte

Here's a video I shot and edited of Tony Tausch, owner of the Coffee Emporium, showing how to make the perfect latte at the Emporium's Central Parkway location. Polly Campbell wrote a story along the same lines for Wednesday's paper (I'll post that link here once it's up). Tony is basically a walking coffee encyclopedia, and the downtown Coffee Emporium is just the coolest place. There are big sacks of coffee beans on shelves in one corner, you can peek into the room where the coffee roaster is, and there's always an interesting mix of people hanging out there -- business people, hipster types working on laptops, etc. Sadly, I didn't have time to sample one of this beautiful lattes he made when I shot this, but I'll definitely go back.

Update: Go here to read Polly's story on "Cincinnati's Mr. Coffee."

Coffee wars: Whose side are you on?

In case you missed this AP story, there's a coffee war brewing among Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's and Starbucks. Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's are expanding their offerings, remodeling their stores, giving away free coffee and upping their advertising in an attempt to unseat Starbucks from its No. 1 spot. I'm writing a story about this and I want to hear from loyal fans of DD, Mickey D's and Starbucks, as well as detractors, who live in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky. (FYI, Polly Campbell just wrote a story on local coffee shops, although unfortunately I can no longer find it online.) If you have an opinion about the coffee sold by any of these three companies that's as strong as your morning cup of joe, e-mail me at lbishop@enquirer.com. Thanks!

Dunkin' Donuts report

Just went to the Dunkin' Donuts in the Fifth Third building on Fountain Square to pick up my free 16-ounce iced coffee and there were only a couple of people in line ahead of me doing the same. So go get yours, and happy first day of spring!

Free coffee alert

Tomorrow, Thursday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, Starbucks will give away free tall (i.e. small) coffees. More details here.

Not to be outdone, next Wednesday, March 21, Dunkin' Donuts will celebrate the first day of spring by offering free 16-ounce cups of iced coffees all day.

So how many different Starbucks locations do you think you can squeeze into a two-hour period tomorrow?