I'm not one of those new year new me types. Not at all. I do, however, tend to make a mental list of things I am going to do in the new year- foods to try, recipes to learn, places to eat. Last year I made a half hearted attempt at embracing the coffee bean. I went about it all wrong. You know the type- chain coffee shops with a million choices and more sugar than a soda in most of them. Did I love those? Well YA, who wouldn't? I mean come on, coffee or espresso, often hidden with creamy milk, sweetened flavorings, buried under a mound of whipped cream is enough to entice a lot of people. I learned right away that iced coffee beverages were my favorite, and then we had even more sugar going on. Then one day I slowed down, bought a coffee grinder, got a French press, some whole bean coffee and started at the beginning- a regular hot cup of coffee.
What I learned is this, coffee is as varied and complicated as wine. Different beans, different regions, different roasts, different methods of brewing- I had a lot to learn. Jessica is the coffee connoisseur in my life and figured she would be the appropriate guide for me. She does enjoy Starbucks, having grown up in that region of the country where Starbucks was born, but she is a coffee person- not a froo froo espresso beverage person so I am going to learn a lot as we explore different kinds of coffees, and many unique coffee houses in Iowa. We have been making a list!
Our first couple coffee discussions did take place in a local Starbucks, over brewed coffee for her and some sort of latte for me. Most of the time the topic was how we both desperately want to own our own coffee place, with baked goods and maybe light meals. That's been our dream for a very long time. My curiosity about coffee also spurs a lot of conversation about the different types. One day Jessica and I sat around her kitchen table with a pot of freshly brewed Starbucks Kopelani Blend. All I needed was the slightest splash of half and half to make this cup perfection. Not a grain of sugar added. I could really taste the coffee without all the extra junk added. I loved that! That really fed my curiosity.
Remember that whole bean coffee I bought? Let's talk about that- I chose Colombia Supremo Medium Roast from Trader Jo's. This whole bean coffee had an amazing coffee aroma the minute I opened the container. The beans were plump and once ground they were so fragrant. The cup they provide was lovely. Very smooth, not bitter at all. Again, just the slightest bit of cream and no sugar and I had the perfect cup of coffee. The Chef didn't like it as well from the French press, but in the regular coffeemaker it was much more successful.
Now as promised, we did not just make cups of coffee at home, we explored. Des Moines is home to quite a few unique coffee houses and first on the list was Zanzibar Coffee Adventure. I knew a little about Zanzibar from social media. As a locally owned business, which I prefer to support, I have been following their page for some time and was in awe of the list of available beans they publish every few days. The selection is crazy! More on that later though, first- the shop itself is a little Disneyland for coffee lovers. Situated in the trendy Ingersoll neighborhood in Des Moines, it's in an old building with sky high ceilings with stamped tin tiles covering it, big windows loaded with plants, a long counter for service, as a display for all the delectable baked offerings, and seating. Little round tables line one wall the entire length of the room, and shelves and cubbies dot the room- offering coffee supplies and souvenirs of all kinds.
Big chalk menu boards list not only the menu offerings but also the huge variety of beans available on that day. The selection varies depending on what they receive from suppliers. All of the beans arrive green and are roasted in small batches in-house in their famous Dietrich roaster. The day that we visited the beans available ranged from around $12 per pound to $62 per pound. The variety of flavors and origins was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Jessica made her coffee selection- a Sumatra, and I chose a cafe latte. Not iced, real hot cafe latte. I wanted something different.
Remember how I said the counter where you order also has all the baked treats sitting there? Well.... there was a cherry pie sitting there, and we could not resist. The pie is baked by a local baker exclusively for Zanzibar- it was without a doubt the BEST cherry pie I have ever had in my entire life. The crust was flaky both on the bottom and the lattice top, which was lightly sprinkled with sugar to add crunch. The cherries- oh my the cherries. HUGE and juicy. Tart and sweet. I wanted the whole pie!
Jessica loved every bit of her coffee. Me, my cafe latte arrived in a bowl. Very light foam on the top- not sugary whipped cream, but foamed milk, and the coffee- heaven. It was coffee and steamed milk. No sugar. No sweet syrups. No crazy flavors. Just beautiful coffee and steamed milk. I was so in love with this coffee. Zanzibar has set the bar very very high for all the coffee houses we will be visiting in the coming weeks and months, and you can bet I will be back many times.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 55: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
