This Year in Coffee

Well, we've made our first year. Derecho de Piso is like 'paying your dues' and so it goes.
We've done it with assorted helpers, great support from the community and a sharing of the load with our family.

Passed through were; Augie, Santiago, Don and now Andrew are learing the trade while they help.

Eight Years

Cecelia, Mono, Luca, Vincent - we couldn't do without you either.

So many new friends; Dave, Kelly, Francios, Katie and Jack just to name a few. Some I haven't even got the name, pero igual, it's all good.
We get so much love, it's almost wrong to charge.


The place hasn't changed much, but behind the scenes we are working hard to impove it.
We've made better friends of our landlord and hope this next year is a new beginning.



 We have outside umbrellas now (from sparkling water provider) to jazz up the front a bit.

There are paper to-go cups in the works (I know, I know they really are coming!) and there will be a cold case up front soon, for easy access for things ready to take away .

fruity

scary

happy

Stay tuned, we are working like little beavers to make Coffee Shop a place you won't want to be away from long.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make our dream come true.

Doc Ellis: loyal and loved

 "What's a Coffee Shop?"

We get all kinds of requests at Coffee Shop; sometimes complete with a menu from a coffee shop in Holland.

Request duly noted.

Warmer days, things speed up at Coffee Shop

Busier every day, more or less.
We have our moments of chaos punctuating quiet spells, but even those grow fewer by the month. Happily we are finding a place in the neighborhood...in the economy? Vamos arriba.

Segafredo - great coffee, but at price.

 This was one of our first machines and although Segafredo has been efficiently replacing them, they ultimately fail. We've never been a half hour without one (thank the stars for that!) to their credit, but I  believe we're ready for the big leagues. Come on 'fredo.
Notice Janine's posture as the guy explains how this one will be different.

Brownies, Bagels and Bulls**t

 No complaints on the brownies. I do believe  they're about the best in town. Try one and see.

 We're making bagel sandwiches now.  Not everybody has an overwhelming desire for bagels (not yet) and I get few orders for one as a bagelwich.


I've been eating most of them so far.

Most times it's toasted with cream cheese. I'm happy to oblige.

We're in a pitched battle with our landlord over maintenance. We've poured too much blood, sweat and tears (not to mention dollars) into this place to take crap from an out of town owner with little interest in us other than collecting rent.
I know with our transformation of the space he'd just as soon see us gone.

Don't worry folks, that's not likely.

Not likely at all.

Bagels. You heard right, BAGELS !

 Coffee Shop has bagels!

 Recently we've been buying medialunas (croissants) from a French baker. No joke, he's really French and medialunas have reached new heights here.

 

 

original medialunas

He's making us like these little ones that are a sort of snack and to the larger ones we add ham and cheese. Medialunas Rellenas are a hot ticket and customers are glad to find them.







Our baker was willing to give bagels a try. He's never had one.
I know.
I don't know how many tries it took him, but by the third batch brought here they are nearing perfection.
I think the recipe's a good one, the baker a genius, good water and we are nearly sea-level, so there you have it.

Try one for yourself. Visit the menu at www.coffeeshop.com.uy for everything else we have.

 Mucha Leche Away

Augie, we hardly knew ye. Well, I'm sure we've only knicked the surface.

After an outstanding term here, our pal (as well as assistant manager) has moved on. Not easy saying goodbye to an employee like that. Especially when he'll be coming in all the time anyway.

So it's with heavy heart we bid Sr. Leche farewell, for the time being that is.


Please leave a comment.

The Lesser the Fuller

Life's busy at Coffee Shop.
It takes a lot of hours to create the appearance of easy going tranquility.

You relax with a lemon bar, I'm going over here to loose my mind thank you.

"                    "

Quote of the Day - not as popular as the Soup of the Day, but we keep trying to say something about something all the time. Add yours, at your peril.

There has been; Roasted Red Pepper, Cream Spinache, Squash/Ginger, French Onion, and shown here Papa y Puerro (Potato/Leek). They are yummy and we never seem to make enough.

All specials do well in Mvd, people love a bargain. It's good middle ground: please try my food and I'll make it a better deal.

"I'm detective Gonzalez, Intergalactic Space Agency and you're in big trouble buddy". Maybe he said 'Lady'?

Or put your own caption to this photo of our charming regular and friend Christian Serron. He builds web platforms and sites and generally knows everything.
Sorry ladies, he's taken. And sorry to all the dudes as well, Hell's Bells- he's handsome! I know, right?

Rolling Thunder

 The weather has been blustery; cold and sometimes windy. I'd hate to be biking it around town (yeah, that's the reason I don't bike around town) or even motoring as with CS standard Andrew Lim (L). He's driving a sweet Red Vespa, but likely freezing much of the time.










Montevideo continues to churn up sunny afternoons, idiotic political ideas and a populace more optimistic than it lets on or should be really. Why is everyone so nice here when there's so much wrong going on in this world?

Please come and do the research yourself. Stop by for a coffee if you can.

Peace.

not making sense now

thanks for reading.....

El Tigre del Fuego

He came, he saw, he coffeed.

  
Sanitago was as so many very good things; too good to last. Added to our tiny staff mere weeks ago, he'd only just mastered the place when a job offer (in his trained field, graphic design) came along.
We knew it deep down, the guys got talent. Also a member of the up-and-coming band The Bear Season, Check out their newly released video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoA5L3C0ePg&feature=youtu.be (or it should appear below). It's clear the sky's the limit for 'El Tigre'. We know he'll be dropping in frequently on his rise to the top.

Sopa!

The weather is cold and wet lately. Precisely why we've added soup to the menu.
Calabaza/Jengibre (Pumpkin/Ginger), Arvejas/Menta (Pea/Mint) and Zanahoria (Carrot), just to name a few. There's a new one every day. Get a half sandwich and soup for $120.

Burritos and Quesadillas continue to win hearts every week. Not particularly adventurous concerning food choice, Uruguayos need some coercing. We tempt and they fall, easy.

Tarte Tatin is edging out our standard Apple Pie lately, but this could be a fad. You know, like French things can be.

Augie (Mucha Leche, don't ask) still working hard despite his busy schedule. He and his friend and Coffee Shop regular Andrew run an English Language Institute called MVD English. They teach business and conversational English to a variety of profesionals and things seem to be going well for them.

Let it go already

Still plenty of activity on the street, mainly some utility tearing it up again. You should have seen these guys unrolling this tube. Clearly letting go was not an option.
It's a nice refuge in here from the mist, the noise and the crush of it all.


Come on in, we've got just the thing.

Ordenar Aqui

 Coffee Shop is growing a bit.


We've added a member to our troop; Augie (aka. Augustin) is an American raised by Uruguayos back in the US. So he shuttles between Spanish and English easily, which works for me and an increasing amount of customers.







We have been getting loads of foreigners and Yanquis top the list. It's can be weird, the mix of languages all talking at once.
We are getting an international following and that is just fine.

 Augie took these amazing photos of CS.

 It looks so big here. We only have 26 seats and four more outside.

 The 'ORDENAR AQUI' sign is kind of new. This is my last attempt at creating old looking signage. I'm calling in an expert.....Holly get down here!

This guys's got talent. The place does not even look this good.

Right side.

All is well in Coffetown.

The long road

All good at CS.
The weather in Montevideo is cooling rapidly, but we have some warm days still happening.

This past week was SEMANA TOURISMO or Holy Week and we were open just Mon., Tue., and Wednesday. That was plenty. By that time it was pretty quiet Here in Uruguay tm. 

Lately, a new friend has been dropping in and letting fly with his music.

This is Dave McIntyre.

He's and ex-pat and an incredible artist; painting murals, etching, whatever! 
He's just completed the score for an independent film and his laid-back style fits right in here. I want to post a link to his site. I'm looking for it, wait. Wait. Stay tuned for that one.
I'll see if I can get his music posted as well.
Friendly, bluesy (Jack Johnson meets Joe Cocker) he has a raspy, very seasoned voice. This guy's been there and back.
He's promised to play more at Coffee Shop, I'll be sure to post when he does.

Apple Pie still rules the roost here. Nothing we make typifies the place better.

It's hard to make the transition to baking in quantity. Every time a pie sells out we are amazed.

Everytime.

See you there.

Eat Here Now

I think I remember a place in Manhattan with that name. Could have been just a sign, but I rember liking it.
There's a Chinese truck here called GO NOW. Same deal, keep it simple.

Here's what you do and by the way, do it now.


Meanwhile at Coffee Shop, we've got a test run of maybe 10 menus going.
They look good.
CEBRA Comunicación Visual, a local design group is making my design notions into handy pamphlets, signs and now a menu. All the proper lay-out of everything seen so far at CS is from these guys. Big shout out to Marcello, Camilo and the rest.
Also none of this is possible without Carlos Filgueira. We are friends with similar attachments...... 

That's his son Mauro with Vincent.







Groups are welcome so feel free to call and see if we can work something out. Coffee Shop (2) 708-8346.

Still working towards delivery. Any day now, so stay tuned.



We've had work friends and birthdays, all successful.

There's WiFi,  good music ( put it to a test )  and a relaxed atmosphere.

........and you can stay as long as you like.

See you then.

Mate, no.

                                                                                

If you time it right we can share one, but no we don't serve mate.

Still warm in Montevideo, downright hot many days, but nights can be cooler. 

When you see kids going back to school it can only mean one thing: playstation will get some rest. 

Or that fall is near.

Coffee Shop has some specials this week:

Quesadillas-tortillas de trigo relleno con queso, cebollas carmalizadas

 pollo o carne

                           - flour tortillas with melted cheese, caramalized onions and chicken or beef.

$110.

 Ensalada Remolacha- Remolachas relladas, verdes, queso azul y pasas.                                                  

-shredded beets, greens, blue cheese and raisens. yeah, raisens.

$120.

We just finished a month of a promotion "Medienda por Dos". A two for one special promoted by WooW. If you've ever gotten a query from Groupon you know how this is. 

Lots of new faces, lots of converts.

Ya'll come back and see us sometime, y'hear? 

Sweetie

Try our lemonade; freshly made everyday, a bit tart, not too sweet. It's been known to revive the weary passerby.

Our specials:

1. Sandwich or Salad + choice of drink + big cookie (chunky chocolate chip) $150
2. Espresso or Tea or Cortado + Brownie or Cake $70
3. Espresso or Tea or Cortado + Medialuna $50

COFFEE SHOP
 Blvd. Espana at Franzini
Monday thru Friday 10:30am - 8:30pm

Beat the Heat

..........and the crowds.

This is quiet time here in Mvd. 

A good opportunity to get some of the city's sweetest treats, with no hustle or bustle.

Stop by Coffee Shop. We're in Pocitos, on Blvd. Espana and Franzini, more or less.

Sandwiches/Salads/Burritos/Brownies/Blondies/Cakes

and more.

What's the hold up? See you there.