For the past two years I've cut way back on my coffee consumption. As irony would have it, the economic downturn has me frequenting the cafes of Downtown Lowell in record numbers. Recently I've re-discovered The Coffee Mill and its bitchen brew. Can charter school teachers, MCC students and bankers be wrong? Price point here is nice — a tall is $1.30, that's 50 cents less than the almighty Starbucks.
At home I tend toward single-origin roasts. Don't like to mess around w/ flavor first thing. But when I fuel up out, I go exotic. Case in point: toasted coconut. I had this last Thurs. and it was like Hawaii in my cup. Here's my beef w/ the CMill tho: no consistency in flavor from day to day. I don’t begrudge the rotating varieties, on the contrary I applaud it, but let us know which day is which? Don't toy with our daily drug. I went back today expecting to see the coveted coconut, only to find an inferior flavor in its place. Does this burn anyone else’s beans?
If you like hot chocolate (you're not a pansy if you do) a competition at Lowell’s City of Lights Parade is for you. Next Sat. a bevy of businesses like Brew’d Awakening, Caffe Paradiso, C’est, Groovy Quick Pickin’s and the Mambo Grill are crafting hot chocolate for your sipping and voting pleasure. C’est told us Shaw’s milk and Mexican chocolate will factor in there somewhere. C’est no more. Cups will be sold for 50 cents. Im there.
I don't experience this problem, because I have the same flavor each time....Iced Vanilla. Each time it's terrific!
Posted by JK | November 20, 2008 3:02 PM
Posted on November 20, 2008 15:02
Not quite "gourmet," but word on the street is that the dollar menus at our favorite piggeries are drying up. Shouldn't things be getting cheaper in this economy and with gas prices plummeting!? BU-DA-BAH-BAH-BAH I'm hatin' it!
Posted by Peter Rollins | November 21, 2008 7:13 AM
Posted on November 21, 2008 07:13
If only the coffee mill were open at an hour that I am actually be able to go.
How are their pastries?
Posted by tim | November 21, 2008 8:50 AM
Posted on November 21, 2008 08:50
I have a similar issue as Tim, many of the places in Lowell that I like to go are not open early enough for me to go before work, or late enough to stop at after work. On the other hand, I suppose that staying open longer hours is more expensive, maybe businesses are cutting hours to save some cash. At least I can hit 'em up on the weekends!
Posted by LostinLowell | November 21, 2008 10:23 AM
Posted on November 21, 2008 10:23
timmy rollins you are correct! It's strange though because at wendy's the price of their "delicious" value menu double stack has decreased from 1.19 to .99. And the value menu fries has gone from .99 to 1.19. If there is no dollar menu at these places then there really is no reason to go. The combo meals end up costing you 6 to 7 bucks now, so you might as well go to a decent pizza place for a steak bomb os something for that price. You cheap food that'll give you the runs?? head to taco bell my friend. That 89 cent bean burrito will have you on the can all night, i guarantee it. bon appetit!!!
Posted by the midnight gobbler | November 21, 2008 1:11 PM
Posted on November 21, 2008 13:11
As much as I love the pastries and the atmosphere at the Coffee Mill, is it me, or is their coffee a giant cup of acid? I love coffee but have a bad stomach and theirs, unlike say, Brew'd, I can't drink without getting sick. Do they offer a darker brew that might be a little less acidic?
Posted by Corey | November 25, 2008 1:05 PM
Posted on November 25, 2008 13:05
I love the Coffee Mill because the help there is so friendly and responsive to anything you want. Nothing like a hot Mocha with a blob of whipped cream on a dreary day.
Blue Taleh and Brewed Awakenings should send their staff to the Mill for training!
Posted by Always Right in Lowell | December 10, 2008 12:17 PM
Posted on December 10, 2008 12:17