Pavement Coffeehouse @pavementcoffee-blog - Tumblr Blog

A recent coffee cocktail competition brought together some of Boston’s best baristas and bartenders to share their skills with one another and work in pairs to create original coffee cocktails. Our coffee director Wolfie’s cocktail (a collaboration with Tyler Wang of No. 9 Park) was then featured on Boston cocktail blog Cocktail Virgin. Check out the review and recipe here: http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com/2013/06/purple-princess.html?m=1

Our very own Daria Whalen was on the winning team with a cocktail called “the new Armenian." Look out for a Pavement tumblr post with her winning recipe soon!

#coffee cocktail #cocktail recipe #purple princess #wolfie barn #daria whalen #barista #bartender #mixology

It's here. @counterculturecoffee #espressoweekend

#espressoweekend

Does Coffee Inhibit Creativity?

Getting to the root source of creativity has been a hot research subject lately, as innovation has been associated with fantastic success. The general thinking at the moment is that the human brain is at its most creative when distracted, and that sharp focus inhibits creativity. We seem to need a wandering mind to draw together different ideas and strike on something new.

The NY Times "Well" blog and the New Yorker both recently ran articles on the effects of coffee on creativity. The magazine's argument was that caffeine, in laser-focusing the mind, inhibits creativity by shutting down the brain's ability to wander. The blog, on the other hand, tells how a new website called Coffitivity is working to provide the perfect level of active distraction for a wandering, creative mind -- and has zeroed in on coffee shop hum as "enough noise to work." The Coffivity founders say "extreme quiet tends to sharpen your focus, which can prevent you from thinking in the abstract."

So, should all our creative customers switch to decaf and spend some time sitting and listening to the buzz? Many of our customers drink coffee exactly for that focusing effect -- whether to make up for lack of sleep or just to make the world a little bit clearer. It may be that there needs to be a bit of separation between "focus time" and "creative time." The New Yorker points out that the focusing effects of caffeine are likely beneficial for "the hours of research and focussed thinking that form the raw material of most any creative endeavor" -- so there is indeed room for caffeine in a creative diet.

The coffee world itself is renowned for its creativity on an individual basis and as a whole. The remarkable signature beverages crafted by barista competitors are just one example of the creativity we see across the industry, not to mention how much creative problem-solving goes into the sourcing and roasting processes.

#coffee #creativity #the new yorker #nytimes #coffitivity #cafe culture

coffeedoneright-blog

I didn’t get to a post this weekend but will in a couple of days.

Until then, please enjoy this video brought to you by Ashton Kutcher: Blue Bottle, LAMILL & Handsome. Posts about the first two are in the works.

pavementcoffee-blog

Great video!

Summer has arrived!

Pavement is breaking into summer like a boss, with some brand new drinks we think you guys will love.

Cayenne Ginger Ale

Invented by our renowned coffee director Wolfie Barn, our house-made ginger ale is made from grated ginger and freshly-squeezed lime juice, with just a touch of cayenne. We set up SodaStreams at all our shops so we can add some sparkling bubbles to this delicious new drink. Seriously you guys, this ginger ale is so good, you can taste the summer.

Cold Brewed Coffee

One of our favorite things about summer is making and serving cold brewed coffee. Cold brewing is a coffee preparation method that uses cold water steeped with coffee grounds over a longer period of time, usually more than 12 hours. We use the current drip offering (at the moment, Counter Culture’s Finca Nueva Armenia) and let it steep in cold water for 24 hours. The result is a crisp, clean, extraordinarily flavorful cold coffee with 67% less acidity than a hot-brewed coffee. It’s more concentrated than regular iced coffee, so we serve it in a 10 ounce size so we don’t overload your system with caffeine. Yum!

MADCAP Summer Solstice Guest Espresso In honor of the season (and because it's delicious), our Boylston location is running MADCAP's Summer Solstice as guest espresso! This coffee is a blend of two Ethiopians, 2/3 washed Yirgacheffe, 1/3 Natural processed Ardi. Sweet, fruity, floral -- this espresso has some serious yum factor.

#coldbrew #coffee #summer #gingerale

Interview in Fresh Cup Magazine

Our esteemed Director of Operations, Andy LoPilato, was recently interviewed for Fresh Cup magazine's April issue. Check it out for the scoop on our switch from Espresso Royale to Pavement, working with Counter Culture, and striving to provide the best customer service possible. Thanks for the opportunity, Fresh Cup!

Awesome cupping today with @kinderkap and some great @counterculturecoffee coffees! Don't miss out - the Gainsborough store cups at 1pm on the third Wednesday of every month. (at Pavement Coffeehouse)

Free espresso service!

Tomorrow from 9-2 at our 1096 Boylson St location, we'll be pulling free shots of our new featured espresso Anyetsu roasted by Novo in Colorado. Come taste this amazingly jammy natural processed Ethiopian espresso with us! If its sunny, we'll be chillin in the sun on the front porch! Otherwise, we'll be just inside at the front of the store. Folks at SCAA Symposium - walk a block over during your lunch break and have an espresso with us!

Check out this awesome documentary about coffee and sustainability by Emerson student Natalie Valdes! The interviews with Ryan and Jake of Counter Culture Coffee's Boston team are enlightening, and our own coffee director Wolfie barn's bad-ass intro comes around 4:50. Nice work, Natalie! We love it!

Today is the final day of our Nueva Llusta espresso weekend. Come in to any Pavement or ERC store and try this incredible Bolivian espresso!

The lovely Tali captured her @counterculturecoffee milk chemistry class on camera. Awesome #latteart skills = acquired! (at Counter Culture Coffee Boston)

#latteart