LaCrema wrote:I triedFive Wattfor the first time last week and really enjoyed their "Kingfield" specialty drink. It's composed of espresso, milk, vanilla, coriander bitters, and black Hawaiian sea salt. I really enjoyed the drink, surprisingly velvety with a caramel finish. I think the sea salt was responsible for the hint of caramel, I liked the idea so much that I've incorporated sprinkling just a minute amount of sea salt on my caramel mochas from my lever machine, what a treat!

Overall I personally rate the coffee from Five Watt as an 8 of 10 for now, that might change over the next few times I visit. I need to try a wet cappuccino as my baseline drink in order to give it a solid personal rating. I might venture out more over the winter and try some new coffee shops and mention a few I've tried that are among my favorites.

Alright, I do need to give Five Watt a try, perhaps with my wife for my birthday in a couple of weeks as it seems more like a place to go with her than to work from (as I am this moment at Angry Catfish).

And I definitely agree with you two about those Spyhouse cups. I should add one to my collection. I'm a bit of a sucker for anything with Minnesota on it and they do look nice.

IMO, if you're going to go to Five Watt, their specialty drinks are the way to go. Espresso and cappas there are good, but nothing out of the ordinary, whereas their "cocktail" like menu is pretty different and fun.

Added Duluth Coffee Company. Really good.

Just added the following. I highly recommend!

Wesley Andrews Coffee and Tea A friend just took me to this new shop and I really like it. Maybe my #2 in town right now. Nice balanced drink in a nice shop with nice people. And a Slayer which is always fun. http://www.wesleyandrews.cc/

Hey Everyone,

I know this is a really, really bad excuse, but this month (February) we are (were) unable to have a social gathering. It's been a super crazy month, my birthday was this month, we went out of town to celebrate and the rest of the time we've been working on the weekends to get our house ready for closing next Tuesday which has been a pain trying to satisfy the V.A. requirements for the people interested in buying our house.

We'll get together in March, I'll follow up with a group email to also pass this information along and also seek recommendations for a place to meet. Last month we met at the Spyhouse location on Nicollet Avenue, we might meet there again or try someplace new?

Nate, thanks for the Wesley Andrews Coffee and Tea recommendation, I would LOVE to check out their Slayer and coffee to boot!

Added The Bachelor Farmer Cafe to the top list.

The Bachelor Farmer Cafe attached to the über-trendy restaurant, this place serves very good pastries and wee-prepared Dogwood espresso. Fanciest place on the list for sure. http://www.thebachelorfarmer.com/cafe/

I was walking by there today and just noticed it. No real name on the door but that's how The Bachelor Farmer is too- you know how it is with those trendy places. Very good food though at the restaurant! This is definitely a fancy place and does the hipster bit to an extreme but really well done stuff all around.

The sign on the door just has this logo, same as on the cup: