Here's two interesting squibs from today's papers:
Counter Culture and Starbucks

Makes an interesting contrast. Counter Culture Coffee is creating great cafes, while the corporate geniuses at Starbucks have managed to figure out a way to compete with McDonald's on coffee quality.

At Starbucks, It's Back to the Grind - WSJ wrote:Instead of grinding coffee only in the morning, baristas will grind beans each time a new pot is brewed.

Starbucks is really going to shake up the coffee world if they keep innovating at such a breakneck pace.

No mention of Nick Cho in the Post. That makes me think of either a bias, or lack of research. How can you talk about CCC in DC, and not mention murky coffee?
I could be late to the party, but I kind envision Nick as the Champion of CCC in the DC area...

Starbucks made their bed...
They cant win on price or quality.

I can understand why they did not mention Murky, as of May 3, 2009 there aint no Murky no more.

Will have to wait for more news of Nicks new project "Wrecking Ball Coffee" To be located in two blocks east of the China town gate.

Offtopic:

Yeah, Murky is gone. Has anybody heard an opening date for Bayou Bakery? I heard that they will have the traditional coffee bar/bakery downstairs, and upstairs will have more seating and sell brewing equipment and specialty coffee. Are they still going to be using CCC?
It will be different, but I'm just hoping that they continue providing great coffee.

Peter

Certainly Murky was very good. The new place opening in the Murky Arlington location is this:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2009/04/coming_up_sugar_highs_in_arlin.html
Certainly their Snoballs have the pedigree to ensure authenticity. I can hardly wait to sample them (and their coffee offerings also).

Just a comment on the starbucks quote, up above, about grinding each time a new pot is brewed.. There are now 4 starbucks in my area.. (there used to be 7!!)

One is about 5 minutes from home. One about 15-20, in a mall. the other two are about 25 mins away from home, about 5 mins away from the mall.. and the two are directly across the street from one another. Anyway..

ive been to all four of them(sigh), and they all grind the coffee each time they make a pot. I notice this because I drool over their dittings everytime they use them.

Just recently, the location closest to my house has started to advertise "frenchpress at a time". When you order it, you can pick your coffee. Any coffee. Closed bag, off the shelf, as if you were buying a pound. They open and grind it for you right there. Against my better judgment I tried this the first time I noticed it. I got a 12cup press, made with Brazil Ipanema. How was it? Passable. It wasnt burnt, it wasnt horrible, but it certainly was nothing like the Brazil Ipanema I roast myself and make in my press. So.. I guess if you are out and are jonesin, this is a OKAY alternative to their stale, burnt, pike place that is sitting in the airpots.

Ok.. im rambling..

TeMpTiN wrote:I can understand why they did not mention Murky, as of May 3, 2009 there aint no Murky no more.

AAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!
I must be cursed. First time gigging in DC, I bicycled out to the Penn Ave shop. Just after I returned, it closed. Next time gigging in DC, I metro'd to the Arlington shop fairly regularly. Once I got home, it, too, has closed.

I'm gonna miss both of those shops...

I wonder why he closed the shops? I guess after he lost all the customers wanting espresso over ice he couldn't make it?

IIRC it was an issue with not paying sales/franchise tax, more than $400k of it.

shadowfax wrote:IIRC it was an issue with not paying sales/franchise tax, more than $400k of it.

That was the explanation for the DC shop, and as I understand it, it was a decimal place mistake by the tax folk, but don't tell me that this was the same issue with the Arlington shop?

Ah, I haven't read more than that fuzzy detail. I'd love to read more about it, but haven't seen anything else. Decimal place error sounds... typical of our fine government.

I'd love to read more about it . . .

Well, you can always let Google be your friend for a few minutes but that's kinda "water under the bridge". The location which Murky occupied in DC has been completely revamped and is now inhabited by Peregrine Espresso - http://peregrineespresso.com/ . One of the owners has worked for both Murky and Counter Culture and is a 1st class Barista. The Murky Coffee in Virginia is in the process of opening up a new venture in the Chinatown section of DC to be known as Wrecking Ball Coffee - http://pqliving.com/?p=5107

Ah, sorry Eric, I meant about why Nick closed Murky down and switched. I know about Wrecking Ball from seeing photos of it under construction on Flickr, and indeed Googling. Reading about the former topic... Hard to tell what's bloggers/reporters jumping to conclusions and what's true.

Edit: Sorry, posted that from my iPhone; I got a chance to read the links you sent and followed this link from there; explained most of my confusion, from a reporter who actually talked to Nick. Thanks Eric.

I think Peregrine is nice. However, I do wish that they would serve multiple-sizes of drinks (with the appropriate milk/espresso ratios). Also, I'm not sure that I like Aficionado as much as Toscano or some other coffees that I have tried. Of course, variety is always welcome, but is Wrecking Ball going to be using Toscano also? I know that they were getting shipments of PT's into Murky a few months before closing and were talking about retailing it.

blah blah blah