It’s the most wonderful time of the year…and that means one thing — a fresh cup of coffee. YES. (Did you think I was going to say Pumpkin Spice Lattes?!) I mean it kind of is coffee but I prefer a nice cold brew or nitro brew to that of a psl. Sorry, not sorry. But to each their own. I always had a soft spot for coffee but it took a global pandemic for me to actually take the time to learn how to make a nice, fresh cup of coffee. I have always used a coffee pot or a Keurig machine but there’s something about making coffee from grinding beans to letting the coffee bloom that makes it oh so special. Starting from a french press in early 2020, to that of a pour over method to now learning how to pull a perfect shot of espresso in 2022. I knew that was the start of something special. I have always wanted to expand the operations here at the HQ, and create a space where you can grab a hot cup of coffee, come together with like-minded individuals and be their true genuine selves. So it is no surprise to anyone who knows me that I am an avid lover of coffee and all things coffee. I have recently also ventured into matcha, but I am saving that for a special post here. 

I am really excited for the New York City Coffee Festival held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on October 6-8, 2023.

And I am truly excited to also build a space in my new home for friends and loved ones to come together to share a cup and catch up on life and it’s wonders. So throughout the month of September, I will be posting about my favorite coffee shops in Philadelphia, visiting some beloved favorites (and a new one) in Lancaster, PA and then high-tailing it over to New York City (with a few pit stops in New Jersey) for all of the coffee (and matcha) options. 

Welcome to Bean It Up! This a new series where we share all of our favorite coffee shops in the tri-state area. 

Philadelphia, PA - Volume One 

Càphê Roasters- Kensington neighborhood.

This is a Vietnamese-owned coffee shop that pays homage to the coffee scene in Vietnam. From the iconic red stools, to the walls and decor painted in gold and red, to the wall of fame with photos and community notes. It is a staple of the Kensington neighborhood, it brings a nice flair to the community that is already booming with so much pride. 

Highly recommended. 

• CÀ PHÊ SỮA
• VIETNAMESE LATTE
• GRITTY MATCHA
• BÁNH MÌ
• J ST. SANDO 

Persimmon Coffee, Fishtown Neighborhood 

Around the same time as my discovery of Càphê Roasters, I saw that another AAPI owned shop had become the talk of the Fishtown Neighborhood. Being named after the persimmon fruit, this is a really delicious take on an Asian fruit that is so revered that my peers who have never enjoyed this fruit, actually have grown up to enjoy every bite. Persimmon, like Càphê Roasters - exemplifies community and camaraderie within the neighborhood and the necessity for human connection. Which is something I long for with this brand and the legacy I hope to create and nurture throughout the years to come. 

Highly recommended. 

• Latte
• Japanese Flash Brewed Iced Coffee
• Cloud Dancer
• Emerald City
• Matcha 

Herman’s Coffee - South Philadelphia neighborhood 

This amazing coffee shop is steps away from my old stomping grounds and is a market and cafe in one building that was a car repair garage/shop renovated. This is an amazing example of bringing new life to old South Philadelphia buildings. I have been wanting to grab coffee from here for a long time and I was so excited to grab some amazing coffee. I got the house brewed coffee, which was bold yet delightful and then upon recommendation I got my first ever espresso tonic which is a double shot of espresso over tonic water. Which is stunning. 

Highly recommended. 

• Espresso Tonic 
• Specialty Latte
• Espresso Shandy
• Pennsport Fog
• Matcha Lemonade

Shot Tower Coffee - South Philadelphia neighborhood 

Stumbled upon this quaint coffee shop on one of my last days of my time off from my day job and I walked in at the right time because a torrential downpour had just happened. Grabbing a latte with oat milk and a hot loose green tea. It was the perfect amount of caffeine and cozy for a rainy day in South Philly. I had gotten a ton of writing down, edited a gallery or two of photos and did some general admin work and then finished my banana and went on my merry way. 

(insert highly recommended list) 

Join us next week, this time for volume two and this time we will travel to Rival Bro’s (24th Street location), Knockbox Cafe (West Philadelphia), La Colombe (Fishtown) and Grindcore Coffee House (South Philadelphia). Then we take a road trip to Lancaster, PA to revisit some old favorites and grab some coffee from some new ones too. See you then. 

2023 is a big year for Macklemore, Seattle, WA based singer/songwriter who just released his latest album, a self-titled one aptly named BEN. The fifteen song album is full of star-studded features adding an extra layer to the album and elevated the auditory experience Macklemore always seems to bring to his music. In discussing his approach to the album he mentioned that ’Earlier this year, in March, Macklemore released BEN, his critically acclaimed third studio album. “I’ve always wanted to make an album called Ben,” he shares. “There’s something about a self-titled record. It has an air of voyeurism. I’m letting people in, but in a way that I hadn’t felt 100% comfortable about allowing before. I am now though.” throughout 2020, he found himself with a rare pocket of time for introspection during the Global Pandemic—something not typically afforded to a father of three and touring musician…’

“I did experience a level of reflection I don’t think I’ve been able to truly tap into in the past,” he affirms. “This mandatory pause and the time created a level of intimacy that might not have been there if the world had continued to operate how it was.”’  I feel as though a lot of people, artists and fans alike, have had their lives and perspectives altered by something we all had to go through together. Emotionally processing a pandemic on a global level has impacted a lot of decisions and changed the music industry forever. 

Every song on BEN is a treasure and is so sonically different - the way in which it flows together on the self-titled record is just a seamless listening experience. When Macklemore came on the scene, his songs “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us Down” changed the way people react to his music and overall approach to life. Seattle has some of the most eclectic and innovative creatives coming out of the Pacific Northwest region. And Macklemore proves that time and time again, and regardless of what he does or who is watching. He always stays truly genuine to himself, his family, values and artistry. 

• BEN – TRACK LIST
• CHANT ft. Tones And I
• NO BAD DAYS ft. Collett
• 1984
• MANIAC ft. Windser
• DAY YOU DIE ft. Sarah Barthel (from Phantogram)
• HEROES ft. DJ Premier
• GRIME
• I NEED
• LOST / SUN COMES UP ft. Jackson Lee Morgan
• FAITHFUL ft. NLE Choppa
• TEARS
• SORRY ft. Livingston
• GOD’S WILL ft. Vic Daggs II
• I KNOW ft. charlieonnafriday
• TAIL LIGHTS ft. Morray

Once you hear BEN, you’ll never look at Macklemore the same way. “Songwriting is the glue for my entire career,” he leaves off. “If you’re not writing words that resonate, the music isn’t going to have depth, weight, or longevity. I’m not trying to follow. On this album, I’m being authentic to who I am. I’m reflecting on where I am in life. Turns out, I’ve learned a lot.”
BEN is out everywhere now

Macklemore is coming to Philadelphia, playing live at The Met Philly. You can grab tickets here. 

Last week, we wrote about one of our favorite new records from Nashville, TN artist corook and was so excited that a full version of ”Emergency Contact” was going to be released to the world. Emergency Contact was released as a teaser filled with corook singing against a forest green wall, in her signature hat and striped tee, singing ”I’m not looking for a girlfriend, I’m looking for a wife.”  Under the catchy hooks and hand puppets, there was a more sentimental tone laying underneath the synthesized keyboard and ad libbed vocals. This song is a song about finding love when you’re fully comfortable with the way you show yourself love. The act of having someone as their emergency contact is a big deal and one that is as sacred as being appointed a godparent to someone’s child. It is MAJOR and the “oooh weee oooh weee” part in the hook makes me giddy with unadulterated happiness. 

You can see corook live on their serious person tour (happening very soon) and see this song and many others live in person. You can see the video above and check them out when they come to a city near you!