Want good coffee? Keep an eye out for tatoos!
The more great coffee I experience in different cities, the more I uncover what I think is a hallmark of the really great coffee shops: good baristas serving good coffee usually have tatoos. I have absolutely no idea why this is; maybe the laid-back, groovy atmosphere reacts favorably with the ink, producing some unquantifiable, magical effect. Maybe both that lifestyle, and tatoos, appeal to the same general population of stimulant-addicted yet relaxed people. It's a question for the ages. But I defy you to find a truly top-tier coffee shop who's baristas don't have at least one after-market ornament on their faces, arms, scalp, etc. I've only found one exception so far: The owner of J&S coffee in Lawrence, KS. He makes a wicked espresso, and displays nary a one outward sign of bodily modification...but I will say that if you get served by a random employee of his, you're likely to think that coffee shop is only pretty good. A few other notable examples are: Ritual Coffee in the Mission ...
Posted on June 14, 2007 8:19:12 PM EDT
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