The Crescent City’s unrivaled coffee culture is where well-versed aficionados and more simplistic sippers can clink cups in harmony. Here, life-punctuating moments are spent lingering over a café au lait on a first date, strategizing over espressos at a workspace meeting of the minds, strolling with an iced coffee on Royal Street to gawk at the galleries and, yes, unraveling stories with a flat white in hand when met with those humbling hangovers after a night of levity-coaxing cocktails.
With a history as rich as chicory, New Orleans remains the number one point of entry for green coffee in the country. The growing number of exuberant local roasters populating the path grants us a finely brewed coffee scene that honors the history, while pressing onward with what’s to come. In depth and in breadth, coffee has also become a language all its own. Micro-roasted, micro-brewed, cold-brewed, microfoam, third wave, single origin. Not knowing the lingo can leave one feeling like, well, a real drip.
On the eve of the inaugural NOLA Coffee Festival taking place this month, we took a mug’s eye view to celebrate the current bean scene and pour over the people, places and perks of our delightfully caffeinated city.
NOLA Coffee Festival
Taking place September 15-16, the anticipated annual industry trade show and consumer festival celebrates and shines a light on the industry as a whole, including roasters, farmers, distributors, shop owners, baristas, products, technology and developments. The jam-packed two-day event will showcase speakers, special skills classes, demos, documentaries and updates on evolving techniques and equipment.
nolacoffeefestival.com.
Coffee Talk with Kevin Richards, Co-Founder NOLA Coffee Festival
Can you give us a snapshot look at the history of coffee in the Crescent City?
“New Orleans has a deep and undeniably rich coffee history that is arguably the most impressive of any American city. From the influence of French coffee traditions here beginning in the mid-1700s,
to the expanding role of chicory in the region by the mid-1800s,
to the booming coffee industry driven by the Port of New Orleans in the late 1800s, to the now-famous invention of the “coffee break” in the 1920s, New Orleans has long been the heartbeat of coffee in the United States not to mention a place where hometown coffee brands have thrived and coffeeshop culture has flourished.”
Aside from the obvious caffeinated effects, what do you think is the great widespread appeal?
“Frankly, few cities in America have had a longer love affair with coffee than New Orleans and none have engrained coffee into the soul of the community quite like we’ve done it here. For us, coffee is what keeps us alive to fuel our joie de vivre, to make our spectacles more spirited and our torments more tolerable.”
What makes our city the perfect locale for the Coffee Festival this month?
“New Orleans is indeed the Coffee Capital of America and the reason we felt passionate about creating the NOLA Coffee Festival as an annual event. We believe that through bringing together the coffee community every year to connect, to collaborate and for education we can help the coffee industry continue to thrive and reinforce that New Orleans is indeed the most welcoming place in America.”
The Café Brûlot
Sue Strachan, a social historian and veteran journalist of New Orleans culture, penned The Café Brûlot. Also known as Café Brûlot Diabolique, “devilishly incendiary coffee,” the 124-page book takes you on a sip trip through the history, ingredients and service style of the legendary cocktail which is a combination of coffee, liquor and fire.
suestrachan.com.
Brews+Booze
The on-trend coffee cocktail is in full tilt. The spiked sips at these spots are sure to add a little kick to your cup.
Lavender Cold Press Martini at Columns: Japanese whisky, cream, coffee. 3811 St. Charles Ave.,
thecolumns.com.
La Luz Espresso at Bar Marilou: Reposado tequila, espresso, coffee liqueur, mole bitters, chile tincture, cinnamon. 544 Carondelet St.,
barmarilou.com.
A Bitter Good Morning at The Vintage Nola: Mezcal, Campari, hazelnut, chicory cold brew. 3121 Magazine St.,
thevintagenola.com.
King Oliver at Jewel of the South: Don Q XO, pineapple Amaro, coffee cacao. 1026 St. Louis St.,
jewelnola.com.
Espresso Martini at St. Pat’s Coffeehouse: Blend of light and dark espresso, Tito’s vodka, house made brown sugar simple syrup. 933 Conti St.,
stpatsirishcoffeehouse.com.
Keoki Coffee at Café Envie: Brandy and Kahlua in hot or iced coffee. 1241 Decatur St.,
cafeenvie.com.
Café Brulot Diabolique at Antoine’s: Chicory coffee with cinnamon, Triple Sec and Brandy, flamed tableside. 713 St. Louis St.,
antoines.com.
Coffee Old Fashioned at Dovetail: Cold brew, orange bitters, Angostura, simple syrup, Maraschino liqueur, orange expression. 201 N. Rampart St.,
dovetail-bar.com.
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We caught up with Kyle Nicholson, professional coffee consultant and educator for the likes of Nina Compton’s Tout La and Lower Garden District cafe, The Rabbit’s Foot, for his take on how to have a good repour with the person pouring your coffee.
Empathy is king! Being a talented barista honors both the coffee producers and those we serve in the final step of enjoyment. True magic happens on both sides of the counter when our guests recognize our efforts and honor us with kindness and empathy in return.
Be curious. When indecisive or exploring a new menu, ask the barista to make you the drink they’re most excited about currently. I promise you’ll get something cool!
Mention how much you enjoyed the coffee. Hearing directly from our guests is like the sound of music. We collaborate as a community often, research and test current trends and prevailing ideas, and find creative ways to implement these into our workflow so we can achieve and create the best results in your cup.
A Petal For Your Thoughts
If you consider your cup of coffee the garden that makes you grow, you’ll be smitten by the Rose Cold Brew from La Vie En Rose Café. Owner Kirby Jones creates the tasty concoction by steeping rose petals into Louisiana cane syrup and adding a special blend of cold brew using HEY Coffee (
heycoffeeco.com). Though she has closed her brick and mortar shop for now, she is still crafting and selling her delicious drink by the jug at Levee Baking Co. (3138 Magazine St.,
levveebakingco.com) and at the Crescent City Farmers Market on Sundays. @
lavieenrosecafenola
Brews on the Move
For a caffeine fix with character, pay a visit to Petite Rouge Cafe Camionette, cutely situated near Tulane Stadium (3146 Calhoun St.) daily from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and the last Saturday of every month at Marsalis Harmony Park Art Market (8211 S Claiborne Ave.) The eye-catching red vintage 1970 Citroen H-Van serves up a menu of specialty beverages – ask for fan fave the espresso-based Cowboy Rodeo -with a focus on local ingredients including beans from French Truck Coffee and milk from Kleinpeter Farms Dairy.
petiterougecoffeetruck.com.
Five Frozen Irish Coffees
Collectively agreed upon by the tipsy set, the frozen Irish coffee is one of our favorite drinks in the city. It hits the spot any time of day, as well as in the wee small hours of the morning.
1.
Molly’s at the Market. 1107 Decatur St.,
mollysatthemarket.net.
2.
Erin Rose. 811 Conti St.,
erinrosebar.com.
3.
Finn McCool’s Irish Pub. 3701 Banks St.,
finnmccools.com.
4.
Junction: 3021 St. Claude Ave.,
junctionnola.com.
5.
Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar: 2604 Magazine St.,
traceysnola.com.
BEHIND THE BEAN SCENE
Current Crop Roasting Shop
Curious about the magic behind a perfect cup of coffee? Make a point of visiting Current Crop Roasting Shop, a one-of-a-kind retail destination that caters to coffee enthusiasts and neophytes alike. Step into the aromatic space to browse beans from the far reaches of the globe. Upon entering the inviting space, your sensory and taste experience will take you from the coffee bean library to the back of house roasting lab where the in-shop pros will walk you through experiences that help you learn more about the art, science and romance of roasting. Guests of the shop who purchase beans in house are welcome to use the in-house roasting equipment. Inquire about their featured monthly cupping sessions and step-by-step, interactive, customized classes to further your edification. 3931 Magazine St., 504-571-5129,
currentcroproasting.com.
Rise and Grind
If you prefer your cup within steps of your overnight accommodations, these hotel cafes and coffee bars are just a hop, skip and a suitcase away.
Tout La at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
535 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-527-5271,
provenancehotels.com.
Silver Whistle Café at the Pontchartrain Hotel
2031 St Charles Ave., 504-323-1455,
silverwhistlecafe.com.
Gospel Coffee and Boozy Treats at Kimpton Hotel Fontenot
501 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-324-3073,
gospelcoffeenola.com.
The Marsh Coffee + Bar at The Marsh Hotel
1901 Delachaise St.,
marshhotel.com.
Funny Library Coffee Shop New Orleans at Virgin Hotels New Orleans
550 Baronne St., 504-603-8000,
virginhotels.com.
Lovage at Ace Hotel
610 Carondelet St., 504-930-3064,
acehotel.com.
Provisions at Higgins Hotel & Conference Center
1000 Magazine St., 504-528-1941,
higginshotelnola.com.
Sip tips
Cozied up on the orange couch at The Orange Couch.
Vietnamese iced coffee is a favorite of many New Orleanians.
Be the hero at the office and swing by to pick up a batch served by the quart and the gallon. 2339 Royal St., 504-267-7327,
theorangecouchcoffee.com.
Coffee Concierge at Maison de la Luz
Those who hold a tasseled hotel room key at this luxury boutique hotel in the Warehouse District can anticipate being treated to a morning perk by way of a no-knock coffee drop service upon request. As a guest, you’ll provide a time and milk preference, and local label Cherry Coffee Roasters will be left outside your door in tumblers and a small
wicker basket upon waking. 546 Carondelet St.,
maisondelaluz.com.
Periodically speaking, coffee and literature go hand in hand. Enjoy page-turning moments while lingering over a cup or two.
Mr. Wolf Espresso & Books: Located inside the atrium of the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), the inviting spot is a social center where art, design, and coffee lovers can intermingle. Grab a decaf espresso while you explore a rotating collection of books from local authors and the gallery wall of rotating art. Inquire about their customer-beloved bottled cold brew. 900 Camp St., Ste. 1,
mrwolf.life.
Baldwin & Co.: Enjoy an oat milk latte from the in-house coffee bar while perusing the walls of inspired reading material at this independent bookstore and vibrant community hub. 1030 Elysian Fields Ave.,
baldwinandcobooks.com.
The Chicory House: Housed in The Rink shopping center in the heart of the Garden District, this café, which features a selection of coffee, pastries and light bites, is just a staircase away from The Garden District Book Shop. 2725 Prytania St.
Instagrammable Coffee Shop Moments
The picture-perfect moments in our city are aplenty. Pause to strike a pose at these cafes for a snappable selfie moment.
Clinking mugs in the picture windows at
Croissant D’Or Patisserie. 617 Ursulines Ave.,
croissantdorpatisserie.com.
Toasting coffee and beignets under the covered veranda at
Morning Call Coffee Stand. 5101 Canal Blvd.,
morningcallnola.com.
Amongst the greenery in the brick courtyard oasis of
Fourth Wall Coffee + Bar. 614 Gravier St.,
614gravier.com.
Cozied in the petite enclave suited for two in the back of
Cafe Bon Ami. 822 Perdido St.,
cafebonami.com.
Over a game of Scrabble with a backdrop of artist murals at
Backatown
Coffee Parlour. 301 Basin St.,
backatownnola.com.
Sharing stories at the bistro tables on the Sycamore lined corner of
Petite
Clouet Café. 3100 Royal St.
Biking in front of
Cafe Beignet on buzzy Royal Street. 334 Royal St.,
cafebeignet.com.
Flipping through a coffee tasting zine published by owner
Reneé Blanchard at Church Alley Café & Grocery. 4201 Canal St.,
churchalley.store.
Turn That Growl Upside Down
The charm of old school local delivery is alive and swell with Riverboat Coffee Company. The locally-based business offers delivery of their cold brew growlers and 1lb. bags of medium and dark roast drip coffee straight to your door with weekly subscription services. Their coffee is single origin and 100% arabica, and, as a zero-waste company, all of their products are either reusable or compostable. Visit Riverboat at their recently opened Cold Brew Bar located at 4409 Magazine St.
riverboatcoffee.com
Fested Interest
The Café au Lait booth at Jazz Fest is one of your mandatory stops, but you may not have known that the brand behind the delicious hot, iced or frozen sips is local trailblazer New Orleans CoolBrew, who, upon approaching 35 years in business, have just opened a second bottling facility. Circa the 1980s, New Orleans Coffee Company (makers of CoolBrew) created an innovative cold filtration process to produce a fresh, all natural, cold-dripped coffee concentrate that is now sold across the country.
coolbrew.com.
Spill the Beans
One of the steadiest lines in town can be found outside the green and white awnings of The Original Café du Monde Coffee Stand in the French Quarter. Having been at the location since 1862, the call to cravings for piping hot café au laits and beignets still reigns supreme for in-town regulars and visitors. We caught up with Emily Jaeger of the iconic family-owned business for a powder-sugared covered convo.
What about the location of your iconic French Quarter Market cafe is key to its longtime success?
“Anyone who’s been to New Orleans knows that it’s the people and the culture that make our city so great. We are lucky to be part of the historic French Market so close to the Mississippi River.”
Your storefront is one of the most recognizable in the city. What has stayed the same and or changed over the years?
“Most of our aesthetic changes have occurred from the French Market and in the surrounding area. We haven’t made a lot of changes over the years and will likely never say goodbye to our iconic green and white stripes. I order the merchandise for our retail stores, and one of our vendors who prints our logo t-shirt used to take similar orders from my grandmother.”
What is the most endearing tradition that you’ve noticed amongst visitors to your multiple locations?
“We are very fortunate to be a must visit stop in New Orleans, but we can always spot the first-timers wearing all black and trying to avoid the ‘powdered sugar shower.’”
How does maintaining a menu that is so specifically paired down to coffee and beignets add to the quintessential experience?
“There’s something comforting with simple consistency. If you came to New Orleans 30, 40, 50 years ago and visited us you can come back today and have a very similar experience.”
It’s in the Bag
For times when you prefer to mug comfortably from home or want to send a cup of the Crescent City to loved ones afar, stock your pantry and your care packages with local labels. Here, a few of our favorite NOLA inspired coffee flavors.
Lagniappe Blend: Cherry Coffee Roasters. 4875 Laurel St.,
cherrycoffeeroasters.com.
Streetcar Medium Roast: Coast Roast Coffee. 3618 Magazine St.,
crcoffeenola.com.
Picnic on the Greenway: HEY Coffee Co. 2606 St. Louis St.,
heycoffeeco.com.
Carnival Blend: PJ’s Coffee. Multiple locations,
shop.pjscoffee.com.
Black and Gold Blend: Orleans Coffee Espresso Bar. 3445 Prytania St.,
orleanscoffee.com.
Chocolate Beignet: New Orleans Roast,
shop.neworleansroast.com.
Louisiana Caramel Praline: Parish Coffee,
parishcoffee.com.
Mardi Gras King Cake: Community Coffee. Multiple locations,
communitycoffee.com.
Jazz Brunch Blend: French Market Coffee,
frenchmarketcoffee.com.
Fais-Do-Do Breakfast Blend: Undergrowth Coffee. 4332 Magazine St.,
undergrowthcoffee.com.
Hidden Gem
Nestled in the corner of Lower Garden District staple Stein’s Market and Deli (2207 Magazine St.) you’ll find Whatever Coffee from roaster and co-founder, Sarah Lambeth. Grab a fancy latte to go and then snag a bag of her other brand, Pretty Coffee, for good measure.
Evolve Coffee + Matcha has opened a second location in Lakeview. The picturesque spot, second to their Metairie location (3304 W. Esplanade Ave.) offers sustainably sourced coffee and espresso roasted through Mojo Coffee, as well as imported ceremonial grade matcha. Ask for their signature drink, an iced matcha with a shot of espresso on top. 400 Harrison Ave.,
evolvecoffeenola.com.
French Truck Coffee: The yellow Citroën bags are stacked high at the new location on Canal Street at St. Charles Avenue downtown. The 11th shop opening for the brand, watch the streetcar make its turns as you order your pour over. 700 Canal St.,
frenchtruckcoffee.com.
Coffee Framework: Prefer to see the world through café-colored glasses? The makers behind KREWE eyewear developed a collection that speaks to the appeal of caffeine culture. “Coffee is a big part of the KREWE DNA, we’re single-origin obsessives, decaf drinkers, and everything in between,” says brand rep Arianna Greenbaum. “Inspired by KREWE’s love for coffee, the Crema pattern blends together swirls of neutrals and rich dark tones.” Caffeinate in synonymous style with both spectacle and sunglasses options. 619 Royal St.; 1818 Magazine St.,
krewe.com.
Hidden Gem: Through the sun dappled courtyard behind the chic KREWE flagship in the French Quarter you’ll find a petite coffee pop up run by Chachera Brantley. The coffee pro has a knack for infusing unexpected add-ins like rosemary and sage syrups, made with love by her with ingredients she procures weekly from the Crescent City Farmers Market. Ask nicely and you may even get a special surprise of edible glitter in your Americano.
The Art of Coffee: So prevalent is our coffee scene that it is creatively celebrated by New Orleans artists. CB Hume (cbhumeart.com) has a series of Louisiana coffee paintings wherein he uses select Louisiana coffees like Community Coffee for his watercolor works that feature both nature and music-inspired scenes. Oil painter Adam Allen, whose pieces you can often find for purchase gracing the wrought iron fences of St. Anthony’s Garden behind St. Louis Cathedral, taught himself to silk screen and from it created his pop art series, “A New Orleans Inspired By Warhol”. Within the collection you’ll find colorful Café du Monde themed silkscreens on paper and canvas that showcase the likes of French bulldogs peering out of the cans.
manofcreation.com. 
