Indian Coffee Company, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. |
Editor’s note: This is part of a new Saturday series on this blog to
share the more pleasant experiences we’ve had while traveling and visiting
coffee establishments here and abroad, plus on occasion a digest of coffee news
of note. Next 9/13: New Mexico Pinon Coffee Co.
CLASSY, TASTY &
COMFORTABLE--Coffee centric surprises are where you find them and as always the
ongoing search and discovery is the best part of coffee tourism.
Case in point:
The Inn at Price
Tower, where we lodged and dined while staying in Bartlesville, Oklahoma,
doesn’t offer breakfast so we had to wander into the heart of America for a cup
of coffee.
We had two hours
before taking our guided tour of the 19-story office and residence high-rise (now
hotel) designed by U.S. architectural icon Frank Lloyd Wright. First, we stopped for an hour at the Phillips
Petroleum Museum to discover the amazing history of the beginnings of the oil
drilling industry in Oklahoma and most of the Southwest. We have a new appreciation for Phillips 66
service stations.
From the Phillips
Museum we wandered through the various Phillips high rises constructed over the
years giving Bartlesville a skyline most other small towns in the region don’t
have.
Across Frank
Phillips Boulevard (he and his brothers founded the oil company) we noticed a
coffee house with stylish graphics, big windows and an inviting “come taste the
coffee” curb appeal.
Pillar to Post image, August 27, 2014 |
Inside the Indian
Coffee Company (ICC), we spent an hour tasting its fine house blend coffee; a
dessert or three; chatting with genuinely nice employees (especially Jessica)
and fitting myself with an ICC t-shirt (which I wore all the way to Amarillo).
Pillar to Post image, August 27, 2014 |
The stylish décor
included a sign saying ICC served Craft Coffee.
We asked for a definition. Here’s
what we learned from the ICC team and website:
“...Our dedication to
craft coffee begins by knowing where our coffee beans are grown. In a world of
mass-produced coffee, we’re dedicated to offering a selection that is simply
not available anywhere else. In fact, our farmers roast a blend specifically
for Indian Coffee Co.
“...Our beans are
sourced locally, but grown in two distinct plantations. Both located in El
Salvador, the Finca Ayutepeca Plantation and Finca Manazano Plantation produce
a limited amount of premium coffee beans. Our coffee mill has a long history of
growing the finest quality Single Origin coffee.
“...Many factors
contribute to the perfect cup of Indian Coffee: altitude, soil type, climate,
and harvest periods play a critical role in cultivating the right bean for our
customers. In short, we’re proud to say that we know the farmer who is picking
the coffee bean you’re drinking.
“...We believe that
the best coffee is created by maintaining high quality standards every step of
the way. That is why our farmers spend four years taking care of each new
coffee tree until it grows into a mature plant ready to be harvested. With good
soil, great weather, and a lot of hard work the trees turn into a succulent coffee
cherry containing two perfect coffee beans. The harvest begins in November,
when the coffee cherries have a deep red wine color. The mill workers go around
the farm as many times as necessary, allowing every single cherry to ripen;
this meticulous hand-picking process finishes in March.
“...After
harvesting the cherries we proceed to the wet processing, where the pulp and
the fruit are carefully removed from the coffee beans so as not to damage them.
As a part of the ecological process, collected rainwater is used to wash the
beans, and the discarded fruit is used to help fertilize the coffee trees.
“...Our roastmaster
carefully roasts the coffee to bring out the full flavor and complex aromas
found in the bean; this ensures you will enjoy the true essence found in the
coffee rather than merely the degree of roast...”
Also, ICC is local.
“...Why are we so
serious about using local roasters and ingredients? For starters, local
sourcing means a fresher, better-tasting product. It also means you can expect
a consistent experience with every sip of coffee and bite of food.
“...And our local
focus doesn’t end with our coffee beans and fresh ingredients: we got our start
by investing in historic downtown Bartlesville. Our space, and the local
hard-working people who helped renovate it, are a source of pride for Indian
Coffee Co.
After all, we want
to be more than your Bartlesville coffee shop. Whether we’re part of your
morning routine, business lunch, or private event, we want to create a
comfortable, consistent, and memorable experience for you...”
Since opening in
downtown Bartlesville, Oklahoma (summer 2013), Indian Coffee Company (ICC) at
116 SW Frank Phillips Blvd., has thrived by serving breakfast and lunch only to
go with its fine coffees and inviting atmosphere. It is well worth the visit and definitely a
Bartlesville stop not to be missed.
More on the Inn at
Price Tower will appear in a future Pillar to Post blog
posting. This blog also published a posting on the Price Tower on October 1, 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment