Restaurant: Heine Brothers Coffee, Louisville, Kentucky
Buying local is good.
So, I have no explanation for the fact that, in the six years I have lived in the Louisville area, I have never once set foot in a Heine Brothers Coffee. With locations throughout Louisville, I see them, but often bypass them and then turn up at a Starbucks for my coffee fix.
I should be ashamed.
I am.
Here’s why:
Heine Brothers Coffee began in 1994 by Mike Mays and Gary Heine, who thought of coffee shops as local gathering spots where people could meet friends or family, unwind after work or school, and just relax. The two entrepreneurs then committed themselves and their business to operating as responsibly and sustainably as possible. Reducing the carbon footprint of a coffee shop is no easy task (I mean, how many people want their coffee to go…or even when drinking in, want a paper cup, not a mug?), but these two set out to achieve it and, by providing their shops with locally made food and products, as well as providing only fair-trade, organic coffee, they have succeeded.
Now, I prefer an espresso drink to a coffee drink anytime, but when I stopped in to Heine Brothers Coffee on a cold Saturday afternoon, I decided to be a little different and try something new. What I ordered was a simple Sugar-free Hazelnut Café Au Lait (or coffee with milk), made with soy milk. What they gave me was beyond amazing. First of all, Heine Brothers’ coffee is a different breed from any coffee you will have. Not only is it organic and fair-trade, but according to the Web site, it is roasted in a small-batch Sivetz coffee roaster, which basically floats the coffee beans on a bed of heated air in order to roast it. This method brings out the amazing flavors and aromas of the coffee that they brew in-store (and sell as well), always within weeks of their roasting date, so they remain fresh!
I have to say, this was one of the best flavored coffee drinks I have ever enjoyed. The coffee wasn’t too strong at all. The roasting method, I believe, meant the true flavor of the coffee came through, so that it wasn’t so overpowering in the flavor. I chose a sugar-free hazelnut syrup to pair with it, not wanting to over-sweeten it either. As for the soy milk…they frothed it to a foamy perfection and left it at a perfect temperature to sip and enjoy.
Yeah…I was really, really impressed with the practices and the drinks that come out of Heine Brothers Coffee. I am fortunate to have such a fabulous, conscientious, and well-established local chain in my area. Now that I’ve been there once, I’ll totally be back. I am a huge proponent of fair-trade and I think this coffee shop is doing it right.
Great product. Great causes. Great service. And in the end…great coffee.
If you happen through Louisville, Kentucky, and should the urge for a caffeine hit strike, find one of the Heine Brothers Coffee locations and give them a try. You’ll love what you find inside.
The Celiathlete 