Old City Brew

Recently I was asked by Old City Brew to review their specialty coffee that’s roasted right here in Saint Augustine, Fl. I was more than happy to oblige. Old City Brew was started by Katarina and Joey in 2012. They have a love and a passion for coffee and the community, and go to great lengths to ensure you have a great cup of coffee. From the farmer who grows it, the journey it takes on its way to your cup, and even the way you prepare it, each step is important to them.

So here are my honest, coffee-loving opinions.

Have you ever had a good cup of coffee? I’m talking coffee that slows you down and makes each delicious, aromatic sip an enjoyable experience, rather than a force of habit? I have, but it doesn’t happen with each cup. Each time I go to the grocery store I’m hoping that my “eenie meenie miney mo” method or the “what’s on sale” method doesn’t leave me caffeinated but disappointed. So having someone bring me a local, freshly roasted bag of coffee was a wonderful, stress free experience.

First up I tried the whole bean, Guatemala roast. I’m a French press kind of girl, so after a few turns in the grinder and a few minutes in hot water, it was ready. A spoonful of agave and a splash of goat’s milk and I gave it a sip. It was rich and smooth, and best of all, no hint of bitterness. I prefer my cup of Joe to be nice and smooth, as opposed to biting and bitter. Kind of like how I prefer people in general. This standard typically keeps me from ordering brewed coffee at the big coffee chains. It’s typically just too much. This roast, however, fit the bill perfectly. The smell alone gave homage to the roasting process and it’s freshness. You can order this roast along with their 5 other roasts online here .

Now let’s skip to the afternoon coffee. I’m a two-cups a day kind of gal. Especially when it’s naptime, aka get stuff done time. So I was pretty excited to try out their cold brew concentrate. It’s perfect for when you want the taste and the energy of coffee, minus the heat. Sometimes sunny days in Florida just go better with cold coffee. To mix the coffee I followed their online recipe for St. Augustine Style Iced Coffee . Basically you just mix equal parts concentrate, milk of choice, and water together with ice. I added a little agave too.  What I absolutely loved about this cold brew is it’s simplicity. It’s straight coffee. No additives, no dairy, just yummy coffee. That means that people like me who avoid certain types of dairy can enjoy it too! If you’ve ever looked for dairy free iced coffee, it isn’t easy! It tasted wonderful! I usually drink my coffee with sweetener, but with this recipe I would’ve enjoyed it without any. It was honestly that good.

So there you have it. If you’d like to learn more about Old City Brew or purchase your own cup of bliss online, visit them here . Their coffee is sold locally at GoFresh Farm Market and LuLi’s Cupcakes. You can also follow their Instagram  @oldcitybrew for insights into their day to day as well as information about exciting events.