Winter at the Coffee Grinder
On the very end of Bannister's Wharf, overlooking historic Newport harbor, you'll find the Coffee Grinder, a charming espresso bar and coffee shop. Come by for breakfast or lunch. Stop by after a long day of sightseeing for your afternoon coffee, tea or the famous frozen drinks. Sit on the Wharf's benches or Adirondack chairs on the deck and enjoy the sunset as you watch the many boats glide by. Or stop by for dessert after a night on the town. Authentic Italian espresso drinks and some of the best coffees in Newport are prepared here the proper way. Also served are a variety of light food items, including fresh bagels, muffins and sandwiches. The Coffee Grinder offers quality food, cheerful service, and one of the nicest settings available anywhere. This is a must stop for any visit to Newport.Just because it’s the middle of Winter doesn’t mean you can’t swing by for a visit. Check out the Shop’s new Facebook page, become a Fan, and share your thoughts. Can’t wait to hear from you, and hope to see you soon.
Update 2.16.2010 – Congratulations to BMW Oracle Racing Team on winning the America’s Cup. Might the Cup be coming back home to Newport, R.I. ? Can you imagine that?
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The America’s Cup is happening right now. Jammed in between the Super Bowl and Olympics, chances are good that you are missing it. The lack of any mainstream media coverage doesn’t help. Check out this site for some of the timeliest on-the-water action and shoreside drama information. And if you haven’t been following the Cup over the past year or so, check out these short videos. Times have changed.
That was then (1983 to be exact):
THIS IS NOW!
Come on down Saturday, December 5th for the Bowen’s Wharf Tree Lighting & Open House and the Harbor Lights Parade of Boats and Blessing of Fleet. The tree lighting festivities begin around 4:30 p.m. and the parade of boats happens around 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by boat (weather permitting). This event is the local favorite for family and friends. Swing by the Coffee Grinder for a Hot Chocolate to keep you warm before Santa arrives.
For more things to do in Newport this Holiday Season, be sure to check out Christmas In Newport for all events that are part of the annual Christmas in Newport celebration.
Winters in Newport can be a bit long (to put it nicely). The harbor empties out as the air gets cold, making it all the more difficult to enjoy what makes Newport one of the best summer destinations around – Narragansett Bay. Luckily, Save the Bay and the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation’s Seal Watch Cruises offer locals and visitors a great way to get out and explore the Bay’s natural winter habitat. Seal Cruises run from Nov 28 through April 25th, after which the seals head north for summer vacation. Check out this video to see what it’s all about. Who knew?
Get a taste of the seal watch experience by watching a video with Capt. Eric Pfirrmann and Save The Bay Educator Amy Wright. This outstanding video was produced by Chris Simmons.
Being a coffee shop, it may suit us well to write about coffee every now and then. Coffee itself is a very rich topic since there are so many variables – the plant, seed, roast, grind, brew, and presentation – that contribute to the end product.
We will keep it simple by focusing on a specific type of brew that is made by combining espresso and hot water – the Café Americano. Thought to have originated during WWII and named after American G.I.s fighting in Italy, the Americano was the soldier’s solution to finding a less concentrated cup of coffee in an Italian café. Today, the Americano is a popular espresso drink that provides an exceptional alternative to regular drip coffee.
The Americano is created by adding hot water to a single or double-shot of espresso. Not to be confused with a long black or café lungo, which is a drink made by allowing more water than usual to pass through the grounds, the Americano allows the customer to tailor the strength of the drink based on the number of shots of espresso and the amount of water added (typically 2 shots:8oz of water). This results in a smoother and often richer coffee than its bitter counterparts.
The key component to the Americano is espresso. Lucky for you, the Coffee Grinder’s premium Italian espresso makes our Americano’s some of the best around. Dare we say the best in the country? Yeah, it’s pretty darn good.
So the next time you visit the Coffee Grinder, or your local café for that matter, change up your routine and give the Americano a try. You may never go back.
Each new season presents a perfect opportunity to highlight some of the world class artists that call Newport home. Newport has printers, painters, photographers, sculptors, carvers, and glass blowers, to name a few.
For Fall 2009, we look no further than Bannister’s Wharf. Here you will discover two world renown local artists with a nautical bent, painter Anthony Gill of Art on the Wharf and photographer Onne van der Wal of the Onne van der Wal Gallery.
Anthony Gill is a British expat with a passion for the water and painting. Anthony is a “Fauvist” or “Colourist” where the most important element of his work is not the style or subject matter but the pure color. His work is most often described as “vivid” or “striking,” and having viewed his gallery for years we couldn’t agree more. See for yourself at Art on the Wharf, which also serves as Anthony’s art studio.
Onne van der Wal is a preeminent nautical, sailing and yacht photographer. Another import, Onne was born in Holland and came to Newport by way of South Africa. Onne’s photography is ridiculously stunning from every aspect, and if you have ever been to Newport then chances are you have found yourself staring at one of his masterpieces. If you are still planning your first visit to Newport, then be sure to visit the Onne van der Wal Gallery while you are here.
Artwork/Images reprinted with permission.
