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Obsessive’s Guide to Coffee
The American Barista & Coffee School has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Line to create trips for coffee fanatics, with onboard java experts (from $900; 800-655-3955 or coffeecruises.com). At Selva Negra, an eco-resort on a Nicaraguan organic coffee farm, travelers can help harvest beans (doubles from $30; 404-577-8673 or selvanegra.com). Participants in Global Exchange’s nine-day trips to Nicaragua live and work with Fair Trade farmers during harvest ($650; globalexchange.org).
TOP U.S. COFFEE BARS
La Colombe Torrefaction
Great pastries and people-watching; silky cappuccino (130 S. 19th St., Philadelphia; 215-563-0860).
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Mission District hipsters love the French-press coffee here (1026 Valencia St., San Francisco; 415-641-1024).
Ninth Street Espresso
Owner Ken Nye pulls some of New York’s best espresso at this East Village spot (700 E. Ninth St., New York; 212-358-9225).
Aloha Island
All Kona coffee, all the time, from the owners’ Big Island plantation in Hawaii (153 S. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills; 310-786-8257).
Ruta Maya
Terrific coffee exclusively from Chiapas, Mexico, plus great live music (3601 S. Congress Ave., Austin; 512-707-9637).
Murky Coffee
This Capitol Hill spot is a hangout for politicos and staffers (660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, D.C.; 202-546-5228).
Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
A 10-by-10-foot space that’s more a stand than a shop, it grinds and brews terrific beans to order (315 Linden St., San Francisco; 415-252-7535).
Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee
Owner Jack Mazzola has invented a coffeemaker that stirs the coffee grinds as it brews, giving each cup an even, smooth taste (138 W. 10th St.; New York City; 212-929-0821).
Gimme! Coffee
Ithaca, New York-based coffee fanatic John Gant air-roasts his beans so the roast level is perfectly uniform (495 Lorimer St.; Brooklyn, New York; 718-388-7771).
Café du Monde
Housed in a French Quarter landmark building, founded in 1862, it is still known for its coffee-chicory blends (1039 Decatur St., New Orleans; 504-587-0835).
Zoka Coffee Roaster & Tea Company
Zoka’s head barista, Phuong Tran, is the current United States Barista Champion (2200 N. 56th St.; Seattle; 206-545-4277).
Espresso Vivace Roasteria
Husband-and-wife owners David Schomer and Geneva Sullivan started Vivace with a single street-side cart; now they’re a Seattle institution. Their espresso is known for its gorgeous crema (901 E. Denny Way, Seattle; 206-860-5869).
Victrola Coffee Roasters
The friendly neighborhood vibe and flawless espresso drinks here are augmented by a wide menu of panini (411 15th Ave. East, Seattle; 206-325-6520).
Metropolis Coffee Company
Father and son owners Jeff and Tony Dreyfuss run a virtual entertainment center at their coffee house with rotating art displays, music and a film series (1039 W. Granville Ave.; Chicago; 773-764-0400).
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