So you’re a week out from Christmas, and there are a few names on your gifting list who have you at a loss.
Given that 7 in 10 Americans drink coffee weekly — about 60% do it daily — a fresh roast is a versatile fallback. The bean scene in Philly has exploded in recent years, and there are literally dozens of locally made brands to choose from.
If you don’t already have a favorite, or want to help someone try something new, here are a few great options for the coffee fanatics in your life.
Triangle Roasters
Triangle Roasters has plenty of varietals to choose from, and you can sweeten the deal with one of the brand’s intricately carved chocolate bars — a delicious double whammy of a gift.
Flavors like vegan toffee, pretzel, and whiskey pair nicely with beans sourced from Guatemala, Peru, and beyond.
Nilaa Coffee
Nilaa Coffee was launched in 2019 by Matt Saperstone, after living in Myanmar for a short time and making connections with producers in the region. His Philly company was founded with the specific goal of sharing roasts cultivated in Southeast Asia.
Also check out Nilaa’s Quartz Collection, which broadens its scope to include producers outside of the focus area. Bonus: There’s free local delivery for all purchases $20 or above.
ReAnimator Coffee
So there’s an advocate of worker organizing in your life? ReAnimator Coffee is a Kensington-based roaster whose staff had their union recognized by management in October, making it the third local business with workers in food service union Local 80.
Oh yeah, and two of ReAnimator’s Ethiopian choices were named among the best roasts in the Northeast U.S. by the Good Food awards. Truly a win-win.
Bean 2 Bean
Bean 2 Bean founder Obel Hernandez got his start as a taster for coffee giant Maxwell House, and now he’s brought those decades of expertise home.
His company goes with Philly themes for names of blends — think Schuylkill Select, Italian Market Espresso, and Olde City Decaf. Other selections include single origin options from Central and South America.
Also on offer: Groovy mugs made by local artists Anthony Romero and Teejay Moore.
Herman’s Coffee
A staple of Philly’s food scene since opening in 2017, Herman’s Coffee is known as much for the many pop up events highlighting local chefs and craftspeople as for its carefully curated roasts.
“Another Gosh Darn Holiday Blend” is this season’s limited time offering, mixing African and Indonesian coffees for a cup tinged with cocoa and spice. If you’re choosing a gift for someone with a more classic, straight ahead palette, the dark roast “diner” blend might be the right choice.
Speaking of seasonal options to get excited about, the proprietors — who used to run Philly Beer Scene magazine — made a limited-run coffee stout with Delco’s 2SP Brewing Company. Talk about coffee with a kick.
