About the Café
Roadcrew is an interesting combination café/bike shop located at the corner of Morganford and Connecticut just south of Tower Grove Park. It is a bright, modern space as suitable for working and sipping coffee as it is mechanical service on your bicycle. As this blog implies, coffee and cycling are two sides of the same coin, so the union is a natural fit. Stop in to fix up your bike and/or fuel up with some coffee. The large floor to ceiling windows also allows for an unobstructed view of the bike racks out front, which I appreciated as an added security measure if you happen to ride your bike to the coffee shop. The Café is equal parts bike shop and coffee shop and is perfectly inviting for either side of the business.
The Coffee
Roadcrew serves a rotation of coffees and on this day served Blueprint Coffee, a local St. Louis roaster located on the Delmar loop and off Watson Road in Lindenwood Park. Roadcrew’s staff are knowledgeable on both coffee and bicycles, offering informed recommendations on your selection of pour over or the merits of a particular chain lubricant. The coffee was served in a large beaker like decanter with a small clay cup which came off more on the hipster side but it works with the overall vibe of the café.
Taste
- Roaster: Blueprint Coffee
- https://blueprintcoffee.com/
- Bean Origin: Santa Isabel, Cobán, Guatemala
- Bean Type: Arabica
- Price Range: $$$ (3/4)
- Roast Color: 2/6
- Brewing method: Pour over
- Grounds/Water ratio: Unknown
- Flavor Notes: Full bodied, Savory, Oily, Fruity
- Aroma Notes: Smells like fresh baked focaccia
- Tasting notes from the bag: Stonefruit, sugar cane, papayas, funky, chocolate, grapefruit
After decanting a cup, I was struck by the savory aroma of this brew. I noted it smelled like fresh baked focaccia in my aroma notes for lack of a better description but the resemblance was uncanny. The barista remarked that this is a “peppery” brew and it definitely delivered in that regard, but not in an unpleasant way. The peppery flavor came across more subdued than the aroma implied with a full bodied and complex taste almost like the nutty pungency of a hard parmesan cheese. I had to keep taking small sips to appreciate the complexity and nail down the flavors as I haven’t tasted much with a similar flavor profile. It was most similar to a light roast from Honduras I tried at Coffeestamp a couple weeks ago (and unfortunately did not review at the time) though not as light and floral as that coffee. Overall, it struck me as unique, flavorful, and satisfying.
Rating: 7.5/10
Coffee By The Mile 