How to find a local coffee shop, wherever you are.

Maybe you enjoy gourmet coffee at home and at work. But what about when you’re out of town? Or even when you’re driving somewhere new in town?

For the person who absolutely insists on quality gourmet coffee, there are a few options.

Find coffee shops ahead of time, before you travel.

If you are heading out of town to a state, province or city you don’t know, there are a couple of ways you can find a good coffee shop before you leave home.

First, if you are a Starbucks fan, you can use the store locator tool on their web site. As you can imagine, if you are going to be somewhere in a city...there’s a good chance you’ll find a Starbucks somewhere close.

On the other hand, if you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to explore local, non-corporate coffee shops, check out the Delocator site.

This is a very cool service. It deliberately lists only coffee shops which are not part of big corporate chains. So you have a much better chance of finding somewhere that reflects the local scene and the area’s character.

After all, if you just traveled two thousand miles, why sit in a Starbucks that looks and feels just like the one down the street from your office?

And don’t forget your smartphone.

Wherever you are traveling, there are apps available to help you find the nearest gourmet coffee shop. This great for when you are traveling but don’t have many opportunities to plug in your laptop.

Take you coffee with you and brew it when you’re ready...

Here’s the other option. Use a French press travel mug.

It’s a cross between a French press and an insulated travel mug. These are very simple and a great way to take your gourmet coffee with you.

You simply take the mug and some ground coffee wherever you go.

When you’re ready to brew, add some coffee grounds to the bottom of the mug, add water just under boiling point and then, after three or four minutes, push down the filter plunger.

About the author: Nick Usborne, aka Coffee Detective, is a writer and long-time coffee enthusiast. Read more…

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