new coffee shop in wilkinsburg - biddle's escape (Highland Park: lawyer, move to)

[groar]

can we make a list of who is and isn't authorized to say nice things about this coffee shop? this is getting confusing.

[gg]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I have tried the coffee and have been on the deck.

How was the coffee?

It isn't a big deal, but I just wouldn't recommend a place unless I went in and ate or drank something there. I mean, what else does one comment on? Sure it sounds like a nice building. The police go there. The police go to Get Go's as well, so I don't know if that means much.

Sounds like a nice place and if I am around there as I was the other day getting my tomato plants I will actually have a cup of coffee. Not good timing the other day when I was at Garden Dreams, which is another cool place in Wilkinsburg.

[biggybugaboo]

Do cops still get free coffee at places? It was an unwritten rule when I worked back in the day.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

You know what I think the owners would really love? Someone coming into this thread to spread negativity and distract from the praise their place is getting.

Brian,
I didn't see any negativity anywhere on the thread. I responded to a comment that suggested the poster just took a look-see w/o ordering anything then made a recommendation. I questioned that because it sounded like a silly thing to do for any establishment; the comment was not specific to this particular establishment.

I don't understand how that's being confused with 'negativity'.

I hope they're really good. Most coffeehouses around here aren't.

[ML North]

I had a doctors appoint in the East End this morning (or at least I thought I had an appointment - it's actually a week from today. Whoops!) and stopped at Biddle's afterwards. It really is a great space with a large garage door which opens up to a tree covered patio. I enjoyed a double espresso as I read the Wilkinsburg Sun and then got a berry/banana/strawberry smoothie to go. Awesome place and nice people.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by sskink

Brian,
I didn't see any negativity anywhere on the thread. I responded to a comment that suggested the poster just took a look-see w/o ordering anything then made a recommendation. I questioned that because it sounded like a silly thing to do for any establishment; the comment was not specific to this particular establishment.

I don't understand how that's being confused with 'negativity'.

I hope they're really good. Most coffeehouses around here aren't.

Brian could still remark on the decor and atmosphere of the establishment without purchasing a beverage.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

Brian could still remark on the decor and atmosphere of the establishment without purchasing a beverage.

Of course he can and he did. As can anyone. Even I noted the space in an earlier comment way back on page one.

My response was not to Brian but to another poster.

I like coffeehouses. A lot. I spend a ton of time in them. However, let's say there's a beautiful new place that's convenient to me. If they're serving Kiva Han or some other dreck, or have bar staff with no talent whatsoever, I'm not setting foot in it.

So to me, while it's perfectly find to talk about a space and a neighborhood and a hope for something good, an actual recommendation on a coffeehouse has to talk about the coffee.

A couple of folks mentioned getting a good espresso at Biddle's. That's still fairly rare around here. So that would make it worth a visit.

[BrianTH]

I suggested the negativity (which I agree has been directed at other posters, not the place itself) has been a distraction from talking about the place itself. And I think that clearly was true, and still is.

[groar]

Originally Posted by sskink

I like coffeehouses. A lot. I spend a ton of time in them. However, let's say there's a beautiful new place that's convenient to me. If they're serving Kiva Han or some other dreck, or have bar staff with no talent whatsoever, I'm not setting foot in it.

So to me, while it's perfectly find to talk about a space and a neighborhood and a hope for something good, an actual recommendation on a coffeehouse has to talk about the coffee.

that's fine, but that's you. i think good coffee is important, but on the other hand i hang out at the coffee tree once a week because that's where my social group meets and i really don't like their coffee. i love coffee but i drink tea when i'm there. lots of people go to coffee shops and hang out for the atmosphere, because they feel comfortable there, because it's convenient to them, because their friends go there. some people don't even drink coffee at coffee shops! so the decor and the atmosphere are important, even just as important as the quality of the coffee, to SOME consumers.

an assessment of just the space might not be useful to you, and that's fine. but that doesn't mean it's useless to everyone.

[sskink]

Originally Posted by groar

that's fine, but that's you. i think good coffee is important, but on the other hand i hang out at the coffee tree once a week because that's where my social group meets and i really don't like their coffee. i love coffee but i drink tea when i'm there.

And I'm the kind of guy who would get that entire group to move to another shop

Originally Posted by groar

some people don't even drink coffee at coffee shops!

Which is a shame. We pay taxes to support libraries for those kinds of folks

FWIW, for those people who DO like coffee, I learned that Biddle's uses Commonplace Coffee, which is probably the best local roaster at the moment (ethically sourced coffees, not overroasted). They have older Nuova Simonelli espresso machine, the same manufacturer that supplies machines to the US and World barista competitions. They have a Fetco batch brewer, which is the best batch brewer on the market. So from a supplier and equipment standpoint, it would appear they're serious about their coffee program.

Before you ask, yes, it's an obsession.