Hi, We’re Matt and Clyde
and we are CoddiWomplers of Great coffee experiences.
Coddiwomple: To travel purposefully to an as yet unknown destination
We are troubadours of great coffee experiences, and this is the sheet music of our findings. We strive to be mindful, curious, and informatively observant so that we can record breadcrumbs of excellence for you to enjoy on your own excursions.
Venturing out for coffee is a lot more than grabbing a drink; it’s something happening. In distilling the poetry and magic that embodies a great coffee experience, we will focus on:
Coffee
What sensations are on their menu? Is the waft of roasted beans an alluring prelude? And when cup meets lip, it is a sultry embrace or a kick in the pants?
For consistency’s sake, our evaluations will be based on the following: Matt drinks a large blackeye, and Clyde drinks a cortado, followed by a small, black drip. We may comment on the beans, their origin, if they are roasted in-house (typically a harbinger of good things), specialty offerings, etc.
Barista
Both in craft and approachability, a barista can enhance the coffee and vibe or deliver an energy crush that degrades the very taste of the coffee. Are they interested in being a wingman in our womple or are we merely a transactional experience in their day? As George Saunders comments, “If I go to the coffee shop and have a nice interaction with the barista, I don’t know what that does for world peace, but we have to assume that in the great basket of goodness maybe that’s one little micron or one little neutron that you’ve put in there.” A great barista drops a lump of goodness into every single cup.
Vibe
How do you feel when you walk in the door? Our narratives and visuals will teleport you there. Are your senses awakened by more than just caffeine? What’s the story behind the shop? Does the music take you somewhere or is it a background aesthetic? Do they have a brand of their own, a logo of note, interesting merch? What about artwork, plants, seating options, outdoor spaces, work areas, prevalence of outlets and bathrooms?
We hope to be your senses on the grounds ;) as we encounter stirring coffee shops throughout this great country.
Our quest will focus on the lower forty-eight and wherever else our coffee coddiwompling takes us.
~Womple on~
Make you better
Here, we outline our humble thoughts on possibilities the coffeehouse might consider to further refine their consumer experience. Our womples have afforded us a diversity of great coffee adventures and we hope the insights gained can bring value to fellow travelers and owners alike.
The phrase, Make You Better, is an homage to the Decemberists song of the same name. We heartily recommend the entire album, “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful Word” as well.
And in the vein of kind nudges, we welcome your input to help us improve our fit and finish. If you feel so compelled, drop us a note at, Spill the Beans. ~ Peace.