Pipers Tea and Coffee
The Coke Plant, 3121 Broadway St, Paducah, KY 42001
Pipers Lab, 701b Washington St, Paducah, KY 42003
At the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, in west Paducah’s 1939 Coke Plant, sits a dedicated purveyor of premium breakfast beverages, Pipers Tea and Coffee. A visit is a gift worth experiencing, either because of the Art Deco building’s splendor, or the consumer experience that awaits, but pairing them together… splendido!
Paducah sits in Western Kentucky, which I can’t say without being reminded by an interview with one of America’s greatest songwriter/lyricists, John Prine. He described a first day of school near Chicago, where the teacher had everyone tell the class where their family was from. Poland, Ireland, 50% Italian and 50% Albanian, etc. Then John Prine stood up and exclaimed, “100% Western Kentucky.” His parents and grandparents were from a small river town, dug up and carted away, that inspired an Americana classic by the same name, Paradise. Its well worth a listen.
Coffee:
My coffee was their Pipers Drip, a tasty medium roast blend with a cozy aroma and notes of black cherry and almond. As for my cortado, it nearly seduced me.
It was served in a 4-ounce version of an American pint glass. Immediately after the barista poured the steamed milk atop the espresso, she slid it across the counter to me, and during those initial seconds, as the roughly 135-degree steamed milk was poured atop approximately 200-degree espresso, I witnessed a theatre of magic that immediately brought to mind the beauty of cascading turbulence from a freshly poured Guinness. I’ve had my share of Cortados, but until now, never realized the swirl of physics that takes place in the initial moments was so magical. And with that, let me proclaim that most coffee houses are missing the mark by not putting the pour front and center as a part of the experience.The espresso used their single origin Guatemala Huehuetenango and tasted of chocolate, caramel, and raisin, a rich and elegant pairing with the steamed whole milk. They also serve over 20 unique, small batch, loose leaf teas.
Nearby, I also visited their Lab, a roasting, processing, and packaging facility. Upon entry, I was transported to India by a delicious aroma of chai tea being made. I chanced upon meeting their brew master and learned that they utilize an omni-roasting technique which allows the coffee to be brewed in any type of device and provides more latitude for the barista to tweak the flavor profile.
Barista:
One of the first things I noted upon entry was that their expresso machine was a Slayer. Beyond being a beautiful piece of equipment, very much in character with it’s Art Deco surroundings, it is a uncompromisingly manual device. They can be a bit finicky, but as far as espresso machines go, they are the tool of an artist. “How do you like the Slayer?” I asked. She replied, “I love it!’ Explaining how it allows for fine tune the brewing process. “We match the flow rate of the water to the specific grind which we tailor to each bean variety.” The slayer is a perfect match for their omni-roasting technique and it’s clear that the baristas appreciate it. We had a lovely conversation as it is always a joy to converse with someone filled with delight and passion.
Vibe:
Thou shall not be disappointed. The Coke Plant is a beautifully restored, commercially vibrant, Art Deco gem. Built in 1939, it is elegant and stately, inside and out, with notes of Great Gatsby. for Pipers, it is comprised of three rooms, one in the corner of the building, housing the coffee bar, merch, an elbow counter with stools facing large picture windows. The service area was spotless, they have an assortment of bakery, and their merch includes several carefully curated delicacies such as artisanal chocolates and duck fat caramels. The second room is a so-called community room, with a communal table and between the two is another sitting room with expansive windows and an interesting wall mural depicting the life of a cup of tea, from harvest to consumption.
Make You Better:
This coffeehouse is really an opulent grab and go with diner stools for seating and a conference room space. More diversity to their bakery offering would be appreciated. And lastly, I appreciate their choice of Marshall speakers but the audiophile in me cringes that they sit side by side.
A journey to Pipers Tea and Coffee is an adventure into the artistry of architecture and breakfast beverage. Their engaging staff makes clear that a passion for their craft is a cultural bedrock of the business. In total, Pipers is a multi sensory delight, just what this wompler looks for, and certainly worth a stop, or even a detour.
~ Clyde <3