Who We Are
Hi, I’m Clyde
I’m a hugger… and I try to never let go first. There’s no weirdness here, simply the motivation to surrender control of that decision to the other person. If anyone needs a good long hug, I’m there for them. And if not, that’s cool too. I’m also inquisitive, quirky, and while not always successful, above all else, I strive to be kind.
One of my mindset mantras is to love loving. To have fun with it, to love it, because it is fun, and infectious, and good for the world. Or, said in a more concise and poetic form (with verb preceding noun), Love, love. That encapsulates a lot for me, my allure to wonder and beautiful things, and sometimes uncomfortable things that stretch me into being a better me. In truth, being Clyde is all about being a better, more genuine, more complete me.
Perhaps this second person banter has you confused or dismissive. Allow me to unwrap it.
While Clyde is truly me, he’s also not me. He’s the name I assign to my alter ego, my unbridled self who dares more fearlessly, creates more consistently, and loves more freely. A passionate, kind, free spirit… that’s Clyde. I think there’s a Clyde in each of us, and while seeking out great coffee experiences, this blog is at least partly about freeing the Clyde, both in me, and perhaps in some small way, in you too.
I co-author this blog, not as an expert nor authority, but as a curious companion in your exploration of inspiring coffeehouses. To me, a great coffee house stretches more than your palate. Perhaps it’s Tuesday’s choice of heavy metal vinyl as an acoustic background that forces you to consider its own unique musicality, or wall murals that unexpectedly provoke you, or a barista or clientele that welcomes you into a culture previously unknown. We are in an indie boom of craft coffeehouses, and some of them are also purveyors of surprise and visceral intrigue. In these ways, a great coffeehouse is very much like a work of art.
In today’s time constrained reality, there is both comfort and efficiency in choosing the familiar. My goal is to open the door to unexpected experiences worth the allocation of your time. With this our blog, my hope is to bring you into places that expand you in unforeseen ways, and to do so without the inevitable disappointment of random chance, and to do it all in a Clyde-like manner, filled with authenticity, passion, and above all, kindness.
And so, with tremendous enthusiasm, I say,
Let’s womple
P.S. I love you.
Clyde
Hi I’m Matt.
In the early 2000’s, on a trip to Santa Fe, NM, I stopped in an independent coffee shop (Ohori’s) and was blown away by the experience. I was a large national chain coffee drinker at the time, yet something about my craft coffee encounter felt revolutionary. My senses were shaken awake, and in my bones I knew I had stumbled upon a world unto itself. Friendly baristas and tasteful music enhanced the smooth and sumptuous coffee. My new friends were genuine in accompanying me in making this a coffee journey and not a one-way transaction. It proved to be a paradigm shift that would guide me over the next twenty years; one of coffee serving as a relational entry into lives, places, and sonic spaces. Never again would coffee be transactional.
Following my Ohori’s revelation, whenever and wherever I traveled, I became a seeker. I thirsted not only for great, independent coffee shops and roasters, but even more, great coffee experiences. At first, my sojourns set me on the path to superb indie shops. With time, I developed my craft and honed in on barista engagement, types of coffee machines, musical backdrops, neighborhood context, and the vibes transmitted by baristas and clientele alike. I made little notes and nods that took the shape of a travel log, which I passed along to friends and family curious to revel in my findings. When shared, I discovered my love of shepherding folks to the people, places, and spaces that I so appreciated.
Amidst my seeking, searching, and stumbling came Clyde — my indefatigable co-wompler — and his own penchant for coffee discovery and digging-in. We comingled our newfound passions and realized that miscellaneous notes were not sufficient. Longer form writing and descriptive visuals were born, and a seedling blog has taken roots and started to grow.
As a fellow traveler and seeker of the sentient life, I find real ballast from a Gertrude Stein line, one that gives a kind of credence to the endeavor at hand. She said, “Coffee gives you time to think. It’s a lot more than just a drink; it’s something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup.” My avid coffee avocation takes me to different places and alongside Clyde we look forward to sharing these “second cups” with you.
Womple up
Matt