Crazy Mocha, Bloomfield : Indy Coffee Shop Review

My daughter spent a few hours at North Catholic High School for a band function Saturday, so between the dropoff and the pickup I had a few hours to go exploring for another indy (ie, non-Starbucks) coffee shop. (I like Starbucks, I drink Starbucks, but given a choice I'd much rather go to a locally owned, non-chain coffee shop.) I drove through Bloomfield and came upon Crazy Mocha, 4525 Liberty Avenue.

Excellent coffee shop. Lots of seats, small table, cool staff, Wifi. Outside tables (it was a bit too cool, and they seem important to the smokers). Chalk drawings on the sidewalk. Excellent coffee. I started with a Cafe Au Lait.

Took a seat in the front window, and Bloomfield is an interesting place to watch the world go by. Lots of bicyclists, some runners (maybe preparing for the Marathon).

There's some kind of a DVD rental shop running out of the back of the store.

I didn't realize until I checked their website that they have several locations around town, I'll have to keep an eye out for the others. I'd definitely go again. I understand that it's locally owned and managed.

Tazza D'Oro : Excellent Pittsburgh Coffee Shop

My friend Mark and I have been meeting at coffee shops lately, and there's a few places I've heard of and have wanted to go see so I'm trying to work them into our pattern.

Wednesday evening we met at Tazza D'Oro in Highland Park. I became aware of them because they sponsor group bike rides.

On Tuesdays they have the Team Decaf ride, which is a comfortable, mostly-flat "C" ride with a no-drop atmosphere. On Thursdays they have the Team Caffeine ride, which is an A-/B ride with hills. They're considering a Team Half-Caf ride, which splits the difference.

I was pleased to have a chance to go visit. Excellent coffee - I had a cafe au lait first, and later a cappuccino. Excellent staff, lots of seats at small tables, Wifi. The people skewed a bit older than what you'd see at the BeeHive — the Tazza D'Oro crowd was more in the grad-student to 40-something spectrum.

FWIW, excellent coffee shop, highly recommended.