More Coffee Roasters


 

With each new one I visit I always feel like I am going to run out of new coffee shops to try. Yet, I am continuously proven wrong. Some come up as recommendations, and others I discover just driving and seeing a sign for a new one. It still amazes me that wherever in Albuquerque I am or the surrounding suburbs the number of local coffee shops are astonishing. Even more recently I am now discovering even more places that also roast their own beans. Here are a couple new great coffee shops worth visiting while out exploring. 

Candlestick Coffee Roasters: Located in the small town of Corrales, Candlestick is unlike any coffee shop I have ever been to, and one where the beans are roasted on site. Their new location within the Farmstand is a truly great experience where you are basically walking into a small farmers’ market. Here you can enjoy great local produce, meats, chesses, pastries, wine, and of course freshly roasted coffee. While they do have a small espresso bar making delicious lattes this is one of the few coffee shops I go to just for the beans and black coffee. Buying a cup of coffee here is the freshest cup you will have not making it at home. It is made to order by the pour over method which is one of my favorite ways to enjoy black coffee. In addition to the freshness of your coffee the staff is very passionate about what they serve and will ask questions to ensure you get a cup you will love. My personal favorite is the Corrales blend which is on the lighter side, but full of complex flavors. After enjoying a great latte or drip coffee I also always make sure to grab a bag or 2 of beans to take home and enjoy in between visits. Corrales is a town I have frequently enjoyed visiting and Candlestick is now another reason to stop while I am there. 

Cutbow Coffee: Located in between Los Ranchos and Downtown lies a truly unique coffee shop and roastery, Cutbow. This shop would be easy to drive by, but make sure to stop and enjoy a great cup of coffee, or some of their other offerings. The inside is bright and spacious, with beams on the ceiling, fishing inspired artwork on the walls, and a roaster just behind the counter when you walk in. Also, there are burlap sacks of beans spread throughout the shop, and beans on display to show the levels of roasted they are. The aromas of the shop were amazing, so when it came time to order it was a hard decision. I opted for the Café Canela which was a fresh pour over of their Guatemala coffee with piloncillo (unrefined whole cane sugar) and burnt cinnamon syrup. Made fresh to order the result was a very complex cup of coffee with that did not lack at all in flavor. The coffee was rich, and on the lighter side, but not too acidic. The piloncillo I thought would make the coffee overly sweet, but instead it was very subtle. The burnt cinnamon added a flavor I have not had before. It was roasted, still had subtle spice. All in all, this was a cup of coffee that was bitter, sweet, roasted, warming all in one sip. This was a truly unique coffee shop experience with menu items I have not seen anywhere else, and I would go again. 

Sounds delicious right? Two unique shops that take a lot of pride in their craft. What really stood out to me was that the menus are more black coffee focused, and not espresso. That the variety of beans dictates their drinks, and that each cup was made fresh to order. It adds a different level of quality, knowing that even a standard cup of black coffee was made fresh for each order. Add in a high level of knowledge about coffee, and great varieties of beans from around the world these are two must visit places. Have a drink there, take some beans home, or both because either way you will love what you’re having. 

To see photos of my adventures follow me on Instagram @the_nm_tx or tag me using #thenmtx
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