Tag Archives: Coffee

Chocolate Almond Croissant Paradise

April 3, 2023 tremendousblog 6 Comments

Strolling down a side street in North Jersey, I popped into a small storefront. Inside: the best almond chocolate croissant I’ve ever had.

This is Petite B French Bakery in West New York, NJ.

In a town that’s historically Cuban, Petite B brings a different flavor. The owners, originally from France, opened in late 2020 to rave reviews.

I feasted my eyes on baguettes, lemon tarts, and madeleines. But I was here for one reason, and one reason only.

A chocolate almond croissant.

This is the granddaddy of French pastry. You get everything wonderful at once: buttery layers of pastry, smooth almond cream, and rich chocolate.

I ordered, paid, and scampered off like a mouse with a treat. Standing on the sidewalk, I gingerly removed the pastry from the bag, not wanting to lose a single almond.

I bit down through crunchy layers of pastry and nuts into the gooey interior. Perfection.

A good almond croissant is moist without being soggy. Its outside is crisp, its inside yielding.

Petite B does it better than anywhere I’ve ever been, even in France.

Petite B also has excellent prices. A cannelé is just 50 cents, the lowest I’ve ever seen.

This sunny bakery offers a lot more than pastry. Savory dishes like quiche and croque monsieur round out the menu, along with a wide assortment of La Colombe coffees.

There’s even a spacious outdoor seating area in the warmer months!

I used to have to go to New York City to get some of my favorite French foods. Not anymore!

Petite B is open every day but Monday. Closing time varies throughout the week, so be sure to check the hours before your visit.

I hope you enjoy this taste of France as much as I did!

What are your favorite bakeries? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Coffeebots and the Search for the Perfect Cup

April 19, 2022 tremendousblog 3 Comments

A robotic arm carefully grips the cup as frothy milk cascades onto smooth espresso. It gently places the cup before you.

Coffee is served.

I’m a little obsessed with coffee. I have five coffee makers at home, each for a different style.

But if the next generation of robotics companies has their way, they might all be replaced by a skillful droid.

Founded in 2015, Cafe X makes full-service robocafes that can be found at San Francisco International Airport and elsewhere. Today, they are only sold to commercial customers, but can the home version be far away?

Cafe X’s intelligent robots can make a drink in as little as 20 seconds. It can even make multiple drinks at once!

Best of all, the price is less than half what Starbucks charges.

CEO Henry Hu was inspired by the robotic arms that build automobiles.

A simpler coffee machine could make drinks, but the robotic arm is much more versatile. It can also serve snacks or even be used in restaurants.

The pandemic hit Cafe X hard, but it’s back in service in SFO, Dubai and elsewhere.

The machines cost about $200,000. A quick Indeed search shows most barista positions in the NYC area paying between $13 and $30 per hour.

If the average is even $20 per hour, and a human-staffed store is open perhaps 90 hours a week, it costs $93,600 to staff the store with even one barista for a year.

In an ever tighter labor market, once employers go bot, they may never go back.

Cafe X isn’t the only company bringing Star Wars to Starbucks. In Nashville, Panera Bread is rolling out coffee robots from Miso Robotics.

Unlike Cafe X, Miso’s robot is barely noticeable. It discreetly monitors temperature and time to ensure a perfect brew, but there’s no robotic arm to whisk the drink to you.

The system is designed to assist workers, not replace them.

Miso Robotics also makes Chippy, which fries tortilla chips at Chipotle, and Flippy, which flips burgers for White Castle.

In a white hot labor market, these robots may not cause unemployment. But my concerns about restaurant automation run deeper.

When I go to a cafe, I sometimes chat with the barista and have a little laugh. In a world of sensors and robotic arms, I’ll have no one to talk to.

Those little interactions aren’t the substance of our social life, but they can be enjoyable sprinkles on the top.

Cafe X’s robot amazes me and manages to be cute to boot. But I find a world without anyone to share a brief chuckle with a melancholy one.

Would you try a robocoffee? And what do you think about the future of restaurant automation?

Leave a comment at the bottom and let me know!

Classic Coffee and Cake in North Jersey

March 22, 2022 tremendousblog 2 Comments

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What could be more classic than coffee and cake? After a recent dinner out, my wife and I stopped at Paris Baguette in search of this venerable combo.

We found cases filled with some of the most beautiful, artistic cakes I’ve ever seen. They’re so pretty you almost don’t want to eat them.

Almost.

We ordered a tiramisu cake and cappuccino for her and mocha cake and a small coffee for me. They were ready in no time and we sat down at the handsome marble tables, ready to feast.

The tiramisu cake was novel with a deep espresso flavor. But the star of the show was my mocha cake.

My fork sliced through the rich icing into a deliciously moist, crumbly interior. I closed my eyes as I chewed, transported to chocolate heaven.

The finely brewed coffee was a perfect counterpoint to the chocolate. We sipped and relaxed, content as could be.

As we finished up, I noticed my wife furtively eyeing the dessert case. I mean, you only live once right?

So she grabbed a scrumptious twisty donut thing whose name I don’t know, holding it triumphantly in the air like a trophy. Oh, and a mini cheese cake for the morning, too.

Who’s counting?

In addition to numerous locations across northern New Jersey, you can find Paris Baguette in New York City, Philadelphia, and numerous other locations across the country. Stop in for delicious coffee and baked goods in a relaxing atmosphere!

The Kings of Cuban Coffee

September 17, 2021 tremendousblog Leave a comment

Last summer, as the lockdowns were lifting, my wife and I sat at a little table on bustling Bergenline Avenue. I lifted a tiny cup to my lips and tasted some of the boldest, most flavorful coffee of my life.

The place was Sweets and Cortaditos in North Bergen, NJ. It sits near the top of the lively shopping street near leafy Braddock Park.

This small shop serves the most outstanding cortaditos and cafes con leche I’ve ever had. The signature cortadito has a deep, rich flavor complemented by the smoothness of steamed milk.

It goes beautifully with a slice of creamy cheese cake or a delectable cupcake.

Originally from Belleville, Sweets and Cortaditos opened its North Bergen location in 2016. From what I can tell, it’s been an incredible success. A steady hum of customers pass in and out, dainty coffees and satisfying treats in hand.

Sitting at the outdoor tables, painted after the Cuban flag, and listening to a street festival play Cuban music made us feel like we were in Havana. At a difficult time for our neighbor Cuba, it’s wonderful to be able to enjoy a bit of their culture close to home.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Tremendous