Drink up, Lexington Coffee Week debuts in February

Drink Up

Lexington Coffee Week debuts in February

BY KRISTINA ROSEN

For one special week in February, local coffee shops are banding together to offer one-of-a-kind coffee and tea drinks for $3 as part of Lexington Coffee Week.

Jacqueline Benson of Lexington Design Co., along with Eric Novak, are the masterminds behind Lexington’s first coffee week. Born and raised in Lexington, Benson was inspired to launch a week of unique coffee deals after discovering a coffee map from another city that showed people where to grab coffee throughout the city.

“The fact that Lexington has over 20 coffee shop locations serving coffee in the morning as one of their main menu items blows my mind,” says Benson. “It’s such a small city, but when you think about how much it costs to run a coffee shop and to realize we have over 20 places–it’s crazy that Lexington has access to that.”

Lexington Coffee Week is more about community than it is competition.

Coffee shops are allowed to participate at no cost. Benson didn’t want coffee week to intrude on the daily lives of the baristas, or add more stress to the businesses throughout the week.

With a focus on community, Lexington Coffee Week benefits both the shops and the customers.

“From a customer perspective, it’s showing how much we love our local shops throughout the week. It’s about trying a new place or a new drink, or branching out from shops you’re loyal at and going to new shops.”

Benson continues, “From a coffee shop perspective, it’s celebrating that they are one of many successful local coffee shops, bringing in new customers, and testing their boundaries.”

Some coffee shops are using this week as an opportunity to debut a new drink that will remain on the menu while others are using this as an opportunity to test their boundaries with recipes and promote their unique coffee services.

With this being the first year, Benson hopes to gauge community interest, see success within the coffee shops, and determine if this concept can succeed in Lexington. Benson has ideas from a coffee tour to a coffee trail, which both would be more of a year-round engagement with local coffee shops.

She hopes Lexington Coffee Week will motivate people to try as many coffee shops as they can in seven days.

“In visiting so many coffee shops in such a short amount of time, I’ve noticed how no two shops are the same in terms of their branding, aesthetic, and what they’re trying to put out to the community.”

Participating Coffee Shops:

• A Cup of Commonwealth
  • Delicious cappuccino drink prepared with honey and cinnamon
• Broomwagon
  • Café latte with house made rosemary honey
  • Black Tea Cold-Brewed in Milk, Rosewater, Dried Edible Flower Garnish, Honey. Served hot or iced
• Chocolate Holler
  • Delicious cappuccino drink prepared with honey and cinnamon
• Coffea
  • Cinnamon toast crunch latte made with vanilla, hazelnut, and a cinnamon simple syrup
  • Blueberry rhubarb iced tea with mint (can also be made hot)
• Coffee Times
  • Blueberries, cinnamon, and brown sugar round out the All-American flavors of homemade blueberry pie and ice cream
  • A bright blend of black tea, papaya, passion fruit, and jasmine, steamed milk and sweet vanilla
• Common Grounds (Hartland)
  • Dark Chocolate with Cherry Latte make with our house roasted Espresso
  • Kentucky Black Tea with Steamed Milk & Vanilla
• Common Grounds (East High & Richmond Rd.)
  • Cold brew made from our house roasted Kentucky Bourbon Barrel aged coffee beans
  • Kentucky Black Tea with Steamed Milk & Vanilla
• Gather on Main
  • Hazelnut latte with vanilla and chocolate drizzle
• High on Art & Coffee
  • Dark Chocolate/Strawberry Latte with toasted marshmallow whipped cream
  • Cinnamon Orange Spice Tea with steamed milk and toasted marshmallow whipped cream
• Human Bean
  • A raspberry and vanilla mocha, available however you like it: hot, iced, or blended
  • Steven Smith’s iced raspberry green tea
• Luke’s Coffee
  • Espresso-based drink featuring our in-house almond-orange syrup, and whole milk
  • Orange Honeybush Tea, Organic Vanilla, and Almond Milk
• Lussi Brown
  • Double shot espresso layered over hazelnut chilled cream (can be made dairy-free)
  • Green tea blended with sugared hazelnuts, walnuts, candies pineapple, & coconut bits
• Manchester Coffee Co.
  • Cold Brew Reduction, Grapefruit Oleo Saccharum, Lavender Bitters, Elderflower Tonic Syrup, Topo Chico, Grapefruit Garnish
  • Arbol Infused Lapsang Souchong, Lime Juice, Agave, Lime Wedge Garnish
• McLeod’s Coffee House
  • A single shot of espresso layered with vanilla syrup, heavy cream and topped with whip cream
  • Black tea infused with spices and sweetened with White chocolate mocha. Great hot or iced
• Nate’s Coffee + Starship Tea Co.
  • Maple and spice flavored latte garnished with a stroopwafel shard and a fried chicken chip
    
  • Coconut milk tea latte steeped with Red Planet Refresher, topped with whipped cream and sprinkles
• North Lime Donuts – Clays Mill
  • Butterscotch cappuccino with crushed butterscotch candy on top
  • Cold Brewed blueberry tea from Elmwood Inn with coconut milk and sweetened with strawberry and raspberry syrup
• North Lime Donuts – Limestone
  • Decadent 8oz chocolate bomb, treat yourself to the ultimate specialty coffee
  • Sweet tea with a twist! Try an iced North Lime blend black tea with milk, and a hint of vanilla
• Old School Coffee
  • A double shot latte crafted with a house made Pistachio Cream, available either hot or iced.
  • Perfect blend of Kentucky Black Tea and Herbal Blueberry Tea, locally sourced and available hot or iced
• Third Street Stuff
  • Cinnamon, white chocolate, and cayenne pepper (Latte, Cappuccino or Hot Chocolate)
  • Lemon Ginger Tea and Honey

Lexington Coffee Week will offer a week of select $3 drinks at various Lexington coffee shops on February 17 through February 23.

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