Coffee Break: Rival Bros. Coffee
I dont know how else to put this: The first Rival Bros. brick-and-mortar shop is kind of a big deal.
Where: 2400 Lombard St.
The lowdown: I don't know how else to put this: The first Rival Bros. brick-and-mortar shop is kind of a big deal. It opened on a breezy corner in the Schuylkill neighborhood last month. What do you mean you haven't been there yet? Go. Go now.
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Backstory: Co-owners Jonathan Adams and Damien Pileggi started turning heads - and winning the loyalties of coffee drinkers across the city - after introducing the Rival Bros. brand in their instantly recognizable food truck three years ago. The plan all along was to park their beloved truck and open the kind of shop these Bucks County natives would want to hang out in.
"We wanted to launch it in an environment that felt like it had a little romance behind it," said Adams, a former executive chef at Pub and Kitchen.
The beans: Adams and Pileggi purchase their beans from Latin America, Africa and Indonesia, and roast 'em in Fishtown. They have a decaf blend on hand, as well as three single-origin blends, including the rich Revolver and the sweeter Whistle & Cuss. Adams recommends trying the cold brew if it's hot outside. "The flavor is not diluted at all," he said. "It's very rich, very heady." Otherwise, he said, try the Derringer, Rival Bros.' take on the cortado - a double shot of espresso, and four ounces of textured milk.
The machine: The shop's pride and joy is its custom-made La Marzocco espresso maker. "It definitely puts out the coffee we want," Adams said. "It's like driving a 6-speed manual Porsche for the first time. Once you get used to it, it'll do great things."
Ambience: The shop is airy, with entrances on opposite ends, and easy to navigate - by design. "It can feel awkward in some cafes. You're not sure where to stand, or what to ask for," Adams said. Rival Bros. is designed to move customers along easily, from the menu and the register to the condiment bar and restroom.
There are tables, chairs and a cushioned bench seat if you want to hang out. Clint Eastwood glowers from a frame behind the counter; there's an iconic quote from "The Outlaw Josey Wales" nearby.
Beyond beans: You'll find cannoli, croissants and other pastries and breads from High Street on Market. The shop also sells Rival Bros. T-shirts, Chemex coffee makers, Hario scales and grinders and Bonavita electric kettles.
Prices: Drip coffee, $1.75 or $2.25; red eye, $2.50 or $3; espresso, $2.50; derringer, $3; latte, $3.75; mocha, $4; cold brew, $3.25; iced latte, $4; tea, $3.25.
Social stuff: Twitter: @rivalbroscoffee. Facebook: Rival Bros Coffee. rivalbros.com.