Embarking on a World Tour through Coffee – Low-Down Travel During Covid
International travel remains on hold, but it doesn’t stop me from getting my travel fix. Visiting a coffee shop to grab a drink to-go is one of the few outings I’ve maintained during Covid times. It feels safe, and I’m supporting a local business. But how does it feed my love of experiencing new sights and tastes? Or connecting with people?
I’m enjoying coffee in a new way, with purpose. I’ve transformed my daily dose of caffeine into a globe-trotting adventure where I chat baristas up and learn about their drinks and the origins of the coffee beans. When I dig beyond the simple transactional experience of buying an oatmeal latte from a stranger, there is so much to discover and connect over. Do they have a house special? What’s it made with? Where did the beans come from? Why those beans? It gives me a bit of insight into the shop’s philosophy, and it invites me into their community. It’s low-down travel without hopping on a plane or train!
Hello Em // Little Saigon, Seattle
I’ve explored the world through Seattle and Portland’s crazy cool coffee scenes. I was transported back to Italy at Spella Caffè where the drinks, the space… every detail reminded me of my fave neighborhood spots in Rome right down to their shakerato! I was reminded of Việt Nam’s coffee scene and Hanoi’s cà phê trứng at Hello Em.
Gift Shop // International District, Seattle
And instead of collecting country passport stamps as I clear immigration, I’m filling up my Coffee Shops Hits Record Book. It’s a passport and travel journal that records every trip from my local neighborhood coffee shop to the spot across the city. I ask baristas to stamp a page with their to-go cup rubber stamp. If they don’t stamp their cups, I purchase a sticker (sometimes they’re free!) or draw their logo. I was totally stoked at how excited the baristas were to get down! I loved watching them figure out the stamp placement, and sometimes they’d even sweat which stamp size to use!
Venture Coffee // Ballard, Seattle
Collecting coffee shop stamps is a full-on adventure of celebrating local businesses and getting to know the people that help fuel my day. Every visit is unique. Every passport page different. And the achievement junkie in me loves crossing off countries and drinks from the checklist. The drink I ordered? It’s connecting people during a challenging time when we could all use some face-to-face time. Elbow bumps with a side of caffeine for the win!
Join me! Embark on your own world tour and make connections through the awesomeness of coffee! Purchase a RAD AND HUNGRY Coffee Shop Hits Booklet or DIY our mini-version. Save our Coffee Shops map. So far, we cover Seattle and Portland along with a few other cities (thanks, Jessica!). More cities as our Covid bubble expands. Help us discover coffee shops in your local neighborhood – tag us in your photos, @coffeeshophits!
oxxo, Hen
* Disclaimer – This is not a RAH PSA giving you permission to go out and put you and others at risk of catching COVID. Mask up, keep your distance, and follow proper hygiene. And respect the businesses and their staff.
