Browsing Tag: Coffee

The Roastarie's roof-mounted DC-3.

The Roasterie’s roof-mounted DC-3

I’m an #AvGeek. I love specialty coffee, classic airplanes, and my hometown of Kansas City. Let’s combine them all! Here at AirlineReporter we are a fan of all things aviation, including those on the fringe. Say for example, King Nut, the snack provider to the world’s airlines, or a brewery with beer lines which cater to AvGeeks. Today we’re taking a look at The Roasterie, a specialty coffee company that is obsessed with the iconic Douglas DC-3.

How much do you love airplanes? Enough to dedicate the branding of your company to one of the most recognizable planes in history? Ok, that’s easy enough. But do you love DC-3s enough to have one restored and mounted to the roof of your downtown Kansas City coffee roasting plant? This, my friends, is the apex of AvGeek achievements, a level unlocked in 2012 by The Roasterie founder and president, Danny O’Neill.

The Roasterie has long been an iconic KC brand, but when they mounted a DC-3 to their building, they changed the skyline and commanded attention from anyone even remotely interested in airplanes. It’s hard to drive on I-35 through KC and not notice this plane that looks as if it has just reached V-1 and is rotating out of downtown. I have long been a fan of The Roasterie and always intended to visit for one of their free tours, but as locals tend to do, I kept putting it off. What better way to remind folks of their intent to visit than to mount a piece of AvGeek eye candy to your roof? It was time to dig a bit deeper, and I have to be honest, I’m glad I did…

Delta signs Starbucks as their new Coffee provider - Image: Starbucks

Delta has partnered with Starbucks as their new coffee provider – Photo: Starbucks

I will be the first to admit (and I have) that I am a coffee addict.  So to surprise no one, I am talking about something close to my heart, and my stomach.  Coffee on-board a flight (or while waiting for one) is a big thing, not only to me, but to so many other travelers.

The Spirit of Seattle seen from the air. Image: Bernie Leighton

The Delta 737 called “The Spirit of Seattle” seen from the air – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter

Airlines are not known to have the world’s best coffee. Heck, some might even call it plain awful.  An airline’s choice of coffee can be an important one, not only to keep the passengers happy but also for their budgets. More and more airlines are taking their choice of coffee quite seriously and I decided to hold the cream and sugar and dive on in.

An Asiana Airlines senior purser makes hand dripped coffee during an onboard service. Photo:  Korea Times/Asiana Airlines

An Asiana Airlines senior purser makes hand dripped coffee during an onboard service Photo: Korea Times/Asiana Airlines

Like most people I know, I started my morning off with a good cup of coffee.  I am not a fancy latte man; just a nice cup of black coffee does me well.  While reading with my coffee the other day, I came across an article on Asiana from the Korea Times.  The article talked about a new Hand-Drip Coffee service that is only on offer onboard Asiana Airlines in first class.  You might be thinking ’œso what? Other airlines have espresso, why go for hand-drip?”  Well, for someone like me, hand-drip coffee is pretty damn great.