- The Angry Catfish Bike and Coffee Bar at 42nd and 28th South prides itself on a variety of unusual methods of brewing coffee.
“Latte – Excellent espresso and beautiful creamy milk”
Makes you want one right now, doesn’t it?
A latte isn’t the only thing I’d recommend at theAngry Catfish at the corner of 28th Avenue South and 42nd Street in Minneapolis. The baristas make a mean iced mocha, one that will definitely leave you craving another one.
- A glass wall separates the "coffee bar" from the bicycle shop.
My tip of the season: Order the Sea Salt Mocha. I guarantee you haven’t had another drink like it. I love the sea salt and dark chocolate combination you can find in high end chocolates, and this beverage replicates those complimentary flavors perfectly. Yum.
The coffees and teas served at the Angry Catfish are from Intelligentsia, a company that is helping revolutionize the coffee industry. While Starbucks sells beans by country, Intelligentsia buys beans from tiny individual farms, allowing coffee drinkers to get coffee from a single supplier the way others buy wine from a specific vineyard. In their words: “In the broadest terms, these coffees should be understood as a true collaboration, with both sides investing a great deal of time, energy and ideas to produce something great. At the end of this process, the coffee farmer who grows an award-winning cup is an artisan, and should be regarded as such. We believe human effort is the most critical factor in quality coffee and that the growers who do the best work should get the best price and individual recognition.”
This movement has turned from high-test espresso machines to old-school brewing methods. It may take a bit longer for a cup, but the richer flavors are worth the wait. (Learn more about Coffee’s Next Wave.)
This coffee shop/bicycle shop prides itself on offering coffee brewed in a variety of ways, such as pour-overs, siphons and chemex. As the web site explains:
- Chemex – One of the most sparkling, refreshing brew methods
- Syphon – Japan’s secret brew method yielding amazing cups of coffee
- French Press – The old standard of alt-brew methods, full bodied and flavorful
If you’d like a treat, choose from an array provided by the Baker’s Wife, the well-known bakery a few doors down. Some consider their pastries and bread among the best in Minneapolis. Personally, I hate pastries because they are always so sugary, but I couldn’t stop myself from eating the raspberry pastry I picked up on a whim. But I digress... Back to the Angry Catfish.
Lounge next to the fireplace or stake out a seat outside on the sidewalk, depending on the weather. You can’t go wrong. The shop was transformed from an old Ace Hardware into a place with a funky vibe in 2009. The deteriorating ceilings and flooring were replaced with wood, copper, corrugated metal and furnishings made from re-purposed bicycles. I loved the black and white photographs of bicycles dotting the walls, as well as the metal bike rack outside.
You can also opt to watch bicycles being repaired or browse through the variety of bikes for sale. Bring your own in for a tune-up; pay $75 for all adjustments, wheels trued, torque check, frame and rims cleaning. The place is a full-service shop and promises “on providing the highest quality work to ensure your bicycle leaves our hands in the best possible condition.”
- Bike rack or climbing apparatus? Depends on your age.
While you’re there, pick up the array of bicycle-related pamphlets piled up near the window. I know the Minnesota Biking Guide 2011, Minneapolis Trails Map and Twin Cities Regional Trails Map are really going to come in handy. Interested in the 2011 Active Living Bike Expo? It will be Friday, April 29 from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Education Building at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Find out more at HaveFunBiking.com. Get in free with a food shelf donation.
The Angry Catfish Bike & Coffee Bar
4208 28th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-1538
www.angrycatfishbicycle.com
info@angrycatfishbicycle.com
Hours (bicycle shop and cafe): Mon-Fri 7am-7pm / Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
Oh my!! I need to go back RIGHT NOW for one of those Sea Salt Mochas! So YUMMY!
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