Brooklyn’s Luft Coffee

The new local roasters serving up small batches at an internet radio station

About five years ago, Blair Smith’s twice-a-day coffee pitstop at NYC’s Kaffe 1668 led to him striking up a friendship with barista Justin Rodriguez behind the counter. Smith then met mobile developer Aaron Sutula in a coffee seminar held by an espresso machine company. “I took a day off of work to go,” remembers Sutula. “And Blair was the only other person who also took …

French Cafés are Raising Prices for Rude Customers

Tired of rude customers, a few cafés in France have decided to raise their prices for those exhibiting bad behavior. At L’Hamburgé in Grenoble, a cup will cost just €1 for courteous customers while “barbarians” are charged €1.50. Meanwhile at La Petite Syrah in Nice, prices range from €1.40 for those who add a “hello” and “thank you” when ordering to up to €7 if …

Exploring the Mountainside Vineyards of Cheval des Andes Wines, Mendoza

From the unique terroir to a blended vision of the past and future

The oldest Malbec vine on the 35-hectare Cheval des Andes estate—located just outside the town of Mendoza, Argentina—dates back to 1929. Once, the Malbec grape flourished in Bordeaux, France. An insect known as the phylloxera would decimate it in the 1860s and a frost would do so again in the 1950s, but in South America it would remain untouched. Malbec vines sprawl across the Cheval …