For folks who take their java seriously, Philter Coffee might be the answer
By Rick Marts, Staff Writer, The Times
Chris Thompson, proprietor of Philter, a new coffee shop in Kennett Square, cradles a large slab of sculptured pine that soon will become a bench seat in the front window of the new shop he plans to open in late November.
KENNETT SQUARE — Coffee connoisseurs know what “handcrafted” means, even though the rest of us might not. That fact, however, should not prevent you from visiting Philter Coffee—indeed, it should encourage you to stop in—a new coffee shop in Kennett square currently undergoing renovation and set to open in late November at 111 W. State Street.
In short, Chris Thompson, Philter Coffee’s entrepreneurial and knowledgeable owner, said, “Handcrafted coffee is to batch-brewed coffee as micro-brewed craft beers are to Budweiser in a can.” Bud is just fine until you find a craft beer that makes you say, “Yowser,” or something to that effect.
A little time on Google reveals that handcrafting coffee involves attention to detail as well as a lot of trial and error. Most of this occurs in the roasting of the beans and whether each bean’s “peak profile,” or optimum roasting protocol, is discovered, thus maximizing its flavor. Thompson gets his craft beans from a roaster in Annapolis, Maryland. “I will usually have four specialty coffees available, but seasonal changes in my inventory can be expected,” he said.
Handcrafting also relates to what happens in the coffee shop. Are you served the right dose (amount of caffeine), and was it prepared under the right temperature and pressure? At Philter Coffee, handcrafting will also apply to the professionalism of the wait staff and the shop’s ambiance. Thompson said his goal is to surround his coffee drinkers with “hospitality, friendliness, and comfort.”
Coffee in all its forms—latte, espresso, and regular—is not the only item on Philter Coffee’s menu. Opening at 6 a.m., Thompson plans to serve pastry and egg sandwiches for breakfast, while lunch will be soup, salad, and sandwiches, most of which will be made on the premises with local ingredients. Seating for 36 inside and 8 more out could provide a lively atmosphere, but Thompson will focus on efficient service. Although brewing the craft coffees takes a little more time, Philter will also offer caffeine from a carafe to customers in a hurry.
Tea drinkers will be pleased to know that Thompson will address their tastes with a variety of teas from Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop around the corner on Union Street.
Philter Coffee will, of course, have a strong Wi-Fi connection to accommodate today’s communication needs, but a warm and pleasing atmosphere is a primary at Philter Coffee. Large, several-inch-thick slabs of sculptured pine planks will form seating in the two front windows on State Street, and the warmth of natural wood features will pervade the shop.
Thompson’s progress toward his Grand Opening can be followed on his Facebook page. Click on in**@ph***********.com.
