Comet Coffee St. Louis' Best Coffee, Espresso, Tea, and Pastry Shop
Comet Coffee, located at 5708 Oakland Avenue in St. Louis, is THE #1 coffee, tea, and pastry shop in town, hands down. What makes this independent coffee shop so great? Well, for starters, Comet Coffee is committed to serving St. Louis exceptional quality and flavor in every drink and pastry they create and serve, making for very satisfied customers. Along with your classic coffee drinks, you'll find coffees and espressos you can't find at any other local coffee shop; all traditionally crafted with perfection.
Their coffees, teas, and pastries include organic ingredients (which is a major plus in my book). Their goal: what isn't organic now, will be in the future. Not only does Comet Coffee use organic ingredients, but those divine, eat-me-now pastries are each handmade, from scratch, in shop, by their very own pastry chef and co founder Stephanie Fischer. Her passion: French Pastries. And you can taste the influence, even in her organic-blueberry muffins (featured below).
I've created a fabulous photo essay, with commentaries below of some of Comet Coffee's marvelous offerings, to tempt your senses. But first, here's a bit about their ambiance.
A smiling Mark Attwood, Owner, Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
I got to meet the creatives and entrepreneurs behind Comet Coffee on Monday and I have to say, it was the best afternoon I've had in very long time. It was like the perfect spa weekend, only better because there was food and drinks, and everything tasted soooo divine.
There is definitely something about the feel of Comet Coffee that makes you want to relax, enjoy, and linger on the palate of pleasures set before you that seem to come so easily in everything they create. You may not notice it at first, but you do sink into the vibe of this gem of a place and this is an important feature of any coffee shop. (Outside patio seating is available.)
Hours of Operation: Monday through Saturday 6am-5pm
Comet Coffee phone: (314)932-7770
Special events: Grand Opening set for September 7, 2012 - A ribbon cutting, some complimentary mini-pastries, the debut of a special Kenyan coffee and more.
Yes! Even though they aren't officially open, you can still stop in for a fabulous drink and pastry.
And now, as promised, that fabulous photo essay, with commentaries of some of Comet Coffee's marvelous offerings, to tempt your senses. Google map link provided at the end of the show. Follow Comet Coffee on Facebook for daily features, pleasures, and happenings:
Hot organic Intelligencia Tea Blend 333 with Rosehips, Chamomile, and Peppermint, brewed to perfection at Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
Coffee shops are mostly about coffee, sure, but when I go to a coffee shop, I always wonder what kind of teas they serve. You can tell a lot about the quality and expertise level of a coffee shop by the teas they offer. The finer the quality of the teas they serve, the more exceptional of an establishment they are.
Comet Coffee offers perfectly brewed teas, and I don't mean the kind in a teabag that gets tossed on your table with a metal pot that leaks. Nor do I mean the teas that are entirely too hot to even sip that have no flavor anyway. No, I mean elegantly beautiful loose teas, measured and brewed precisely and to perfection before being brought to you in a sweet and simple mug, a glass carafe of your tea on the side for personal refills.
What you see here is organic Blend 333 with rosehips, chamomile, and peppermint, by Intelligentsia, a green, direct trade, tea, coffee, and espresso company that buys direct from farmers they know. I really mean it when I say that Comet Coffee brews their teas to precise perfection. Not only could I taste every beautiful note of rosehips, chamomile, and peppermint, but, and here's the shocking part... it did not need any sugar! This from a girl who loves to pour on the sugar into just about any tea I have. It was as refreshing as Comet Coffee owner Mark Attwood promised. And, my organic Blend 333 was even served at the perfect temperature. Now if you really really have to have a sweetener (and I promise you, you don't) Comet Coffee does offer a variety of sweeteners like agave nectar, honey, and a variety of sugars,
Handmade in shop from scratch Organic-Blueberry Muffin from Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
Pastry Chef Stephanie Fischer is the creator of these organic-blueberry muffins. The crumbly top crunches just so, but isn't at all dry and powdery. And the inside is so incredibly moist and cakey, the way a real cupcake should be. Satisfying. Yes, what you get is a cupcake you can really sink your teeth into. One that offers organic blueberries, moist cake, and bites of crunch in every mouthful. New batches made every 10 hours for freshness. And never fear, Comet Coffee owner Mark Attwood assures me that, "Stephanie always prepares fresh batches of blueberry muffins and cheese scones every day and then prepares whatever inspires her!"
Iced Costa Rica Coffee at Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
There is something very special about Comet Coffee's Iced Costa Rica. Unlike just about every iced coffee that's served to you in other places, this iced coffee is not only fresh brewed, but it is real iced coffee (not coffee poured over a bunch of ice). Comet Coffee's Iced Costa Rica is flashed chilled, actually dripped over and through ice, thus its clear look and super fresh crisp flavor. Very refreshing. Normally served in a 16 oz. glass.
Traditional Mini French Chocolate Eclairs handmade from scratch in shop by Stephanie Fischer of Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
Remember when I said that Comet Coffee's in house pastry chef Stephanie Fischer's passion was French Pastries? Well here is a prime example. And Stephanie's French Chocolate Eclairs are authentic to a T. You won't find any so perfect this side of France, not in St. Louis anyway. You also won't find any fillers or preservatives in anything she makes.
This eclair is not your ordinary eclair, and by ordinary I mean the kind that shops sell willy nilly without a thought or care to what an eclair really is. I dare you to find one that is so absofrickinlutely perfect in every way. This traditional, French, Chocolate eclair has the perfect pastry body, with just enough cream, and a perfect delicate top layer of smooth chocolate that breaks just so with every bite.
Affogato made with Tahitian vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, with a double shot espresso on top served at Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson©
This amazing desert from Comet Coffee is an Affogato, made with homemade in shop Organic Tahitian vanilla ice cream covered in homemade in shop caramel sauce with a double shot of espresso poured over. Oh yeah! A little warning, their espresso is a strong traditionally made espresso, so use that silver spoon wisely. Be sure to get a little bit of each ingredient into every spoonful for ultimate wow.
Organic Tahitian Vanilla used in everything vanilla at Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
If it has vanilla in it, and it's made by Comet Coffee, then it's made from the beans housed inside one of these huge and gorgeous organic vanilla pods that come straight from Tahiti. Comet Coffee uses these marvelously scented and smooth flavored beans to make their own vanilla extract, ice cream, lattes and even their own whip cream.
Mineral water is served with traditional drinks at Comet Coffee to cleanse the pallet. Far out. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson. ©
Don't be alarmed if you get served a glass of mineral water with your espresso, macchiato, or traditional 16 oz. cappuccino.
Mineral waters are served to cleanse the pallet. Far out. A tradition I wasn't aware of, but it's really nice. I'm not much of one for mineral waters, but this one really works for me. Very refreshing and crisp without that mineral taste that usually tingles the sides of the back of your tongue. This one goes down smooth and fresh when sipped after an espresso, as I did.
Tahitian Vanilla Latte from Comet Coffee in St. Louis. Photo by Michelle PG Richardson ©
Yes, I have saved the best for last. This Organic Tahitian Vanilla Latte from Comet Coffee is my favorite drink EVER! I was blown away from the very first sip. I am not a latte lover by any stretch of the imagination. Until now. This latte is thick, perfectly aerated, and totally whip creamy. It takes me to my own private world of no-time where I snuggle in a cozy comfy chair, thinking about nothing at all, a smile on my face, this cup of Comet Coffee Organic Tahitian Vanilla Latte at my lips.