Rise and shine. And grind.
Memphis' famed Kat Gordon seems to sprinkle magic on all that she touches: her cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and the entire community, for that matter. Now, the magic has entered an extra hot vanilla soy latte, which I enjoyed last Friday at the new Midtown Muddy's Grind House before heading to work.
The space has quickly become Memphis' "happy place." While the color scheme isn't as bold as Kat's assortment of vivacious wigs, the pastel accents, dainty flower arrangements, and walls of curated merchandise (Paper & Clay and Flo's, to name a few) bring a fresh breath of air to the city's coffeehouse scene. You can't help but smile when walking through the yellow door on Cooper and Vinton.
I decided upon a few favorite details while sipping my latte and savoring my blackberry almond oat bar:
1. The to-go packaging (below). Maybe it's just my advertising/PR hat, but how fabulous is that logo? I love the mix of the Muddy's established frill and the bolder, masculine approach to coffee brewing.
2. The fireplace. Emphasizing the "house" in coffeehouse, the light brick fireplace at the front entrance is just wonderful. The patio is lovely for summer and autumn, but I can just picture visiting the Grind House in the cold of winter to cozy up by the fireplace and write.
3. The chalkboard of customer suggestions. Kat truly wants to hear customer feedback. The list has already begun with suggestions (I second the chai latte!). I admire Kat's commitment to customer satisfaction. Perhaps that is why she's the winner of Best Bakery and Best Dessert in the Memphis Flyer's Best of Memphis awards. Best Coffee next year?
Go give the Grind House a shot -- It's open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on Mondays-Saturdays. Let the staff know what you think!