Harrington Coffee Co.

I love coffee.

I. love. love. coffee.

Nothing beats the smell of freshly roasted Columbian beans being ground for a pot of coffee. Throughout high school and during college breaks, I had the pleasure of working in a charming and delightful coffee shop where I learned the ropes and groomed myself into a first class coffee snob. The bean varieties of the aforementioned Columbian, Mocha Java, Kenyan, Costa Rican, etc… all have distinct personalities and make each experience of drinking a cup of coffee enjoyably different.

I remember on my first day at Harrington Coffee Co., a loyal customer asked for his usual of “half n’ half.” Blissfully unaware of the well-developed coffee vernacular, I went to the industrial refrigerator and poured the seasoned man a mug of half n’ half while thinking “who the hell drinks this stuff straight?*” Throughout my years at Harrington’s, that man would remind me of our first encounter and become a favorite customer of mine. I also eventually became well-versed in coffee vernacular.

The espresso machine brought excitement to my teenage days. As a beautiful piece of equipment that would produce tasty concoctions, the espresso machine required precision, care and heart to operate. Steaming the milk to the perfect temperature (165 degrees) and grinding the beans and pulling a shot into the hand filter-basket and tamping the grounds to the correct density produces a spectacular product that Starbucks can’t produce with their “all-in-one-no-skill-required” espresso machines. The layering of a cappuccino or latte is a skill I worked hard to master and proudly can still pull off to this day.

I miss it. I miss the simplicity and happiness associated with working at Harrington’s. I grew close with the owners and my co-workers. My memories of the place fill me with joy and whenever I am in the area (which is sadly, not often), I always stop in to say hi and get a cup of Harrington’s #45, my favorite blend of coffee. In my adventures across the country, I have yet to find a better cup of coffee.

I chose the name The Good Girl Lucy Café for my blog because I dream of owning a coffee shop someday. A sign hosting the blog’s namesake will sit over a huge bay window inviting people to come inside, slow down and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. I encourage my readers to do the same…take a look, slow down and (try to) enjoy.

*Half n’ half is half caffeinated/half de-caffeinated.