You may remember this NYT article from back in December about the Ladybug Organic Coffee Company in St. Johns. The shop made national news for its lengthy application form complete with essay questions. In a city where coffee is taken extremely seriously, Ladybug was quickly earning a reputation for being the staunchest shop in town.

But how do their mochas hold up against the ones found at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the Portland-based chain with clout that stretches to two shops in Seattle and a new one which will reportedly open in Brooklyn later this year?

The Ladybug occupies a large space with plenty of seating, which has always been a problem for the cramped quarters of the average Stumptown. There's also a full menu with breakfast and lunch items in addition to baked goods.

Maybe the rigorous application process is the culprit or perhaps it's the company's commitment to quality but the Ladybug brews a damn fine cup o' mocha. The foam on mine was perfect and was the taste-equivalent of those "happy little clouds" Bob Ross once mass-produced on public television. The mocha was sweet and smooth but not too much of either.

Are Ladybug's mochas worth the long drive to St. Johns? Maybe not but I can't think of another shop in town cranking out anything on the same level. Ladybug's mochas are pure orgna-choco-coffee goodness. Another bonus: all that open space really cuts down on the BO/stale Miller Hi-Life smell wafting off of all the loitering hipsters.

Labels: coffee