The Crooked Cup is tucked away into a row of buildings in Old Town that I frequently pass but rarely wander through– I had heard about the shop before, but didn’t realize it was much more accessible to me than I previously thought. I stopped by just as a cold night was starting to set in, looking for something to warm me up.
Immediately, the atmosphere of the shop drew me in–it was simplistic, but not sterile. Rows of college students sat typing away at their laptops under the low ceilings and warm orange light, flanked by the counter which ran down the length of the wall. The front end of the counter displayed a decent variety of both drinks and snacks. Normally, I would have gone for a plain Dark Roast, but I realized as I was running over the options that I haven’t ordered a french press at a coffee shop before. I paid my $4 or so and sat down.
I was served the french press mechanism (already pushed down) and an empty cup in which to pour (again, I appreciated the simple-but-not-sterile design). However, upon taking my first sip, I couldn’t help but be a little heartbroken: it was watery.
There’s not much you can say about watery coffee. Maybe I’m used to strong black coffee and this was just a lighter blend that caught me off guard, but the flavor didn’t hit nearly as hard as I wanted it to. There was a pleasant, tangy aftertaste present, but beyond that, it was weak and not memorable.
I will say, though, that before I left, I got a little hungry, and bought an everything bagel with cream cheese and pesto spread. Keep in mind I’m saying this without ever having been to any real bagel place, but it was easily the best bagel I’ve ever had. I don’t know if it made up for the coffee, but it definitely ensured I’ll be back to give The Crooked Cup a second shot.
Black Coffee in Collins 