Coffee

P!NG-ING LOWELL AGAIN

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A few weeks ago, I sang the praises of the delicious plant-based donuts from Planted Donuts which has roots in my ancestral hometown of Lowell, MA.

Today, I want to ping another Lowell legend in the making – p!ng Coffee.

While coffee takeout is nothing new and is a necessary stop along many people’s routes, p!ng represents a revolution in the rolling refreshment realm in that it is automated and autonomous and minimizes wait times while the assuring accuracy for every order!

And with a menu that already includes not just customized locally-sourced coffees but also lattes, teas, energy drinks, organic options and more (all of which are priced around $3-5 and many of which can be further customized with extra syrup, shots, and other flavorful faves), there will surely be demand for this new pioneering concept!

Using p!ng’s proprietary process, guests place their order ahead of time via the p!ng  app and then simply drive past the preparation pod to pick up their personal piece of percolated perfection. p!ng even uses advanced AI to measure the window height of the user’s car so even the hand-off is perfect and spill-proof (ignoring human error, of course!)

Created by a dynamic duo of Boston-based entrepreneurs that combines Veteran know-how, women’s intuition, and expertise in customer experience and robotics, p!ng is now open at 10 Technology Drive in Lowell and is already looking to expand!

So next time you need a drink made right and right quick, be sure to listen for the newest sound in beverage service- p!ng!

GEARING UP FOR SUCCESS

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As someone who was involved in the “gig” economy before it was “hip” and as a freelancer who wears many hats (maybe too many sometimes!), I have a special place in my heart for fellow hustlers who use their skills to help themselves and a lot of other people as well.

As an author who talks about my book on the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com) and interviews my literary on my show on The Needham Channel (https://www.needhamchannel.org/the-writers-block/) and at various other venues, and as a writer who profiles and promotes Veterans who run their own businesses and people in the food space who are making a difference, I was especially excited to be introduced to Patrick Greenwood!

Not only is Greenwood the host of the “Writers on Writers over a Triple Espresso” podcast (on which I was honored to be a guest!), he is also a veteran of the military and the tech space, the author of two books (so far!), a devoted cyclist, and the creator of Cyclewriter 3 Coffee – a delicious brand of blends that donates proceeds to children in Vietnam and other communities around the world.

As our listeners know, my gig economy life has made coffee a necessity. While I have been fortunate to find many great brands (many of which are also made by Veterans), Cyclewriter combines hand-selected beans from all my favorite growing regions with a growing respect for the farmers with whom Patrick works. And as it also supports a fellow writer, it has quickly pushed to the head of my morning energy peloton. 

Please check out all he does at https://cyclewriterllc.com and support him as he supports so many others.

POE-TRY IN A CUP

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Since lighting his first oven torch at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Chef Brian Poe has been lighting the way for food lovers and industry friends. 


In Boston, he has been the brains behind such celebrated sites as Seasons at the Millennium Boston Hotel, The Rattlesnake, and his current hit- The Tip Tap Room, which is a great take before or after a game or anytime you want creative, fun food and plenty to drink and enjoy.

In 2020, Poe took his love and understanding of cheese to market with Crane River Cheese Club (where you can actually join a club that includes special access to the best cheeses in the shop) and has since served hundreds of fellow fromaggio-philes and industry leaders. His microgreen farm also supplies his own eateries and many others as well.

Today, he is following another food passion by releasing his own coffee.

Appropriately named Chef Poe’s Coffee, the locally-roasted and fairly-traded coffee is available as whole beans, ground, or in single-serve pods at www.chefpoecoffee.com and also at the Cheese Club, where it makes for a perfect complement to Poe’s many delicious offerings of cheese, meats, sandwiches, and prepared meals and catering.

Combining Brazilian, Columbian, and Ethiopian beans, the brew is sure to please early morning risers and coffee afficionados alike.

Though it is a new venture for Poe, his consistent dedication to quality and craftsmanship shines through in every cup.

It’s another sure hit, Chef!