Drip Coffee, 4343 Lovers Lane, Dallas

Our town is, shall we say, saturated with a certain company's coffee shops; the big guys are pretty much on every corner from Preston to Pearl. On some days, it's hard enough to simply get out of bed in the morning, and the last thing one needs is to stand in line with dozens of others, struggling to remember the correct sequence of size, amount of milk fat, and temperature (or is it milk fat, size, temperature? We never get it right). Tomorrow, pull off Lovers Lane and into in to Drip Coffee instead. Owner Steve Thatcher roasts his own coffee on site, and you'll notice the difference right away. Rich, flavorful brews, served in the calming room, complete with white orchids, exposed beams and free Wi-Fi. The mocha-colored paintings on the walls were painted by local artist Austin Turley, with his medium of

choice: coffee. Feel free to ask him how he did it: he works behind the counter at Drip. They've got all the espresso drinks you've come to love, plus a selection of teas to try, and Thatcher keeps it local by serving breakfast pastries and desserts from Doughmonkey and Tart. The best part?

Ordering your coffee in whatever manner you choose

Review by: Sarah Eveans

Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006