Josh Eats Revelator Coffee

This is my first food blog post. I feel a lot of pressure to start something that I can repeat over and over again. How will I rate food? Will I give places 3/5 Hams? Will those hams eventually become pig emojis? Is this a good time to mention that I don't like ham, and usually avoid pork at all costs?

That's not very foodie of me to admit. Most foodies like stuff like pork belly and especially in a barbecue place like Central Alabama, eating pork should be expected.

But I digress. Maybe rabbit trails will be the trademark of my foodie blogs.

Today Josh eats Revelator Coffee. And as I write this, I realize I didn't order anything to eat. Wow, this foodie blog is obviously doomed to fail. Oh well, one and done it is.

Here we go...

I like coffee. I have liked it since I began drinking coffee milk with my grandfather while eating sticky donuts from Winn Dixie on Saturday mornings as a kid. Coffee in our culture has come a long way since Grandpa Pierce used to scoop it out of a giant blue Folgers can with a tablespoon each morning. Yet the simplicity of it all seems to shine brighter than ever in placed like Revelator Coffee Company, like a great morning roast. <- see what I did there? Very food blogger of me...

Now to the food. Or in this case coffee.

Revelator is a southern modern coffee house experience. I have been to the downtown location before stepping into the Mountain Brook location I am reviewing today.  It is well-placed walking distance from the Grand Bohemian Hotel.

I love LOVE the simple wide open modern design. I feel my soul open up and stretch its arms and legs when I walk into Revelator. My lungs seem to fill up with deeper breaths that allow me to relax in a place with tall ceilings and uncluttered space. Revelator's atmosphere is a minimalist's dream.

Just like the downtown location, there is a giant table in the front that provides lots of space and the opportunity for community contact. It's hard to hide-a-way in Revelator, which may be intentional since their website says that their mission is to "create meaningful experiences" Coffee definitely opens the door for that, and a table the size of my living room puts an exclamation on that point.

Now to the coffee.

The menu reflects the atmosphere. Simple and intentional. No witty names for each offering. No roasted toffee spring fling cappuccinos. Just "espresso with steamed milk" or "coffee". If you want specifics, you have to ask. They don't even list americano on the menu. This can be intimidating for someone who doesn't consider themselves a coffee pro. Roasted bean vets will find themselves at home though.

I asked for a recommendation, and the barista hesitated. It's his first day he said. Ironically, it's my first day writing a food blog. Maybe this is a sign. I hope he doesn't get fired soon. That too could be a sign. I congratulate him and wish him well, and then follow his eventual suggestion of a popular pour over - Gilda.

I really like the way my coffee is presented at Revelator. The Gilda was already portioned in a tin can with its name on top. This gave me the feeling that I was about to experience something premium and custom made just for me. Gilda is a medium to light single origin micro lot coffee from Ecuador. This means it came from not only one farm, but a specific part of this farm that is watched for quality. It is not blended with beans from other areas. The beans are even larger than other blends. Special coffee I guess.

I pay $3.50 plus tax and tip for this drink, but my man tells me that I am getting a bargain for this delicious pour over, and I'll have to wait 5-6 minutes for it. I think my Grandpa would be upset that I paid more than 75 cents for a cup of coffee and that I would be happy to wait that long for it. Sorry Grandpa, at least I didn't order a girly drink.

I sit down in one spot only to find the glare from the sun causes me to move. I want to sit at the big round Knights of the Round Table table, but I honestly don't want to end up accidentally touching someone with my elbow, or worse have to make eye contact with a stranger. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable, so I go find a seat in the back with a small table in front of it, and a chair next to mine.

There are two dirty cups there that make me think someone is sitting here, but the lady next to me tells me there is not. She has reddish curly hair that resembles the drink she ordered. Her chai latte' arrives, and the spices fill the space like a deliciously scented candle. I wish I would have ordered the girly drink. Sorry Grandpa, I know I am at this point a total disappointment.

I tell this lady that I am writing a food blog, and that this is my first day to do this. She asks is this the first restaurant in Birmingham that I have tried. I say no. I have lived here for two and a half years. I am just a huge procrastinator. I have wanted to do this since the day I arrived from Louisiana, famous for its great food.


I then ask her if she can tell me about her drink so that I can share her insights with my millions of potential readers. She says she likes it. She says it's spicy. I can tell its spicy because 30 minutes later I can still smell it, and I want to take her drink and run away with it. I doubt she can catch me too. She is in heals and a skirt. But I am also in skinny jeans, and so she probably could catch me, and that would be more awkward than sitting at the giant table and almost touching a stranger trying to enjoy their coffee while poking at a lap top.

I am starting to think this is the worst food blog ever. I have not even talked about my coffee yet.

I take a sip of my coffee, and it is incredibly smooth without even the slightest hint of bitterness. This is the joy of a pour over. Black coffee without bitterness. This coffee needs no syrups or sweet seasoning. It gently pops and lingers at the top of my mouth even after I swallow inviting me to repeat the dance. This blend offers full flavor with the gentleness of tea. It is soft and vibrant at the same time. I guess that is why it may be more costly than other pour overs. Remember, I got a deal at $3.50. Apparently, it normally costs more than that.

I am enjoying my coffee, but I do not believe Revelator is for everyone. It certainly appeals to the coffee purist, and I do appreciate that they have seasonal syrups. I guess this is Revelators way of offering variety to those that don't see syrups in coffee as the equivalent as ketchup on an expensive steak. They do not have a large offering of foods but keeps a simple sampling that is consistent with the rest of my experience at Revelator.


Atmosphere 4/5 Hams
Coffee 5/5 Hams
Service 3/5 Hams

I give Revelator 4/5 Hams.


Well, this is my first food blog! Let me know what you think, and share it with others!