Higher Grounds rocks the locally owned coffee business

The whole idea of a 'coffee shop' has changed over my lifetime. As a child in the 1960's, it had a connotation of existing as a bohemian place, where poets and beatniks gathered to pound bongo drums and discuss intellectual thoughts.

But I suppose the idea of U. S. coffee shops go back at least to WWII and before. Always a gathering place; now with the inception of the Internet, laptops and cell phones, coffee shops are hubs of activity for all generations. Commuters, soccer moms, grandmas and kids even frequent them. Teens and pre-teens want lattes and mochas. Please, parents - get the kids hot chocolate or something else age-appropriate.  Caffeine is simply too strong for younger kids.  I admit I drank too many sodas as a kid without knowing better.  But times have changed.  Coffee is big business. In the age of Starbucks and national franchises, it's nice to see locally owned shops in the area.

Leo has the modest Higher Grounds business on Amstutz, near Dollar General and CVS. A patron can sit inside or pull up to the drive-through window. The Leo location reportedly roasts all the beans for the other Fort Wayne locations. I was told by a clerk the local owner sold his successful store in IPFW's college campus to the school (or a contractor, I'm not sure). But there are other locations at 6122 St. Joe Center Road in Fort Wayne, and at 127 W. Berry Street. 630 E. Dupont also houses a location - and I think there are other spots, maybe in hospitals or even large churches. I couldn't make a clear search on the web for all the locations around here - I think they need to update their online search information.

I liked their Creme Brulee coffee that was one of the daily specials when I visited. It was mid-morning, and the coffee was served out of a thermos. It wasn't quite hot enough this way, but I did like the flavor, and would order it again. I also bought a pound of French Vanilla beans to grind. Sold in an environmentally-friendly brown paper bag, I will have to seal it in something else at home, but I can do that. When I brewed the French Vanilla, I found it to be disappointing. I couldn't discern much in the way of vanilla aroma or flavor. I won't buy it again - instead, I'll go back to buying Starbucks Vanilla I can get at some grocery stores.  But that's just me - and otherwise I do so like the idea of patronizing a local coffee shop.

There's also lots of wonderful, established shops in Fort Wayne, such as The Firefly Coffee House on North Anthony, the Dash-In on South Calhoun, and others on the southwest side with which I am less familiar. Many of these have live entertainment and a more complete menu of food. If you have any good recommendations, please let me know.  Whether you call it Java or Joe, coffee is my friend.  I try to keep it to morning only, because it can interfere with my sleep if I overdo it. Debate may continue whether coffee is a virtue or a vice, but I think whichever you weigh out on that matter, we can probably agree coffee is going to stick around.