On a corner of the town square in Pella, Iowa, Smokey Row coffeehouse. Here you’ll find “good coffee and good people,” just as the store’s motto suggests. A great place to study, read, or simply catch up with an old friend, the Row is a popular gathering place for “Pellicans.” As a weekend barista, I have… Read More
The Super Secret Menu of a Weekend Barista
In my hours as a weekend barista brewing and steaming and stirring, I’ve made oodles of variations of drinks and foods for customers and friends, not to mention all of the items I have concocted to delight my own taste buds. Do you trust me? Check out my top-rated orders at Pella’s Smokey Row. Many… Read More
Life’s a Daily Ditty
The song was clear this week, a Smokey Row refrain chirping its tune day after day. Working as a barista in the early morning hours, studying in a booth until they kick me out to close, and writing inside these walls this week, I am inspired to share with you this beautiful piece of music:… Read More
Do the Barista Dance
Even before I became a barista at Pella, Iowa’s, Smokey Row, I had a passion for coffee. A born addict, I like to call myself. Every time I ordered a drink, I would attempt to interpret the secret dance of the barista as she tamped, poured, creamed, and flavored to the rhythm of the steamer.… Read More
Kathleen S Evenhouse 