Tag: Ugly Mug

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Food & Wine Food & Drink

Ramblin’ Joe’s Coffee

David Lambert, Kim Lambert, Drew Smith, and Teagan Griffith (Photo: Michael Donahue)

Meet Ramblin’ Joe’s Coffee. It’s that same little coffee shop that used to be called Ugly Mug at 4610 Poplar Avenue at Perkins Extended. Ramblin’ Joe’s is the new name of their shops that sell the familiar Ugly Mug coffee.

“We made a name change,” says Ramblin’ Joe’s owner David Lambert.

But that’s just the store name. “Anything called ‘Ugly Mug,’ we own it. Except the stores. ‘Ugly Mug’ is our online grocery, and we sell Ugly Mug in our stores. The deal is we can’t call the stores themselves ‘Ugly Mug.’”

They also have Ramblin’ Joe’s stores in Nashville and Knoxville, and they plan on opening one or two more in Memphis in the near future.

The recent Grind City Coffee Xpo was “the official launch” of the new store name.

Last March, they hired a franchising company because people were inquiring about opening Ugly Mug franchises. “They came back and said, ‘Hey. We got a problem. Somebody took your trademark.’ I tell you, you could have knocked me off the chair. I had no idea.

“I did not realize trademarks expired. Every 10 years what you have to do is send the U.S. government proof that you’re still using the trademark.”

Their “Ugly Mug” trademark expired a year ago, and somebody picked it up. “It was a guy out in California.”

He was opening a little shop called The Ugly Mug, Lambert says. “They weren’t even open yet. They just got the trademark. I talked to the guy. I said, ‘Hey. This is the deal. We’ve had this brand for 20 years, and we have a lot of credibility built into this brand. I talked to the guy for three months. He just would not deal on this.”

Finally, Lambert thought, “If we want to grow, we have to come up with a new name.” They asked customers to submit names and got about 600.

“I was thinking about ‘Joe.’ ‘Joe’ is a name for coffee. I was driving to Nashville. I turned on the radio. ‘Ramblin’ Man’ was on. The Allman Brothers.”

He thought, “People enjoy going places if the place has a story and some depth to it rather than a place to just buy something.”

So, Lambert came up with a story. “Ramblin’ Joe is basically the coffee taster that works for Ugly Mug coffee. He’s been tasked to go around the country and around the world and find different regional products and bring those flavors back. And we feature those flavors in our Ramblin’ Joe’s coffee choices.”

Lambert and his wife, Kim, found a coffee shop in Maine that sells a salted latte. They now sell a Maine Salted Maple Latte at Ramblin’ Joe’s.

“I guess I’m kind of ramblin’ Joe. We like to travel a lot. We always go places and we find unique products that are regional. We should just, from time to time, have products and coffees that come from other parts of the world.”

And their coffee, including Full Moon latte, which originated in Memphis, will be introduced in other states and countries as they open Ramblin’ Joe’s franchises.

In 1971, Lambert’s dad, Bill Lambert, began Lambert’s Coffee, a non-retail business that services restaurants and offices. In 2005, David purchased the Ugly Mug coffee brand and began selling it online and in stores, including Kroger and Walmart. Around 2015, they started renting the coffee shop on Poplar. “For the past five or six years, we’ve won Best Coffee Shop and Best Coffee Roaster in the Flyer,” he says.

They will open the first Ramblin’ Joe’s franchise in March at Memphis International Airport. “Our focus as a company is going to be more on franchising and expanding Ramblin’ Joe’s and trying to expand it all over the country.”

Lambert wants to give people “a little flavor of Memphis.”

“There are lots of coffee shops in town that are awesome and do a fantastic job. We want to be a little more accessible as a drive-through. We want customers to come to our shop and not only get a great cup of coffee, but get it fast. Good-quality gourmet coffee for the everyday person. For the average Joe.”

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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Ugly Mug Open House, other events

• Ugly Mug is holding an open house at its new East Memphis cafe on Thursday, February 5th, 6-8 p.m.

• The event will include free tastings of coffees and pastries that will soon be added to the menu. There will be live music as well as informal talks on coffee roasting.

On Saturday, February 7th, 7-10 p.m., at Memphis Made Brewing, it’s Half Pints for Half Pints, a fundraiser for the Peabody Elementary PTA. 

The event includes an auction, beer from Memphis Made, and food from Central BBQ, Sweet Grass, and Celtic Crossing. Tickets are $50 per person, $75 per couple. 

• Joe’s Wines & Liquors is hosting its annual Passport to Oregon on Thursday, February 19th, 4:30-7 p.m. at the University Club.

This year’s event will feature wines from Patricia Green Cellars and Grochau Cellars.

Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased at Joe’s. 

 

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Food & Wine Food & Drink

The things we ate in 2014.

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Last winter, Holly Whitfield of the I Love Memphis Blog announced that Memphis is in the midst of a spectacular “Foodnado.” How apt! My cursory count of restaurants, breweries, and sundry food-related places that opened in 2014 adds up to 40, and not all of them in Overton Square.

But, then again, a lot of them are in Overton Square. Babalu Tacos & Tapas opened in June, offering tableside-prepared guacamole and lots of sharing plates. The place has been packed since. In August came Jimmy Ishii’s Robata Ramen & Yakitori Bar with a fine menu of ramen noodle bowls and skewers. Lafayette’s Music Room, an homage to the original much-loved, circa-’70s Overton Square bar named for the recently passed away ace bartender Lafayette Draper, opened in September and features wood-fired pizzas and a music schedule set at palatable hours. Schweinehaus, a cheeky Memphis take on German food, also opened in September. There’s beer, brats, and the occasional lederhosen sighting — what’s not to like? If you need olive oil, there’s the Square Olive, and there’s more music and fun at the Chicago-based Zebra Lounge.

Justin Fox Burks

Robata Ramen & Yakitori Bar

The most recent addition to Overton Square is Belly Acres, a farm-to-table burger restaurant, the latest of three burger-centric places to open in Memphis. This trend has our full endorsement. Belly Acres has a fantasyland interior and a menu that demands to be gone through one burger at a time. Down the street, there’s LBOE (Last Burger on Earth). Its menu raises the bar with such burgers as the super spicy Lava Me or Lava Me Not and the garlic-laden Love Stinks. Oshi Burger Bar downtown has something for everyone — beef burgers, tuna burgers, vegetarian burgers, gluten-free buns. They also have great milkshakes.

Justin Fox Burks

Oshi Burger Bar on South Main

Plenty of glasses have been raised at the taprooms opened in 2014 at High Cotton Brewing Co. and Memphis Made Brewing Co., and Memphis promises to get buzzier still in the new year with Pyramid Vodka. Wine in grocery stores finally passed, and while that doesn’t happen until 2016, local liquor stores are making the best of it with growler stations and more.

In grocery-store news: Whole Foods opened its expanded store in East Memphis, which includes a site-specific barbecue restaurant and a growler station. There’s the new Fresh Market in Midtown, and Kroger continues to show its commitment to Memphis in updating its stores, most recently the one at Cleveland and Poplar. Plus, there’s been some buzz about a Trader Joe’s opening sometime somewhere. We shall see.

In coffee news: Everybody freaked out when Muddy’s Bake Shop announced a new Midtown store in August 2013. Muddy’s Grind House opened this fall and offers a little of everything, from coffee to breakfast eats and yoga. The Avenue, near the University of Memphis, has great coffee and treats with Christian fellowship. There’s also Cafe Keough downtown in a gorgeous setting with a great cafe Americano. Tart offers quiches and more — a great go-to place when expectations are high. Ugly Mug took over the Poplar Perk’n space, and Jimmy Lewis, who founded Squash Blossom, returned to the scene with Relevant Roasters, selling wholesale, environmentally sound, and worker-friendly coffee with the motto “Every Cup Matters.”

After a few false starts, the Riverfront Development Corporation came through with Riverfront Grill. It serves a sophisticated but not too syrupy Southern menu and also has some of the best views in Memphis. Also new this year to downtown are the Kwik Chek spinoff Nacho’s, Marie’s Eatery in the old Rizzo’s Diner spot, and Cafe Pontotoc. Rizzo’s moved into the old Cafe Soul site, and there’s the Love Pop Soda Shop, a nifty craft soda shop.

In East Memphis, Skewer, serving Yakitori and ramen, opened in January. 4 Dumplings opened around the same time, and, as its name suggests, the menu is built around four dumplings. The vegan dumpling with tofu is not to be missed.

Since at least four people mentioned to me that Jackson Kramer’s Bounty on Broad is “secretly” gluten-free, I’m guessing it’s not really a secret. The dishes at this lovely farm-to-table spot are thoughtfully done and a delight to look at. The menu changes frequently, but at a recent dinner, there were mussels in fragrant coconut milk, charred broccolini, and creamed kale served over polenta. Also gluten-free is the Hawaiian import Maui Brick Oven, serving brick-oven pizzas and grain bowls.

Justin Fox Burks

Bounty on Broad’s Jackson Kramer

At Ecco on Overton Park, Sabine Bachmann’s cozy neighborhood restaurant, there are heaping dishes of pork chops, delicate pasta dishes, and artful cheese plates — something for every appetite. Strano Sicilian Kitchen & Bar serves a great roasted carrot soup and Italian classics from meatballs to pizza.

At press time, Porcellino’s, Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman’s latest venture, was due to open “any minute now.” File this one under “This Should Be Interesting.” This is a butcher shop/sundry/coffee spot/wine bar offering grab-and-go sandwiches, fresh pastas, cured meats, house-made pastries, and more.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

Ugly Mug Coffee Shop Opening Monday

Memphians who prefer to buy local now have a new spot to grab a cup of joe. Ugly Mug Coffee is soon to open at the corner of Poplar and Perkins Extended, in the space formerly inhabited by the Poplar Perk’n coffee shop.

The café will have a soft opening on Monday, December 1st, with a grand opening to follow at a later date. 

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After Poplar Perk’n closed at the end of October, Ugly Mug’s owners did a quick renovation, replacing the former coffee shop’s cozy couches and minimalist design with a sharper, industrial-inspired interior. They have increased the amount of floor space and seating available in the small, free-standing building, creating more room for tables and an additional row of window seats. The exterior features a modern-looking blue and black marquee that reads “Ugly Mug Coffee,” and the shop will offer drive-through service for commuters in need of a caffeine kick.

The cafe will serve cups of Ugly Mug’s locally roasted coffee as well as espresso drinks and a selection of breakfast and lunch items. La Baguette has created a custom cake for the shop using Ugly Mug’s signature Buttermoon flavor.

The café’s hours will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Categories
Food & Wine Food & Drink

In Their Cups

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

Ugly Mug Coffee started out in 1998 as a coffee shop near the intersection of Poplar and Highland, a gathering place for University of Memphis students. Back then, the shop was known for its free refills and for the fact that patrons could bring their own coffee mugs. Co-founders Mark Ottinger and Tim Burleson like to joke that the idea for the Ugly Mug’s name came from either Mark or Tim (depending on who’s telling the story) having such an ugly mug. The real story is that one day a customer walked into the shop, looked at the hundreds of mugs on the wall, and said, “That wall is full of ugly mugs.” The name stuck.  

In its early years of operation, Ugly Mug was more about the place — and supporting the local student community — than the coffee. But when Burleson and Ottinger were forced to make a choice between roasting their own coffee and keeping the shop open, they made the tough decision to close their retail operation. From that point forward, the pair dedicated themselves to getting the best-quality coffee for their customers and to buying only certified fair-trade coffee.   

At the time, Burleson had no idea how complicated the roasting business would be — as complex as brewing beer or producing a good bottle of wine. He and Ottinger visited various coffee plantations, where they tasted a lot of bad coffee and discovered that each country has its own grading system, based on bean size, altitude at which the coffee is grown, color, moisture, and taste. To complicate things even more, the coffee-roasting process is as tricky as choosing the beans. Through the three stages of roasting, during which the beans turn from green to yellow to light brown to dark brown, some 1,200 chemical compounds are changed in ways that augment the flavor, acidity, aftertaste, and body of the coffee. And that’s all in just 10 to 20 minutes. 

Ugly Mug launched its first full line of fair-trade, organic coffee in September 2002. In the beginning, the company didn’t do much in terms of marketing. The theory was, if they taste it, they will come. The company got the word out through local craft shows, Junior League shows, any venue where Ugly Mug could get people to try its coffee. Slowly but surely, the strategy worked: In 2003, Ugly Mug caught on with local grocers such as Miss Cordelia’s and Square Foods, and in March 2004, the coffee company landed its first major grocery store, Schnucks. A few months later, the business formed an agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies and the FedExForum to sell its coffee at the arena. And in October 2005, Ugly Mug made its first push to introduce its coffee outside the Mid-South, going to trade shows in 30 cities in just six weeks. It now sells to every state on the eastern seaboard, in addition to Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and — of course — Tennessee. 

Ugly Mug’s latest endeavor is its Elvis coffee, introduced in November 2005. For now, Elvis coffee includes just four limited-edition holiday blends. In the works are a Limited Edition Elvis Collector’s Series, Elvis hot chocolate, and an Elvis house blend. The coffee has garnered fans from all over the country — and the world. Just after the release of the Elvis coffee, Ugly Mug received more than 100 voice-mail messages, some in German, Japanese, and French. To date, the company has sent out shipments to all 50 states and 20 countries.

Now that the company is more established, Burleson says he and Ottinger hope to open another shop. It’s all about timing, he says. In the meantime, the easiest way to get your Ugly Mug fix is to have it delivered directly to your door — no taxes, no shipping fees. All coffee is roasted to order, which means the beans haven’t been sitting around for more than three or four days. 

For additional information about Ugly Mug coffee — including some quirky profiles of the company’s staff members — go to www.uglymugcoffee.com.