Taking a road trip is always lots of fun. Pictures should always be taken in order to remember how much fun there was at all times. One of the best road trips to take is a trip across the country. When people go with someone else, they even have more fun.

Going from Nashville to LA is somewhat a trip and one that is filled with many great memories. People that get to do this know that it is a trip that is magical and enjoyable. When they get the pictures that they want of their trip, they are able to remember it for many years to come.

Mary & Titos is another great place to go. It is a local place that has delicious foods for people to eat. In New Mexico, there is a lot of fantastic scenery. There are many great opportunities to take pictures of all the great places to see.

Stopping in Chicago can also be a tremendous amount of fun. There is grease trap cleaning in Chicago if it is needed. Everything about Chicago is fun and exciting but it’s a good idea to wear a scarf or something to protect from the wind at times. It will be miserable for people that aren’t used to it.

La Grande Orange is in Phoenix, AZ. Their English Muffins are fantastic and people really love them for the hospitality that is needed. What a lot of fun to just ride throughout the area with nowhere in particular to go and lots of things to see and do.

Making the most of a road trip across the country takes a lot of planning in order to enjoy it in the right way. People that take the time to plan out their trip find that they save money and have more fun because they did it right.

A road trip of this magnitude is something that will always be sought after by people that enjoy traveling and want to see as much as they can. They know that this country is filled with great places, people, and things to enjoy in so many ways. Making it happen is something that many people should try.

I’m extremely loyal to my neighborhood coffee shop. It’s a happy stop and much needed wake-up call on my way to work each morning. While it’s a coffee buzz that I’m after, I always appreciate seeing familiar faces deep in conversation or buried behind a laptop, and imagine the number of stories that have unfolded in that cozy little space.

When I heard that East Nashville had recently become home to a new coffee shop, I was instantly curious and couldn’t wait to visit. Upon entering Barista Parlor, I knew the uniquely curated and well-designed space had to have a story of its own, and I was delighted when owner, Andy Mumma, agreed to tell me a bit about his new business. His keen eye for design, love for local craftmanship (Imogene & Willie, Otis James and Emil Erwin were tapped for uniforms), and seriously delicious brew make me proud to welcome Barista Parlor to the neighborhood.

Without further ado, here’s our Q&A with Andy Mumma, Coffee Guru:

How did you come up with the name Barista Parlor? 

The name came from my idea for the design. It’s all about the Barista in an open layout where it feels more theater and interactive – which is also why i chose the word Parlor. I wanted people to ask questions and watch what we are doing, and just hang out and be comfortable, like an old speakeasy.

Is there a story behind the anchor in your logo?

The anchor represents a lot of things, but it’s mainly about transportation and how coffee is still brought over on big boats – the manual process of creating something.

Someone had a very specific aesthetic in mind in when designing your  interior. What inspired the design?

I really just wanted to create a space that could showcase all my passions -coffee, art, design, music, transportation. Lines are really important to me. My design sense is a mix of mid-century (which I really grew to love when I lived in Arizona) with a twist of southern charm. Using all reclaimed wood from 250-year-old poplar to 150-year-old Tennessee Black Walnut adds warmth, but the lines are still clean. Everything at Barista is made by materials from Tennessee by people I know, even down to the lighting. 

If someone walks into Barista Parlor for the first time and cannot decide what to order, what drink would you suggest?

I would suggest a hand-crafted cup of coffee and a Single Origin Espresso. 

What did you do before Barista Parlor?

I’ve worked in specialty coffee for almost 15 years (since I was 18) which includes about a dozen coffee shops from Nashville to Arizona.

What made you choose East Nashville as the home for Barista Parlor?

East Nashville has been our neighborhood for almost 10 years. It has a wonderful sense of community and support for local small business. I knew they would support the risk in creating a whole different coffee experience.