Welcome to Percolate!

The idea of subculture fascinates me – especially the thought of people gathered around one small, specialized thing and building a passionate following around it. Learning, teaching, growing together. For instance, there are entire groups of people who study typography. Or antique keys. Or bugs.

Me? I love food.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexandra Harcharek and I am an aspiring food writer. I live fifteen minutes outside of Philadelphia and am currently obtaining my journalism degree at Rowan University. I also write Le Petit Cochon, an extension of my weekly column in The Whit (Rowan’s student newspaper). Mostly, I write about my latest obsessions in the foodie world – like vegetarian tapas in Center City or random cheap spices at the local market.

Lately, I’m obsessed with all things caffeinated. After working as a barista for five and a half years, I’ve learned quite a bit about the growing subculture that surrounds a good cuppa joe. From the indie coffeehouses spread across the country to the major corporations desperately competing for our attention, there are hundreds of interesting stories involved in this new anthropology of java.

Hence this blog. It’s about exploring the local market and getting down to the essence of what makes coffee so important to us. It’s about the growing culture of specialty coffees, local and small businesses, and the people that keep them alive. I hope to use this blog to examine the culture and artistry behind a good cup of coffee or espresso and hopefully appeal to that passionate “foodie crowd” that I love so dearly.

So, why “Percolate”? Well, I think I’ll leave you to decipher that on your own.

per·co·late – verb:

1. 1. to filter through; permeate
2. 2. to brew coffee in a percolator
3. 3. to pass through a porous substance; filter; ooze; seep; trickle
4. 4. to become active; lively; spirited

(definition from Dictionary.com)