Tamp & Tap

Tamp & Tap - named for the tamping of coffee grounds and the tap through which beer flows - occupies an industrial chic space on Gayoso, between Main and 2nd. Although tucked away on this street, T&T has a loyal coffee drinker following, and its night-time offerings are starting to gain more attention as word spreads. The coffee menu is large, with all the usual suspects - lattes, mochas, cappuccino of both the frozen and warm variety - and a few unusual ones, too. There's pour-over coffee, which brewed to order; the coffee grounds are placed in a cone, then hot water is poured over it - into a flask. Then there's the cold-brewed coffee, in which cold water drips v-e-r-y slowly into the container of grounds, which then drips v-e-r-y slowly into a spiral glass tube into a flask and then served. Sounds like chemistry class, right? Way better buzz than chemistry class, however. There's a nice list of teas, smoothies, and other perk-you-up beverages. The beer menu is all craft and primarily local, with both tap and bottle options. The food menu is still evolving at Tamp & Tap; for now, a short list of breakfast items and a handful of salads and sandwiches are offered. Sandwich offerings are our favorite, with great crusty breads and fillings from local producers that include heirloom tomatoes, house-pickled onions, and more. Most everything seems to be named after vintage cars - there's a Rambler, a Dusenberg, and a Hudson - but no Edsel, yet. While the Tamp & Tap is open only until 9 p.m. at night, that closing time is fluid; the folks make a point of saying if there's a crowd, then the bar is open.