We Love: King Kong Coffee

Een post in het Nederlands, jawel, omdat de King Kong nu eenmaal in Hasselt ligt. En omdat ik het interview eveneens in het Nederlands deed en Marc zijn gevatte antwoorden niet wou ontkrachten met een slappe vertaling.

Het moet niet meer gezegd: koffie is hip, koffiebars zijn nog hipper en barista's dienen mannen met baarden te zijn. Ikzelf ben geen grote koffiekenner maar wel een grote liefhebber van het zwarte bakje troost - geen melk en geen suiker aub. En er is geen plaats waar de troost zo goed smaakt als "bij de King Kong" in Hasselt - want is Hasselt niet eveneens hoofdstad van de Smaak? Omdat ik nogal wel eens nieuwsgierig van aard durf te zijn, stelde ik Marc en Gemma enkele vragen over hun geliefde zaak. En ik ging er langs om ne koffie te slurpen en wa foto's te pakken, ahja! (En ne roze donut te eten.)

Lorenz was al een uur op mij aan't wachten... Ik ben thans nooit te laat. <3

We kunnen er niet omheen, koffie is hip. Misschien zelfs hipper dan ooit? Hoe is bij jullie de liefde voor de boon ontstaan?
I drank coffee before it was cool! Al sinds m'n kindertijd drink ik graag (en veel) koffie. Koffie is en was een deel van de dagelijkse gang van zaken. Koffie was toen nog gewoon koffie. Zwart, sterk, heet...caffeïne... Tot er een paar eye-openers kwamen, koffie die meer was dan dat. Betere koffie. Vanaf dan zat het spel op de wagen. Ik wilde altijd die betere koffie...en liefst ook thuis. Zelf een espressotoestel kopen, betere bonen kopen, andere aanpak proberen, meer aandacht voor het zetproces en de diverse variabelen proberen onder controle te krijgen, beter toestel, nog betere koffie kopen, nog betere espressobars zoeken, elke barista die je aan de praat kon krijgen de oren van het hoofd vragen, weer naar huis gaan, andere aanpak proberen...het hield niet meer op. Een obsessie was geboren. Damn!
 
Het viel mij op dat enkele jaren geleden de koffiezaken in Hasselt ineens als paddenstoelen uit de grond zijn geschoten. Heeft ieder zowat zijn eigen publiek of is er concurrentie voelbaar?
Koffiezaken en koffiezaken zijn twee. Je hebt veredelde tavernes/brasserieën, met al dan niet beter dan gemiddelde koffie, die zich koffiehuis gingen noemen en je hebt de koffiehuizen/espressobars waar de focus onmiskenbaar bij de koffie ligt. Wanneer je een zaak binnenstapt merk je vanzelf wel waar je bent beland. Ieder maakt z'n eigen keuzes, en zo hoort het ook. Bij ons ligt de focus 100% bij de koffie, dat is waar wij voor kiezen. Koffie is de basis, de rest is de rest. Wij leven en ademen koffie. Ik lig daar 's nachts wakker van hoe we onze koffies beter, lekkerder, op een hoger niveau kunnen krijgen. Ik werk met en in de koffie. Haast al onze "vrije tijd" draait rond koffie. Wij leven koffie. Koffiegekken zijn de ergste gekken. Maar naast de hele koffiegekte is het voor ons ook superbelangrijk dat mensen happy zijn/worden bij ons. Het klinkt misschien tegenstrijdig, maar precies daarom proberen we onze eigen koers te varen, zonder al te veel concessie aan "hoe het hoort" of hoe "men dat wil". De KingKong staat voor wie wij zijn en wij staan voor wat de KingKong is. Dat werkt het best. Wij happy...gasten happy. Wie het niet leuk vindt, blijft vanzelf weg. Wie het wel leuk vindt komt vanzelf terug. Zo selecteert KingKong zijn eigen publiek, en dat publiek maakt KingKong tot wat het is. Raar èh! Klopt da wel? 

Jullie maken o.a. het verschil door geen "gewone koffie" op de kaart te zetten. Wat is de filosofie hierachter?
Gewone koffie bestaat niet! Iedere koffie heeft z'n eigen ziel. Onze koffies worden zonder uitzondering met de hoogste zorg uitgekozen en met het grootst mogelijke respect behandeld gedurende het hele proces van boon tot kopje. Daar is niets gewoon aan. Ik snap heel goed dat niet iedereen ervan wakker ligt op welke hoogte, op welk soort bodem en in welk klimaat de koffie geteeld wordt, welke variëteit boon het is en of het een washed of een pulped natural processed koffie is die je in je kop hebt. Maar "gewoon" daar doen we niet aan. Voor gewoon zet ik 's ochtends de La Marzocco niet aan.
 
Ik ben zelf geen grote koffiekenner, ik weet vooral dat ik hem graag zwart drink. Wat is jullie favoriete koffie?
Zachte filter of intense espresso. Zwart sowieso. Zo weinig mogelijk de smaken camoufleren, want hoe zonde is dat. Onze koffies worden vrij licht, lichter dan standaard, gebrand...precies omdat we graag de eigenheid van die koffie willen proeven, herkennen en erkennen. Donker branden muffled de smaken, alles gaat een beetje hetzelfde smaken (bitter/verbrand/vies, kies zelf maar uit). Minder kwalitatieve bonen worden haast altijd donkerder gebrand om fouten en defecten te maskeren. Onze koffies staan voor wat ze zijn...enkel topkwaliteit haalt onze molen. Wij willen graag proeven wat we drinken. Vandaar.

 
Tot slot: als jullie de zaak ooit beu moesten zijn zullen Lorenz en ik deze wel overnemen... Deal?
Talk to the daughter of the house! Yo! 

King Kong Coffee

Maastrichterstraat 58

3500 Hasselt 

Ik heb ook asap brogues nodig.

We Wear: Paplou & Louche

After playing 'model' for a day with Hasselt based store Paplou a while back, I became an instant fan of their cutest of cute and edgy as rockers on speed clothes and accessories. Naturally, I had to return to take this treasure home with me: a lovely floral high waisted pencil skirt that flattered my body in ways other pieces of clothing never come to reach. I always had a predilection for high waisted pencil skirts and I absolutely adore the whole pin up vibe they carry, although I never feel quite comfortable in them, which most certainly has to do with specific bodily issues that no one else notices except me myself. Ladies, I know you're feeling me. 

Skirt: Louche (Paplou) - Biker jacket, hat: H&M - Choker: Claire's - Brogues: Van Dalen

     

 Anyway, that all changed - well, almost - when I slipped into this beauty. This skirt must be magical as it makes me feel like a real classy lady, a look that definitely will not unbecoming for the fast approaching holidays. Yes, indeed, the time has come to dress up once again (bring on the sequins), start gift wrapping, bake gingerbread men and decorate the Christmas tree, which will be my main activities for the next month. Expect some holiday outfit inspiration in the next few weeks! 

Are you also looking forward to Christmas? And what is your go to outfit for the holidays?

   Currently listening to:

Taking Back Sunday (yay, I will get to see them on Saturday)
Currently craving for (fashion wise or other):

A sequined dress, thankyouverymuch.

KPM Cup

A skate contest. A market filled with local brands selling awesome stuff. A graffiti alley. Music. That's what KPM is all about and we were thrilled to be able to attend this great (free!) event yet again! And that all very nearby in our pretty little Hasselt (Limburg, Belgium). 

 Me and my legging blending in with the graffiti wall. Booya.

This year however it seemed like the motto was bigger, better, harder, faster, at least for the activities surrounding the skate contest. Where the market last year was more an in-between thingy, this year it stood all on its own and it grew in size dramatically. As you may have read in our previous post, A LOT of great brands sold their stuff at the KPM market. We went to check out our must sees and they met our expectations easily. Not only that, both Lies and me bought a little something we had been eyeing for quite a while. Lies bought the tiger sweater from TITI + THE GERMAN KID and I bought what I intended: the skull shirt from Death Shred, as you can see in the pictures below. BUT, there were a whole lotta more brands that amazed us! I was particularly fan of Allow which had some great crewneck sweaters. Do check out their Facebook page! Oh, and how cute are the inimini clothes from Six Hugs & Rock'n Roll. My (future) kid is totally gonna rock that. 

Of course we also spotted some great looking, stylish people out there, so we snapped a few pictures. Knee socks (gotta love that style), a jolly group of retro chicks laughing their asses off, denim jackets, Vans, beanies, cut-off denims, oversized sweaters... Next to enjoying the skate contest and strolling the market, KPM is also a great place to do some people spotting and get inspired!

I want this purse so badly! 

Bare legs

Retro style

Knee socks

Great style! 

So if you missed it this year (boo you!), let's hope for another great edition next year! KPM, you were lots of fun!

KPM CUP 2013: Must-sees!

We've said it before and we'll say it again: boys in Vans on skateboards, good music and a beer is pretty much enough to tickle our fancy. Throw in some graffiti artists and a cool market and we're completely sold. All of that and a lot more will be going on next Thursday at the Kapermolen park in Hasselt, during the annual KPM CUP. There really is no excuse for not going, it's a day off for (almost) everybody so come and say "Hi" to us!

This year the market will be bigger than last year. Bigger! Better! More! The focus will be on streetwear, design, merchandise, music and outlet.  So for those of you who have trouble deciding (I can relate), we put together our favorites for this year:

LA LOUPE ROUGE 

We see deer, rabbits, foxes and other cute little prints on totebags, china, pillows and so much more. The fact that they are handmade, often silk screened, only adds to the appeal! And despite the fact it's all handmade, it's not all that pricey: the china varies from 3 to 4,5 euros, totebags around 5 euros and the pillows for about 8 euros. Go take a look yourself and be enchanted! Maybe you can find some nice Mother's Day present?

MAD FACULTY

I (Lies) must say I'm biased for choosing this because they are graphic design students from my old school. I feel really old myself when I say 'my old school'. But nonetheless, they make pretty totebags and notepads. We all need them, you know I'm right. And by buying those pretty things you also support their trip to Copenhagen. So show your love (and preferably your money) and let them have a Scandinavian blast!

TITI AND THE GERMAN KID

Kristien Follon aka Titi doesn't need an introduction anymore. She recently started her very own showroom in the centre of Hasselt (GO Limburg!), and she keeps on surprising and amazing everybody with her young, edgy and daring designs. We can only have much respect and appreciation for that (the fact that we drank some free beers at her showroom has nothing to do with this. NOTHING!). If you're not familiar with her work, go pay a visit! If you do already know her, go check it out anyway and have a chat because she's also a good laugh!

OFFLINE

"Back to basics! From classy to trashy!" That's how they describe their tees. We see funky prints and a pink gameboy tshirt called "Gameho", the boy version is called "Gamebro". We think that's funny, that's why they deserve a spot in our fav's list! The "Dead kitty's galaxy" kind of creeps us out though. But they say it's "hip as fuck". We'll take their word for it!

BUM STYLE

"Quality low life apparel." Sounds peculiar. They don't give many more hints at their tumblr page, only a collage of cool photos of even more peculiar objects/ clothing (is that a golden lunch bag? YES PLEASE!). Our curiousity has been triggered, so we'll definitely check them out on Thursday and we recommend you do the same!

DEATH, SHRED

"I think I might be a typical case of the Peter Pan syndrome." Living his life like everyday could be his last, we all could learn from that. As a graphic designer he started making designs for tshirts as a little side project, which he sold while touring with his HC band. The little side project grew up and became a full-grown and succesfull brand. A brand that started out on feelings of nostalgia and tries to spread a positive and constructive message. We like brands with a story to tell, so therefore go and say HI to these fellas! Like they used to say at HC-shows: support your local scene! Karolien is already drooling over the skull tshirt while I crave that bodysuit (how cool would it be for festivals combined with some shorts!).

MADE BY CHICKIES

The name says it all: GIRLPOWER! I'm sorry if that sounds very Spice Girly, but it's nice to see some chickies rocking the clothing business (together with TITI, yeah!). All we can do is cheer for more and be all excited. SO HERE'S THE CAPS LOCK TO DESCRIBE ALL OF OUR EXCITEMENT! We really like the GUNS AND CHICKS tanktop. Totally badass, like us.

It wasn't easy to make this list as there are A LOT of participants. For a full list, go check out the website of KPM Cup, you won't be disappointed!

Did we manage to trigger your curiosity, as most of the participants triggered ours? We sure hope so! Let us know in the comment section below and if you plan on hopping by on Thursday, don't be a stranger! We are damn sure it will be a blast.

Designer Days, Hasselt

When you love designer clothing, shoes, jewelry, bags and other wannahaves, but you don't have the budget to actually buy all these pretty things, I bet last Saturday was marked in your calendar. It wasn't? Well, stop reading right this instant, because you're gonna feel sorry you didn't.

Hasselt has its very own Museum of Fashion and last Saturday they organised their annual Designer Days:  a stock sale, together with some of the local and exclusive boutiques and designers. This means: all the prettiness of designer must-haves for discount prices. If this doesn't get your heart racing, make sure to pay your doctor a visit today.

My budget for this month has already been spent (thank you Steve Madden boots - I'll show later - ), but this didn't stop me from going and nose about. My friend Sofie bought the most amazing heeled loafers by Marc by Marc Jacobs and Natalie took home a lovely ring by Els Vansteelandt (sold by Multiple). We also visited the running exposition "Dressing the 20th century", because of the 'festivities', the entrance fee was gratuite!

Afterwards, we went for coffee and iced tea at Sweet Coffee. Make sure you stop by there when you're in Hasselt and in the mood for coffee, they have giant Audrey Hepburn photos on the wall!

For a list of all the participating boutiques and designers, make sure you go visit the museum's website.