Jamie Thingelstad Profile Photo

Jamie Thingelstad

Writer of the Weekly Thing. Blogger. Explorer of tech, the open web, AI, and a good escape room. Maybe a podcast? CTO of SPS Commerce, Board Member of MnTech, Former Board Member Minnestar. Minneapolis is home.

Coffee

Posts here are devoted to the simple joy of coffee—whether it’s a nitro oat latte in Fargo or a tasting flight during a road trip. I share notes on cafés visited, beans tried and the small moments that make each cup memorable.

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    Enjoying a little day trip starting with a coffee stop at Getaway Motor Cafe in Carver.

    Overhead view of a latte topped with black sesame seeds in a black-rimmed ceramic mug on a light wood table.Brick exterior wall of Getaway Motor Cafe with white lettering, two wall sconces, checkered bunting, and a bike rack below.

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    Flat white at Hidden Coffee Roasters.

    Flat white with latte art in a black cup beside a glass of water and a Hidden Coffee Roasters origin card on a wooden table outdoors.
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    Escape in Europe — Day 13

    • 9:00a: Depart Airbnb
    • Take L5 and L4
    • 9:40a: Arrive at Paella Cooking class
    • Go to market with cooking class
    • Make Paella, Spanish Omelette, Roasted vegetables for lunch in class
    • Jamie enjoys the red wine
    • Wrap up class enjoying Chicken and Shrimp Paella
    • Get Tyler a crepe (he wasn’t into paella)
    • Make way to Nomad Coffee Bar for delicious espresso and cappuccino
    • Tammy and Mazie explore shops a bit
    • Tyler and Jamie go to Gemeria to be there when they re-open at 4:30p to see about Pokémon cards
    • Gameria is a complete bust but Arco TCG across the street is amazing
    • Pokémon exploring, reconnect with Tammy and Mazie
    • Take 210 bus many stops into suburbs of Barcelona (note: 210 bus is blue and our cards don’t work but we are allowed on the bus)
    • Do Londium Escape Room — #7 in the world!
    • Try to return on 210 bus but driver notes our cards don’t work and no go
    • Jamie calls Taxi via Uber to get back to city
    • 8:15p: Attempt to arrive early to Ali Ocakbaşı for 9p reservation, no go.
    • Tyler gets a muffin at bakery that Mazie goes to by internship
    • Walk to LearnLife to see where Mazie is interning
    • Mazie and Tyler return visit to bakery
    • 8:50p We all write up our Londium experience for Escaping Things
    • 9:00p Dinner at Ali Ocakbaşı
    • Return to Airbnb via L5
    • Jamie goes in, Tammy, Mazie and Tyler decide to get a stuffed churro at 10:30p
    • Sadly, stuffed churro place is closed. Everyone returns to Airbnb.
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    Escape in Europe — Day 12

    • Mazie and Jamie get coffee, tea and baked goods before Mazie goes off to school.
    • Tammy on morning run. Tyler relaxes at Airbnb.
    • Delightful brunch at Billy Brunch.
    • return to Airbnb to get Tammy’s metro pass that she forgot
    • Take V21 and V19 buses to Park Güell
    • 12:26p get tickets for Park Güell stuff
    • Explore Park Güell
    • Walk to L1 stop for train
    • Stopped into Arte Vistas Gallery
    • Go to Picasso Museum Barcelona
    • Stopped into Brunells Patisserie for an amazing Croissant de Nata
    • Explore Latin District and various shops
    • Attempt to find another pastry at another shop but decided to return to Brunells and have another try there with a capuccino this time.
    • Walk to our 2nd to last escape room on this trip
    • Do Jurassic at Golden Pop! First escape room we’ve gotten dirty doing.
    • Take L7 train from Plaza Catalunya to El Puxet
    • Meet Christina and Natalie and visit Mazie’s home stay!
    • Bring new suitcase loaded with stuff to return home from Mazie’s stay, and get Mazie packed up for Croatia trip with Tammy
    • Return to Airbnb on L7 and L5.
    • Tammy turns in for the night, Jamie, Mazie, and Tyler return to Pink Buda for a “Barcelona dinner” at 10p.
    • Return to Airbnb along the Sagrada Família.
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    Escape in Europe — Day 10

    • Jamie up and playing around with Escaping Things website
    • Tammy goes on a run
    • 9:00a Depart for Escape Room
    • 9:11a Miromesnil to Stalingrad
    • The Taxidermist — amazing escape room
    • 11:51a Metro from Stalingrad
    • Incredible lunch at Ladurée
    • Walk along the Champs-Elysee to Arc de Triomphe
    • Explore Arc for a while
    • Look for high-end coffee shop or good boulangerie and sadly didn’t find what we wanted
    • Return to Airbnb to drop off things
    • 4:31p Metro from Miromesnil to Eiffel Tower
    • Explore Eiffel Tower area
    • Tyler and Tammy get tickets to walk up stairs to first level
    • Jamie realizes not enough time to take elevator and avoid fear of heights
    • Tyler and Tammy come back down
    • Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise on the Seine. Very fancy!
    • Take in the Eiffel Tower at night all lit up.
    • 7:57p Metro from Trocadêro back to Airbnb
    • Pack and prepare to leave for Barcelona tomorrow
    • 9:45p Learn that Tyler was accepted to go Edina High School Japan trip in 2027!
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    Escape in Europe — Day 9

    • Rest a bit in the morning in the Airbnb.
    • Walk to crêpe stand on Champs-Élysées for breakfast
    • Stop at Cojean for cappuccino on way to Metro
    • 10:16a M9 from Miromesnil to Puerte St Cloud
    • Walk to Parc des Princes
    • Stadium tour of Paris Saint-Germaine
    • Shopping at PSG Store: Tyler Jersey, Tammy Sweatshirt, Jamie scarf.
    • 1:08p Take M10 Boulogne — Jean Jaurès to Mobillion
    • 1:35p Burgers for lunch at Specimen
    • Walk around neighborhood exploring
    • Visit Notre Dame during day
    • Stop at Merveilleux
    • Coffee at Strada
    • 3:31p M10 Cardinal Lemoine to escape room
    • Galactic Mission Escape Room
    • Saw super cool race car simulator place
    • Walk to Gem La Patisserie for Macarons, but sadly they had closed early
    • 6:08p Quatre-Septembre
    • Visit Le Coin Des Barons — Pokémon shop in Paris!
    • Cookie at Ben’s Cookies
    • 7:13p M1 Hôtel de Ville to Arc de Triomphe
    • Return to Airbnb
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    Afternoon cappuccino with espresso starter at Strada in Paris.

    Cappuccino with rosetta latte art in a white ceramic cup on a speckled blue saucer, alongside a small espresso cup, water glasses, and a slice of cake on a light blue cafe table.
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    Escape in Europe — Day 6

    • Tammy goes for run
    • Jamie returns to Sango for delicious coffee
    • 10:00a Pat’s Poffertjes for Dutch Pancakes.
    • Hustle back to Hendrick’s Hotel to get luggage and checkout.
    • Hustle to Amsterdam Central.
    • 11:10a Eurostar train to Paris.
    • 2:55p Arrive in Paris at Gare du Nord.
    • Take M4 to Strasbourg — Saint-Denis then M9 to Miromesnil.
    • 3:50p check into Airbnb.
    • 4:35p CONNECT WITH MAZIE!
    • Walked to dinner along the Siene.
    • Delicious pizzas at Senza Nome.
    • Explore and experience the Louvre at night.
    • Macaron stop at Laduree.
    • Walked to Notre Dame.
    • Took the M4 to the escape room.
    • Escaped from Revolt at Lock Academy.
    • Took the M9 back to the Airbnb.
    • 11:50p Return to Airbnb
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    Escape in Europe — Day 3

    • 9:50a Jamie up, enhancing Escaping Things site
    • 10:25a Time to be up
    • 11:30a Leave hotel to Central Station
    • 11:44a Intercity Heerlen line to Utrecht
    • 12:45p escape room! Amazing.
    • Stroopwaffels warm and fresh first time. Plus a sugar waffle.
    • Exploring Utrecht.
    • Magical experience at Keen Coffee.
    • music box museum
    • 4:00p Tammy steps out to get Brandi Carlile tickets!
    • impromptu Macaron stop
    • stopped at Belgisch Biercafé Olivier Utrecht
    • Dinner at Casa Damstraat
    • 6:00p Escape Room again. We liked it so much we decided to do another room!
    • Train back to Amsterdam, Walk back to hotel
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    Delicious breakfast and coffee at Kek in Delft.

    Exterior of Kek Coffee and Crafts in Delft with two people entering, a mint green bench, and orange blanket outside.Latte with rosette art in a dark ceramic cup beside a blue mug of hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream and chocolate chips, served on a wooden tray

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