“. . . but now I know this path is only one of the many that opened before me on that morning in Dorothea.” -- Italo Calvino (Invisible Cities)

"A coffee shop should be a place for new exploration, new pathways in ones life," is how Conor Mahoney describes the experience he and his wife Ashley want to create for those who walk through the door of their downtown Mount Vernon venue.

If that seems like a big expectation to lay on a brand, then the first thing you need to know about Dorothea Coffee is that it isn't your typical coffee shop. Venture in and order a latte and you're going to be disappointed -- but only for a very brief time. You'll likely come around with your first "pour over."

In this first episode in our new Tales of the Magic Skagit series, "A Bite of Skagit," we'll learn about how one couple's coffee explorations led them from Seattle to 1st Street Mount Vernon to share their discoveries with the rest of us.

If you really, really love coffee, this TMS episode just might redefine your relationship with this ubiquitous brew. Consider yourself warned.