tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159935052024-03-14T01:58:24.848-07:00caffeinated rantingsReviews of coffeeshops, mostly located within the San Francisco Bay Area.espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-45720009419407307732009-11-19T17:07:00.000-08:002009-11-19T17:14:56.105-08:00Subrosa Coffee<span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >Location: 419 40th Street, Oakland<br /><br />Reviewed: November 9, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Subrosa serves coffee from Four Barrel. The shot is ground and tamped properly and poured directly into a properly-sized cup. The short shot was fairly bright but not overpoweringly so. It tasted of spiced-orange with a nuttiness to acidity and a floral aroma.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Subrosa is tiny and contains no seating whatsoever; nor does it have signage. You really do have to look for it twice. The friendly barista told me that there was a courtyard to the side of the building, but as there was no direct doorway, I didn't take a look.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Probably the best Four Barrel shot I've had anywhere.</span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-44626606098635231452009-07-31T15:45:00.000-07:002009-11-22T22:35:26.002-08:00LAMILL Coffee Boutique<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Location: 1636 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles<br /><br />Reviewed: June 14, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> I didn't get to watch the barista for reasons that will be made clear shortly. The shot had a thick moderate-to-dark crema and nuanced berry notes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> LAMILL is literally a coffee-restaurant. You walk in and are greeted by a waitress who takes you to a table and hands you two menus: the smaller one is for food; the larger one is for coffee.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Amazing concept and good coffee: just go.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-72883405755679181002009-06-28T22:22:00.000-07:002009-06-28T22:36:59.494-07:00Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice<br /><br />Reviewed: June 13, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> <a href="http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/locations/view/Venice+Coffeebar">Intelligentsia </a>serves their famous <a href="http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/store/product/id/137">Black Cat</a> in addition to a seasonally-rotating succession of single origins. Shots are ground-to-order, and poured on Synessos. Temperature is adjusted periodically along with grind. My shot (I selected Black Cat), was poured to about 1.75oz. in a white ceramic demi. It had a thick dark brown crema, along with a chocolate-milk-like sweetness.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> The concept of the Venice location of Intelligentsia is a rather unusal departure for a coffeebar. It features a few benches along the walls, giving limited seating, and no tables whatsoever. There are no fewer than five separate barista workstations at which customers may be served. When a customer is not being served, they are held at the front desk. Apparently the point is to better facilitate barista-customer interaction, but I don't know how well it will work for anyone other than the afficionados, who probably manage to have a high level of interaction with their barista anyway.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Strange concept, but excellent espresso.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-29691778884846749092009-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:002009-06-13T17:33:44.459-07:00Barista Brew Cafe<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Location: 431 G Street, Davis<br /><br />Reviewed: June 11, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> My single was served on the tall end for volume, at perhaps 1.5oz. It was ground to order and tamped. The medium-to-light brown crema was of moderate thickness but dissipated rapidly. The shot contained notes of caramel and a hint of lemony-acidity, with a nutty aftertaste. It was, however, slightly sour.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><span> Barista Brew is a small shop near the edge of downtown Davis. It has limited seating due to the size but also has a </span>couple of tables on the sidewalk. Other than being on the small side, there isn't much of note to comment on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Solid but not outstanding.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-87667159818324078972009-05-30T18:48:00.000-07:002009-05-30T18:54:41.240-07:00Cafe Lumiere<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 365 Calle Principal, Monterey<br /><br />Reviewed: May 25, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Although the barista seemed knowledgeable and nominally did everything right, somehow my shot seemed lacking. I'm not sure why: maybe the high pour volume (~2.25oz.) or the somewhat pale (yet persistent) crema. In any case, the shot wasn't unpleasant at all; it was well-balanced and full-bodied and mild. It was probably too mild and too balanced. It made relatively little impression on me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Like its <a href="http://espressophile.blogspot.com/2007/10/cafe-noir.html">predecessor</a>, Lumiere is located in the lobby of the Osio Cinema. My recollection of the layout is that it hasn't changed much. They use different coffee now and have a different machine, etc. Most notably, this time I did not smell the popcorn. Perhaps that is a welcome side-effect of arriving early in the morning.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> It really isn't bad. I'd stop in when I go to Monterey.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-71474798741123463072009-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:002009-04-23T18:16:52.214-07:00Cafe Sportivo<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 965 Brewster Ave., Redwood City<br /><br />Reviewed: April 22, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Sportivo serves the Northern Italian Espresso from <a href="http://www.eccocaffe.com/catalog/index.php">Ecco Caffe</a>. They grind to order, pour directly into the cup, and tamp properly, yet somehow the result is off, quite probably due to either the rather large pour volume (~2.5oz.) or perhaps too low a temperature (but I speculate on this). In any case, the end result is a completely full espresso cup with a nice-looking mottled medium-brown crema that dissipates rapidly. The shot is mostly sharp and sour, but it does have some interesting notes of nutmeg.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Sportivo is a moderately sized shop with rather nice couches and glass-topped tables. It could almost be called elegant. Large picture windows cover the two sides of the building that look out to either street. Free wifi.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Potential, unrealized.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-40803740673966833122009-04-10T00:25:00.000-07:002009-04-10T00:33:14.037-07:00Old Soul Co.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 1716 L Street, Sacramento<br /><br />Reviewed: April 5, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> My shot was ground-to-order but that didn't seem to help matters much. The crema was pale, although not particularly thin, and the shot had primarily a sour lemon flavour and not much body. It was probably about 2.25 oz. and served in a properly-sized demitasse with matching saucer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> The entrance to Old Soul is located in an alleyway in the back of their building. It's not particularly easy to find. Once you do get inside, the shop is large and open with a high wooden ceiling with exposed rafters. Both roasting and baking operations take place here, to the extent that the retail aspect seems an add-on. I saw no evidence of any climate control systems (which they must have in Sacramento or they'd melt in the summer).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> You can do better in Sacramento.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-55492723104666533912009-03-30T22:45:00.000-07:002009-03-30T22:53:46.020-07:00Cafe Capriccio<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 2200 Mason Street, San Francisco<br /><br />Reviewed: March 29, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Capriccio uses coffee from Ecco Caffe. They grind to order, pour directly into the cup, and generally do things right. The results show this. My shot had a thick layer of nicely-flecked medium-to-dark crema that persisted through the cup. It was full-bodied and contained hints of chocolate and citrus-orange in the finish.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> This is a nicer place than the typical hipster-overrun places elsewhere in SF. It's small inside but elegant and well-lit with a high ceiling. Several tables with built-in seating along the wall in addition to the chairs. The location is somewhat off the beaten path, so it almost feels like a neighborhood secret.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Quite nice.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-81093789782952931652009-01-04T18:27:00.000-08:002009-01-10T11:50:13.820-08:00The Abbey Coffee Lounge<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Location: 350 Mission Street, Santa Cruz<br /><br />Reviewed: January 4, 2009<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> The Abbey uses the Sermon blend from <a href="http://espressophile.blogspot.com/2007/12/verve-coffee-roasters.html">Verve</a>. They have obviously been trained well. They grind/tamp each shot and use a naked portafilter. The only oddity is that they have a grinder with neither a doser nor a fork. Nonetheless, they produce short shots with a thick crema of an even medium-dark brown color. The resulting cup is full-bodied, with lots of chocolate and some almond notes, along with an aroma of citrus-orange.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> The Abbey is located inside a church (making the blend appropriate); it's not the easiest place to find if you don't know this, but they do have signage located on the sidewalk. The interior is large, disorganized and cluttered. There's a lot of seating and free wifi. Friendly staff, weekly concerts and other events.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Coffee as religion.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-62252735599777749482009-01-01T09:37:00.000-08:002009-01-01T09:47:58.515-08:00Wandering Goat Coffee<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 268 Madison Street, Eugene, Oregon<br /><br />Reviewed: December 28, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> <a href="http://www.wanderinggoat.com/">Wandering Goat</a> roasts their own coffee and produces an espresso called Espresso Chupacabra. My shot was ground-to-order, and, as I was the first customer of the day, it was apparent that the barista had spent some time dialing in before the shop opened. In the cup, it was light-bodied with a strong floral aroma and notes of caramel and citrus. The crema was dark, thick, and persistent.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Wandering Goat is oddly located in an industrial section of town. This is likely due to their roasting operations and possible land use restrictions on such. In any case, it's a large shop, albeit somewhat dark because of a lack of much fenestration in the building. They have the requisite couches and wifi.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Good. Stop by if you drive through Eugene.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-72432927017519262142008-12-30T21:03:00.000-08:002008-12-30T21:11:34.497-08:00Chocolate Fish Coffee<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 400 P Street, Sacramento<br /><br />Reviewed: December 24, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> <a href="http://chocolatefishcoffee.com/">Chocolate Fish</a> uses espresso from <a href="http://www.eccocaffe.com/catalog/index.php">Ecco Caffe</a>. My shot was ground to order, pulled directly into a ceramic demitasse and poured on the short side. The result was a nicely patterned thick layer of crema on top of ~1.5oz. of coffee. Notes of caramel, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Chocolate Fish is located in a building that otherwise houses state government offices. This building is next to a number of other buildings that also house state government offices. This makes it difficult to find. Otherwise, it's a fairly typical small coffeeshop: the layout is somewhat of an oblong rectangle and there are lots of windows and fee wifi; dark tones predominate. The staff is friendly and enthusiastic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> They do things right here.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-91727607334084613572008-11-16T19:34:00.001-08:002008-11-16T19:42:55.968-08:00Fraiche Yogurt<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 644 Emerson Street, Palo Alto<br /><br />Reviewed: November 16, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Fraiche uses <a href="http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net">Blue Bottle Coffee</a>, and it resultantly shows. They have a separate barista for each shift (so not just any employee can work the machine and make drinks), and they've been obviously trained, grinding and tamping each shot; they also use a bottomless portafiler. They use the Hayes Valley blend here, and the results with it typically display a thick crema that can vary from an even medium brown to something a bit darker and flecked. It's full-bodied and complex, displaying a pungent spice that hides a sweeter, berrylike finish.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Not a lot to speak of in this regard. The interior is small and perhaps typical. The shop is somewhat oblong with seating along one side (as well as a single table around a corner which is pretty unnoticeable unless you know it's there). It can get crowded.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Good espresso from a yogurt shop. Who would have thought?<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-44019155062578018772008-09-10T20:43:00.000-07:002008-09-10T20:53:04.744-07:00Four Barrel CoffeeLocation: 375 Valencia Street, San Francisco<br /><br />Reviewed: September 7, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Four Barrel has some relation to Portland's famed <a href="http://www.stumptowncoffee.com">Stumptown Coffee Roasters</a>. My understanding is that they roast (or will be roasting shortly) Hairbender under license. In any case, it's the classic stuff here. Light-bodied by design, bright, honey and citrus. It almost goes without saying that they grind/tamp to order and pull short shots.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Four Barrel is a large shop with the back half cordoned off for use by the roasting operations. It has a tall, open, wooden-plank ceiling, tables attached to the walls, and various other devices to make it trendy. What's more interesting here is the setup. Two Mistrals, six groups in total, very open bar area so you can watch the baristas at work. I spotted a Clover back in the roasting area too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> It's really a must-visit.espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-25182839813963109342008-09-02T12:19:00.000-07:002008-09-02T12:33:16.414-07:00Bittersweet: The Chocolate Cafe<span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >Location: 2123 Fillmore St., San Francisco<br /><br />Other locations in Oakland and Danville.<br /><br />Reviewed: September 1, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso: </span><a href="http://www.bittersweetcafe.com/">Bittersweet </a>uses coffee from <a href="http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net">Blue Bottle</a>. Although they do a decent job with it, one gets the idea that it's really more about the chocolate (and possibly the chocolate-based drinks) here. Nonetheless, they appear to have been trained properly; my shot was ground and tamped individually, and was poured directly into a fairly wide-mouthed cup with matching saucer. The crema was a medium-to-pale brown color, but was fairly thick. The shot, unusually for Blue Bottle's coffee, was not at all on the sweeter side, but had a bit of a not-unpleasant bitterness to it. The body had a creamy texture, and the tastes were a fairly complicated mixture of herbs and roots and, not surprisingly, chocolate. The aftertaste tended toward a singular chocolate.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> Bittersweet is a small shop in the Fillmore district. It's long and narrow, with high ceilings, hardwood flooring, and two levels. Most of the seating is in back and upstairs, but there are also some window streets facing the street.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Not the best, although far from the worst. Worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.<br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-62622501218951025122008-08-27T10:12:00.000-07:002008-08-27T10:19:18.967-07:00Panama Bay Coffee Co.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 2115 N. First Street, Livermore</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: August 24, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The girl running the register responded to my request for a single espresso with an inquiry whether I wanted it short or long. I specified short and ended up with about 1.5 oz. of liquid in the bottom of a cappuccino-sized cup (albeit one with straight sides and not a properly curved shape). The barista did grind and tamp the shot. The crema, which had started to break up by the time I managed to make it to a seat, was a pale-to-medium brown. The shot had a creamy mouthfeel and a primary taste of milk chocolate, which turned toward bitter in the aftertaste.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Panama Bay is a large shop, with a long and narrow layout on a street corner in downtown Livermore. It's well-lit with large picture windows along each side that faces either street.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Neither the best nor the worst.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-64191273106664635402008-06-03T21:29:00.000-07:002008-06-03T21:46:14.673-07:00Fin's Coffee<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 1104 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: June 1, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso:<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Fin's serves the infamous Malabar Gold as their exclusive blend. Malabar Gold has a substantial proportion (20-25%) of robusta; the taste reflects this, as the distinctive burnt-tire notes predominate. They served my double in a 12oz. paper cup (even though I specified "for here"), but apart from that, the barista ground and tamped the shot, which provided a thick dark crema. It was about 2oz. in total volume.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Fin's is a small shop with large picture windows and a beach theme. There are plushy fish scattered around here and there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Decent if you like Malabar Gold.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-74205910082275517902008-05-05T22:01:00.000-07:002008-05-05T22:08:41.987-07:00Blue Bottle Cafe<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 66 Mint St., San Francisco<br /><br />Reviewed: May 5, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Espresso:</span> Blue Bottle serves, optionally, single-origins on a lever San Marco machine. This particular day, they were utilizing a Brazil of a certain estate which name escapes me. The barista took some time dialing-in and poured out at least three shots before serving me. The crema was medium-to-light in shade and even in tone. Despite this, the crema was still thick and plentiful. The shot, poured to about 1.5 oz. in a ~2 oz. white ceramic cup with matching saucer, was quite complex in flavour, tasting of sage and smoke and chocolate, fading to something approaching walnut in the finish. Served alongside a glass of water.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span> The new Blue Bottle Cafe is small and crowded. Minimal signage and a 17-foot ceiling. The siphon bar is fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Verdict:</span> Pulls it off well.<br /></span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-78056157252025494552008-02-26T21:38:00.000-08:002008-02-26T21:40:04.083-08:00Carlos Martin<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Please read </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/coffeeatthemoment/02-26-2008">this article</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and then donate.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-55777977828876038302008-02-10T22:13:00.000-08:002008-02-10T22:22:52.600-08:00Cafe Mediterraneum<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 2475 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: February 10, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Cafe Med uses coffee from </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com/">Barefoot</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, specifically the Sweetness! blend. They do a reasonable job with it: grinding and tamping to order and deliberately taking time with it. The result was a perhaps 2oz. drink (this being a double) in a white ceramic cup of perhaps twice that volume. The crema was thick and persistent, although not particularly dark. It tasted of upfront berry-tones fading into a more bitter note. Syrupy, although not heavy-bodied.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Very old (since 1958) and very bohemian, this is a large shop with lots of space, a half-balcony across the back, mismatched tables and chairs (that can wobble). Of note (if only for trivia parlor games) is that this very shop is rumoured to have invented the caffe latte.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Can this lay claim to the best of Berkeley? Possibly so.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-8854874206888122342008-02-04T21:43:00.000-08:002008-02-04T21:45:15.002-08:00Dr. Illy's passing<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Ernesto Illy<br />July 18, 1925 -- February 3, 2008.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br />R.I.P.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-43930521037946225592008-01-29T13:36:00.001-08:002008-01-29T13:40:49.976-08:00Wild Awakenings Coffee House<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 142 McAlister St., San Francisco</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: January 25, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I have to admit my surprise at being handed a cappuccino cup that was </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;">three-quarters full</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> in response to my request for a single espresso. That the shot was pre-ground should probably go without saying when a place gaffes like this. Despite this, the crema was thick initially, although it dissipated rapidly. It had a mild herbal taste.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> This is a large shop and is filled with mismatched tables and old couches. It's really quite grungy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Fans of the supposedly infamous cafe creme might want to check it out.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-76414132395346088112008-01-13T14:13:00.001-08:002008-01-13T14:21:34.111-08:00Michael's Gelato & Cafe<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Location: 440 University Ave., Palo Alto</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Reviewed: January 12, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >Espresso:</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> I was quite surprised at seeing a coffee roaster sitting on the floor in a gelato shop, and when the owner told me they roasted "every day", I figured I had to try it. He's trying to do things right (grinding, tamping, ceramic cup), and to his credit, he did make me a second shot after I rejected the first pour as being too long. The shorter shot was still around 1.5oz (and this for a single); it had a pale-to-medium thin crema (probably because the shot was too hot, which was probably caused by a lack of sufficient cooling flush for an idle grouphead). It tasted of an interesting mixture of slightly bitter and slightly sweet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> It's a small shop with a half-balcony above the front portion of the storefront. Long and narrow with several tables here and there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >Verdict:</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> One of the better shots for places that do not specifically specialize in coffee.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-6014660199220977092008-01-13T13:48:00.001-08:002008-01-13T13:57:12.729-08:00The Coffee Bar<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 1890 Bryant St., San Francisco</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: January 12, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Coffee Bar serves Mr. Espresso's Neapolitan blend (they also had a single-origin in a different grinder, but I was not offered a choice of coffees to try). It was ground to order, poured directly into a cappuccino cup, and ran to about 2oz. The crema was of reasonable thickness, given the cup, and it was a mottled medium-brown color. It was slightly nutty, full-bodied and well-balanced, although it made little impression other than that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The Coffee Bar is a large space, possibly a former warehouse given the neighborhood, with the beverage (and food) service counter on the first floor, and the primary seating on a slightly-elevated landing of sorts above. The ceilings are very high, the primary tones are raw metal and unfinished wood. There is also outdoor seating in an courtyard enclosed with high metal fences; you have to walk through this courtyard to get to the interior, and there is no outdoor signage. It tries desperately hard to be cool and unfortunately succeeds.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> The coffee is only ok, but it might improve after they've been open for a while.</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-46040974435961192332007-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:002007-12-09T11:05:10.861-08:00Verve Coffee Roasters<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 816 41st Ave., Santa Cruz</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: December 8, 2007</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >Espresso:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Verve roasts their own coffee next door to the coffeeshop, and, when I was there, the beans were only a day or two out of the roaster. The freshness of the beans was reflected in the somewhat bubbly crema. The crema was extremely dark, thick, and persistent. The shot, which was ground-to-order and tamped hard, was quite the ristretto pour, perhaps less than 1oz for a double. The barista even threw out his first attempt at making my shot. The shot was of moderate body, and tasted of up-front fruit fading to a more chocolate note.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >Atmosphere:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Verve is a medium-sized shop with lots of windows and free wifi. Typical, I suppose. Parking in the neighborhood can be difficult. The staff is friendly and talkative.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >Verdict:</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Among the best.</span></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15993505.post-43238249483614273122007-12-07T20:14:00.000-08:002007-12-07T20:19:53.310-08:00Newark Java<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Location: 6139 Jarvis Ave., Newark</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Reviewed: December 7, 2007</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Espresso: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">My request for a single resulted in far too much liquid with a thin dissipating light-coloured crema in a straight-sided cup with an extremely mismatched saucer. Not only did the barista pre-grind and not pay attention to the pour, but she didn't even lock the portafilter all the way into place, resulting in coffee leaking around the outside thereof. To the extent the stale beans had any taste at all it was bitter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Atmosphere: </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Newark Java is a moderately-sized shop in a random stripmall in suburbia. Of note are the coffee-motif decorations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;">Verdict:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I still can't believe I drank this!</span><br /></span>espressophilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05982793339610449761noreply@blogger.com0