Location: 644 Emerson Street, Palo Alto
Reviewed: November 16, 2008
Espresso: Fraiche uses Blue Bottle Coffee, 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.
Atmosphere: 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.
Verdict: Good espresso from a yogurt shop. Who would have thought?
Showing posts with label Blue Bottle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Bottle. Show all posts
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Bittersweet: The Chocolate Cafe
Location: 2123 Fillmore St., San Francisco
Other locations in Oakland and Danville.
Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Espresso: Bittersweet uses coffee from Blue Bottle. 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.
Atmosphere: 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.
Verdict: Not the best, although far from the worst. Worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.
Other locations in Oakland and Danville.
Reviewed: September 1, 2008
Espresso: Bittersweet uses coffee from Blue Bottle. 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.
Atmosphere: 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.
Verdict: Not the best, although far from the worst. Worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Blue Bottle Cafe
Location: 66 Mint St., San Francisco
Reviewed: May 5, 2008
Espresso: 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.
Atmosphere: The new Blue Bottle Cafe is small and crowded. Minimal signage and a 17-foot ceiling. The siphon bar is fun.
Verdict: Pulls it off well.
Reviewed: May 5, 2008
Espresso: 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.
Atmosphere: The new Blue Bottle Cafe is small and crowded. Minimal signage and a 17-foot ceiling. The siphon bar is fun.
Verdict: Pulls it off well.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Velo Rouge Cafe
Location: 798 Arguello Blvd., San Francisco
Reviewed: September 16, 2007
Espresso: Velo Rouge is a purveyor of coffee from Blue Bottle. Rumour has it that they use the Bella Donovan blend for espresso. My shot was a full-bodied, sweet shot finishing with a pungent bitterness. A bit different from the other Blue Bottle coffees I've had and quite good. Crema here is thick and dark (the way it should be!).
Atmosphere: Velo Rouge is a very small shop, almost square in shape. It has a bicycle motif to the decor and sells branded-items (drinkware, wearables), in addition to coffee and food. They had live jazz playing when I was there. Crowded with a line almost out of the door.
Verdict: A very solid effort.
Reviewed: September 16, 2007
Espresso: Velo Rouge is a purveyor of coffee from Blue Bottle. Rumour has it that they use the Bella Donovan blend for espresso. My shot was a full-bodied, sweet shot finishing with a pungent bitterness. A bit different from the other Blue Bottle coffees I've had and quite good. Crema here is thick and dark (the way it should be!).
Atmosphere: Velo Rouge is a very small shop, almost square in shape. It has a bicycle motif to the decor and sells branded-items (drinkware, wearables), in addition to coffee and food. They had live jazz playing when I was there. Crowded with a line almost out of the door.
Verdict: A very solid effort.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Guerilla Cafe
Location: 1620 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
Reviewed: August 31, 2007
Espresso: Guerilla uses coffee from Blue Bottle. Unfortunately, they pre-grind it; despite this, however, the crema was surprisingly quite thick. The barista didn't pay much attention to the pour, and what resulted was about 1.5oz. of espresso with the aforementioned thick crema. The crema was of a moderate brownish color and didn't look at all bad. It was full-bodied, sweet, and fairly bright.
Atmosphere: Something between a coffee bar and a full restaurant, Guerilla features table service but also has counter seating. It's a long narrow space of moderate size with large chiaroscuro portraits of Che Guevara (or someone else maybe) on the walls.
Verdict: Not bad, but the weakest Blue Bottle coffee I've experienced.
Reviewed: August 31, 2007
Espresso: Guerilla uses coffee from Blue Bottle. Unfortunately, they pre-grind it; despite this, however, the crema was surprisingly quite thick. The barista didn't pay much attention to the pour, and what resulted was about 1.5oz. of espresso with the aforementioned thick crema. The crema was of a moderate brownish color and didn't look at all bad. It was full-bodied, sweet, and fairly bright.
Atmosphere: Something between a coffee bar and a full restaurant, Guerilla features table service but also has counter seating. It's a long narrow space of moderate size with large chiaroscuro portraits of Che Guevara (or someone else maybe) on the walls.
Verdict: Not bad, but the weakest Blue Bottle coffee I've experienced.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
Location: Ferry Building, San Francisco.
Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Espresso: My double shot was served in a "Gibraltar glass" (this is a rocks glass), since they were out of proper cups (my choice as opposed to paper). The barista was apologetic about this; she also ground to order and tamped properly. The total shot volume was probably in the 2oz range, although I'm not used to estimating in this kind of drinking vessel. The clearness of the glass allowed me to see the side of the shot, and I swear that it was entirely crema. The top of the crema was medium-dark brown and flaked with even darker specks. Fairly bright and medium-bodied, the shot was sweet and spicy with lots of butterscotch.
Atmosphere: This location is a cart that operates during the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. There isn't so much as a single table, so kudos to Blue Bottle for "daring" to offer ceramic (and glass) cups.
Verdict: Good. Very, very good.
Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Espresso: My double shot was served in a "Gibraltar glass" (this is a rocks glass), since they were out of proper cups (my choice as opposed to paper). The barista was apologetic about this; she also ground to order and tamped properly. The total shot volume was probably in the 2oz range, although I'm not used to estimating in this kind of drinking vessel. The clearness of the glass allowed me to see the side of the shot, and I swear that it was entirely crema. The top of the crema was medium-dark brown and flaked with even darker specks. Fairly bright and medium-bodied, the shot was sweet and spicy with lots of butterscotch.
Atmosphere: This location is a cart that operates during the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building. There isn't so much as a single table, so kudos to Blue Bottle for "daring" to offer ceramic (and glass) cups.
Verdict: Good. Very, very good.
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