Location: 2885 Diamond St., San Francisco
Reviewed: July 24, 2006.
Espresso: My double was served lungo-style, reaching approximately 3oz. in total volume. Despite this, the crema was thick and medium-dark. It tasted mostly of chocolate, raisin, and a little cinnamon. It was well-balanced and full-bodied (unusual for a lungo) However, it was slightly sour.
Atmosphere: Cafe Bello is a small shop; it is a little dark inside and painted in warm colors (yellows, reds). There are framed pictures of latte art on the walls.
Verdict: They should have pulled it shorter but not bad.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Location: 1026 Valencia St., San Francisco
Reviewed: July 24, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a properly-sized ceramic cup. The crema was mostly dark, but it had a paler stripe running through the center of the cup. This didn't seem to affect the taste much, however; it was well-balanced, medium-bodied, and had quite a bit of brightness. There were caramelly tastes mixed with a hint of walnut. The barista ground individually and tamped properly. It was about 2oz. total volume.
Atmosphere: Ritual is located in the Mission District and the atmosphere caters to the "urban hipster" types so typical in this area. The interior, although large and open and light, consists of a number of well-worn couches and contains slightly rectangular tables that are much larger than the more typical round style in most coffeeshops. It is very crowded.
Verdict: In a reverse of normal from what I frequently find, the coffee is very good, but the location is not really to my liking.
Reviewed: July 24, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a properly-sized ceramic cup. The crema was mostly dark, but it had a paler stripe running through the center of the cup. This didn't seem to affect the taste much, however; it was well-balanced, medium-bodied, and had quite a bit of brightness. There were caramelly tastes mixed with a hint of walnut. The barista ground individually and tamped properly. It was about 2oz. total volume.
Atmosphere: Ritual is located in the Mission District and the atmosphere caters to the "urban hipster" types so typical in this area. The interior, although large and open and light, consists of a number of well-worn couches and contains slightly rectangular tables that are much larger than the more typical round style in most coffeeshops. It is very crowded.
Verdict: In a reverse of normal from what I frequently find, the coffee is very good, but the location is not really to my liking.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Cafe hopping in Palo Alto
Today's review of Coupa took place during a quick jaunt through downtown Palo Alto; I stopped at three places, in order: Coupa, Satura Cakes (I have previously reviewed their Los Altos location; they have a new location here), and Caffe del Doge (also previously reviewed).
Of note, when I stopped at del Doge, I requested and received the Doge Rosso blend; it's definitely on the sweet side, but it was served way too hot with a pale crema.
My shot at Satura was not bad at all; the crema was a little on the pale side, but the shot tasted fine.
So downtown Palo Alto has now been compared head to head to head and rank ordered:
#1: Satura Cakes
#2: Caffe del Doge
#3: Coupa Cafe
Of note, when I stopped at del Doge, I requested and received the Doge Rosso blend; it's definitely on the sweet side, but it was served way too hot with a pale crema.
My shot at Satura was not bad at all; the crema was a little on the pale side, but the shot tasted fine.
So downtown Palo Alto has now been compared head to head to head and rank ordered:
#1: Satura Cakes
#2: Caffe del Doge
#3: Coupa Cafe
Coupa Cafe
Location: 538 Ramona St., Palo Alto
Reviewed: July 13, 2006
Espresso: Coupa serves Venezuelan coffee exclusively, and hence all their espresso is a single-origin. My single was a little on the long side (~1.5oz) and was served in a wide-brimmed cup (albeit one of proper sizing) that didn't help the thin crema. The crema was pale-to-medium brown and even in tone. The shot was medium-bodied, well-balanced, and had primarily tones of caramel and milk chocolate. It was slightly too hot, but cooled quickly.
Atmosphere: Coupa is a large shop just off the major street in downtown Palo Alto. It is frequently quite crowded, and the free wifi probably doesn't help in that regard. The place is primarily dark-toned throughout with lots of wood, but it still feels light and open. Nicely different.
Verdict: Ok coffee, and a decent place to hang out if you can find seating.
Reviewed: July 13, 2006
Espresso: Coupa serves Venezuelan coffee exclusively, and hence all their espresso is a single-origin. My single was a little on the long side (~1.5oz) and was served in a wide-brimmed cup (albeit one of proper sizing) that didn't help the thin crema. The crema was pale-to-medium brown and even in tone. The shot was medium-bodied, well-balanced, and had primarily tones of caramel and milk chocolate. It was slightly too hot, but cooled quickly.
Atmosphere: Coupa is a large shop just off the major street in downtown Palo Alto. It is frequently quite crowded, and the free wifi probably doesn't help in that regard. The place is primarily dark-toned throughout with lots of wood, but it still feels light and open. Nicely different.
Verdict: Ok coffee, and a decent place to hang out if you can find seating.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Caffe del Sole
Location: 4342 California St., San Francisco
Reviewed: July 4, 2006
Espresso: My shot was served in a proper ceramic cup with grinds that were not specifically ground to order. The barista did tamp, using a small plastic tamper to do so. The cup was ~2oz. in volume and had a medium-to-pale, even, thin crema. The shot was extremely hot (possibly due, in some part, to the spent puck from the previous pour being left in the portafilter until I ordered). In the cup, the primary taste was a spicy chocolate.
Atmosphere: Caffe del Sole is a small shop in an outer neighbourhood of San Francisco. It is decorated with opera posters (including, oddly enough in this very Italian-themed location, operas by Massenet and Richard Strauss). On this particular day (when Italy was playing Germany in the World Cup semifinals), the place was packed to the gills with rambunctious soccer fans.
Verdict: Italy 2; Germany 0. They're probably still partying up there: go join in.
Reviewed: July 4, 2006
Espresso: My shot was served in a proper ceramic cup with grinds that were not specifically ground to order. The barista did tamp, using a small plastic tamper to do so. The cup was ~2oz. in volume and had a medium-to-pale, even, thin crema. The shot was extremely hot (possibly due, in some part, to the spent puck from the previous pour being left in the portafilter until I ordered). In the cup, the primary taste was a spicy chocolate.
Atmosphere: Caffe del Sole is a small shop in an outer neighbourhood of San Francisco. It is decorated with opera posters (including, oddly enough in this very Italian-themed location, operas by Massenet and Richard Strauss). On this particular day (when Italy was playing Germany in the World Cup semifinals), the place was packed to the gills with rambunctious soccer fans.
Verdict: Italy 2; Germany 0. They're probably still partying up there: go join in.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Queen Bean
Location: 1126 14th St., Modesto
Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Espresso: My shot was on the long side, being at least 3oz. The crema was pale-to-medium brown and quite thin. Because of the placement of the machine, it was difficult to watch the barista at work. It was served in a typical "diner-style" coffee cup. Slightly astringent and full-bodied.
Atmosphere: Queen Bean is located inside a converted house. It is difficult to see the ordering counter from the front door. The decor consists of loud reds and overdone trappings. It tries to be elegant but fails. I suppose some people like it.
Verdict: Questionable decor and less than stellar coffee.
Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Espresso: My shot was on the long side, being at least 3oz. The crema was pale-to-medium brown and quite thin. Because of the placement of the machine, it was difficult to watch the barista at work. It was served in a typical "diner-style" coffee cup. Slightly astringent and full-bodied.
Atmosphere: Queen Bean is located inside a converted house. It is difficult to see the ordering counter from the front door. The decor consists of loud reds and overdone trappings. It tries to be elegant but fails. I suppose some people like it.
Verdict: Questionable decor and less than stellar coffee.
Coffee Creek
Location: 2601 Oakdale Rd., Modesto
Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Espresso: Coffee Creek uses Taylor Maid Farms as their coffee supplier. It is of note that the barista did everything correctly. Ground to order, tamped, etc. It was served a little on the long side (probably just over 2.5oz. for a double), and had a slight paler dot in an otherwise darker, mottled brown head. The crema was thick and long-lasting. The cup had an aroma of vanilla and caramel, but the taste in the cup was overwhelmingly sweet and fruity.
Atmosphere: The Creek is a smallish shop in a large stripmall. Although there is ample outdoor seating, it wasn't getting much use on this quite warm Saturday morning. Inside, it was quite crowded. The interior layout is in an L-shape and features standard cafe tables at two heights (the taller ones being along the wall).
Verdict: Quite good; anyone who is in Modesto should stop in.
Reviewed: June 24, 2006
Espresso: Coffee Creek uses Taylor Maid Farms as their coffee supplier. It is of note that the barista did everything correctly. Ground to order, tamped, etc. It was served a little on the long side (probably just over 2.5oz. for a double), and had a slight paler dot in an otherwise darker, mottled brown head. The crema was thick and long-lasting. The cup had an aroma of vanilla and caramel, but the taste in the cup was overwhelmingly sweet and fruity.
Atmosphere: The Creek is a smallish shop in a large stripmall. Although there is ample outdoor seating, it wasn't getting much use on this quite warm Saturday morning. Inside, it was quite crowded. The interior layout is in an L-shape and features standard cafe tables at two heights (the taller ones being along the wall).
Verdict: Quite good; anyone who is in Modesto should stop in.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Eon Cafe
Location: 24970 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
Reviewed: June 14, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a ~4oz. cup, but the cup was half full so it was about the right volume. The crema was thick, medium-brown, and very even in tone. It was full-bodied and well-balanced. The primary tastes were caramel and cacao. The barista did everything right: ground, tamped, etc. He even used a naked portafilter. They are a wholesale customer of Barefoot, and served me the Medan blend.
Atmosphere: Eon is located, fairly uniquely, in a stand-alone building across from Chabot College. The layout consists of three separate rooms (with no actual doors in between them), one of which contains a brick fireplace, a couch, and a couple of armchairs. Of note, my shot was served in a painted-design cup.
Verdict: Quite good; one of the best things to ever happen to the East Bay.
Reviewed: June 14, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a ~4oz. cup, but the cup was half full so it was about the right volume. The crema was thick, medium-brown, and very even in tone. It was full-bodied and well-balanced. The primary tastes were caramel and cacao. The barista did everything right: ground, tamped, etc. He even used a naked portafilter. They are a wholesale customer of Barefoot, and served me the Medan blend.
Atmosphere: Eon is located, fairly uniquely, in a stand-alone building across from Chabot College. The layout consists of three separate rooms (with no actual doors in between them), one of which contains a brick fireplace, a couch, and a couple of armchairs. Of note, my shot was served in a painted-design cup.
Verdict: Quite good; one of the best things to ever happen to the East Bay.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Lowry's Irish Coffee House
Location: 350 W. Julian St., San Jose
Reviewed: June 5, 2006
Espresso: My request for an espresso turned up a good degree of consternation when the cash register reproduced my request as "Espresso - 16oz."! I immediately sought to clarify the misunderstanding with the barista, who assured me the drink would not be that large. Her reassurance was better than nominal, but the shot was still way too long at nearly 4oz. (presumably a double). The crema was medium-pale, uniform in tone, and quite thin. Table service didn't help, and it was starting to break by the time I picked up the cup to take a sip. The flavours in the cup were quite subdued; it was medium-bodied, balanced, and didn't taste like much at all. This is likely due to the grinds sitting in the doser for however long they'd been there. A wholesale customer of Barefoot, though I'm not certain which blend they use.
Atmosphere: Lowry's is an open and well-lit shop with a high ceiling and interesting chandeliers. The walls are painted variously a medium burnt-orange or a darkish moss-like green (the overall scheme looks much better than it sounds). There is a large TV on the far wall that is usually set to CNN.
Verdict: It is my understanding that the 2oz. single/4oz. double is pretty normal in Ireland, so at least they have some claim at authenticity.
Friday, June 02, 2006
City Bakery & Cafe
Location: 301 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
Reviewed: June 2, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a 12oz. to-go cup (I was not asked for my preference of carry out or stay in) and reached ~4oz. in volume. It had a thin yet persistent layer of light brown crema. It was quite hot, and the primary tastes (although they were not particularly prevalent, likely due to the heat and presumed staleness) were bitter and rubbery. The rubber-like taste speaks of the possible inclusion in the blend of a substantial proportion of robusta beans, and the sign in the cafe speaking of Vietnamese-grown coffee would also support this supposition.
Atmosphere: I did a double-take after walking into this place, because it looks like a formal restaurant. The tables are large, covered with white tablecloths and glassine panels. As the location is quite large, there is also substantial space between the tables. Of some note here is that nobody was in the cafe excepting myself and the (apparently solo) barista (who barely spoke English), and it was 8:45 a.m. in downtown San Jose. They may be new, as it should have been far busier than that.
Verdict: If they did as good a job with their espresso as they do with their croissants (mine was straight from the oven and still warm), they'd rock.
Reviewed: June 2, 2006
Espresso: My double was served in a 12oz. to-go cup (I was not asked for my preference of carry out or stay in) and reached ~4oz. in volume. It had a thin yet persistent layer of light brown crema. It was quite hot, and the primary tastes (although they were not particularly prevalent, likely due to the heat and presumed staleness) were bitter and rubbery. The rubber-like taste speaks of the possible inclusion in the blend of a substantial proportion of robusta beans, and the sign in the cafe speaking of Vietnamese-grown coffee would also support this supposition.
Atmosphere: I did a double-take after walking into this place, because it looks like a formal restaurant. The tables are large, covered with white tablecloths and glassine panels. As the location is quite large, there is also substantial space between the tables. Of some note here is that nobody was in the cafe excepting myself and the (apparently solo) barista (who barely spoke English), and it was 8:45 a.m. in downtown San Jose. They may be new, as it should have been far busier than that.
Verdict: If they did as good a job with their espresso as they do with their croissants (mine was straight from the oven and still warm), they'd rock.
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