hellos alls. I am reporting via telepathic wireless brain wavery (aka WiFi) at Crema in ye olde Portland. This is just one of the several shops I've been in and out of this past week, all supplying me with more caffeine than I can handle, which only sends me towards lunch spots, pastries, and the finery breweries this city has to offer.
and now, the recap:
- The Albina Press
This has been my local spot since I've been here. Only a few blocks from Margaret's and amazing baristas, I can't help but hit this place up at least once a day. It reminds me so much of Aurora (VaHi) - partly due to my own visiting frequency and partly because of the great staff. I've already created some solid relationships... Rita has been a dream to hang out with, and Josh an excellent barista.
- Coffeehouse NW
Downtown small spot offering great latte art and a barista overflowing with knowledge/information on his interpretation of his own palate...
- Stumptown @ Ace Hotel
Wow. Visited twice. The decor is amazing. An incredible space, seemingly posh due to its super cleanliness and dark wood... the baristas seemed out of place though. Hard to explain... In any case, the TWO machines to serve the two baristas so that they can both make drinks was impressive. Not to mention limited seating, allowing for a more traditional "drink it at the bar" experience.
- Stumpton - Division Street
The premiere shop of the Stumps, and a fine experience indeed. After a cup of the Ethiopia Misty Valley, Jim invited me to check out the new location for all of the roasting equipment. It used to all go down right there, but now they're coming back to the original spot right there in the space behind the shop on Division. Jim roasted some small batches and I looked on with awe. This is the same guy from the Annex who knew what Honey Coffee was (he'd been there!) and has even spoken and met with my soon to be teacher, Izake Katshuide. A small world, indeed.
- Crema - coffee house and bakery
"Single origin espresso" and delicious in-house pastries and other baked goods makes for a nice visit. The best part about the place though is the space. It's been here for a minute and it shows some age, but cloudy-blue and cream colored paint with the light birch wood gives a clean and open-air feel. The garage-style windows are a nice trouch, too.
M and I have been having an awesome time hanging out... tonight we're going for sushi at her restaurant and then seeing The Field and Strategy at a club (Haloscene, different but similar to MJQ). I'll probably see you all again on this hater-web-net when I get to DC on Sunday. Until then, keep in touch. I miss you all so much.
19 July 2007
16 July 2007
I knew I shouldn't have waited until my 3rd day in Portland to write what I've been up to so far. I was worried that 8 days here would be too much, that I'd get bored with the city or not meet cool people and just stay in and watch movies all night long...
but no! it has quickly become just the opposite. It's a flood of information coming at me from all sides. The Katrina of Coffee Love has hit me and I'm swimming fast, keeping my head up, and waiting for the next wave. My plan for an eight-day coffee crawl has now become smattered with books stores (Powell's, so far I've just been to the small one in the SE, but good things indeed), movie houses, Japanese toy shops, local brews, house shows, and of course--amazing new friends.
Here's a run down on what I've had to taste so far:
- Espresso from Fresh Pot on Hawthorne.
The shop itself is connected to the small Powell's book store. A single row of two top table runs parrallel to the bar, stuffed with laptop bound internetophiles. Reminded me of the back wall at octane for a second. Somehow the Barista picked up that I was of his kind, and a quick chat led to a fantastic shot of espresso (Stumptown's Hairbender, of course). Sweet and mild, a great start to my journey.
- Espresso from Stumptown on Belmonte
Talk about impressive! The shop itself is a stunning work of architecture and design. Light grain wood with antique brushed silver accents, but not the cheesy ikea feel you can get from that combo. Think more along the lines of post WWII. Gorgeous. Oh, and the eight (I think it was eight, could be wrong) group machine is nothing but brilliant. Baristas- humble yet knowledgeable. Lead me to the annex next door for a chat with their Megan
- A cup from Stumptown Annex on Belmonte
Megan gave me a round up of the coffees available that day, about fifteen total. Since the opportunity was available, I had a cup of Colombia La Esperanz (COE #1) from the Clover. Delish. The decor in this facility, too, was phenomenal. Pictures to come, you drooling visual nuts.
And then there was this morning's cupping at the Stumptown Annex. Azia and Jim set up the cupping, and Stumptown's Director of Coffee, Aleco, along with one of their roasters, Bosco, joined in on the morning's event. I can't help but to exclaim at the viceral feeling of tasting coffees unlike anything you've experienced before, especially now that my palate is finally developing. I was particularly impressed with the Panama Don Pachi. If my memory serves me well, Aleco says it is the same varietal as the Panama Esmerelda. Beautifully floral with such a pleasant brightness, I was blown away. It stood out remarkably against the other coffees on the atble. Looks like I know what I'm picking up to bring home...
I'm off to switch headquarters. I've been in the south east for a few days, but the rest of my trip will HQ in the north, right close to Albina. The more friends I make, the less free time I have, and the richer the trip is turning out to be. Every corner in this city grows another treasure.
but no! it has quickly become just the opposite. It's a flood of information coming at me from all sides. The Katrina of Coffee Love has hit me and I'm swimming fast, keeping my head up, and waiting for the next wave. My plan for an eight-day coffee crawl has now become smattered with books stores (Powell's, so far I've just been to the small one in the SE, but good things indeed), movie houses, Japanese toy shops, local brews, house shows, and of course--amazing new friends.
Here's a run down on what I've had to taste so far:
- Espresso from Fresh Pot on Hawthorne.
The shop itself is connected to the small Powell's book store. A single row of two top table runs parrallel to the bar, stuffed with laptop bound internetophiles. Reminded me of the back wall at octane for a second. Somehow the Barista picked up that I was of his kind, and a quick chat led to a fantastic shot of espresso (Stumptown's Hairbender, of course). Sweet and mild, a great start to my journey.
- Espresso from Stumptown on Belmonte
Talk about impressive! The shop itself is a stunning work of architecture and design. Light grain wood with antique brushed silver accents, but not the cheesy ikea feel you can get from that combo. Think more along the lines of post WWII. Gorgeous. Oh, and the eight (I think it was eight, could be wrong) group machine is nothing but brilliant. Baristas- humble yet knowledgeable. Lead me to the annex next door for a chat with their Megan
- A cup from Stumptown Annex on Belmonte
Megan gave me a round up of the coffees available that day, about fifteen total. Since the opportunity was available, I had a cup of Colombia La Esperanz (COE #1) from the Clover. Delish. The decor in this facility, too, was phenomenal. Pictures to come, you drooling visual nuts.
And then there was this morning's cupping at the Stumptown Annex. Azia and Jim set up the cupping, and Stumptown's Director of Coffee, Aleco, along with one of their roasters, Bosco, joined in on the morning's event. I can't help but to exclaim at the viceral feeling of tasting coffees unlike anything you've experienced before, especially now that my palate is finally developing. I was particularly impressed with the Panama Don Pachi. If my memory serves me well, Aleco says it is the same varietal as the Panama Esmerelda. Beautifully floral with such a pleasant brightness, I was blown away. It stood out remarkably against the other coffees on the atble. Looks like I know what I'm picking up to bring home...
I'm off to switch headquarters. I've been in the south east for a few days, but the rest of my trip will HQ in the north, right close to Albina. The more friends I make, the less free time I have, and the richer the trip is turning out to be. Every corner in this city grows another treasure.
08 July 2007
The Octane party of the summer goes down tomorrow, and all rest quietly before the festivities. Alyssa is passed out at the moment, I imagine still tired from her flight home yesterday morning from San Francisco and getting the house ready for the shin-dig. She arrived back with a bag full of magical goodness, most of which hailing from Ritual Roasters and Little Otsu. Yes!! It looks like we're going to have a small cupping (w/ neighbors m'lissa-tat and chris-tat) tomorrow afternoon of three of the coffees she brought back from Ritual. We even sipped on some of the Columbia La Virgina yesterday, which was thoroughly enjoyed I might add.
I haven't been home to the Bay since Thanksgiving of last year. I'd only been working at Octane for two months and still learning what it meant to be "third-wave." Tony pointed me towards Ritual for a visit sometime within my family festivities. If it wasn't already tempting enough to move back after my meeting at UC Berkeley, visiting Ritual gave me more to look forward to. Maybe it was the smell of the eucalyptus at night combined with the smell of a fresh cup, but my childhood home screamed for me to come back.
I returned to Atlanta depressed and moody after that trip. What did I have to look forward to? I felt Atlanta could never be home, but maybe that was because I was scared it was becoming so. I left the west coast in '97, and now we were on the brink of '07... ten years gone by, I am no longer simply that California girl I had prided myself on for so long.
"..from the Bay to the A..."
I haven't been home to the Bay since Thanksgiving of last year. I'd only been working at Octane for two months and still learning what it meant to be "third-wave." Tony pointed me towards Ritual for a visit sometime within my family festivities. If it wasn't already tempting enough to move back after my meeting at UC Berkeley, visiting Ritual gave me more to look forward to. Maybe it was the smell of the eucalyptus at night combined with the smell of a fresh cup, but my childhood home screamed for me to come back.
I returned to Atlanta depressed and moody after that trip. What did I have to look forward to? I felt Atlanta could never be home, but maybe that was because I was scared it was becoming so. I left the west coast in '97, and now we were on the brink of '07... ten years gone by, I am no longer simply that California girl I had prided myself on for so long.
"..from the Bay to the A..."
03 July 2007
one third of a better person
M'lissa was intimidating and intense, I was sweaty and shaky, it was all of the suspenseful attributes of any Barista certification. But I emerged victorious and kicked certification's ass! Well, at least the first third.
The Coffee Boss hovered over me with her clipboard as I set the grind from random to perfect in three pulls, consistently dosed between eighteen and nineteen grams of espresso (with 1.2 grams of waste to spare!), and displayed my (still growing) abilities to throw down a heart in a macchiato, and a rosetta in a cappuccino and a latte. Next up: written exam (please, no scantrons), and a mock competition.
I can only hope I have started the trend at Octane to get certification under way. I want at least half of the staff to have the first part of BC finished before I return from my travels. It's great to see everyone getting excited about coffee, especially after our first Octane cupping yesterday evening. Granted, it was a "dress rehearsal," but M'lissa did a fantastic job at hosting her first cupping. Next Monday starts public cuppings at the shop, 7PM sharp. We're not only sipping on some delicious Counter Culture coffees, but other foods, drinks, and smelly and tasty items to work on that palate and sensory vocabulary we all have deep within our souls.
The Coffee Boss hovered over me with her clipboard as I set the grind from random to perfect in three pulls, consistently dosed between eighteen and nineteen grams of espresso (with 1.2 grams of waste to spare!), and displayed my (still growing) abilities to throw down a heart in a macchiato, and a rosetta in a cappuccino and a latte. Next up: written exam (please, no scantrons), and a mock competition.
I can only hope I have started the trend at Octane to get certification under way. I want at least half of the staff to have the first part of BC finished before I return from my travels. It's great to see everyone getting excited about coffee, especially after our first Octane cupping yesterday evening. Granted, it was a "dress rehearsal," but M'lissa did a fantastic job at hosting her first cupping. Next Monday starts public cuppings at the shop, 7PM sharp. We're not only sipping on some delicious Counter Culture coffees, but other foods, drinks, and smelly and tasty items to work on that palate and sensory vocabulary we all have deep within our souls.
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