At its best, the coffee industry is just as committed to showcasing seasonal produce as farmers or fishermen. Coffee relies on family farms and a complex global infrastructure to deliver varied beans to your cup. As a result, Food GPS looks to help illuminate coffee culture.
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Coffee Articles
Portola Coffee Lab Gaspar & Macchio: A Tale of Two Off-Menu Espresso Drinks in Costa Mesa
January 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Portola Coffee Lab, the cutting-edge coffeehouse that Jeff Duggan and wife Christa opened last June in The OC Mart Mix, doesn’t give everything away on their menu, and that’s nothing new at specialty coffeehouses. A number of top espresso bars offer an off-menu Gibraltar as long as customers know to ask. However, since Portola doesn’t carry that particular 4.5-ounce rocks glass from Libbey, they developed …
Waialua Estate: Swapping Pineapple for Cacao and Coffee on the North Shore of Oahu
December 23, 2011 at 8:00 am
We started our North Shore farm tour at Helemano Plantation, which was kind of like a pineapple theme park. Derek Lanter, manager of Waialua coffee and cacao, pointed out the Dole pineapple plant across the street, but we were there to learn about the company’s more recent crops. In the ’90s, sugar was dying down, so they experimented with new crops. Lanter said, “This was …
Dialing in Pourover Coffee with Intelligentsia educator Charles Babinski
November 30, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Every morning, a ritual takes place at top coffeehouses that customers rarely see, since it initially occurs before the shops even open. This is the act of “dialing in” coffee, optimizing the grind and dose for each available brew method. On October 28, Intelligentsia welcomed coffee farmers from more than a dozen coffee producing countries to their Extraordinary Coffee Workshop, and employees increased their understanding …
Dialing in Espresso with Intelligentsia educator Devin Pedde
November 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Intelligentsia employees Devin Pedde, Jared Linzmeier, Charles Babinski lined up in Pasadena before dialing in.
Every morning, there’s a ritual that takes place at top coffeehouses that customers rarely see, since it initially occurs before the shops even open. This is the act of “dialing in” coffee, optimizing the grind and dose for each available brew method. On October 28, Intelligentsia welcomed coffee farmers from more …
Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee: Carrying on a Family Tradition at Cloud’s Rest
November 23, 2011 at 9:00 am
“Oh good, they re-paved the road.” That’s what Joan Obra said as her car crossed over a semi-paved road that’s prone to washouts and snakes up a hillside toward farmland.
We eventually reached Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee farm, situated in the Big Island’s Ka’u District.
The man behind the farm, Rusty Obra, was a chemist, and his wife Lorie was a medical technologist. They retired and cleared …
Top Selling Beverages at Los Angeles Coffeehouses
November 16, 2011 at 3:00 pm
We asked key people at a number of L.A.’s best coffeehouses one simple question: “What’s your top selling beverage, and why do you think that’s the case?”
Bru Coffeebar owner Sharleen Mokhtarzadeh: Our top selling drink is the Latte and Americano, however customers are coming in more and asking questions about the coffee pour over drinks. It seems that people are enjoying the tastes of …
Q&A with coffee pro Nik Krankl (Single Origin)
November 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Nik Krankl first fell for coffee during a college trip to Italy. He returned to the States, became a ravenous home barista, and once he moved to Boston, took the hobby to the next level. He started working at a barista in a popular ice cream shop called J.P. Licks before he purchased, refined and ultimately sold Taste Coffee House to specialty coffee visionary George …
Q&A with LAMILL Coffee founder Craig Min
November 2, 2011 at 12:00 pm
LAMILL Coffee was one of the forerunners of specialty coffee in Los Angeles. A 20-year-old Craig Min took over a company that his father started, rechristened it in 1999, and has built LAMILL into a wholesale power that is just now ramping up retail efforts. They’ve got a cafe with Michael Mina confections opening in the Four Seasons Baltimore on November 11, and as many …
Q&A with Chris Owens, Handsome Coffee Roasters co-founder
October 26, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Earlier this year, longtime coffee pro Chris Owens teamed with World Barista Champion Mike Phillips and Intelligentsia Pasadena manager Tyler Wells on Handsome Coffee Roasters, building a cafe and roastery in downtown L.A.’s Arts District and positioning themselves as coffee celebrities. Owens previously worked with specialty coffee at Gimme! Coffee in New York, Counter Culture Coffee in Atlanta and Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco. …
U.S. Barista Champion Pete Licata discusses Honolulu Coffee Company, the Hawaiian coffee scene, brewing methods and more
October 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm
We first met Pete Licata in Hollywood, as he won the 2010 Western Regional Barista Competition before catching a return flight to Honolulu. The longtime coffee pro relocated from Kansas to Paradise in 2009, and he’s taken his game to another level in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He won the 2011 United States Barista Championship and placed second at the World Barista Championship …
Q&A with Caffe Luxxe co-founder Gary Chau
October 12, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Coffee professional Gary Chau first befriended Mark Wain when they were both in school at USC. They went their separate ways, Wain to Seattle, where he worked for Microsoft, and Chau to London, where he led global marketing efforts for Bacardi. In 2006, they teamed on a Santa Monica coffeehouse with a European sensibility called Caffe Luxxe. The business partners celebrated their five-year anniversary in …
Ritual Coffee Roasters owner Eileen Hassi Discusses Epiphanies, the Evolution of San Francisco Coffee, Her Company’s Growth and More
July 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Specialty coffee roasters continue to proliferate, and thanks to companies like Ritual Coffee Roasters, which Eileen Hassi co-founded in 2005, it’s never been a better time to drink coffee in San Francisco. Her company now has three retail locations in the city and an outlying operation in Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. On July 5, we met in SoMa at Ritual’s roasting facility, and Hassi better …
Tracking a Coffee Shipment on a Particularly Harrowing Journey
June 29, 2011 at 10:00 am
On April 8, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea hosted a seminar at their Glassell Park roasting facility, titled “State of the Cup.” The day’s most vivid illustration of what it takes to get the beans from farm to cup came when Geoff Watts described coffee’s particularly harrowing journey from Caranavi, Bolivia, to Intelligentsia’s stateside roasting facilities.
5 Compelling Vancouver Coffeehouses + Bonus Options
June 22, 2011 at 11:30 pm
It’s pretty much universally accepted at this point that Seattle and Portland have destination coffeehouses, but their Pacific Northwest neighbor to the north – Vancouver – has developed a vital coffee culture of its own. My most recent visit included eight coffee stops, all based on advice from locals, with several cups yielded compelling results.
The Minimalist’s Coffee Brewer
June 22, 2011 at 3:00 pm
The response to my previous post about doing good pourover coffee received pretty good attention, but I’ve still heard people say that it’s too tedious, and all of the equipment is expensive. I might be inclined to agree, especially the budget aspect. You’re going to run around $200 for all the gear to really make a good cup. So now I present you with the …
Sightglass Coffeehouse and Roastery Nearing Completion in San Francisco’s SoMa
June 8, 2011 at 4:58 pm
When I visited last November, Sightglass coffee seemed to have many months of construction left for its extensive SoMa facility, which boasted generous natural light, two loft-like levels, and a large roaster. The space is currently just a few weeks from completion, with workers putting the final touches on the coffee bar. A full opening wouldn’t be more than a month or two away, barring …
What’s the Meaning of Iota as a Coffeehouse and Cafe?
May 20, 2011 at 2:30 pm
By Matthew Kang
Koreatown has been a hotbed of coffeehouses and cafés for a good number of years, fueled mainly by the old Korean pastime of loitering in nicely designed spaces and drinking overpriced, water-downed coffee mixed with copious amounts of milk, sugar and other flavoring ingredients. I’m not sure how long the boba phenomenon would have lasted without the myriad shops sprouting along Western, Wilshire, …
The Best Way to Brew Pourover Coffee at Home or at the Office
May 11, 2011 at 9:00 am
By Matthew Kang
I’ll cut to chase without my requisite several hundred words. After years of doing pourover coffee at home and at the office, I believe that this system is the best for the average person who’s looking for a great cup of coffee on a regular basis. Please throw out that instant stuff, or the single-cup systems that have pre-ground grinds. You’re doing …
Seeing Similarities between Wine-Growing and Coffee-Growing
April 28, 2011 at 2:00 pm
By Matthew Kang
The more I try and read about wine-growing methods and vinification, the more I realize just how difficult it is to produce a great wine. The entire science has spawned schools, such as the prestigious program at UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology. I like the way that coffee is going in a similar direction. Whereas wine-growing in this precision, with …
Making L.A. a Better Coffee City, One Cup at a Time
April 6, 2011 at 6:00 am
By Matthew Kang
L.A.’s coffee scene didn’t just explode because a big-time roaster like Intelligentsia planted its feet here in August 2007. After nearly four years, it seems that companies like Four Barrel, Stumptown, Blue Bottle, Victrola, and Ritual – all out-of-town roasters, have crept their way into the market through various cafes and retailers. It’s no surprise that those who feel like they’re ‘in the …
Q&A with coffee professional Sol Salzer (City Bean)
March 23, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Life on the road as a circus pro can make people do surprising things. While Sol Salzer was traveling, leading the advance team for Circus Vargas, he was simultaneously scouting a new city to claim. Instead, he returned home to Los Angeles in 1991 and launched City Bean, a small-batch coffee roasting operation that at its retail peak, included coffeehouses in Westwood Village, West Hollywood …
Barista iPhone App Review
March 9, 2011 at 9:00 am
By Matthew Kang
I’ve been talking too much about drip coffee these days, especially when the ratio of drip specialty coffee consumption (as in by-the-cup) to espresso drinks is probably 10% to 90%. In Los Angeles, every person has their particular way of drinking their coffee – non-fat half-caff (half-caffeine), soy-milk latte is one example. Starbucks has given us the completely customizable espresso drink, but I’m …
Coffee Common: Proselytizing Simple Truths Through Collaboration
March 2, 2011 at 9:00 am
By Matthew Kang
Because coffee has such a long history in culture, we’ve been ingrained with certain expectations and traditions. We all have our habits of caffeine intake, at least those of us who seem to need it. The earliest parts of change in how we drink coffee as a modern society came about in the ’60s with Alfred Peet and Peet’s coffee. Then Starbucks …
Q&A with coffee professional Dan Griffin (Third Rail Coffee)
February 23, 2011 at 9:00 am
Third Rail Coffee lead barista and Alabama native Dan Griffin is a seasoned veteran of the Pacific Northwest coffee scene, having worked in Seattle and Portland for several years before moving to New York City. He previously worked at Variety in Brooklyn. Over the holidays, we met Griffin at tiny Third Rail and subsequently touched base with him via e-mail, where he further explained his …
McLaughlin Launches Coffee in the Alley in Venice
February 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Equator Books may prove to be more influential in its absence. The Abbot Kinney bookstore and cafe, which brewed Blue Bottle coffee and appeared often enough on “Californication” to warrant credit on the show, closed in early 2010. After that, the resident coffee professionals scattered. Manager Kelly Donahey partnered with baristas Jessica Carr and Sara Haynes on a roving Drip Bar, but Sophie McLaughlin stayed in the foot-friendly neighborhood. Last month, after retrofitting a hot dog cart, she debuted Coffee in the Alley behind the Big Red Sun environmental design firm, utilizing a pourover bar to brew single-origin Stumptown beans sourced from nearby
McLaughlin grew up in St. Louis and moved to L.A. seven years ago to attend FIDM, but decided “Food is a little more substantial than fashion, and the relationships you form are a little deeper.”
She’s grinding and brewing the beans to order, so the coffee stays as fresh as possible. McLaughlin explained her reason for pourover, which is “keeping it really simple. It goes back to the old way of making coffee, so it takes out the acidity.” She’s sourcing a different single-origin coffee from Stumptown each week. During my initial visit, she was brewing Indonesia Sulawesi Toarco.
Iced coffee is cold-brewed overnight with coconut shavings, and the result is redolent of coconut. She’s working on a spiced coffee for summer, which might involve cayenne. Soon, she plans to launch bean delivery by bike, either on a weekly or monthly basis. McLaughlin is also offering a quartet of loose-leaf teas.
Cup Cup, available at Coffee in the Alley and by direct order, come courtesy of a woman named “V” who packs breakfast into “edible toast ramekins” to produce “a handful of heaven.” She’s supplying a French toast cup with whipped cream, maple syrup and strawberries; a version with pancetta, basil, mushroom, tomato, egg and Gruyere; one with sausage, onion, potato, tomato and cheddar; and one with spinach, garlic, tomato and goat’s cheese. On weekends, McLaughlin will soon host Sprout, the electric golf cart spinoff from the Green Truck. Colorful mismatched seating is available in the Big Red Sun garden.
Q&A with coffee pro Yeekai Lim (Cognoscenti Coffee)
February 9, 2011 at 9:00 am
Architect Yeekai Lim’s passion for coffee initially led him to former U.S. Barista Champion Heather Perry, who provided instruction, and to New York City, where he attended Intelligentsia’s workshop. In March 2010, equipped with a base of knowledge, he launched a pop-up coffeehouse called Cognoscenti Coffee at Urban Eats, a restaurant he designed in Burbank. He transitioned to Blue Dot yogurt shop in Eagle Rock …
Coffee from a Foodie Point of View
February 4, 2011 at 9:00 am
By Matthew Kang
There might have been more than a minor uproar a little while ago when Michael Ruhlman, one of the most highly regarded food writers of our generation, wrote a post about how much he loved his coffee percolator. The response was polarizing, to say the least, especially from coffee professionals, for whom the coffee percolator is a terrible method to brew and consume …
Intelligentsia iPhone App Review
January 26, 2011 at 6:00 pm
By Matthew Kang
I happen to be an iPhone App junkie. Ever since I got my hands on the latest iPhone 4, I went crazy with downloading every conceivable app for every conceivable situation. I actually used the Handy Level app when I was doing work on Scoops Westside – imagine the irony – working at a construction site with a $600 phone that doesn’t work …
Q&A with coffee professional Stephen Rogers (Variety Cafe)
January 12, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Stephen Rogers got his start in coffee in Cincinnati and roasted with Intelligentsia and Stumptown before he left to help industry leader Marty Curtis refurbish roasters. Last year, he was lured back behind the bar at Variety Cafe in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We recently discussed coffee while he pulled shots of single-origin Stumptown espresso for customers.
So you were saying that your approach is to show a …
Q&A with coffee shepherd Jay Murdock (Kaffe 1668)
January 5, 2011 at 6:00 pm
New York native Jay Murdock has worked in specialty coffee for almost a decade. He got started at Oren’s Daily Roast and criss-crossed the country, managing the high-volume Alcove Cafe in Los Angeles before returning to Manhattan. He currently works at Kaffe 1668 and considers himself a coffee shepherd, since he presides over the coffee program at a multiple-roaster coffeehouse from Swedish twins that features …
The Making of a Drink: Red Medicine Vietnamese Iced Coffee
June 29, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Up-and-coming chef Jordan Kahn is opening a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Beverly Hills called Red Medicine with Noah Ellis and Adam Fleischman. Since Vietnamese iced coffee is practically required at Vietnamese restaurants, the team turned to seasoned coffee pro Nick Griffith from Intelligentsia – who will be supplying Red Medicine’s coffee – to help develop a refined version. Kahn understood that some hallmarks include “over …
Q&A with 2010 World Barista Champion Michael Phillips
June 28, 2010 at 6:07 pm
On June 25, Intelligentsia’s Michael Phillips outperformed more than 50 national barista champions in London to become the first World Barista Champion from the U.S. His espressos, cappuccinos and signature beverage scored him 706 points, allowing him to outpace Guatemala’s Raul Rodas by 15 points. After Phillips won, he shared his insights about lessons learned, the joys of victory and life ahead.
Why was it important …
Countries of Coffee Origin: Nicaragua and Colombia
May 26, 2010 at 9:00 am
Last month’s Specialty Coffee Association of America conference drew the top coffee talent in the U.S., but didn’t stop there, as the mega-event magnetized the globe. Representatives from every coffee producing nation were on the showroom floor at the Anaheim Convention Center, and many pros were happy to discuss their nation’s caffeinated contributions. By no means will this offer you a full picture of a …
Countries of Coffee Origin: India and El Salvador
May 19, 2010 at 9:00 am
Last month’s Specialty Coffee Association of America conference drew the top coffee talent in the U.S., but didn’t stop there, as the mega-event magnetized the globe. Representatives from every coffee producing nation were on the showroom floor at the Anaheim Convention Center, and many pros were happy to discuss their nation’s caffeinated contributions. By no means will this offer you a full picture of a …
Countries of Coffee Origin: Panama and Burundi
May 12, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Last month’s Specialty Coffee Association of America conference drew the top coffee talent in the U.S., but didn’t stop there, as the mega-event magnetized the globe. Representatives from every coffee producing nation were on the showroom floor at the Anaheim Convention Center, and many pros were happy to discuss their nation’s caffeinated contributions. By no means will this offer you a full picture of a …
Q&A with U.S. Cup Tasting Champion Ben Kaminsky
May 5, 2010 at 8:57 am
In the coffee world, being able to differentiate coffees is a prized ability, and yes, there’s a competition to determine the best taster. At Cup Tasting Championships, competitors must identify the odd coffee from eight different triangles. The competitor with the most correct answers in shortest amount of time is named the champion. The governing body’s stated mission: “To give them the same status and …
Suspenseful 2010 U.S. Barista Championship Finals
April 19, 2010 at 1:56 pm
This past weekend, the Anaheim Convention Center hosted the United States Barista Championship, with 60 of the nation’s top baristas vying for a single slot in the 2010 World Barista Championship, which will be held in London from June 23-25. Hundreds of people filled the bleachers and seats for Sunday’s finals, which featured three competitors from Intelligentsia, two competitors from Verve Coffee Roasters, and Mike …
Tierra Mia Coffeehouse Expands in Southeast L.A.
March 17, 2010 at 5:18 pm
It’s been a big week for Ulysses Romero. Tomorrow, the coffee-fueled entrepreneur celebrates the second anniversary of his South Gate coffeehouse, which he named Tierra Mia. Things have been going so well that on March 12, he debuted a second Tierra Mia in downtown Huntington Park, near the bygone Warner movie palace.
Romero was born in Norwalk and raised in La Habra. He attended Berkeley undergrad, …
Aloha from 2010 Western Regional Barista Competition
March 1, 2010 at 9:30 am
Barista competition season is once again going full-blast, and Southern California is currently the epicenter. This past weekend, Hollywood’s Siren Studios hosted the Western Regional Barista Competition, with 30 top baristas from California, Alaska and Hawaii vying for a coveted slot in the 2010 United States Barista Championship, which will be held in Anaheim from April 15-18. Several hundred people filled Siren Studios for Sunday’s …
New York City Coffee Culture Status Report
February 10, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Since my last visit to Manhattan in May 2009, the New York City coffee scene has exploded even more. Stumptown set up shop in Red Hook and opened a Manhattan coffeehouse at the Ace. Café Grumpy continues to employ a multi-roaster attack, but is also roasting its own beans in Greenpoint. Premium farm-to-cup coffee roasters like Intelligentsia and Counter Culture don’t have coffeehouses – yet …
SoCal is Ground Zero for U.S. Baristas in 2010
February 10, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Competition season is ramping up again in the coffee world. The South Central Regional Barista Competition is already in the books, and nine more regional competitions are forthcoming. Locally, the Western Regional Barista Competition runs February 26-28, with top baristas from California, Alaska and Hawaii vying for a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the 2010 United States Barista Championship. The marquee event is held …
Caffe Luxxe Brentwood Expansion and Update
February 10, 2010 at 9:53 am
Rumors have been swirling about Caffe Luxxe, the Westside espresso house from Mark Wain and Gary Chau. Wain recently clarified the news and even announced an additional opening.
Let’s start in Brentwood, at the Caffe Luxxe in the former Dutton’s Bookstore Café. “Everybody keeps telling me my Brentwood location is going away,” says Wain. “It isn’t in the short term. The suspense has always been that …
Andrew Barnett Discusses Ecco Caffe Relocation
February 1, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Ecco Caffe, the lauded Santa Rosa coffee roastery, is on the verge of relocating to San Francisco after a decade in Sonoma County. Andrew Barnett plans to swap the rural locale for a “vibrant, sophisticated, urbane area,” a combination café and roastery not far from Anchor Brewing Company. The company founder recently discussed the latest developments.
Food GPS: What’s motivating the move to San Francisco?
Barnett: Going …
Espresso Cielo Brings 49th Parallel to Santa Monica
December 30, 2009 at 3:28 pm
In late 2007 and early 2008, the focus of coffee aficionados was on Silver Lake, with the opening of LAMILL and Intelligentsia’s Sunset Junction coffeehouse. Now the Westside is becoming a coffee hotbed. Earlier this year, Intelligentsia opened a cutting-edge Venice coffeehouse. Caffe Luxxe has two locations, and Diane Maler and husband Lew recently opened Espresso Cielo in the corner of a mixed-used building along …
El Sereno’s Xocólatl Coffeehouse Fosters Community
November 12, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Xocólatl is a new cacao, tea and coffeehouse in El Sereno from Semillas Sociedad Civil, a non-profit that operates two neighborhood charter schools: Academia Semillas del Pueblo (K-8) and Anahuacalmecac International University Preparatory High School. Willie “Huitzil” Reyes, a member of the band Quinto Sol, is the head barista and helps to ensure they’re “serving consciousness.”
Semillas Sociedad Civil had been looking for a way to …
Primera Taza Coffeehouse Opens in Boyle Heights
September 15, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Boyle Heights native Juan Romero opened Primera Taza coffeehouse in his neighborhood at the end of July, offering “quality coffee, one taza (cup) at a time.” The coffeehouse’s logo is a mariachi kiosk, in tribute to nearby Mariachi Plaza.
The surrounding neighborhood is on the upswing thanks to the Metro Gold Line expansion, LAPD’s new Hollenbeck station, the new White Memorial Medical Center and the new …
Antigua Coffee House Opens in Cypress Park
September 10, 2009 at 12:08 am
Fifth-generation coffee roaster Yancey Quinones opened Antigua Coffee House on September 8 in Cypress Park, a neighborhood that’s sandwiched between downtown and Highland Park. He owned a coffeehouse by the same name in El Sereno but lost his lease a year ago and relocated.
For many years, the space housed an ice cream parlor, and leading up to Antigua, it held a clothing store. Quinones grew …
Intelligentsia Venice Day One
June 8, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Peanut Butter Wolf was spinning and the music was pumping. Over 1000 people ripped through seven kegs of Stone and a U-Haul’s worth of wine. Wurstkuche staffers were grilling hundreds of sausages out front. Baristas pulled shots of espresso and fired up vac pots. And then, after 2 AM…silence. May 22’s grand opening party for Intelligentsia Venice may have been the biggest coffee-related party in …
LAMILL Introduces Signature Drinks & Recession Roast
May 5, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Craig Min has rolled out two new signature drinks at the Silver Lake coffee boutique he owns with wife Jean Shim-Min. Amber Johnson, LAMILL’s manager/barista/trainer, developed the first recipe for the United States Barista Championship. When she presented Caramel Corn in Portland, Johnson said she was interested in deconstructing common comfort foods and reconstructing them in surprising ways. At LAMILL, she begins with fresh house-made …
“The Perfect Cappuccino” Screens in Los Feliz
April 8, 2009 at 2:08 pm
On Sunday, May 3, Amy Ferraris is screening “The Perfect Cappuccino” at Los Feliz 3 Cinemas as part of the LA United Film Festival. Her coffee-related documentary is “the story of one woman’s obsession with a beverage. The film will accompany me on a personally-narrated journey that will trace the origins and social significance of the cappuccino…Blending the voices of baristas, cultural critics, business leaders …
PDX Coffeehouse Bike Tour – Portland, OR – March 5, 2009
March 20, 2009 at 12:07 pm
The four-day United States Barista Championship determined the 2009 American coffee champ, but the excitement wasn’t limited to the Oregon Convention Center. Case in point: On March 5 and 6, when first-round action was winding down for the day, a convoy departed from the Convention Center and visited six different coffeehouses. It was the caffeinated equivalent of a pub crawl, only without the potential B.U.I. …
Impressions from my first United States Barista Championship
March 19, 2009 at 10:59 pm
From March 5-8, I was in Portland to cover the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Aside from a first round foray to tour Portland coffeehouses by bike, I witnessed almost every minute of espresso-fueled action, culminating with Michael Phillips’ victory. Here are my USBC impressions:
1. LobSpro? Really?
The USBC will likely be remembered for two things: Phillips’ victory and Jay Caragay’s signature drink, which emcee Kyle …
Spring for Coffee Beginning March 11
March 10, 2009 at 11:22 am
At the Western Regional Barista Competition, Archie Hernandez revealed plans to open a “wine bar for coffee” called Spring for Coffee on the ground floor of the old Lloyd’s Bank building. Hernandez (a 5 year Peet’s veteran) partnered with Maru Nagano (Morihiro Onodera’s longtime sous chef at Mori Sushi) and Ken Yoshitake (a fine art collector). They plan to open tomorrow, March 11.
Hernandez is an …
2009 United States Barista Championship Finals
March 8, 2009 at 11:20 am
The USBC finals are underway at the Oregon Convention Center. Here’s the rundown of performances by baristas still competing for the American coffee crown:
Liz at Twitchy.org is also blogging in the booth and has some different perspective.
1. Ryan Willbur – Intelligentsia Coffee – Los Angeles, CA
COFFEE
Willbur revealed more information about his Guatemalan coffee today that during the Semi-Finals, explaining the Huehuetenango coffee received Meyer lemon …
2009 United States Barista Championship Semi-Finals
March 7, 2009 at 10:06 am
I’m at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland providing minute-by-minute reports on the 2009 United States Barista Championship. Today’s semi-final round revolves around the 25 remaining baristas, who are vying for six slots in Sunday’s finals. Check back for frequent updates.
Katie Duris – Murky Coffee – Arlington, VA (Mid Atlantic Champ)
Duris was out to prove that “Contrasting flavors and ingredients can complement each other.”
COFFEE
A three-bean …
2009 United States Barista Championship (Day 2)
March 6, 2009 at 9:20 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Throughout the competition, Food GPS is providing minute-by-minute reports on baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Erik Williams – Caffe Sole – Boulder, CO
COFFEE
Williams began his presentation with “Baby Elephant Walk” playing in the background, then explained his “love affair with coffee.” As the Bee Gees …
2009 United States Barista Championship (Day One)
March 5, 2009 at 9:24 am
From March 5-8, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland is hosting the United States Barista Championship. Throughout the competition, Food GPS is providing minute-by-minute reports on baristas who decided to compete for the American coffee crown:
Travis Edwards – Murky Coffee – Arlington, VA
COFFEE
For his cappuccinos, Edwards promised the judges “nutty sweetness from the milk, berry body, chocolate notes and lemon sweetness.” Edwards used a blend …
4th Machine Schedule for USBC 2009
March 5, 2009 at 9:03 am
During barista championships, three espresso machines are devoted to competition. “The Fourth Machine” is a barista competition tradition where attendees are treated to complimentary espresso drinks from specialty coffeehouses, with many shots pulled by competitors. Here’s the schedule so far for USBC 2009:
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009 (ROUND ONE)
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM: DoubleShot Coffee Company (Ambergris Espresso Blend)
10:30 AM – Noon: Stone Cup Roasting Co. …
How Intelligentsia Baristas Prep for the USBC
February 19, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Leading up to the 2009 United States Barista Championship, I had an opportunity to participate in a run-through with Intelligentsia baristas Nick Griffith, Devin Pedde and Ryan Willbur at the company’s Glassell Park lab. They swept the top three slots at last month’s Western Regional Barista Championship and are hunting for greater glory in Portland beginning March 5. To prepare for the competition, they’ve been …
Intelligentsia Venice Renderings Revealed
February 17, 2009 at 12:27 am
Two weeks ago, Food GPS featured photos of the Intelligentsia Venice construction site, but photos of rubble and wood frames didn’t exactly do justice to the cutting-edge coffeehouse. Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville remedied the situation by providing renderings from Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design. You should also know that Glanville said the opening date has shifted to the …
Intelligentsia Venice Hiring and Training
February 2, 2009 at 1:36 pm
When Intelligentsia Venice opens in early March, the cutting-edge coffeehouse will staff 9 baristas, 4 barbacks and 3 dishwashers. Intelligentsia Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville already hired Christopher “Nicely” Abel Alameda from Seattle’s Espresso Vivace. To fill out the rest of the Venice staff, Glanville recently advertised on all the coffee boards and on Craigslist.
Glanville is effectively Intelligentsia’s West Coast head of operations, and he’s …
Intelligentsia Venice Preview and Photos
February 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm
In December, I reported what to expect from Intelligentsia Venice. Last Friday, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea Director of Innovation Kyle Glanville led me on a tour of the Venice construction site with barista Ryan Willbur and company technical specialist Nick Barnett. It may be hard to imagine based on the following photos, but Intelligentsia founder Doug Zell and Glanville should open the company’s cutting-edge Westside …
2009 WRBC Finals
January 25, 2009 at 11:15 am
FINALIST #1 – Ryan Willbur – Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea – Los Angeles, CA
COFFEE
Finca La Maravilla, from Huehuetenago, Guatemala, with notes of Meyer lemon, sweet sherry and a coffee flower finish, which is similar to jasmine. Meyer lemon comes from altitude and soil. The farmer grows citrus on the land. Sherry sweetness is the result of washed process. The coffee flower finish is result of …
Stephen Morrissey on Barista Competitions
January 25, 2009 at 10:06 am
Intended for a program that never took place:
The primary goal of the barista competition is to educate. It does not pretend to be a true reflection of the average cafe experience because for the most part there is great fault to be found with the average cafe experience. Great quality coffee is far too difficult to find and this competition aims to tackle that …
How Judging Works at Barista Competitions
January 24, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Judges at regional, national and world-level barista competitions all adhere to SCAA guidelines. Each barista welcomes the scrutiny of two Technical judges who work the floor and four Sensory Judges who sit in a row at a table. Each Sensory Judge can award a possible 179 points. Each Technical Judge can award a possible 77 points. The Head Judge tallies all the points on their …
Western Regional Barista Competition (Day 2)
January 24, 2009 at 1:06 pm
1. Louie Poore – Zoka Coffee – Seattle, WA
Poore competed out of region, since Seattle resides in the Northwest. As a result, he was unable to qualify for the United States Barista Championship through the WRBC.
COFFEE
Zoka’s Palladino, a two-bean blend of Brazilian Cerrado and Ethiopian Sidamo. Brazilian helps round out fruit notes and bring in some brown sugar.
SIGNATURE DRINK
Made sauce last night with blueberries and …
Western Regional Barista Competition (Day 1)
January 24, 2009 at 12:58 am
The Western Regional Barista Competition is underway at downtown’s Spring Arts Tower, a former bank. Top baristas from California are battling for six slots in Sunday’s Finals.
The competition isn’t the only draw for visitors. “The Fourth Machine,” an additional espresso machine, treats guests to single-origin coffees from premiere coffee roasters. Today, Verve Coffee Roasters (Santa Cruz), Intelligentsia, Kean Coffee (Newport Beach) and LAMILL Coffee pulled …
Impact of Customized Water on Coffee and Tea
January 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Water accounts for 98.5% of the volume in a cup of coffee or tea, so the quality of the water you use is important. Toward that end, David Beeman founded The Water System Group 31 years ago “to help the world through water.”
The Southern California native began by building residential reverse osmosis filtration systems. 20 years ago, Beeman formulated water for a West L.A. pizzeria …
Gelato Bar adds Espresso Caffé
January 16, 2009 at 10:50 am
Gail Silverton and Joel Gutman have upgraded the coffee program at their Studio City gelato bar, utilizing a Synesso Cyncra espresso machine and beans roasted at Andrew Barnett’s Ecco Caffé in Sonoma County. Ecco is supplying Gelato Bar and Espresso Caffé with beans from Ethiopia and Brazil, including Taste of the Harvest reserve from Gabriel Carvalho Dias’ Fazenda Cachoiera coffee farm. Gelato Bar is brewing coffee using a pour-over drip method.
Western Regional Barista Competition Details
January 12, 2009 at 3:22 pm
From January 23-25, Intelligentsia and SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) are hosting the Western Regional Barista Competition at downtown L.A.’s Spring Arts Tower. Top baristas from California and Hawaii vie for a coveted slot in the Semi-Finals of the United States Barista Championship.
Last year in Berkeley, Chris Baca from Ritual Coffee Roasters won the WRBC crown and finalist Kyle Glanville ended up becoming the …
“Farm To Cup” Postponed Until Winter 2009
December 18, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Farm to Cup was expected to coincide with the January’s Western Regional Barista Championship. Now the coffee celebration will debut next winter instead. The Western Regional will still take place in downtown’s Spring Arts Building from January 23-25, 2009. Expect more details soon.
Food GPS Exclusive: Intelligentsia Venice
December 10, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea is at the forefront of the American coffee movement, demonstrating a nearly unrivaled farm-to-cup commitment. In 2007, Doug Zell’s Chicago based company established an L.A. presence by opening a coffeehouse at Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction. Now he’s hired Ana Henton of MASS Architecture & Design to take the coffeehouse concept to another level. Intelligentsia’s larger, more dynamic branch debuts in the …
Cafe de Leche Grand Opening December 12
December 9, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Matt Schodorf and wife Anya [Ahn-jah] soft-opened Café de Leche on November 29 in Highland Park. The couple and their baristas pull espresso shots on a sleek La Marzocco using Intelligentsia beans. The brewed coffee is currently a blend of Nicaraguan and Ethiopian beans.They also make a unique mocha using organic cacao and agave nectar, a natural sweetener without the sugar rush. Café de Leche …
Not Everybody Behind the Bar at Intelligentsia or LA Mill is a Barista
September 24, 2008 at 12:47 pm
There are a lot of coffee misconceptions. From an organizational standpoint, one myth is the idea that everybody behind a coffee bar is automatically a barista. At Starbucks, that’s true, but not at top-tier farm-to-cup coffeehouses like Intelligentsia and LA Mill. At those Silver Lake coffeehouses, employees have different skill and commitment levels, and the most dedicated coffee professionals deserve recognition for their extra …
LAMILL Showcases Cup of Excellence Winners
September 23, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Last Friday, LAMILL CEO Craig Min sat down at his coffee bar to discuss their current initiative: showcasing Cup of Excellence coffees. Over the past two weeks, LAMILL has released three Cup of Excellence winners. By October, they’ll offer all eight of their purchases.
Cup of Excellence is an organization that determines top coffees from nine leading coffee producing nations, every year. The nations are Rwanda, …
Longtime Highland Parkers Hope to Open Café de Leche in October
September 11, 2008 at 10:55 am
Matt Schodorf and wife Anya hope to open Café De Leche in Highland Park by mid-October, pending final inspections by the city.
Matt said their inspiration was simple: “Highland Park doesn’t have a proper coffee shop. I’ve lived there for 8 years, and we have to drive to Eagle Rock to get coffee.”
Café de Leche will occupy the northwest corner of the Nogueira Building (1966), which …
Hacienda La Esmeralda Returns to Intelligentsia!
September 10, 2008 at 12:19 am
Prized Panamanian coffee Hacienda la Esmeralda was roasted yesterday at Intelligentsia’s Glassell Park facility and will be available for purchase beginning today, September 10. Cups are available for $7 on the Clover. Half-pound bags of beans are selling for $30. According to Intelligentsia barista Devin Pedde, “It’s a small price to pay for one of the best cups of coffee in the world.”
Last …
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