Two Shots of Crazy Goodness.

(photo from flickr.com/doubleshotcoffee)

You probably won't believe it, but I just had my first double shot espresso from DoubleShot. Not to be confused with a premade canned drink...

I was talking to Isaiah and Jason about what makes good espresso...
How they know when to stop the pull...

It should be a "punch in the face" but in a good way. It certainly shouldn't be bitter.

The quality of the cup... er, I mean "demitasse," is almost nothing (until you try it) compared to the preparation.

Watching Jason catch the freshly ground espresso into the portafilters basket, then gently rounding off the top of the grounds. You can already tell that the process of making this 2 oz. drink is very intricate.

Then the tamp, initial press, tape the basket, and then really apply some pressure and spin.

Lock that portafilter in place and let that water work it's way through. If you know how to do well tamps, you can practically walk away for the next 15-20 seconds.

Then Jason showed me what blonding was and how to tell when to stop the extraction.

I've seen Isaiah dump out some espresso when the shot was tamped wrong. He could have made it. It would have tasted like espresso. Add some milk and most people may not have noticed it.

Integrity and Pride
(synonymous with DoubleShot Coffee)

Keep on brewing!

Day 2 of the Yemen Mocca

It was just so good I didn't want it go without having at least another cup. I also thought I would take a picture of it so you can enjoy almost as much as I have.

There is something about hanging out in DoubleShot that is just relaxing. It's not that it is anything really special or magical but it is special to some people.

It goes back to that "third place" I talked about.

Oh, and it's really funny to be sitting down at a table, enjoying some coffee and seeing the owner of the shop napping on the couch. Actually, I think I saw Howard Schultz do that once.... maybe it was someone else...

Do you have a "third place?" Everyone should have a place to relax, that's not your home. See, I'm totally content with staying at home and playing video games or playing on the computer all day, but Jenni has to get out, which has made me have to get out as well.

It's changing my chemistry! Just like work changed my hunger schedule. I now go to lunch around 2 pm. 2pm! Yeah, my body is all out of wack.

I'm getting off topic...

This coffee is just really good. In a way, when I'm at DoubleShot drinking coffee and just sitting back, it's a similar feeling to the way I feel when I mountain bike or run (which I haven't done in a while). It's just relaxing!

There's no pressure, just sit back and relax. I know that you are physically standing when you run but there is a time when you find that groove and you can "sit back."

I think that's good for now.

Keep on brewing!

Yemen Mocca Sanani

I had some great coffee yesterday!

Oh baby!

It was the Yemen Mocca Sanani. Brian told me about it and said there wasn't much left so I had to stop by. It was great, he made me a small press pot of it and it was just really awesome.

I don't know why, but I thought that Yemen coffees were harsh but they aren't! Why did I think that? I don't know.

This is Brian's take on the coffee:
"Yemen coffees are unique. And delicious. This coffee is beautiful from its dry fragrance all the way to the aftertaste. Big, fermented fruit fragrance, apricots, and maybe smoke and banana in the wet aroma. The tastes are a little milder than the fragrance, but it is a complex coffee. Caramelized sugars, garlic and more of that fruity (apricot?) taste that pleases my palate so much. The aftertaste is a bit more of the ashy, vanilla-y taste. It's a touchy coffee to roast, and when it drops out into the cooling bin, it sounds as smooth as a blanket tumbling out of a dryer. Mmm."
To order some, take the jump.

If you are near Tulsa, hurry up and order a press of it! It's gonna go fast!

Keep on brewing!

Ambergris

-DoubleSho Pic o the week

I didn't get a chance to have any coffee yesterday. I know!

That made me feel weird. But today, I woke up made myself a nice Americano with some amazing DoubleShot espresso in the Aeropress.

Have you still not gotten the Aeropress? You should!

Oh! It was just amazing! But no one makes it like DoubleShot. If you are in Tulsa, I would love to buy you an Americano or Latte or just an espresso if you wish. Let me know!

Keep on brewing!

New podcast!

I started listening to a new podcast, to get me through till Mark Price or Brian Franklin do their next one.

It's called Bellisimo Coffee Podcast.

It's not too bad. I've only heard two episodes, and it's ok. To me, they are a little short and a little dry. I like a little bit more excitement I guess.

The longer podcasts are better for me because I enjoy listening to them at work while I'm doing stuff I don't need my hearing for.

I also find that I'm really productive because I don't have nearly as many distractions!

But if you are looking for some podcasts on coffee, go ahead and check this one out. I can't vouch 100% for it yet but it's not terrible at all.

I'll be putting my podcast picks up on here soon. I'm just going through iTunes and seeing what ones are good.

Keep on brewing!

La Minita 1

From DoubleShot Coffee Company:

I took some video a year ago when I was in Costa Rica. It's taken me this long to put something together, and still it's not very good. It doesn't do justice to the people, the farm or the coffee of La Minita, but it's the best I can do right now. I hope it's at least good enough for you to see the work that the people do for your coffee and the quality standards that La Minita holds to.

2 of my "favorite" things!

Wow.  I thought it would never happen.  Ok, maybe I did.  But it's still funny to me.  

Order your Starbucks from your iPhone...

I think it's funny because I really like the idea.  But I also don't like the idea.

I like it from a technology standpoint.  I mean, integration and all... cell phones with cameras... keyboards.... windows.... why not order Starbucks on a phone!

But the one reason I don't like it, is from the coffee snobs point of view.  It makes it totally impersonal.  

When I go to DoubleShot, I like to sit at the bar, and talk to Brian and Isaiah or Jason.  But what would it be like if I could order DoubleShot from my phone?

First off, it would be only one button. 

"Americano"

Then the size.

But I like being able to talk to my barista while they make my drink.  I like watching them tamp it exactly perfect and dump it out if they mess up.  I like watching the espresso sneak it's way out of the portafilter.  

But if I'm sitting in my chair at Starbucks listening to Kenny G and just waiting for my drink (cake in a cup)... that's boring.

Starbucks/Howard Schultz wants to become your third place.  I don't see how they will if they make it possible to order from your phone.  I'll post that info later, I have to find it.

Here's to real baristas.

Keep on brewing!

Coffee Tasting
Coffee Illuminati
DoubleShot Coffee Company
1/9/08


Coffee: Sumatra

harsh

1. 4 - Good dry scent but wet a little strong
2. 3 - Not very bright
3. 2 - Bitter
4. 5 - Medium body
5. 6 - Tasted much better when I held it on my tongue
6. 2 - Could be a good camp coffee

Misc.
- I thought I tasted chocolate...

_________________

Coffee: Bali

7 - Smoky, campy..
2 -
4 - Bitter, but mellows out
6 - Medium/Heavy body
6 - I really enjoy the finish, despite a bit rough
2 - Good, but I don’t want the roughness all the time


It tasted like a “work coffee.” Not something that you would find at work, but I mean a coffee I could drink at work. Like... it was good, but not so bright and cheery that it distracted me.

As Brian said when I said that: “full flavor without the bitterness”


_________________


Coffee: Columbia

8 - Nice sweet dry smell // Very nice wet smell
5 - Bright, but not Kona bright
4 - Sweet
6 - Feels fairly light
4 - Not so big on the finish
3 - Columbian is just good, good overall.



Misc:
Leaves my mouth feeling roasted... not hot... like, ashes maybe... barely though.

_________________

Coffee: Kenya

- Dry smell is really interesting, good interesting // Good dry smell


Misc:
Good all around coffee.
Tastes semi bold but not overpowering

(Sorry, I got to talking and didn’t type much)


_________________


Coffee: Aruba Organic (Peru)

1.

It tastes “generic”
Sweetish at the beginning

Misc:
Very generic

_________________

Coffee: Flores

Dirty... Dusty...

Not so great but got better as I drank.

First Official Coffee Tasting

If you are in Tulsa, and you enjoy coffee, you need to join the Coffee Illuminati.

We had our first tasting tonight, and we tasted and discussed the following:

- Sumatra

- Bali

- Columbia

- Kenya

- Peru

- Flores

I am very, very new to this but maybe I'll post my notes, even though I'm a little embarrassed!  I guess I can at least share my opinion and preference!

Well, I gotta get to bed, but I just wanted to tell you what I did tonight, and support the Coffee Illuminati!

Keep on brewing!

A weekend of good coffee.

Wow, the weekend is over but it felt long, which is awesome!

I didn't do much but run some errands, organize the house, that sort of thing.

Oh, but I did play with my new Aeropress.  Tons of fun!

I made a mocha for my wife, had a few latte's myself and I drove to work today with a decent americano.

I'll have to post some pics of the Aeropress in action.

Did you have any special coffee this weekend?

Keep on brewing!

Finally back to my "third" place...

I don't think I've talked about it on this blog before, but I think I mentioned the whole "Third Place" thing.  I don't want to talk about it right now because there is a book I want to get before I really get into it but the idea is this:

Your first place: Home

Your second place: Work

Your third place: A place where you feel comfortable or frequent outside both the other places.

Obviously, mine is DoubleShot.

For those of you that don't know, DoubleShot Coffee Company is a shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  They gained their fame in a few different ways.  One being their great coffee, the other way was being bossed around by Starbucks.  Just Google them and you'll find the story.

I haven't been in DoubleShot for a while and though I do have the Kona I've been making at home, I missed their espresso.

So during my lunch break today, I got a large Americano.  I forgot how relaxing it is to just sit there and relax with a nice __________ from DoubleShot (you fill in the blank with anything on their menu).

I also had some more Christmas money so I bought the Aeropress.  Check that link to read more.  I have to tell you this.  If you enjoy coffee at all, especially espresso, you have to get this.  Look, it's only $30 and it's worth it!

I just made a latte at home and it tastes very, very close to DoubleShots!  It should at least because it is their espresso... but it is mind blowing!

So easy too!  Please, please try it!  But you have to have a good grinder.  My Dad sent me that one burr grinder and it does a good job at getting really fine so that's why my espresso turned out so well.

I'm looking forward to making americanos, lattes, mochas for the wife, and just espresso too!

I'll post some pics but I just want to get this post online.  Amazing.  Really.   But there is one secret I need to let you in on.  If you want amazing espresso and coffee you have to do one thing... 

pssstt!  down here!

You have to start with DoubleShot!

Oh, and a crazy device made by a frisbee company doesn't hurt either!

Keep on brewing!

New Reads

With some of my extra Christmas cash, I decided to get a book that looked interesting to me... It's called "Starbucked."

I got it on Amazon.com for a decent price, so props to Amazon, and no, they don't sponsor me...

Anyway, I only read the first chapter but it's interesting so far.

I'm not a fan of Starbucks Coffee, but I enjoy the logo and the cups... the history... stuff like that.

I also don't hate Starbucks, I just don't like them for some reasons.

Anyway, I'll post some of my findings on this blog as soon as I get a little deeper.

Have you read it?  What are your thoughts?

Keep on brewing!