"Maaaaakin' Coffeeeeeee"

Lets get real. We can't all afford to buy coffee out everyday.

Okay, well maybe I'm the only one who can't afford it- my college budget currently allots for ramen noodles and powdered orange drink.

Just because my budget is limited, does not mean my pallet is. I still look for quality coffee to brew at home (for less).

I'm going to break down some of the most popular brands and rate them according to my taste preferences. Not yours, because I don't know yours.

As a general rule, my coffee has to be arabica. If your coffee is not, you are not drinking coffee; you are drinking caffeinated arsenic.

Robusta coffee (the caffeinated arsenic) is cheaper to produce and often used as a filler for blended coffee grounds, its just not my style.

The next thing I look for in a good brew is its boldness, I like my coffee pretty bold. I want to know that I am drinking something that tastes like the energy I want to have. It also gives me more flavor to play with; more depth to enjoy.

And finally, I like faint, very light flavor- especially if its caramelly or nutty. I don't like citrus or acidic undertones.

Lets break it down now.

According to a 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, Eight O'Clock Coffee ranks the best out of 19 different ground coffees tested, because of its great taste for a great price. A close second is Caribou Coffee (a delicious franchise mostly in the North.)

The bottom of the list? Unsurprisingly, Folgers and Starbucks.

I have said before I will stand by Starbucks to the (quite literally) bitter end; BUT I am not a fan of their ground coffee. Maybe its all a part of a greater money-making scheme that the at-home grounds do not taste the same as the in-store grounds, or maybe I just can't brew it right, either way I usually pass on the often pricey Starbucks brands.

And as for Folgers, I started off drinking Folgers and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to get into the coffee-drinking habit, but can't stand the taste. Folgers offers many varieties of flavored coffee to appease even the most coffee-adverse person. But beware, you will grow out of the Folgers taste, probably quite quickly too. So don't buy it in Costco bulk.

I stopped drinking the French vanilla flavored Folgers years ago and I've never looked back. Ever. I can't even stand the smell of it.

Ever.

My favorite ground coffee is Texas Pecan, and I have only ever seen it sold at my favorite supermarket/mecca Costco. But you can only pay in cash at Costco and I'm cash poor and credit rich, so it's to the regular appropriately-packaged grocery store I go.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect ground coffee. My local H-E-B has plenty of coffees to choose from and that's the trouble; there are almost too many options. The coffee aisle can be a pretty overwhelming place to mull over a purchase. You don't want to look like someone who has never drank coffee before and stand dumbfounded at all the fragrant and vacuum-sealed options, but you also don't want to make a rash decision and end up grabbing an overpriced bag of mud.

What are your favorite at home brews?

After the Break

I don't like to post a blog about a cafe without having tried the coffee, but today I am pressed for time and can only comment on the ambiance. Just imagine this is a thrilling tv show, splitting episodes to boost viewer ratings.

So I ventured into Texas French Bread Co. the other day, and I have to say, I like what I saw.

I didn't get the opportunity to try out the coffee, but I did get a chance to talk to the barista about their coffee. Like many other shops in the area, Texas French Bread Co. gets their coffee from the local roaster Anderson's. Anderson's turns out different brews for different pallets, so although you might find their roasts sold in multiple shops, it is possible that each shop has chosen a different flavor roast, in the hopes of standing out.

The cafe is one big room. Huge. There is minimal electrical lighting as most of the store is lit by large, tall windows that capitalize almost all the free space available. The vast amount of natural lighting lends to the store the feeling of solace on an isolated oasis, plopped in the middle of a loud and bustling city.

Texas French Bread Co. is a break from the 9-5 monotony. The radio is set to NPR, filling the air with random bursts of off-beat music sandwiched between soft voices discussing the latest in all the news. I can't wait to try this cafe out. I have to dash (class is about to start) but I will be back here again very, very soon.


TO BE CONTINUED.....dun dun dunnnnnn duuuuunnnnnnnn

Coffee Makes Me Velklimpt

Get your shpilkes out of your genecktecessoink and settle down with a couple of Joe.

I was asked by a friend the other day what the difference between espresso and coffee is and if they come from the same beans.

Although I knew the answer I couldn't get into the specifics, which made me a little meshbuuka. So I decided the difference between espresso and coffee would be an excellent topic for today's blog.

So here's the deal; coffee beans are used to make both coffee and espresso. The difference between the two comes down to the grind and the processes they undergo while brewing. Brewing espresso is a much faster process than brewing coffee.

First, lets talk about the coffee bean itself. Coffee beans are actually pits of a fruit, not really a bean at all. They come from small flowering trees called coffeas and are typically found in tropical environments. The fruit on this tree is often referred to as a cherry, and within the cherry is a set of two small pits, or coffee beans. Some of these cherries are a bit abnormal and only contain one bean, a peaberry. Peaberries are rounder than traditional coffee beans because they haven't had to share the fruit's center with another bean.

Some coffee is made from only peaberries, as they require a different roasting process than traditional beans. While the verdict is still out on whether or not the peaberry actually itself yields higher quality coffee, its generally believed to brew a nicer coffee.

On to espresso. Espresso is made with very finely ground coffee beans. These ground beans are then tightly packed into a spoon used to make the espresso; the tighter they are packed, the stronger the espresso. Next, very hot water is highly pressurized through the beans creating an somewhat syrupy liquid with a light foam layer balancing on top, called the crema- this is your finished espresso.

Some brave souls are ready to take the espresso straight up once its finished brewing. Others like me, prefer a little milk and flavoring, called a latte, to join the espresso in a delightful caffeinated beverage.

 Of course every barista and coffee shop has their own preference for just how hot the water should be and and how much water to use. That's why two coffee shops could brew the same espresso but have two completely different tastes.

Other drinks besides lattes that feature espresso includes: red eyes, macchiatos, cappuccinos and americanos.

If you couldn't already guessed by the etymology, espresso got its start and gained popularity in Italy.

NOTE: if you ever happen to be traveling in Italy (lucky you) please note that espresso is often referred to as caffe (translated as coffee)- because espresso is the standard coffee-based drink.

Moving on to coffee. Coffee is made from ground coffee beans (duh). Ground beans that are to be crafted into coffee are a little more course than the grind for espresso. The two most common ways to brew coffee is with an automatic coffeemaker or with a French press.

Automatic coffeemakers push hot water through a coffee filter filled with ground beans, resulting in a hot steamy liquid- coffee. The paper coffee filter absorbs the bean's oils and prevents them from mixing in with the actual coffee beverage.

The French press method is a favorite of mine. Ground coffee beans and very hot water are mixed together in a small glass container, fitted with a large stamp-like fixture with a handle coming out of the lid of the lid of the coffee maker. After a few minutes go by, the stamp is plunged into the coffee-water mixture and pushes all the grounds to the bottom, separating the two elements. This process generally produces a stronger and much more flavorful coffee, due in part to the presence of the bean's oils that are left behind in the filters of  traditional coffeemakers.

Most people think that espresso is by nature stronger than coffee. But they have the wrong thoughts. Coffee is stronger and more caffeinated than espresso. So, I guess it's actually kind of a bonus that coffee makers are cheap enough and small enough to be in the cramped confines of every dorm room in America.

Okay, I need to take a spritz. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: the ecological pressures modern citizens of the world are experiencing as a result of the decline in population of the African honeybee.

Discuss.

Once, Twice, THRICE

   

I pulled my big, black 2001 Ford F-150 into the narrow parking spaces in front of ThaiFresh and Thrice Café. After slamming my car doors I look into the completely windowed front of the building and see movie cameras and men dressed in ubiquitous charcoal-colored vests.

They must have known I was coming.

I can’t even write my blog without paparazzi chasing me around downtown, trying to get me to leak the latest week’s blog leads.

That’s what fame will do to you.

It's not easy being this famous.
photo courtesy of 3.bp.blogspot.com

I pull my over-sized sun glasses over my eyes and dart in through the less frequented door on the far left. I drop my things by a corner table and scan the room for crazed fans: I’m safe…for now.

Wasting no time, I lean over the counter to ask the barista in a hushed voice why reporters are here. He looks puzzled. Maybe he doesn’t know who I am.

After looking around the corner questionably, the presumable hipster comments “oh, they’re some film crew that goes around the country filming shows about restaurants who provide quality, really local food to customers.”

I look at him out of the corner of my eyes, “sooooo, they aren’t here for me?

“What?”

“Nothing,” I retort quickly, “I write a blog about local Austin coffee shops.”

“Oh, we have a lot of your type here today!”

Phew. Maybe I’ve finally found a coffee shop in Austin where I can blog and drink in peace.

I always do an initial investigation of potential coffee shops online before I actually pop into them. I want to know what the regulars order and what the best kept secret about “this place” is.

The one thing that really stood out to me on Thrice’s website menu (and what got some positive yelp.com reviews) was the house favorite caramel turtle latte. What’s nice about Thrice, and reminds me of Bennu, is the menu board dedicated to just popularly ordered drinks. Of course the friendly barista will make you anything, but a board of suggestions for first-time customers is really helpful.

Before he mixes up the caramel turtle, the barista lets me know that all the coffee beans come from Colombia and are locally roasted. Everything is fair trade. The attached restaurant/cooking school Thai Fresh is super local. Apparently, the chickens they cook with are raised just down the road from the shop. I am tempted to reference Portlandia, but I refrain.

all I could think about. 

video courtesy of youtube.com

Once he begins brewing my drink I head off back to my table to scope out the almost empty café.  Thrice kind of feels like a modern warehouse redecorated to feel like home. The unfinished ceiling is laced with a sterile white pipe and wrought iron weave; from it, hangs “Jetsons style” giant white lamps giving off bright orbs of light.

Hanging exactly three feet from my head, and right above the open mic section, is a jellyfish art installation; complete with long white tentacle thingys and a pink mushroom-capped head.

From my table I have a perfect view of the pastry case, which is packed with vegan sweet potato whoopie pies (highly recommended online, and the latest wedding dessert trend) and chocolate cake slices. Yum. If it weren’t for the startling image of me being stuffed into my soon-to-be-married sister’s bridesmaids dresses like a sausage, I would be taking full advantage of that pastry menagerie.

Sigh. I’ll see you post May 25^th…

Before I even realize it, a caramel turtle in a friendly blue mug is placed on front of me. The kind barista says, before he darts off to care for other customers, “let me know if it’s too sweet for you.” One thing is for sure, Thrice has customer service in the bag.

I can smell it almost as much as I can taste it. From the moment I pull the cup to my mouth my senses are filled with a warm, cinnamon aroma.

I know people smell the bouquets of wine and that real coffee connoisseurs smell espresso too;  but what my unrefined palate smells is chocolate. And warm flavors; Flavors that remind me of snowy New York evenings and bright blazing fires. I smell the sweet chocolate and the sharp espresso. I can taste the chocolate before it even hits my lips.

This espresso is less aggressive than other espressos I’ve had. 

My first sip is sweet, but the espresso taste is full and robust. I can taste its full bloom. Its almost as if each taste has a sweet chocolate beginning, followed by a sharp but blooming espresso bite that fizzles over my tongue and is trailed by another warm milky chocolate flavor. Sweet, then pleasantly bitter, then sweet.

Caramel turtle latte

There’s a friendly bit of hazelnut popping by just to say hello. I don’t mind. It can drop-in unexpected anytime.The espresso has a dark taste to be sure, but it doesn't cut all sweetness of the chocolate and it fades with the reappearance of the chocolate.

For anyone that wonders how espresso is supposed to bring out the flavor in chocolate, look no further; take a sip of this concoction and the world will suddenly make sense.

The further I get through my mug the more bite I taste. But it isn’t a bitter bite, its soft and full

I like it more, the less that is left- kind of how I feel about most fashion trends.

Behind me a patron has taken advantage of the open mic set up. He must come here a lot, because he knows the owner by first name. He’s warming up by strumming out soft melodies. They are a little melancholy but something in his chords make me feel that his heart is happy. I’m happy too.

His sweet but deep sound reminds me of my presently-finished caramel turtle latte. Now feels like as good at time as any to slip out the side door. Before I leave I thank the barista again, and once more take in a deep breath of Thrice Café. As I exhale, the door closes and I am halfway to my truck.

I’ll be back.

Coffee drinkers: Ask the barista to surprise you, they know what they are doing here.

Non-coffee drinkers: They have a LARGE selection of teas- take advantage of them.

Store location:

909 W. Mary St

Austin, TX

78704

Store hours:

Mon - Fri: 7am -9pm 

Sat - Sun: 8am - 9pm

512.447.9473

My New Friend Jo

What a perfect life.

I try to see myself on a long, desolate, sandy beach with the salty ocean sprays rising fast to meet my bare feet- no, that’s not right.

I picture a girl with dark hair like me, standing on a lush green hill with wildflower bunches tickling her knees and her arms outstretched a la "The Sound of Music-" nope, that’s not it either.

Am I cruising down Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, my hands tight on the wheel of a classic roadster letting the wind whip my hair in every direction? Not even close.

 I’m sitting on my laptop, on a small patio on Second Street, sandwiched between the bustling Lavaca and Colorado streets, hoping that the next gust of wind to blow through the trees is the one that pushes inspiration into my fingertips to word how beautiful today really is.

I am here.
photo courtesy of http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Does everyone feel the same way about their city? Do other people in other cities unknowingly write an “Ode to My City” blog every time they mean to write a blog about an unrelated subject?

But I should correct myself. I feel that Austin and coffee go hand in hand. You can have coffee without Austin, sure, but you can’t have Austin without coffee. We have dozens of local roasters and hundreds of coffee shops; every café has a different claim to fame and a different daily special. No we aren’t the birthplace of Starbucks, that’s fine; We are the birthplace of locality and flair and big business molded into innumerable little Austin gems.

Like this gem. RIP Leslie
photo courtesy of tmdailypost.com

Jo’s Coffee is one such gem. Jo’s is a local chain in Austin with two stores in two hot spots: South Congress and downtown SecondStreet. This place really looks like it has its act together: The store front is polished and painted and the inside looks like an upscale bohemian deli. Jo’s host numerous community events and thrives on the feeling of corporate gone local. I can appreciate a place like this.

Across from me are three suits discussing the latest iPhoneapp and “next-big-thing” as they dine during what I assume is a quick business lunch. The two on the end take a giant first bite of giant hamburger covered in a mountain of steaming, hot fries. Too bad I already at lunch.

But really, too bad I’m a broke college student.

The baristas on staff, and really everyone on staff, is so kind. I ask if I can get a coffee, and the barista retorts that I can if I want one. I tell him I would LOVE a sugar-free caramel, nonfat café au lait in the biggest cup he can find. He obliges.

I watch him whip my drink together with careful attention. It’s ready in a blink of an eye and I’m almost disappointed it didn’t give me more time to peruse the menu and beautifully open café. I grab a seat at the bar and look up to see piles board games and three straw cowboy hats resting on a shelf in front of me, and I find my curiosity lost somewhere between the two.

I decide to begin exploration of the one thing I am familiar with, coffee. I take the introductory sip sans straw to get the first of the signature café au lait foam layer. Perfect.

photo courtesy of i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com

I know I say a lot of coffee in Austin is good- a lot of it is! But I try to be discerning between good and great coffee. I find it no surprise that the coffee shops I categorize as great, brew Cuvee Coffee. This must mean I like Cuvee and the people who know how to serve it. 

I’m not more than three sips in before the friendly barista who crafted my café au lait approaches me to ask if my drink is good. When I say yes he hounds me to see if I’m just saying that because he was asking me: I wasn’t.

Three minutes go by and I hold my breath and lift the lid to see how much of my precious coffee is left, I’ve got more than half. I take a deep breath and sigh in relief.

The caramel is there, but not thick. The coffee is fresh and sharp. I know by the café au lait’s smooth, warm sweetness that it was poured by someone who knows what they are doing. The caramel faintly lingers on my tongue and I continue to swallow to see how long I can savor this flavor; I don’t wait long enough to find out, I’m hooked. The cinnamon spice undertone is a surprise, but a happy one. Who doesn’t love cinnamon?  There’s no separation of flavors in this café au lait, everything is blended as it should be and I don’t feel like I’m just left with foam when I finish (I hate when I’m left with foam, it’s such a tease.)

Okay so Jo’s is only open until 9 p.m. and parking is a vengeful beast downtown but I’m willing to fight what I need to for this coffee. This coffee is worth fighting for.

The food looks pretty good too.

Coffee Drinkers: Anything. Really.

Non-Coffee Drinkers: Grab a cold and local Firemans 4 brew

Store Hours:

Mon-Fri: 7 am - 9 pm

Sat- Sun: 8 am -9 pm

Store Location

242 W 2nd St.

Austin, Texas

78701

Coffee From a Box

South Lamar isnt really the street you frequent to find solace. South Lamar is quirky and has a little something local for everyone. Its entertaining, sure; purposeful? Most definitely. But peaceful is not in the description: unless we are talking about La Boite café.*

*La Boite is French for "the box."

                     

La Boite Cafe
photo courtesy of foodiswhatilove.com

Positioned atop a lush green hill, La Boite overlooks the busy street of South Lamar. The street is buzzing with the sound of hundreds of cars whirring down the road. Faintly, I hear the steady chirping of birds in the distance;  Although I can’t see them, I know by the sound they too have found peace in the middle of this popular boulevard. 

I am sheltered beneath a canvassed fabric stretched from the top of La Boite to the ends of its cracked stone and gravel patio.

The sitting area is much like the inside of La Boite’s trailer. It is small, unassuming and confident. La Boite isn’t shrouded in local art or fancy lights. The walls are a paintless cement covering everything in the trailer permanently except for the unfinished wood ceiling. The menu is two small pieces of paper bolted between two chalkboards with the daily specials. The pastry case is small but delicious looking. Word on the street is that their macarons are too. die. for.

When I order my iced hazelnut latte with nonfat milk I am told by the friendly barista that La Boite has run out of ice (#foodtrailerproblems). I still order it cold and hope for the best.

Literally seconds later my latte is waiting for me on the counter- I grab it and head outside. Perched on a chair in the shade, I take a good look at the Austin skyline and go in for my first sip.

The hazelnut flavor is just right. It tastes as though my straw has pierced right through the center of a hazelnut and found some cream and sugar along the way.

The first sip is the same as the last. The after taste is the same as the before taste. This is seriously good coffee. 

The coffee peeks through the hazelnut syrup. It is not overshadowed by the hazelnut flavor, but thinly veiled. Make no mistakes the espresso taste is there and strong; lattes from La Boite are not for the faint of heart.

The milkiness of my latte, is very much unlike other lattes; the milk isn’t heavy like I find whole milk to be, but it certainly is rich, especially for being skim milk.
 How do they do it?

Did I mention La Boite makes their own syrups?

I don’t know how flavoring syrup is made, or what goes into one- but I do know a good one when I taste it. La Boite expertly makes delicious syrups

Everything here is taken very seriously. I overhear the owners casually talking with a potential business partner about the design and engineering of a shipping package for La Boite’s macarons. Yes, they are discussing the importance of how their macarons will be sent through the mail. Dedication to detail at its finest. Every minute facet of this tiny trailer has been carefully thought out and executed.

I'd wrap these babies up good too.
photo courtesy of texasmonthly.com

I am so comfortable right now watching Austin life hurry by, while I steal time to enjoy a perfect iced hazelnut latte.

Moments like these, I know that there will never be another city quite like this one. You can keep your overcrowded New York and overly-tan Los Angeles-

 I’ll stick to the gentle city noises and flamboyant quirkiness of Austin.


Coffee Drinkers: Go for the cappuccino. 
Non-Coffee Drinkers: House-made Macarons. Duh.



Store Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:30 am- 4:30 pm
Sat-Sun: 8 am- 4 pm


Location:
1700 S. Lamar
Austin, Texas
78704
512.377.6198

The Curious Case of Summermoon Coffee

In another life I must have been a private eye.


A real gumshoe, you know.


I'm not sure what sets me off, but every time I happen upon a fishy story I spiral out of control searching for leading clues, interrogating innocent bystanders and humming ominous background music.


Maybe its the thrill of the chase that fuels my curiosity, or maybe its the odd comfort I take in knowing that something in the world is yet to be discovered.

Or maybe it's because I'm a sucker for guys in orange ascots.
photo courtesy of cartoonnetwork.co.uk

Either way when I found myself in a daze sipping on a latte at Summermoon Wood Fired Coffee, I knew there was a mystery to be solved. 


From the moment I stepped inside this modest coffee shop off of South 1st, I felt as thought I had been let in on a great Austin secret.


It's likely you drive right past this establishment often without even knowing. Residing in a plaza that also houses a salon and a physical fitness center, it's not a typical spot for a cafe.


After opening the door I felt a quick push of warm air against my face; I looked around and heard a mix of spirited conversations between friends and saw people hunched over laptops furiously typing what might just be the next great American novel.


The people here are regulars. Some park just to run in, grab their usual and head out to whatever the day brings them.


I asked the barista to give me what Summermoon does best. Without hesitation he told me the best drink is named after the shop itself: the Summermoon latte.


He explained that the Summermoon latte is a mix between their house espresso and an unique, sweet Summermoon milk. Talk about vertical integration...


I opted for the half as sweet one, appropriately named the half Summermoon.


As he gingerly prepared my drink I asked him about the shop owned by his father-in-law. Apparently Summermoon has the only wood-fired coffee in Austin. What's more is that they roast their own coffee too.

Summermoon's personal wood fired oven
photo courtesy of woodfiredcoffee.

That's right, Summermoon has been roasting its coffee beans in its personal wood-fired oven for over seven years now. What does this mean?


Not only is Summermoon local, but its unique. There are about three major roasters in Austin that coffee shops in the area get their beans from, and all of these roasters use a gas oven.












Wood-fired is not necessarily better than gas roasting, it's just different. My barista describes its as "smoother." I feel good drinking these beans because it feels more natural.




Now there are two mysteries to Summermoon Coffee.


The first mystery is that of the Summermoon latte; I don't know what it is! The latte is sweet and at the risk of puzzling you all, custard-y. I watched my drink being crafted and I saw everything that went into it. As promised, the half Summermoon latte is a careful blend of skim milk, Summermoon espresso and Summermoon sweet milk- that's it.


But the taste is much more complex. As I mentioned above, there is some sort of custard hint to it- a sort of thick, easy vanilla flavor. I would know if there was sweetened condensed milk in it because of its characteristic heaviness, and because of its mysterious ability to tighten my waistband; but although it is a dense drink, it is not heavy.


The Summermoon latte is of a natural frothy consistency. It sips creamy and cool and effortlessly masks the assumed bitterness that follows a latte with four shots of espresso. After I indulged my coffee for almost two hours, I feel full and alert- but not jittery.


I also felt sad; very, very sad.

the latte can't ALL be gone?!
photo courtesy of findairfreight.com

The second mystery of Summermoon to be solved is its popularity. With a homegrown philosophy and bewitching brews, people should be lining out the door to get a taste.


This is not to say Summermoon does not have a steady flow of customers, but I am surprised that the small coffee bar isn't brimming with eager caffeine addicts searching for outlets.


Sure, there are numerous positive reviews on yelp.com about this place, but why are yelp users the only people talking about it? Why haven't I been here before?


Why aren't you there now?


The space isn't big, so don't bring your entire social circle expecting a place to sit- keep Summermoon for your inner circle of friends.

Summermoon
photo courtesy of austinrealestatehomesblog.com

While the front patio is nothing to ride home about (its pretty small with bare, mismatched seating), the inside is quaint with eclectic chairs and tables and colorful lanterns dangling from the ceiling.


Stop by Summermoon right now. And tell your friends about this well kept secret.


As for the unsolved mysteries? The only reason I can think of why this place isn't packed full of yuppies is simply due to its hidden storefront and odd location.


And the Summermoon latte's curious sweetness? Summermoon sweet milk is magical. That's all there is to it. I challenge the world's most expert chemists to find another solution.






Summermoon is sensational. Case closed.


Coffee drinkers: try their espresso straight up. My guess is that it is fabulous.


Non-coffee drinkers: the full Summermoon Latte. Sweet, with a hidden jolt.




Location:
3115 S. 1st st.
Austin, TX, 78704
512.804.1665


Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sun: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.