Stop huffing and start brewing

What a cool idea (exchanging heat for pressure in brewing)... it would be quite fun to mess around with...

The blogs he references seem pretty cool too at first glance for those interested in food.

Another random idea for those who can switch your elements off and still run your pump (synesso)...cold brew a shot and see what it tastes like...probably too short of an extraction but maybe if you grind superfine and run 12oz water or so....???

Let me know if you try it...i'd be curious to taste.

The Java Den at 1022...happy 1 year!

Ben has been operating Java Den at 1022 since it opened last August. I have had the pleasure of servicing his equipment, but more enjoying his skilled, sincere and honest approach to great coffee. If you haven't visited his cafe you should...it is crammed between W. Johnson and University Ave. just West of the UW business school building (1022 W. Johnson). He serves Kickapoo and usually has a couple of different espresso's available.

Rumor has it he'll have free espresso sometime next week!

Happy 1 year Java Den!

I Hate Single Origin Espresso

I wish I could articulate half as well as Mark Prince:

http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/markprince/08-14-2010

The Verve training video is pretty spectacular...

I look forward to part 2!!

**Update: I don't hate it...but I largely...(almost completely) agree with Mark...

**And I would also add that I think it an unfortunate reality that the specialty coffee culture and its associated pursuits and fads look to barista competitions for inspiration. More on my opinion about competitions effect on our sub-culture here.

New Cafe Opening In Madison Soon!

The Victory, Atwood Ave.

Wormhole

We made a quick trip down to Chicago to pick up a dear friend so I took the opportunity to stop by Wormhole coffee. One of the things I enjoyed most about the experience is that while this shop is about quality coffee it is also about 1980's/early 90's nostalgia. Not that quality coffee isn't an important thing but I think we can all get a bit too serious about it! It was nice drinking my espresso while seeing a replica back to the future delorean up close.

I had:
Espresso: Red Line, by Metropolis Coffee
Machine: Mirage Veloce, by Kees van der Westen.

Pour-over (Hario V-60): Costa Rica, by Ugly Mug Coffee

I thought:
The espresso was very good...Sweet chocolate, honey and red-fruit and rather balanced. Really, quite enjoyable. It was the highlight (other than the BTTF Delorean in the front window) of the visit.

The pour over wasn't that great. Hard to tell if it was the coffee, the extraction, or both. It had some nice lemon as it started to cool, but first and lasting impressions were a bit sour. Body wasn't that great (although it was a pour-over)...I was hoping for a creamy body and some tart flavors...but never found them. I should have ordered the Metropolis Kenya off the Fetco brewer.

The aesthetics of the shop were very cool. Dominated by Star Wars and Back To The Future, but plenty of other iconic 1980's pieces of pop culture too.

I reccomend you check it out the next time you find yourself in Chicago!

Wormhole Coffee - Chicago, IL

Got a chance to visit wormhole today.

Coming soon....the coffee, the machine, the aesthetics...

Rancilio for Sale

Hey! If you or yours are in need, Steve @ Anodyne is selling a clean (inside/out) Rancilio Classe 10 3 group espresso machine. He also has a cart available w/3 compartment sink. The espresso machine is going for $4000 and the cart for $5000.

Contact them if you are interested!


-rp