Coffee blogging 2009 Chapter 1 Rancho Sao Benedito COE Lot 11 · Saturday July 18, 2009 by colin newell
We begin our series on coffee profiles with Rancho Sao Benedito COE Lot 11 from Transcend Coffee.
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Summer Food Fun and Drink 2009 Starbucks in decline - Chapter 4 · Thursday July 16, 2009 by colin newell
In a remarkably lame move, Starbucks is shape-shifting itself into a mom-and-pop neighborhood cafe in Seattle.
A Seattle outlet of the 16,000-store coffee behemoth is being re-branded without visible Starbucks identifiers, as 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea.
And they plan on going head to head with the likes of Victrola, Vivace, Cafe Vita, Cafe D’arte and Stumptown.
From my perspective, I think this latest Starbuck bait and switch is the height of cynicism and breathtakingly shortsighted – even for a foundering behemoth like the jolly green caffeine giant.
Recently I have compared the following chain coffee recently and here is my score…
Lame- Starbucks – Watery, thin, unremarkable… Americano with a puff of whisper thin crema
Slightly Lame- Tim Horton’s – Like their gut wrenching doughnuts, Tim’s coffee has nothing redeeming about it. Coffee flavored mouth wash. Remember, don’t swallow any!
Not so bad- McDonalds – Drip coffee thick enough to plasma cut steel plate. Delicious with an egg McMuffin.
Continuing on Starbucks Seattle plans… they also plan on serving beer and wine.
This marketing move from Coffee Oz northwest is baffling, amusing and kind of sad in a way. In this economy (if I was Howard Shultz), I would be holding my cards real close. But what the heck. Nothing ventured – nothing gained…
Just ignore the aging wizard behind the curtain.
Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 16 OTTO in the House 3 · Wednesday July 15, 2009 by colin newell
OTTO
12 pounds of stainless steel
On a hot electric stove
Portafilter filled with espresso from Cafe Fantastico
Ten minutes later
Espresso
Without a sound
Served with a smile
Astounding.
Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 15 OTTO in the House 2 · Tuesday July 14, 2009 by colin newell
Summer Food Fun and Drink Chapter 14 OTTO in the House · Monday July 13, 2009 by colin newell
OTTO arrived on the shores of North America today! Delivered to my door after what seems like a long, long wait.
You have read the stories before – and the blogs that I have put out over the last year or so.
And for all those watching the reemergence of the classic Atomic espresso maker (in the guise of a new Atomic – and a Sorrentina), OTTO was hotly anticipated.
And few were more excited than I was.
I have never even touched an Atomic or Atomic style coffee maker before – and I know the devotion, amongst collectors and users, is legendary.
So this is just a teaser – in what will become an entire series unto itself.
After taking OTTO out of its shipping crate, I was staggered at the raw weight of the unit. I will weigh it tomorrow – but apparently it clocks in at about 3 times the weight of the Atomic Classic.
And my first brew after a casual flirtation with the instructions?
OTTO knocked me out of the park with a crema rich espresso. With Craig Hiron and associate Ben on Video Skype in Sydney Australia – watching on pins – I gasped at the first sips of espresso and a cheer went up Down Under.
This was a truly delightful moment for me – and the boys in Australia. A sense of relief too. I mean, I had no idea how good this was going to be.
More coming!
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