Ground Zero for Victoria's best coffee · Saturday December 3, 2005 by colin newell
There are more coffee joints in Victoria than car dealers and, let me tell you Bernice, they all want to sell you something. Trick is to find what you are looking for.
Personally, I look for the people that know what they are talking about (in a way that makes sense to my pearl sized brain), people that believe in what they are doing, and lastly people that do not give me the crazy-creeps talking about coffee in a way that I just do not get!
Sam Jones, Victoria’s ubermyster coffee god, holds court at 2% Jazz on Douglas Street (adjacent to the Times-Colonist building). Surrounded by the finest in coffee-espresso hardware and only the finest baristi that the city has to offer, Sam takes the bean to levels that other cafes can only daydream about.
The thing about Sam is, he cultivates leading-edge ideas in the kind of positive environment that offers genuflection (courteous acknowledgement) to everyone in the coffee-chain, from the farmer to the cup.
As Dave Anderson (of Ottawa) and I sat in 2% Jazz, the other day, it became readily apparent that every single body coming through his door was a little wiser about the caffeine bean than the average schelp that walks into Starbucks looking for their Vente whatever.
Sam is a teacher, a damn good teacher. He believes his gospel and when he starts to preach the good word, you cannot help but listen.
I could not help but gaze in wonder as he led Dave, by the hand (Ok, stretching here) up onto his raised pulpit behind his glistening Synesso espresso machine. I could almost hear the choir as Sam coached Dave through the fundamentals. Dave, who is a seasoned coffee-nerd from Ottawa, came away exclaiming “That was the best coffee I have ever had in my life!” Where else in Victoria would you actually become part of the espresso experience?
Only at 2% Jazz, that is where!
If you want real coffee and the best espresso that the city has to offer, drop your pretense and your double-cupped swill take-away and get your feet down to 2% Jazz.
Staling improves? · Saturday November 26, 2005 by glenn
I have been roasting for only about 15 months now and have never been satisfied with the Brazils.
Ashy, ashy and accompanying off-tastes reminiscent of licking an ash tray[don’t ask]. I was just about to give up on these green beans and look for something else to be used as an espresso base.
All of my roasted beans are generally consumed in less than 7 days, except this time, I had some extra brazils that I had roasted as a separate batch. To my surprise these beans underwent a dramatic transformation in taste after about the 7th day and beyond. The ashiness disappeared and oddly, the crema improved as these beans aged.
These beans were interesting to roast. First crack was very subtle, sounding almost like second crack. In my first batch, I actually missed hearing first crack and all of the sudden your into second.
A stop watch comes in handy here..
The Elysian room - does it get any better? · Tuesday November 8, 2005 by colin newell
Elysian room with Dave – who says there are no surprizes any more?
Coffeecrew youngster, Dave Reimer, and I went to the Elysian Room (1778 W.5th) today for our first visit.
A couple of things: One- This place is smaller and significantly less formal than I was lead to believe. This was a relief to me. The way vancouverites describe this place (holy shrine with lasers and purple smoke emanating from some mysterious caffeine powered sepulchre) was way off.
It is small and friendly, warm and intimate in the way I remember the original Demitasse Cafe in Victoria from the eighties. Two- The coffee and food was better than I expected (and I have insane expectations).
I took some pictures with permission from the baristi (and they will appear shortly). The staff are among the most professional that I have met, answering one or two of my obviously pointed questions without flinching. Espresso coffee is from the Hines Market, Seattle.
Here, in Vancouver, at the Elysian Room, it is painstakingly and professionally prepared by a barista whose full attention is on the process and the experience. Don’t get me wrong folks, Cafe Artigiano is fabulous and all but the experience you have at the E-Room is precise and complete.
The Black Stilt Cafe - Victoria · Sunday October 30, 2005 by colin newell
CoffeeCrew poster-gal April visits the Black Stilt, Victoria’s new cafe. -
“Have you reviewed the Black Stilt yet? I think you should write up a good review for them on your web site. It’s a welcome addition to the options in my neighbourhood.
The coffee is great. So far I’ve enjoyed the regular dark roast drip,
and Americano and this morning I went for a latte and was happily impressed. I won’t pretend I know enough about coffee to actually write a review for you, but I can assure you that I personally found the coffee to be better than what I’ve had at some of my other haunts. I did ask what beans they were using, but since that was several hours ago and me being of little brain, I’ve already forgotten.
The place was hopping this morning with most of the seating filled and often a small line-up at the counter. Despite all the people, the acoustics are such that I didn’t need to shout to be heard above everyone else. It’s clean, spacious and yet, still cozy.
There are various seating choices. There’s the usual table and chairs for 2 – 4 people and window counter with stools. They also provide several comfortable cushiony chairs off to one side, a couple of sofas on the other side and an inviting gas fireplace (I say inviting mostly because it was chilly and rainy this morning) with cushioned seating on either side.
If you haven’t been yet, Friday night might be a good time to check it out. Your good pal Charlie Burton will the playing there. It looks like they will be hosting various musical talents on a regular basis.”
-April F. is a delightfully red-headed young lady who tests our coffee during the work week. So far, she has had made no complaints.
Dumont Rathie Band Download
