I Love Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee Review

Mark — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:39:03 +0000

I have been a fan of Blue Bottle Coffee since I discovered them in 2004 when I was searching online for coffee beans that were not over roasted. Since I live in the Bay Area, we have so many choices available for getting great coffee. One might think that finding a decent cup of coffee is an easy task. Hardly. McCafe, Starbuck’s, Seattle’s Best, and Peet’s dominate the landscape in the world of coffee. The trend of the late 90′s and 2000′s was dark roast coffee. If you did not subscribe to dark roasted coffee, you almost felt like an outcast. I was tired of coffee that tasted like burned wood. I was able to enjoy my firs cup of Blue Bottle Coffee from a small coffee cart while walking the streets of Berkeley, California. My first impressions were “Wow, this tastes like coffee!” Is this an epiphany or what? There was not bitter after taste. I tried as to taste ash or burned coffee. Nada. Nor did it taste sour or like grass which is a common problem with under roasting coffee beans.

Blue Bottle has expanded it’s reach way beyond the little coffee cart that the owner and master roaster operated himself. They now boast roasting on the right and left coast of America. One is located on Berry Street, Queens, New York and the other on Webster Street, Oakland, California. I was fortunate enough to visit their flagship operation on Webster in Oakland California. It’s a simple set up with a few stools and a common counter sip your favorite coffee beverage. They offer a few home made cookies, biscotti, brandy cake, and short breads to eat while enjoying your coffee. Blue Bottle Coffee food menu is very simple as it should. They are a coffee roaster with a small coffee bar to sample their micro roasted coffee.

Guess what is missing on the Blue Bottle Coffee menu? Carmel lattes, pumpkin pie cappuccinos, and other sugary beverages. They sell COFFEE! Can you believe that?

Blue Bottle Coffee looks like it’s a word of mouth enterprise. I saw a blue bottle painted on the bricks. There was a place to park and water your dog on the side walk. I petted several dogs. Give me a choice of petting a dog or drinking a cup of coffee and I will always take the dog. Parking sucks because it is located in an old warehouse district near the produce terminal market. Most patrons walked or traveled by bicycle. I could not locate the words “Blue Bottle Coffee”. Of course, I did not look too hard because I was not looking for a cup of coffee. I was looking specifically for Blue Bottle Coffee. It’s like going to the best restaurant in town. Before I go to any good eatery, I look for the address and drive or walk to it. When I discovered that Blue Bottle Coffee had a small coffee bar in Oakland, I mapped it out on Google and drove to it the following day.

I ordered a basic cappuccino and I have to tell you that it was just a good cup of joe. My lips did not pucker from burned coffee flavor. It tasted like coffee and creamy milk. There was nothing over powering about it. If I was to compare this to Peet’s or Starbuck’s, I have to tell you that they are not in the same class as Blue Bottle Coffee. This is real coffee that is roasted in a way that brings out the flavor. You will not be disappointed.

Home Made Cherry Dark Chocolate Recipe

Mark — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:35:08 +0000

Sometimes a good cup of joe requires a piece of dark chocolate to nibble on while you are drinking your favorite coffee beverage. There are times when I want to create my own dark chocolate made with cacao powder and raw virgin coconut oil. Other times I want to sink my teeth into some artisan chocolate like Dagoba or Sharffenberger Chocolate. My favorite chocolate is always the one that is nearest to my computer desk.

As I was typing away on my Macbook Sunday night, some friends stopped by to sing Christmas carols because I was unable to sing with them. I offered them some home made dark chocolate hoping that I would have at least one piece for morning coffee. Luck was on my side because there was enough chocolate for me to eat for the next two days.

Having a nice chunk of dark chocolate with coffee is very nice treat. It’s totally ying-yang. It’s not that I need to eat chocolate with every cup that I drink. I am a firm believer that a cup of coffee should taste good enough to drink it on it’s own merits.

Being an avid home roaster and health food aficionado, I sort of created my own version of healthy dark chocolate. Hear me out before you think that I am a hypocrite. Dark chocolate when eaten in small quantities is actually good for you. It’s high in antioxidants. I make my dark chocolate with virgin coconut oil, organic raw cacao powder, shredded coconut, a small amount of unprocessed sweetener like maple syrup, rapadura, or coconut sugar.

Killer Dark Cherry Chocolate Recipe

2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup almonds
dash of salt
1/4 cup unrefined sugar
1/2 to 1 cup of raw cacao powder (depends on how strong you like it!)
dried unsweetened cherries or whatever dried fruits that you like.

This is the tricky part. You need either a good food processor or commercial blender to make this correctly. I blend the entire mess in my Vitamix. You need to be careful so you don’t burn out the motor. I use a tap-release method. Blend until it liquifies. Pour the liquid into silicon ice cube trays or chocolate candy molds. Add a dried cherry or piece of dried fruit to each cube of chocolate.

Let this sit in the refrigerator until firm and enjoy! Use small ice cube trays to mold the chocolate, because it looks so professional. I often give a few pieces away as gifts to my friends and they totally love it.

You can eat this chocolate guilt free. It’s not going to kill you. Coconut oil has health benefits too. Do a Google search because this is a coffee blog and I cannot or will not offer medical advice. I am no purist and consume both healthy and unhealthy food. If you want to stay cancer free, then stop eating.

Make a cup of single origin French press coffee. Sit back and enjoy this treat. Both coffee and chocolate seem to taste better when enjoyed with friends and loved once, so make sure that you share this with your friends and family on Facebook.

The Good Stuff That You Don’t Have To Make

I think I have managed to scarf down at least 10 pounds of Dagoba dark chocolate this year. Have you ever tried Dagoba chocolate? It’s amazing organic artisan chocolate made in Oregon. It’s slightly sweet and they make a dozen or so different varieties. This is not your garden variety chocolate! My sister who owns a food brokerage company turned me on to this decadent chocolate several years ago at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. They had pallets of all their artisan chocolates for sampling. My samples were handfuls. I like the dark chocolate that contains some spicy hot red pepper as a sensory kick that caused me to blink a few times.

Every year for Christmas, my 2 boys buy me the Pound Plus 72% Dark Chocolate Bar from Trader Joe’s. I find it a little on the sweet side, but I cannot be too choosy since it’s a traditional gift from my kids. I am as picky about my chocolate as I am with my coffee. It has to be great or I will not indulge in it.

If you are getting hungry for dark chocolate and coffee, click on the Dagoba chocolate bar below and order a 6 pack today from Amazon.

Christmas Coffee Blends

Mark — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:48:09 +0000

You have to admit that coffee companies like Starbuck’s do an awesome job when marketing coffee for Christmas and the Holidays. I hear the buzz on my daily commute about how awesome Peet’s Holiday Blend is and that Starbuck’s Christmas blend is killer. How much different are these blends than any other blends that these 2 power house coffee purveyors offer? Not to sound like Ebenezer Scrooge, but there is nothing remarkable about any roasters Christmas or Holiday blend. It’s just an honest ploy to get you to buy more coffee. As an avid coffee drinker, I admit that I am fair game to any and all advertising.

However, there is a distinct difference between my Christmas Blend and Starbuck’s Christmas Blend-I roast my own coffee. I started roasting my own coffee long before it became trendy and cool. I happen to like fresh roasted coffee and it seems to work well for me.

Here is my secret for roasting the most awesome Christmas blend on the planet. I roast enough single origin coffee to last me to last me 2-3 days. After 2 days of brewing French press coffee, I roast another batch and add the remaining coffee beans from the previous roast. I shake up the bag and now have my Christmas Blend. Pretty scientific!

I wonder if the big name roasters do anything different? They say that they travel the world in search of rare beans for the perfect blend of roasted. They may have traveled the world, but not in the way that they say. Starbuck’s is in business to make money. Nothing wrong with that. Coffee is not their priority to stock holders.

Starbuck’s Christmas Blend taken from their website:
“The coffee’s magic comes from amazing, rare Sumatran beans that have been aged three to five years.
In that time, they develop such wonderful spicy, cedary and syrupy flavors that our roasters can barely wait for the day each year when they can create this blend. ”

Every time that I have tried Starbuck’s coffee, about all I can taste is ash. I am still trying to figure out where these wonderful syrupy flavors are? The description sound so alluring until you try the coffee. Try standing in a line at Starbuck’s and listen to patrons rave about the coffee. Follow them over to the sugar and cream table. Most dump what seems like a pound of sugar and a half cup of cream to kill the bad taste.

How To Make Your Own Christmas Blend Coffee

If you want to make your own Holiday or Christmas blend coffee that is better than most of the big name roasters, then take your favorite coffees and mix ‘em up. I am sure that you will find hints of chocolate, cinnamon, hazelnut and just about any taste that you have imagined.

My all time favorite place to purchase green coffee beans is Sweet Maria’s. They have a blend that they call Monkey Espresso Blend. They use the same concept as a monkey would do when choosing beans-random! If you can imagine a monkey randomly choosing roasted coffee beans, then you get the concept of my Christmas blend coffee.

Stainless Steel Coffee French Press

Mark — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:06:01 +0000

Have you broke your French press glass again? If you love drinking coffee made in a French press but are having trouble keeping them from breaking, then you may want to consider a stainless steel French press. I have seen them on the market for years at camping stores like REI, but they never look very good. I think avid coffee drinkers like myself are getting tired of breaking the thin glass that these things are made from I have always wondered why they are made so thin. While traveling in the Philippines several years ago in the remote village of El Nido, a local showed me all of solo French press plungers. He must have had half dozen of them. He gave up. Too bad that he never knew about the Bodum Stainless steel French press.

Cuisinox Double Walled Stainless Steel French Press (25 0z.)

This is great alternative to expensive Bodum French presses as it sells for less than $50 and has excellent reviews. Read the Cuisinox stainless steel French Press reviews here.

Bodum Small Travel Coffee Press

This is very cool item and the reviews of the Bodum stainless steel travel French press are great. I am very picky about my coffee, so I would transfer the brewed coffee into another travel mug after it’s brewed. Coffee or tea tends to get bitter when it stays in contact with the brewed material.

Teeccino Coffee Alternative Review

Mark — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:13:45 +0000

Are you looking for a caffeine free coffee alternative? Teeccino caffeine free herbal coffee may be the solution that you are seeking. I am an avid coffee drinker. Nothing beats a hot cuppa coffee in the morning to start out the day. At least that is what I thought until my wife brought home a bag of Teeccino. You see, Teeccino is not a beverage that is trying to masquerade as coffee. It’s a fantastic standalone drink that’s in a category all by itself. Even though they advertise it as a herbal coffee. It’s a drink that tastes absolutely fantastic.

How do I explain the taste of Teeccino? It’s pretty hard, it almost tastes like coffee because it’s made with roasted chicory. But it has a lot of other ingredients that give it such a unique taste. For example check out this list of ingredients from Teeccino Mediterranean vanilla nut: Organic Carob, Organic Barley, Chicory, Organic Dates, Almonds, Organic Chicory, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Figs, Natural Nut Flavor. Do you see what I mean? We sometimes blend our Teeccino with homemade cashew milk or just add plain dairy cream.

Click here to read all the reviews about Teeccino

Give Teeccino a try because I know that you’re going to fall in love with it just as I have. Although I have not given up coffee completely, it sure is tempting because I enjoy Teeccino every bit as much as I do coffee. My wife and I enjoy a cup of hot Teeccino every night before we go to bed.

I brew Teeccino in a French press and a single cup filter down coffee brewer. If you want to make cappuccino, latte, or a frappuccino, you also do this with Teeccino.

Best Selling Espresso Makers

Mark — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:36:54 +0000

New Starbucks barista?

Mark — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 04:55:32 +0000

I am a new starbucks barista and
I am not positive on all of the shots, pumps of syrup . frapps
can someone tell me all of that for
tall, grande venti for lattes, cappuccino, and fapps
for

HOT:(TGV)
Espresso:
Syrup:
ICED:(TGV)
Espresso:
Syrup:
FRAPS:
Coffee base
syrup:
Powders:
creme-based drinks:
the exceptions…

Can anyone help me?

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Canadian Prarie Regional Barista Competition

Mark — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:56:58 +0000

This was the Prarie Regional Barista Competition held at Fratello Coffee September 12, 2009.

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I am a new starbucks barista?

Mark — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:27:25 +0000

I am not positive on all of the shots, pumps of syrup . frapps
can someone tell me all of that for
tall, grande venti for lattes, cappuccino, and fapps

I know this much:
HOT:(TGV)
Espresso:
Syrup:
ICED:(TGV)
Espresso:
Syrup:
FRAPS:
Coffee base
syrup:
Powders:
creme-based drinks:
the exceptions…

Can anyone help me?

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When Barista’s Go Camping…

Mark — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:21:35 +0000

Chris Baca, Drew Caittlin, Devin Pedde, Jared Truby, Brent Fortune, and Ryan Willbur escape to Santa Cruz for a weekend of relaxing, roasting, and drinking a lot of coffee. This was the resutl…