Coffee

Who is up for another Jitter Tour? This time from West LA to Ktown.

Coffee Tomo.
Beans and Roaster: House blend and house roasted.
Machine and grinder: La Marzocco GB/5, Mazzer Robur.


Taste: Hottest espresso temp. from any cafe. I was expecting bitter but it was well balanced with the classic espresso taste that was tasty to the last drop. 4.0.


Balconi.
Beans: Double barrel espresso blend.
Machine and grinder: La Marzocco Linea, Mahlkonig k30.
Taste: Balanced acidity turns a little bitter while cooling making the last drop even more bitter. Warmer than most cafes except Tomo. 3.5.


Brew Well.
Machine and grinder: La Marzocco GB/5, Mazzer Robur.
Beans and tasting notes: Heart Roasters, Stereo seasonal blend. "Dark chocolate, almond, cream cherry." 50% Ethiopia, Chelelektu, 50% Ethiopia, Borboy.
Taste: You can taste the description. Nice balanced acidity with a minor bitterness at the last drop. 4.0.


Go Get em Tiger. The most famous in LA so I gave them a second chance. The open hot grills and the lack of circulation makes this place too hot to be in.
Machine and grinder: La Marzocco linea, Mazzer Robur.
Beans: 49th Parallel, Cost Rican Finca del Roble. "Rosehip, candied cherry, cashew finish."
Taste: Big cups allow you to get a good smell before you drink. Crema was light and had looked liked it had been swirled before served. I asked a barista if they do that and he said no. Better made this time that is balanced, light, and nothing in your face but turns to bitters as it cools. 3.0.


Graffiti Cafe. Place is huge that is mainly white with some black and the stereo on. Lots of rules at this place could get you kicked out.
Machine and grinder: La Marzocco Linea, Mazzer Robur.
Beans: House blend with a blend of 10 varieties.
Taste: Nice classic espresso taste good to the last drop. 4.0.
 
Rules in a coffee shop? :( Would those rules have anything to do with photographing an 0777(?) with your espresso? ;)

Love the pictures and reviews PE! :thumbup:
 
Barman1 said:
Rules in a coffee shop? :( Would those rules have anything to do with photographing an 0777(?) with your espresso? ;)

Love the pictures and reviews PE! :thumbup:
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Thank you for the compliments. Most cafes around here have that spartan natural wood look but the modern decor in Graffiti looks like a posh lounge or club for some hip hop star. The temperature outside is over 90 degrees but they have a real fireplace running. The upstairs looks like its a VIP section and the place has rope barriers that also remind me of a club and even the baristas remind you of bouncers.

The rules are a full page and are posted as soon as you enter in line include: WiFI is limited to 90 min, no cell phones in line, you cant bring in outside food or drinks including bottled water, 1 drink minimum, kids must behave properly at all times, no bad chi, and of course a lot more. Luckily no rules on pics taken of your knife and espresso at least to my knowledge because I didn't get bounced out.

You will see a lot of reviews of this place as pretentious but everyone treated me well and I felt no pressure because these guys knew I was a coffee guy and not here to take up space. Link with lots of pics. http://sprudge.com/cafe-design-graffiti-in-los-angeles-is-very-los-angeles.html
 
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Drink and blade of the day. What are you drinking?
Funnel Mill. Milan, Espresso dark roast. Tastes like chocolate and marshmallows with no burnt roast taste.
Dalibor, Sirius.

 
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PrimitiveEnergy said:
Thank you for the compliments. Most cafes around here have that spartan natural wood look but the modern decor in Graffiti looks like a posh lounge or club for some hip hop star. The temperature outside is over 90 degrees but they have a real fireplace running. The upstairs looks like its a VIP section and the place has rope barriers that also remind me of a club and even the baristas remind you of bouncers.

The rules are a full page and are posted as soon as you enter in line include: WiFI is limited to 90 min, no cell phones in line, you cant bring in outside food or drinks including bottled water, 1 drink minimum, kids must behave properly at all times, no bad chi, and of course a lot more. Luckily no rules on pics taken of your knife and espresso at least to my knowledge because I didn't get bounced out.

You will see a lot of reviews of this place as pretentious but everyone treated me well and I felt no pressure because these guys knew I was a coffee guy and not here to take up space. Link with lots of pics. http://sprudge.com/cafe-design-graffiti-in-los-angeles-is-very-los-angeles.html
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As hard as they're trying, aren't rules, ropes, bouncers, etc, a manifestation of bad chi?
With all of that going on at least the espresso was good.
Thanks for the explanation and the link.
 
We all envy you PE! Of all the shops I have visited here in St. Louis- only one or two come close to what you have posted. Most people around here think a fu fu drink at Starbucks is "real" coffee.
 
Barman1 said:
As hard as they're trying, aren't rules, ropes, bouncers, etc, a manifestation of bad chi?
With all of that going on at least the espresso was good.
Thanks for the explanation and the link.
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That is what a lot of people have expressed in their reviews of this place. I think the no bad chi sign means don't piss off the owner by complaining or breaking the rules. I have read quite a few reviews mentioning they were kicked out because they said out loud the prices were high and the owner over heard. Reminds me of the Soup nazi but in this case it would be the Coffee nazi.

Monofletch said:
We all envy you PE! Of all the shops I have visited here in St. Louis- only one or two come close to what you have posted. Most people around here think a fu fu drink at Starbucks is "real" coffee.
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The specialty coffee explosion reminds me of when the Food trucks became popular. LA is catching up to Norcal, Washington, and NY. Lots of hollywood types can keep these places open even when they are clustered together. I envy your Kansas City. Not only do you have world class bbq but you also have the 2013 world barista champion Pete Licata and his place Parisi Artisan Coffee located at the Union station.
 
We have "Food truck Fridays" in the park by my work during the summer months. Some of the best food ever!

KC/MO is a nice place- It's a shame it's way over on the other side. I might be closer to Chicago. :D I think it beats Memphis in the BBQ department!
 
Monofletch said:
We have "Food truck Fridays" in the park by my work during the summer months. Some of the best food ever!

KC/MO is a nice place- It's a shame it's way over on the other side. I might be closer to Chicago. :D I think it beats Memphis in the BBQ department!
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This may be off topic but I love gourmet food trucks. I have been to a lot of the gourmet food trucks in LA and the 1st and 2nd LA food truck festivals.

I have also been to some of the food trucks that have entered and won the Food networks, "The great food truck race," before and after they won the show. For instance the 1st season winner Grill em All, runner up Nom Nom truck and 3rd season winner Seoul Sausage. I followed them around so much I even watched Andrew Zimmerman film his blog show and a couple shows for the food network and the cooking channel.

Here is a pic. of Seoul Sausage's spicy Korean sausage with sweet coleslaw in a toasted bun. Then I had an espresso next door at Coffee Tomo which is Japanese for friend.

 
Spyderco Panchenko Dog Tag Folder and Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso blend.

Producer: Jacques Carneiro & Luiz Paulo Pereira, Roberto Mata Naranjo.
Farm: Fazenda Santa Lucia, Fazenda Santa Ines, Coopedota.
Region: Carmo de Minas - Brazil / Tarrazu - Costa Rica.
Country: Brazil, Costa Rica.
Elevation: 1150 - 1900 m.a.s.l
Harvest: June - November 2013, January - February 2014
Cultivar: Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai.

Taste: Nice balance of acidic sweetness and bitterness. I like mine at home better than the 2 Intelligentsia retail locations I have been to.
 
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I like the little Dog Tag. What are your thoughts?
Almost picked up some Intelligentsia beans today but there was a deal on some Portland Roasting Coffee at my local market that caught my eye.
I'm still working on a 5 pound glut of a french roast so I just needed a little break from that flavor profile so picked up some organic dark Sumatra roasted by the aforementioned.
Brewed it up in my 4 cup Moka pot. I'll press out a cup soon, just a little lazy tonight.

With my Marty Young custom. Custom scales and backspacer by Shepardcc.
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Barman1 said:
I like the little Dog Tag. What are your thoughts?
Almost picked up some Intelligentsia beans today but there was a deal on some Portland Roasting Coffee at my local market that caught my eye.
I'm still working on a 5 pound glut of a french roast so I just needed a little break from that flavor profile so picked up some organic dark Sumatra roasted by the aforementioned.
Brewed it up in my 4 cup Moka pot. I'll press out a cup soon, just a little lazy tonight.

With my Marty Young custom. Custom scales and backspacer by Shepardcc.
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Knife and coffee are looking good.:thumbup: If your in a hurry just eat the beans and gulp down some hot water!:D

The dog tag is a palm full of fun! The ergos don't allow you to grip it comfortably so you have to use it like those small neck knives and you might want to put a lanyard on it for more grip. The detent ball is very light so be careful that is doesn't close on a finger.
 
Hey! PrimitiveEnergy,

So, how do you like your LIDO2 so far? I have cranked the thing at least 2500 times and the handle is just beginning to loosen up. I thought about putting a handle from a
fishing reel on it, but I don't have a fishing reel and it seems silly to buy a reel just to steal the handle. I looked for handles on eBay and they cost as much as a used reel.
 
UffDa said:
Hey! PrimitiveEnergy,

So, how do you like your LIDO2 so far? I have cranked the thing at least 2500 times and the handle is just beginning to loosen up. I thought about putting a handle from a
fishing reel on it, but I don't have a fishing reel and it seems silly to buy a reel just to steal the handle. I looked for handles on eBay and they cost as much as a used reel.
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The adjustment kept moving unintentionally when I tried breaking it in with stale beans. I got frustrated and put it away until I get the urge for drip again.

Maybe you can carve one out wood?:cool: I have read some people pull the knob off and grease or oil it with WD40 or something organic like coconut oil.
 
PrimitiveEnergy said:
Knife and coffee are looking good.:thumbup: If your in a hurry just eat the beans and gulp down some hot water!:D

The dog tag is a palm full of fun! The ergos don't allow you to grip it comfortably so you have to use it like those small neck knives and you might want to put a lanyard on it for more grip. The detent ball is very light so be careful that is doesn't close on a finger.
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That's what I used to do while mountain biking. Nice little pick me up in the middle of a ride.
Now I make my own energy gel blend using maguey sap, agave nectar, black strap molasses, finely ground dark roast, and sea salt for the electrolytes. Crazy energy levels now, I even carry a small squeeze flask to work with me.
I've got a very active job and sometimes work my entire shift without stopping once so the energy boost is welcome. I don't even have enough time most nights to grab a cup of coffee. :eek:
 
Barman1 said:
That's what I used to do while mountain biking. Nice little pick me up in the middle of a ride.
Now I make my own energy gel blend using maguey sap, agave nectar, black strap molasses, finely ground dark roast, and sea salt for the electrolytes. Crazy energy levels now, I even carry a small squeeze flask to work with me.
I've got a very active job and sometimes work my entire shift without stopping once so the energy boost is welcome. I don't even have enough time most nights to grab a cup of coffee. :eek:
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Sounds like some delicious, healthy, powerful, bounce off the walls stuff!:eek: You should name it 10 hour energy or Blue Bull and become a multimillionaire.:D
 
PrimitiveEnergy said:
Sounds like some delicious, healthy, powerful, bounce off the walls stuff!:eek: You should name it 10 hour energy or Blue Bull and become a multimillionaire.:D
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I'd just wind up wasting it all on stupid stuff like I do now. Leave the fortune for those capable of responsibility. ;)
 
Barman1 said:
Still riding the 3x? ;)
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Yeah my dinosaur lost the coolest custom ride on the trails a long time ago but I put it together to last me for a very long time. I picked all of the best components that were available at the time and built my bike except the wheels and I had some help installing the headset and fork. I knew my drive train would wear out quicker so I bought several sets to last me a while which I am glad I did because the industry no longer makes components for my archaic classic hardtail.:grumpy:

Eventually I will get out of the stone age and save up the +$4000.00 for my dream ride but all of these fun knives makes that very difficult.
 
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