Thursday, September 29, 2011

Coffree

NATIONAL "CoFREE" DAY!

How will you celebrate?

Looks like Krispy Kreme will be giving away free coffees, as will 7-Eleven (but not too sure if this is in the STATES only)

For myself: Coffee this afternoon - Fall COLD has slammed me down =(

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

CBC 2011 (approaching)

Canadian Barista Championship - Competition list:


Sunday Oct 2nd from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
October 3, 2011 from 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Champion Announcement:
October 3, 2011 5:30 PM

2011 Canadian Barista Championship Competitors List 

 Looks like there is strong presence of established cafe....
Not that many females, but this will be a great competition.
I'll throw up the live feed on Saturday.

  Name  Company  City 
1 Lauren Thu JJ Bean Coffee Roasters vancouver
2 Benjamin Put Transcend Coffee Edmonton
3 Alex Castellani Lit Espresso Bar Toronto
4 Geoff Woodley Detour Coffee Dundas
5 Josh Hockin Transcend Coffee Edmonton
6 Chris Tellez Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters Calgary
7 Morgan Allen Fernwood Coffee Company Victoria
8 Tyler Mastantuono Te Aro Toronto
9 Randy Hogg Bridge Head Coffee House  lisgar
10 Keaton Ritchie Café Myriade Montreal
11 Mathieu Carrier Brulerie st-roch Québec
12 Matthew Sonberg Rsquared Cafe Toronto
13 Tristan Bacon Moja Coffee north vancouver
14 Mathieu Archambault   Discovery Coffee Victoria
15 Jeremy Ho Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters Calgary

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Taking aback Tuesdays: Pour over at Starbucks

Didn't know it was available.. By Melitta.

Ceramic pour overs marketed through Seattle's Pike Place charm. The one that pushes our comfort for coffee: Starbucks.

New slow-bars coming to stores? Who knows.

Its Fall: ill go out and try this pumpkin spice latte. Inspiration.

Happy Espresso Adventures!
For more information check out: http://www.espressoadventures.com

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tranquil week

Just recovering from our scenic North.

Coffee in hand, view to appreciate, what more would you want.

C
For more information check out: http://www.espressoadventures.com

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Coffee Fest: Seattle

2 Weeks until a Canadian Barista is crowned champion...

If you dont know, the US equivalent to our "Coffee and Tea show" is happening over in Seattle..... CoffeeFest.


3 day love-in for all things coffee, tea, and cafe!

Enjoying the weekend? 
I am, coffee dates galore! Love!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Fun Friday: Starbucks Tee

Seems like everyone and their mother have been writing about the Tee's that were released.

Celebrating their 40th Anniversary, Starbucks enlisted well-known designers Alexander Wang, Billy Reid, Sophie Theallet. (purchase here for $85.)


Designs with coffee splatter - tasteful or tasteless?
Your call.

ENJOY the WEEKEND!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Video: Rooster

Rooster Coffee House

The other day, as I was going in for some Elevens at Te Aro Roasted, I thought I saw Shawn and Andy talking outside of the shop. That made me think two things:
1) When was the last time I was up the hill towards Riverdale?
2) Remember the time when we zoomed down the hill in those little cars during a huge snowstorm, only to end up flipping and tumbling so hard and fast that it was quite scary.

Wait -- we're talking about Rooster.
Tooo long, as such I decided to check out their website.

Found this gem:


Faster > Slower @ Rooster from Salonica on Vimeo.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Food for Thought:

Future Bakery
Address: 483 Bloor Street West


Neighbourhood: Annex
website, @twitter, Tel: (416) 922-5875

The Goods:
Its' Future Bakery, THE institution of any undergraduate degree at UofT. The local spot to get your three meals. All-day breakfast, cheap drinks, and specials that keep you coming back for more than just the coffee.
One of the few spot to have late night coffee, quick service and plentiful tables (well, if it's not busy)


The coffee: Organic Sumatra.
Verdict: Decent, but go for the environment and treats.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Vietnamese style coffee


Train (Xe Lua) Vietnamese Restaurant
Address: 254 Spadina Avenue

Neighbourhood: Chinatown
website, @twitter, Tel: (416) 703-8330

Authentic Vietnamese style coffee consists of this coffee filter/brewer, and coffee with chicory.
Decided it was about time I have some with my pho/bun outings, usually it's too late to have coffee, not productive to be up ALL night.

There are quite a number of places that I have been found frequenting, and each has it's own specialty. Few make everything amazing; this is one of those places.
Using proper flavourful broth, and fresh noodles (thin ones), the delicious melding of aromas waft through your nose as you embark on your meal.....

Monday, September 19, 2011

M^4: TIFF over, but no hugs?

Finally went to visit Manic Coffee,


Looking good fellows!
News from last week:

  • Fahrenheit will be moving locations, yet to be determined, we wish them all the best
  • Kids drink coffee to calm their ADHD?
  • NYC : Starbucks 186 pushes out East Village local spot.

HAPPY ESPRESSO ADVENTURES!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Recommendation Saturday

Here a new but old goodie.

Visit my friends over at Fahrenheit

248 The Esplanade.
They make one mean Cappuccino.

I'll be making a visit today, why not?!
After or before the market treat..... I think so

#justsaying


For more information check out: http://www.espressoadventures.com

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Small pause.

I'm taking a quick coffee break, got some other pressing matters in the real world.

Follow me on twitter for quick posts.
Be back on Monday.

Don't forget to check smdlr.com for a great online magazine.

Happy Espresso Adventures!
For more information check out: http://www.espressoadventures.com

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NY: Kaffe 1668

Kaffe 1668
Address: 275 Greenwich Street
Neighbourhood: Tribeca
website, @twitter, Tel:(212) 693-3750

Smacking you in the face is Tribeca, where it's nestling tendency is quite strongest in New York. It's the place to be for young families. What better way to embrace the NY lifestyle, than Wholefoods and Kaffe 1668 across the street. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the location, I think it's a wonderful marriage.

Monday, September 12, 2011

M^4: Recovery

The Wedding was the bomb, danced up the entire floor - had to keep it real smooth!

How did I spend my recovery Sunday?
Reading about these articles:
That's how I spent the day.... oh also a nice cherry-pop from Mercury.

Happy Espresso Adventures, btw it's TIFF.

Friday, September 9, 2011

COE: Colombia arrives at Te Aro

Te Aro Roasted
Address: 983 Queen Street East
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
website, @twitter, Tel: 416 465 2006 or

Roasting Sept 14th.
Pre-order now!
$35 for 1/2 lbs of this #1 COE from Colombia

Farmer: Arnulfo Leguizamo
Altitude: 1841 m
Farm: Finca La Primavera

Origin: El Tabor, San Agustín, Huila
Varietal: Caturra

Earlier this year Andy went down to Colombia to participate in judging the COE. This is quite an honour to be chosen as a judge for the competition. The week long event resulted in over hundreds of cuppings and determining the best bean is always two-fold; bringing prestige and "high-fives" to the top farms. The bidding war is intense to get a hold of these prized lots, - hence the price tag, but it's worth it.

Why should you pick up this bag?
It's on limited supply, so what's it's spoken for - BAM - no more!
Prized to be a cornucopia of taste explosion should be sexy enough for you to hop over to the east.


From Te Aro:
Mr. Arnulfo Leguizamo is 46 years old, son of a coffee farmer born in the municipality of Teruel, Huila. In his youth he studied several mechanical activities and after doing a lot of work in an urban environment, he decided that his future was in the field - dedicated to work with coffee. He started by planting half of a hectare in the property of his father in Teruel. He traveled to the municipality of San Agustín 23 years ago, in order to know the mystical sculptures at the Archeological Park. Nevertheless, the climate, the warm people and mainly the wealth of earth caused him to fall in love with this municipality where he met Mrs. Aura Rita Bolaños his wife and the mother of his four children: Mayeli, Joh Edison, Diego Felipe and Hamer Duvan. He began with 1 hectare, an inheritance of his wife, and after a while he bought 3 more hectares that he planted little by little with coffee. His farm is called “Primavera” and it is located in the village “El Tabor” at the municipality of “San Agustín”. Is cultivated with Caturra varietal and is being renovated to integrate the variety Castillo.

He has been a Rainforest Alliance Certified farmer for 4 years, and he is committed to the protection to the environment. He is protecting springs and birds, he is recycling trash, and he doesn’t spray out chemical products. These principles are because of his sons - he wants to keep his place at least without contamination or pollution so they can live and eat there in the future in a healthy way.


His principals for the production of coffee are based on the quality; he says “I have to do things with love, dedication and with the support of my wife and my children. The advantages of this land where my farm is located are a secret but mainly because of the high altitude and the right temperatures we produce coffee with the best attributes for its taste. It is important for us to harvest only ripe-red cherries and process on time. We have to wash coffee well with clean water and dry it under sun and air for that we use the system: ‘Casa Elda’.”
Looks like I'll have to make a trek over to the Roastery to get some of this lot.... 
Not roasting until next week - and I'm sure it won't last for very long...


Happy Espresso Adventures!
(My weekend is filled with wedding duties. Congratulations to the happy couple. 
Your union will be magical, and it'll be a good party! We have poutine at 10PM.... exactly)