CoffeeGeek - Articles: CoffeeGeek Columnist Feedback, From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Articles: CoffeeGeek Columnist Feedback
From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Panama Carmen Estate

Rainforest Alliance Certified™ coffee from award winning Carmen Estate. Roasted to order!
www.plowsharescoffee.com

Not Logged in:

updated topics	new posts	new unanswered
search	faq	sign up

Discussions > Articles > Columnist... > From Alberta to...

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

showing page 1 of 3

last page

Author

Messages

MarkPrince
Moderator

Joined: 19 Dec 2001
Posts: 4,655
Location: Vancouver
Expertise: Professional

Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea
Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano
Vac Pot: 1922 Silex
Drip: Krups Moka Brew
Roaster: Hottop

Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 12:00am Subject: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince A look at the growing coffee scene in Alberta with latte art throwdowns, the start of a revolution in culinary coffee there, and more. Plus insanity as the real deal Esmeralda Especiale is thrown at the espresso grinder.

fookoonetwork
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Dec 2001
Posts: 210
Location: Los Angeles
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: Pasquini Livia 90
Grinder: Pasquini Moka 90, Anfim...
Vac Pot: Royal Balance Brewer
Drip: none
Roaster: Hearthware i-roast2

Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 1:37am Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Your observations about single origin espresso and Esmeralda were interesting. Given the cost of espresso per shot versus any form of brewed coffee, espresso can be quite expensive with the caveat being was it worth the cost? For example, one batch of a 140 grams of green beans will yield either two pots of vacuum pot coffee ~ 20 oz each or 4 shots of 3X basket naked porta filter shots of espresso. The attempt to make coffee a superior culinary item in select coffee shops has always made me wonder about its quality with respect to what one can do at home. I have had Clover-ed coffee twice and both times has been disappointing. For the Clover there should be no technique problems. Espresso is a different story and over the years, the best shot of espresso from a commercial establishment falls to Espresso Vivace - where even there it was variable. You as a quasi coffee professional would receive special treatment when you walk into a coffee shop. It should be possible to raise commercial coffee experiences to the level of a 4 star restaurant, but I have yet to encounter it. That would require a level of quality that does not waver much from experience to experience.

Rockies
Senior Member

Joined: 8 Sep 2004
Posts: 38
Location: Calgary, AB
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Andreja Premium
Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Drip: No thanks. French press...
Roaster: Fresh Roast Plus 8

Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 6:11am Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Nice write up, Mark. Glad to see that the small revolution going on in Calgary is being noticed. One thing that comes through in your article is something I have always said - coffee people in the Calgary market are some of the nicest folks you will meet. Les at JJ and the guys at P&S always have time to talk a bit of coffee and remember who the coffee fanatics are. The local roaster you can't recall that Bumpy's is serving is Big Mountain. It is owned by Wade & Georgina, another couple of great people. The Bumpy's location used to be their cafe where they roasted and served their coffee. They are also supplying one of the local grocery chains. It's a shame P&S wasn't open while you were there, it is quite a sight to see the lineups they are drawing on the weekends. A very welcome addition to the farmer's market. And they have had some Ethiopian on the Clover in the last while that is just sublime. I don't know if I dare say it, but I really think coffee in Calgary has turned a corner. Looking at what is available today versus 3-4 years ago is really quite something. And the credit really has to go to people like Les of JJ and the owners of Bumpy's, and all the great dedicated baristas like Jason. They keep making great coffee, so I'll keep drinking it. Now if only that corner could be turned in Toronto, where I find myself working nowadays. :)

furrycanuck
Senior Member

Joined: 5 Aug 2005
Posts: 285
Location: Calgary
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Elektra Microcasa a Leva,...
Grinder: Rocky w/ doser
Vac Pot: none
Drip: presspot
Roaster: nada (yet)

Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 10:55am Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Again, very sad to have missed all the fun, Mark. Beano uses Fratello beans, but I heard a couple of days ago that they might be using (instead of or in addition to I do not know) ones from Mountain View Roasterie, a newer roaster in Didsbury (about 45 mins north of Calgary)- I've had great experiences with MVR and have their organic La Amistad (Costa Rica) in my grinder right now, MVR is the first local roaster to provide roast dates on bags.

furrycanuck
Senior Member

Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 6:49pm Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Mark, "wallah" means "merchant" in Urdu/Hindi. The term is "voila." I didn't even take French in school (in the US) and I know that! :-) Not meaning to be an ass, but I've seen this in other writings of yours.

pizzo
Senior Member

Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Calgary
Expertise: Professional

Espresso: Elektra
Grinder: Macap
Drip: Bunn

Posted Tue Aug 28, 2007, 6:44pm Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

Mark, My Elektra's & Macap,s look small @ bumpy's But they make great coffee! Were looking at changing the units with the new elektra "Kappa" and "Nino" grinder. I'm also sad your experiance in Calgary could have benn better.

nicfortin
Senior Member

Joined: 6 Nov 2006
Posts: 86
Location: Quebec city, QC
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: Home: LaSpaz S1 and Saeco...
Grinder: Home : PL53, Virtuoso and...
Vac Pot: CONA : Junior Kitchen, 1950'...
Drip: Aeropress
Roaster: Intelligentsia, Behmor

Posted Tue Aug 28, 2007, 10:25pm Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

thanks agains for your coffee/road trip to Calgary area. The jam was awesome and very energizing for us coffee enthusiasts (for me for sure! ;-) around here. Lucky you with Esmeralda! I was shocked when I saw pics of you putting this coffee thru "espresso taste test"! ;-) Knowing your opinion on SO... That kind of experiment is something I'll be looking into it. Any "cheaper" coffee in the Esmeralda caliber you would recommend, maybe from same origin/farmer not CoE winner? Thx again great article... as usual! :) nic

Enjoy your coffees with Respect :^) =============== BGA0531 SCAA, "Golden Cup Certification" Technician

MarkPrince
Moderator

Posted Tue Aug 28, 2007, 11:32pm Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

furrycanuck Said: Mark, "wallah" means "merchant" in Urdu/Hindi. The term is "voila." I didn't even take French in school (in the US) and I know that! :-) Not meaning to be an ass, but I've seen this in other writings of yours. Posted August 26, 2007 link Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't plan on changing it anytime soon. I picked up the phrase travelling with Aussies through europe for two years. It's been part of my writing style and speech ever since, and I like it that way lol ;) Mark

Mark Prince, CoffeeGeek.com, CoffeeKid.com CoffeeGeek on Youtube: www.youtube.com/coffeegeek CoffeeGeek's Flickr Stream: www.flickr.com/photos/coffeegeek

MarkPrince
Moderator

Posted Tue Aug 28, 2007, 11:34pm Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

pizzo Said: Mark, My Elektra's & Macap,s look small @ bumpy's But they make great coffee! Were looking at changing the units with the new elektra "Kappa" and "Nino" grinder. I'm also sad your experiance in Calgary could have benn better. Posted August 28, 2007 link Re Nina - very cool. I didn't know they were shipping yet tho! That's a kick ass grinder. Re Calgary experience being bad? It was pretty good overall! Every place doing good coffee was doing just that - good coffee. Not everything's to my own personal taste, but I'm not one to call a shot bad just because it doesn't have heaps of body, chocolate, caramels, fruits and low acid ;) Mark

Mark Prince, CoffeeGeek.com, CoffeeKid.com CoffeeGeek on Youtube: www.youtube.com/coffeegeek CoffeeGeek's Flickr Stream: www.flickr.com/photos/coffeegeek

CoffDrop
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Sep 2003
Posts: 164
Location: Richmond, VA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Isomac Rituale
Grinder: Rocky - doserless
Drip: press pot
Roaster: HG/DB

Posted Thu Aug 30, 2007, 8:55pm
Subject: Re: From Alberta to Esmeralda by Mark Prince

furrycanuck Said:

Mark, "wallah" means "merchant" in Urdu/Hindi. The term is "voila." I didn't even take French in school (in the US) and I know that! :-)

Not meaning to be an ass, but I've seen this in other writings of yours.

Posted August 26, 2007 link

MarkPrince Said:

Thanks for pointing it out, but I don't plan on changing it anytime soon. I picked up the phrase travelling with Aussies through europe for two years. It's been part of my writing style and speech ever since, and I like it that way lol ;)

Mark

Posted August 28, 2007 link

Funny, I got called on the same thing last week when I made a post here a few days ago! I, too, spell it the way I say it.

Anyway, haven't been to Calgary in about two years now. I used to stay at a friend's place there on my way to and from Fernie, BC. Sounds like there's much more going on with coffee now. Used to go into Big Mtn coffee before it was Bumpy's and had a few chats with Wade about the business. First time I had seen a nekid, excuse me, a naked portafilter in use. There was another place in town that I had tried once or twice, but the coffee wasn't very good - I think it shut down a while back.

Thanks for the write up. I'll have to check out some of these new places, if and when I get chance to get up there again (the aforementioned friend now lives in Vancouver).

showing page 1 of 3

last page

view previous topic | view next topic | view all topics

Discussions > Articles > Columnist... > From Alberta to...

updated topics

new posts

new unanswered

faq

Not Logged in: log in
Discussions Quick Jump:
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post

Forum Rules:
No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards.
No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum.
No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum.
Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards.
Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics.
Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies.
Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies.
Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts.
Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.

Fresh Roasted

Single Origin Coffees
and signature espresso
Fresh Roasted. Shipped Fast.
caffedbolla.com

WIPS™ Forums Software. ©2008, WebMotif Net Services, Inc.
The WIPS Forums is customized software and part of WebMotif's WIPS Content Management System.

Home | Opinions | Consumer Reviews | Guides & How Tos | CoffeeGeek Reviews | Resources | Forums | Contact Us
CoffeeGeek.com, CoffeeGeek, and Coffee Geek, along with all associated content & images are copyright ©2000-2008 by WebMotif Net Services, Inc., all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Content, code, and images may not be reused without permission. Usage of this website signifies agreement with our Terms and Conditions. (23.142035961151)
Privacy Policy | Copyright Info | Terms and Conditions | CoffeeGeek Advertisers | RSS