Suuumatra Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Houston, Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Catalina Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: Not Yet Drip: Only when I have to Roaster: Hopson's via Catalina
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 9:09am Subject: Espresso in Houston
Alright -
I searched and searched, but I can't find anything in the pile of threads that give me a good answer - my wife and I are moving back to Houston in less than two weeks and I need a place for good espresso and freshly roasted coffee.... preferably the same place. To give you an idea of what I'm leaving here in Fort Worth, I spend a quality hour every Saturday morning with Jason at Panther City - I'm looking for something even 75% of that.
Since we're going to live in Garden Oaks, the closest place is the Petrol Station on Wakefield - does anyone have something to say about the place? I've heard some good things, but I'm just not sure. We'll visit them and I'll report back.
Oh, and JonR10 - what part of town are you? If the invitation's open, I might just take you up on it.
PaulTheRoaster Senior Member Joined: 2 Aug 2005 Posts: 336 Location: Urbana, Illinois, USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Faema C84 A/1, Conti... Grinder: RR45, Zass, Solis Classic Drip: French Press, Swiss Gold... Roaster: RK drum
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 10:54am Subject: Re: Espresso in Houston
I went by that place on Wakefield once and it was pretty lousy. 3 oz and over-extracted. It was right before close, though. Apparently it's owned by the same owner of the defunct Kaveh Kane's, which was actually pretty good.
Next time I visit family I'm bringing my little lever machine and a grinder.
There's two fantastic coffee shops in Austin, though. Even in this little college town, there are three coffee shops I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. A city of five million: zero. But there's no good barbecue here.
There is fresh-roasted coffee here, but no good espresso shops that I can find. :( Of course the invite to visit my place is always open to coffeegeeks! I live NorthWest, near the intersection of Hwy 290 and Hwy 6.
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 12:13pm Subject: Re: Espresso in Houston
How funny - I just signed up yesterday and asked the same question. Got the same answer, unfortunately, although sru_tx posted that the Taft St. Coffee Shop could be worth looking into. Good luck!
Suuumatra Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Houston, Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Catalina Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: Not Yet Drip: Only when I have to Roaster: Hopson's via Catalina
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 12:34pm Subject: Yeah, I saw that...
Petuniaii -
I saw your question at the bottom of the 'Texans Check In' thread, and I figured that it'd be worthwhile to have a definitive separate thing going for such a burning question - why can't anyone in Houston make good espresso? I'll agree - in a city of 5+ million people, you'd think someone would be a card-carrying member of Coffeegeek!
Jasonian Senior Member Joined: 8 Aug 2005 Posts: 3,832 Location: Lubbock, TX Expertise: Professional
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 12:43pm Subject: Re: Yeah, I saw that...
Suuumatra Said:
Petuniaii -
I saw your question at the bottom of the 'Texans Check In' thread, and I figured that it'd be worthwhile to have a definitive separate thing going for such a burning question - why can't anyone in Houston make good espresso? I'll agree - in a city of 5+ million people, you'd think someone would be a card-carrying member of Coffeegeek!
Well, Jon is definitely that. He's just not "open for business", as it were.
You're looking for a Geek-spec shop. Such a shop is hard to find anywhere in any part of the country. including the Pacific northwest (despite what many believe).
Sometimes, a home espresso setup is well worth the cost/effort.
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 6:05pm Subject: Re: Yeah, I saw that...
Jasonian Said:
You're looking for a Geek-spec shop. Such a shop is hard to find anywhere in any part of the country. including the Pacific northwest (despite what many believe).
How come? ...Now that's an interesting question (well, to me it is). Would it be so much harder to make a shop like that work?
I happened across one of the weekly farmer's markets today and met Mickey from Katz Coffee. He recommended a place called Catalina that just opened at Hemphill & Washington.
Suuumatra Senior Member Joined: 5 Feb 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Houston, Texas Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Catalina Grinder: Solis Maestro Plus Vac Pot: Not Yet Drip: Only when I have to Roaster: Hopson's via Catalina
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 8:54pm Subject: I don't know about that...
Jasonian,
I don't know that I am. I wouldn't consider Panther City geeky - they cater to a bunch of TCU kids who want Jones sodas and iced Mayan hot chocolates and the like. Many a time I've seen a steely glint in Jason's eye when he's called on to put a gorgeous, 27 second double into a glass of nondescript sugary goodness ;) I just want a place where I can go to get a nice double espresso in the mornings without having to knock on Jon's door at 7 AM or spend $1000 on an espresso setup (soon... but not now). It'd be nice if they were geeky, but I just want good espresso and freshly roasted coffee. If I can get that in Fort Worth (500,000 people), I should be able to get that in Houston (5,000,000 people).
Jasonian Senior Member Joined: 8 Aug 2005 Posts: 3,832 Location: Lubbock, TX Expertise: Professional
Posted Wed May 16, 2007, 11:46pm Subject: Re: Espresso in Houston
I know of Panther City, have been there, and have talked with Jason here, there, and on other forums.
But that's the thing... he's spent time on coffee forums for a reason. He cares. He has a desire to learn, and a desire to produce good espresso.
It's not that "geek shops don't work".. it's that "geek shops take effort". Most people who go into the coffee business are in it for the money. They are under the impression that it's as simple as "if I build it, they will come". Unfortunately, there are many instances where this exact idea holds true, and the syrups run rampant to mask the flavor of the caffeine delivery substance.
In most situations, however, business isn't want it could be. Just like any other business. Not everyone involved is as passionate about it as they should be, and there is more misinformation than real information available.
Alot of the time, coffee shop owners are "people persons" and nothing more. They gamble on selling personality more than coffee, and sometimes, this can be very effective, but it certainly doesn't grant your wish of a place to go get a quality double espresso in the morning.
As I said... sometimes, investing in a home espresso setup just makes sense.
Posted Thu May 17, 2007, 2:02am Subject: Re: I don't know about that...
Suuumatra Said:
I just want a place where I can go to get a nice double espresso in the mornings without having to knock on Jon's door at 7 AM or spend $1000 on an espresso setup (soon... but not now).
Actually, 7 AM is just a tad too late. Come by at 06:45 when I'm making my morning shots :-)
Suuumatra Said:
It'd be nice if they were geeky, but I just want good espresso and freshly roasted coffee. If I can get that in Fort Worth (500,000 people), I should be able to get that in Houston (5,000,000 people).
First off, I'm not sure where you get your info but Houston (proper) only has about 2 million people and the greater Houston Mtero Area is estimated close to 4 million. Secondly, this will really depend on what you call "good espresso" (my definition has changed over the years).
You can try a number of places and a few of them may make what you're looking for. If you get friendly with the PBTC you MAY be able to coax some very decent shots out of them with a little coaching and encouragement. There's a place on Westheimer at Tanglewild called Little Italy Coffee and I had a few decent shots there working with a certain PBTC, and there (is?) a place called the Petrol Station Coffeehouse that roasts thier own coffee and uses a Swift Grinder and LaMarzocco espreso machine so they probably make a drinkable shot......
But none of the shops I tried in town can compare with what I make at home, not even close. I would rate my own espresso as consistently good and occasionally great (you should try it sometime for comparison).
As far as WHY there are so few geek-worthy places? Probably because the population is 99.999% uneducated about coffee. For the most part, the people I've met who consider themselves knowledgeable are pretty much clueless when it comes to gourmet espresso.
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