dfan92 Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Houston Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Feb 14, 2011, 10:04am Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
@ Tagg, I can definitely vouch for the places in Austin, I'm assuming UT just propelled the need for a better cup in the area? Sadly, there isn't the same connection in Houston.
Posted Mon Feb 14, 2011, 10:34am Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
I've been taking a class at the UH main campus this semester, and so I drop in at Catalina sometimes on my way to school. I have been there twice in tha last 3 weeks and both times I had a very good experience.
The seem to run 2 different coffees at a time for espresso, and I usually get a double espresso of each kind. Last Wednesday they had a Kenya and a Rwanda, both were lovely and each was distinctly different. The kenya was fairly bright and citrusy (maybe tangerines with floral hints), while the Rwanda was bigtime juicy with ripened plum/apricot tones.
EDIT - On both trips my ridepool partner had drinks as well, two weeks ago he had a straight shot of El Salvador SO, and last week he had a cappucino with a lovely artpour. He seemed to really enjoy drinking each one (no sugar)
As a note, I get there between 4 and 5 PM and they have been briskly busy but we were served quickly and efficiently.
It seems that some others have had less than stellar experiences, but for myself I feel like Catalina Coffee Co. is one of the very few shops in Houston where I'm willing to have coffee outside of my home.
ryantann Senior Member Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 54 Location: San Antonio Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Feb 15, 2011, 6:37pm Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
I have to agree with Jon on this one. I’ve never been disappointed by Catalina, and while I’ve had some less-than-excellent drinks, it was always due to a new and relatively untrained barista, but that’s a problem that works itself out there.
Max has forgotten more about coffee than most of us will ever know...
Also, RobertL, if we’re going to be fair, we should try a drink that’s true to the coffee served at each establishment. Drip or straight espresso lends itself to a fair comparison, not a vanilla latte IMHO.
dfan92 Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2011 Posts: 11 Location: Houston Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Feb 15, 2011, 7:47pm Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
Wouldn't it also come down to the fact where the coffee itself is sourced? just seems like an extraneous that would make for a better comparison of coffee quality.
Posted Wed Feb 16, 2011, 10:54am Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
ryantann Said:
Also, RobertL, if we’re going to be fair, we should try a drink that’s true to the coffee served at each establishment. Drip or straight espresso lends itself to a fair comparison, not a vanilla latte IMHO.
yakster Senior Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 1,006 Location: San Jose, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Factory / La Peppina... Grinder: Vario / Kyocera Vac Pot: Yama 8 + Pyrex Lox-in Rod Drip: Brazen / Kalita / Chemex /... Roaster: Behmor
Posted Wed Feb 16, 2011, 11:07am Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
Saw this Top 10 Coffee Houses link on Twitter yesterday from the Houston Press and thought I should pass it along in case it proves helpful in your quest.
Not being local, I haven't had the pleasure to try any of these locations.
ryantann Senior Member Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 54 Location: San Antonio Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Feb 23, 2011, 5:24pm Subject: Re: Coffee in Houston
I just heard today from a barista elsewhere in Texas that a new shop is opening up in the Montrose area, I believe it was called Revolution. They'll be brewing beans from Amaya/Catalina. Hopefully it'll give Inversion some much-needed competition.
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