strfish7 Senior Member Joined: 7 Aug 2009 Posts: 174 Location: San Antonio Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Europiccola,... Grinder: Vario Vac Pot: Bialetti Drip: Technivorm Moccamaster Roaster: Behmor, FreshRoast 8
Posted Thu Oct 11, 2012, 8:26pm Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
Given Whole Foods abysmal practices with coffee (stale beans with the predictable buzzwords: "local! organic! fair trade!") I wouldn't expect them to give good espresso more than a passing glance, especially when their customers, by and large, don't know and don't care. +1 on Brown. Grassroots purchases their beans from an Austin roaster, and someone there (the owner?) blends them to a nice effect. I talked to the folks at Cafe Revolucion at the farmers market before they opened, and they seemed less about the espresso and more about their other (non-coffee) offerings. For you to say their espresso was 2nd tier was not a surprise.
Posted Sat Nov 3, 2012, 1:47pm Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
Stuart and strfish: Thank you for your back and forth and valuable opinions. The Java Sojourner has been away but that what these posts are for. Yeah, I can't visit every cafe in town (not without getting some serious shakes in the process) and I always look forward to your suggestions. Of course I will try your suggestions the next time I am out that way.
jwark Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Location: TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Le'Lit PL041TQE Grinder: Le'Lit PL53
Posted Sat Jan 12, 2013, 11:58am Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
My favorite place in Austin is Texas Coffee Traders. Granted, I haven't been to a lot of the places mentioned in this thread but they're a great place. They roast everything in house and also have many home barista supplies. They also repair and clean machines/grinders. I usually don't walk out of that place without it taking a toll on my bank account. They have a crazy selection of fresh roasted beans. Also, the chronicle just gave them the 2012 award for best coffee beans in Austin.
“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.” - Jack Handy
espresso_drinker Senior Member Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 51 Location: Austin, Texas Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue Feb 5, 2013, 12:06pm Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
I drove by a place on 45th and Burnet. 'Stinsons' was the name. It looked like they were operating out of a trailer at the moment. I found their Facebook page and read that issues with the city are prohibiting them from moving into their building.
Has anyone tried them, yet? I was in a rush or I would have made a stop. On their logo, they state, "The World's Best Coffee and Espresso." Now I'm not a pro-barista or anything, but I cringed a little when I read that. Still, my curiosity is piqued.
Joe512 Senior Member Joined: 17 Feb 2013 Posts: 1 Location: Tx Expertise: I live coffee
Posted Sun Feb 17, 2013, 9:53pm Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
Hey hope you'll come enjoy a coffee, latte, chai or whatever's your pleasure. Our goal is to make the best coffee that's accessible to all drinkers. Btw the world's beat coffee line was inspired by the movie elf. Cheers!
Stuart Senior Member Joined: 9 Feb 2012 Posts: 113 Location: TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Breville Dual Boiler Grinder: Baratza Vario Roaster: Air Crazy popper
Posted Fri Apr 5, 2013, 11:16am Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas (San Antonio notes)
Brown Coffee Co. has taken a bold step, opening a coffeeshop on the ground floor of a relatively new building in SA called "The 1800." Well, it's at 1800 Broadway, so at least there's logic in the name.
I stopped in yesterday and had an espresso pulled from beans roasted from the Michicoy Microlot from Finca Vista Hermosa. Really clean, sweet taste; not overly bright. It was pulled on a Slayer -- the first one I've seen in the state, and almost certainly the only one in town. (The pull was pressure-profiled. I couldn't see gauges but it looked like pre-infusion for about 7 seconds, full pressure for about fifteen, then reduced pressure for fifteen. Or thereabouts, I didn't start my stopwatch.)
The space is minimalist, but spacious and comfortable; bent steel for countertops, jointed palewood chairs. The interior wasn't quite finished; the barista told me there are some custom lampshades made from Chemex flasks yet to be installed.
At the moment, it looks like they're going for the hardcore no-pastry, no-sandwich, no mocha-butter-chai-no-foam-double-whip half-caf anything approach. I am surprised there's a market for such a shop in our little big city; but maybe it's a cart-and-horse question. I know I'll be stopping by periodically.
(I'm not affiliated with Brown. I post about them a lot because they roast good coffee, and they're local. I hope their new venture works out.)
espresso_drinker Senior Member Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 51 Location: Austin, Texas Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed May 22, 2013, 9:43pm Subject: Re: The Java Sojourner - Town 4 - Austin, Texas
I tried out Cuvee's store front down on E 7th street. The barista knew the grinder keeps grounds in the chute and did a small sacrificial grind before pulling the shot. Good technique all through out. Her movements were almost mechanical so it suggested a lot of practice. The two times I went, she pulled shots from the Witness Project beans and La Violeta beans. Good pulls. Highly recommended.
Do realize, though, that the store is shared with a butcher shop (Salt and Time). Cuvee is in the corner, tucked away to the right.
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