hyoomen Senior Member Joined: 5 Jan 2004 Posts: 91 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed May 12, 2004, 8:58am Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops (A NEW SHOP IN N TEXAS THAT SERVES CAFE VITA!)
THAT'S RIGHT! CAFFE VITA IS IN (semi-rural/suburban) N TEXAS.
While I was out to tour a recycling facility in Plano, I killed some time by running to the local grocery store complex and in the parking lot I discovered something that I think we all hope we'll stumble upon -- a newly opened café that just happens to pull one of the higher echelon roasters! The shop is in a commercial parking lot, is called Briley's Coffee Café (http://www.brileyscoffee.com) and they JUST HAPPEN to serve Caffe Vita espresso and coffee!
WHAT WHAT WHAT?!
It isn't a huge front, but the shot they pulled with their Nuovo Simonelli grinder & bar was one of the best I've experienced in N. Texas. Weekly shipment of fresh-roasted espresso, totally empty doser on the grinder (that's right, they don't pre-grind!), and the shot seemed timed to perfection. I didn't have a chance to witness the tamping technique, but I'm sure it was probably a notch above the local barista culture.
Apparently the training was from Bellisimo Consulting! This place was like two years in the making and is only approx 8 weeks new!
Now, this place is about 30 mins from my house (and in a small town called Murphy -- rural Plano), but I'll have to drive up there once every couple of weeks just to make sure they're still alive!
WAHOOO!
PS: Can you tell I've had like 6 shots this morning?
JR_Brewing Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Millenium Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Wed May 12, 2004, 2:04pm Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops (A NEW SHOP IN N TEXAS THAT SERVES CAFE VITA!)
Sounds like a great find! I can't wait to try it. My only dilemma is that I have made fun of my brother-in-law for living in Murphy. Now, I might have to admit that it is the epicenter of Dallas espresso! ;)
cellocoffee Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 195 Location: Austin, TX & Taiwan Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: think espresso Drip: think espresso Roaster: not yet
Posted Tue Jun 1, 2004, 9:10pm Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
hyoomen Said:
PFFT! Maybe we need to have a shot-off of Zoka, Intelligentsia, Vivace, and whatever people believe to be the top Italian roasteries. I'm not looking for competition, but it just isn't fair to assume that Starbucks is in anyway representative of the best N. America has to offer! ;P
Hey, Hyoomen, My husband and I have done that. We have mail-ordered from all three you mentioned above and Hines and Stumptown (Portland). We have JP coffee houst near UT selling Zoka so that's our regular 'back-up' blend when we are out of other beans. We currently have Stumptown. It's very competitive to Vivace and Hines. Let me know about your trip in Austin. My husband and I have been serching for the best cup in town. Don't forget to put JP and Babbo's on the top of your list. Let me know if you need any direction help. I wish Austin coffeegeeks are as into making a coffee difference as you guys in N TX. Hope you enjoy Austin. cellocoffee
hyoomen Senior Member Joined: 5 Jan 2004 Posts: 91 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jun 11, 2004, 3:00pm Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
Oh sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear. ;)
This cafe in Murphy (about like leaving Austin to drive to Giddings or one of the tiny towns from Austin on the way to Houston) actually sells and pulls Caffe Vita in their shop. It is pretty crazy, I think.
Gonna have to go back and make sure I wasn't dreaming.
cellocoffee Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 195 Location: Austin, TX & Taiwan Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: think espresso Drip: think espresso Roaster: not yet
Posted Mon Jun 14, 2004, 2:24pm Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
hyoomen Said:
Oh sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear. ;)
This cafe in Murphy (about like leaving Austin to drive to Giddings or one of the tiny towns from Austin on the way to Houston) actually sells and pulls Caffe Vita in their shop. It is pretty crazy, I think.
Gonna have to go back and make sure I wasn't dreaming.
Hi Rob, What's the name of this cafe? We go to Houston quite a lot and we definitely want to check it out! Did you visit Austin? I'd like to know about your findings. Last week I had a nice chat with Mike Mckim at a local coffee place in Austin. Nice guy and passionate about coffee. We need more coffee people like this in central TX.
Posted Wed Aug 4, 2004, 10:46am Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
The best shop (for espresso drinks) in Dallas that I have tried is Torrefazionne d'Italia (spelling questionable - check GuideLive.com for proper name/address/phone) in the Knox-Henderson area.
They have a solid, 4 head machine and somewhat fresh beans (shipped in twice a month from roasting plant in Seattle). Their doser is pretty full most of the time, but they draw a decent shot (the only place I'd even consider asking for an espresso) and follow most of the rules. I've gotten latte art (weak, but decent) almost every time I've been in there. They have proper sized cappa cups (6-8 oz) and all of their porcelain is hand-painted Italian stuff. Beautiful! Very European group there on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Great leather club chairs and a public copy of the NY Times on the coffee table.
I found an old mom-n-pop coffee roaster in the Lakewood area... I think they have been there from the 70's: Coffee Company, Inc. (214-887-8688 - 6038 La Vista Drive, Dallas, TX, 75206) They roast several times per week and say that nothing stays roasted in the shop more than a few days (though I haven't seen any roasting date lables anywhere, so I'm not sure how much I trust them). No espresso machine... Just drip coffee in a vac Thermos. I asked about an espresso blend, and they tried to sell me straight Ethiopian... OK in a pinch, but I'd rather roast my own blend from Vivace. Their beans are definately better than Charbucks, so I'm stocking my office supply (French press) from these guys now. Prices are fair at $10 to $16 a pound... maybe more for Jamaican Blue Mountain, Kona AAA, etc...
JR_Brewing Senior Member Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac Millenium Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly
Posted Sun Nov 7, 2004, 7:22am Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
Sadly, today, Nov. 7, 2004, is Torrefazione's last day in Dallas. It looks like everyone's fears has come true. Starbucks has decided to pull the plug on the only Torrefazione in North Texas.
While Torrefazione wasn't as good as a local shop with fresh roasted beans, it was definitely a cut above Starbucks for espresso and atmosphere. And, since there is no locally owned espresso shop in Dallas, it was the best espresso in Dallas.
txjava Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Dallas Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Dec 9, 2004, 9:44am Subject: Re: North Texas Espresso Shops
Hello to all. I just joined this forum. I'm in the planning stages of opening a drive-thru espresso shop in the greater Dallas area. I hope you will give us a try once we are open. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Does anyone have any information on existing drive-thrus in the Dallas area? I moved here from California and am used to seeing them everywhere and I haven't spotted one here yet.
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