CupaJoeKid Senior Member Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Cary, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia w/ PID, pressure mod Grinder: Mazzer Mini P Vac Pot: nada, french press Drip: See french press Roaster: WB Poppery II w/ control box
Posted Sun Feb 13, 2005, 5:29pm Subject: First Fridays at Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
Well, Apex, NC to be exact!
Stopped in Friday during lunch, and again with the family on Saturday.
OK, so Geoff, has THE machine. Every CG in the tri-state area had better head on pilgrimage to see this LM and the quality of the shots that it puts out. Absolutely incredible.
But the shop is definitely more than just good espresso. The layout is fabulous, bright and clean, lots of tables and even a nice sitting area in front of a faux fire. This is definitely going to be a great place to meet friends, catch up on reading, and Geoff tells me that he has wireless if you need to get some work done on the laptop.
Geoff also brews outstanding coffees from CCC, and has a nice stock of incredible teas.
Finally the Cary area is blessed with a truly excellent coffee spot.
More info at the link below. Pay close attention to the driving directions (coming from north, it can be hard to see the shop). Enjoy!!!!
PhuNam Senior Member Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 15 Location: Raleigh, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Isomac La Cafetera Grinder: Isomac La Cafetera Drip: VillaWare
Posted Mon Feb 14, 2005, 8:30am Subject: Re: Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
I had a ristretto from Geoff on Thursday and the only description I could come up with was "Nectar of the Gods". If you think you can handle it, ask Geoff to pull you a ristretto with the naked portafilter. I must warn you that newbies shouldn't ask for this unless you bring a change of clothes. It's that HOT!!
ooops...
I've crossed into yet another realm of geekdom...
Serioulsy, the best compliment I can pay Geoff is that his cappas are as good as mine at home, if not better!!!
bluesforpablo Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: North Carolina Expertise: Professional
Drip: French Press Roaster: Counter Culture Coffee
Posted Mon Feb 14, 2005, 9:43am Subject: Re: Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
Thanks guys for the kind words! Glad you stopped in. We are having a great time with the machine. I have one high school regular that orders a real macchiato every morning. First time he came in I had to triple check to make sure he wasn't ordering a *$ macchiato. He loves the shots from the machine!
All are welcome to come by and relax or surf the net via free Wi-Fi
CupaJoeKid Senior Member Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Cary, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia w/ PID, pressure mod Grinder: Mazzer Mini P Vac Pot: nada, french press Drip: See french press Roaster: WB Poppery II w/ control box
Posted Mon Mar 21, 2005, 7:36am Subject: Re: First Fridays at Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
OK, so I'm rekicking off this thread!
Geoff has kindly invited the local CG's to make the shop a regular stop now, and will entertain our experiments and addictions.
So, mark it on your calendars guys, first Friday of every month starting at 7:30AM and going until the last person vibrates out the door.
We've heard the following suggestions for the first meeting (auspiciously April 1). Which one to pick? Or are there other ideas?
- test of thirds: taste each third of a shot - dosing consistency testing: will you pass the challenge of .3g accuracy? - triple basket shootout (?) - single origin shots/brew/french-press: compare and contrast in less than 50 words ;)
Let's hear it guys, and look forward to seeing one and all on First Fridays!
bluesforpablo Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: North Carolina Expertise: Professional
Drip: French Press Roaster: Counter Culture Coffee
Posted Wed Mar 23, 2005, 6:22pm Subject: Re: First Fridays at Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
Well if I had my vote I'd like to do the SO-Americano/French/Brew comparison. We can do 2 or 3 varieties (we will make one decaf so the entire crew does not get a speeding ticket going to work).
Here is my proposed list -
El Salvador Finca Mauritania Organic Bolivia Caranavi Organic Mexican Pluma Decaf
Everyone will be served an 8oz cup of a single bean brewed with 3 different methods. We will use the standard CCC cupping form and see if people can pick up on differences. No wrong answers and should be fun for all!
bluesforpablo Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: North Carolina Expertise: Professional
Drip: French Press Roaster: Counter Culture Coffee
Posted Thu Mar 31, 2005, 8:09am Subject: Re: First Fridays at Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
April Fools Day at Pheasant Creek!
Alright guys! The stage is set for 7:30 tomorrow morning and we will do SO Bolivian Americanos against the same bean brewed and french pressed. Should be a fun and if we have time we can try some other single origin shots. I'm looking forward to hearing your comments on the taste differences between the 3 methods. I'll temp surf the machine tonight so the Bolivian tastes just right. Usually it's about 1 degree lower then the Toscano.
Everyone is invited so if your new to the RTP area, come on down and have some fun with fellow espresso aficionados! Directions how to get here are posted on the website.
I'll post the results here sometime tomorrow afternoon.
bluesforpablo Senior Member Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 85 Location: North Carolina Expertise: Professional
Drip: French Press Roaster: Counter Culture Coffee
Posted Fri Apr 1, 2005, 8:48am Subject: Re: First Fridays at Pheasant Creek Coffee - RTP, NC
Well that was fun! We did the Bolivian brewed, french pressed, as an single origin americano and for those not faint in heart, straight espresso.
I think what was amazing is using the same bean and getting different result based on brewing method. Here were some of the tasting notes between the 3 methods. I should also note that we did not do fragrance nor did we use cupping spoons. This was pretty casual taste test.
Aroma ===== Brewed - Hot cocoa, woody, beef,paper, cardboard French Press - Medicinal, spice,meat Americano - Nutty, spice, cardamom,
Brightness ======== Brewed - Muted, some at the front, very,medium French Press - At start, balanced,brighter then drip,medium-low Americano - At start, balanced,none,low
Flavor ===== Brewed - A bit of tea, nut, citris, unripe banana,vanilla,steak French Press - Tiny bit sour, steak,smooth,vanilla,cantalope,wheat bread Americano - Lemon, berries-cherry,banana,nut,cherry,winey,strong,vanilla,fruit
Body ==== Brewed - Moderate, thin,smooth French Press - Some chocolate,smooth,little creamyness,fuller then drip,oily Americano - Thin,creamy,smooth,medium,full,talcish
Aftertaste ======= Brewed - A little drying,metallic,sour French Press - Clean,light,metallic Americano - Clean,light
It was clear in the end that everyone enjoyed the French Press and the Americano over the drip. I would say it was pretty divided between the French Press and Americano as the most perferred. I should note the tasters are all espresso drinkers and there were not any average joe coffee drinkers in the mix.
Now for those bold enough to do the straight shot, it was best described as flavor journey. Initially it was super-bright and something not enjoyable (help me guys). Then it turned in to a fruit bomb and spices.
I thank all the folks that joined us this morning it was a lot of fun!
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