Enzo Senior Member Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 150 Location: Bay Area Ca Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Pavoni PubS , and custom Grinder: Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: NA Drip: NA Roaster: NA
Posted Mon Feb 26, 2007, 5:57pm Subject: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
I went to Ritual the other day to pick up some Hairbender beans, but they only have their own espresso blend now, seemed very simple to me, not much personality in the small cup, but by no means bad. Anyone know of a Bay Area location for the Hairbender now?
slidingmike Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 80 Location: San Francisco Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Anita Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Tue Feb 27, 2007, 11:35pm Subject: Re: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
Why not buy Hairbender online? Every time I went to Ritual to buy Hairbender, I received beans 7-8 days off roast. When I buy online, I get them mailed to me much fresher, just 2 days off roast. It's a few bucks extra, but I get nearly another week of freshness. And Ritual may end up producing fantastic espresso down the road, selling it fresher than they could with beans from Stumptown.
If you must buy in person here in SF, there's always Blue Bottle's Hayes Valley, which is a little easier to pull consistent shots from than Hairbender.
Posted Mon Apr 2, 2007, 11:14am Subject: Re: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
I went to Ritual last Friday. Line was out the door! Such a cool coffee house. They got third place in the WRBC two weeks ago. Double espresso was nice but I prefer the Stumptown Hairbender shots they used to pull.
Posted Mon Apr 2, 2007, 11:18am Subject: Re: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
I bought some espresso beans from Ritual and I was able to pull some good shots with it (5 days after roast). Nice mouth feel texture and bottom of the cup had the same complex flavor profile as the shots I had at Ritual. I was never able to pull good shots with Hairbender but the Ritual espresso blend was much easier to pull well.
gabelucas Senior Member Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 124 Location: San Francisco, CA Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Lazer Wolf Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Vac Pot: Santos Vacuum pot mini Drip: bodum eileen french press Roaster: 1918 Probat 15 kilo
Posted Tue Apr 3, 2007, 12:10pm Subject: Re: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
Hey Gary!
good to see you the other day. Sorry i couldn't hold up a conversation...you saw how busy we were!!! I am glad you liked our espresso blend. We are still tweaking it and figuring out what really works for it or against it so by all means keep coming down and trying it out. we appreciate the feedback. Hair Bender is a hard espresso to live up to, but it is certainly an inspiration.
thanks again, Gabriel
Gabriel Boscana Ritual Coffee Roasters San Francisco, CA
gabelucas Senior Member Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 124 Location: San Francisco, CA Expertise: Pro Barista
Espresso: Lazer Wolf Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Vac Pot: Santos Vacuum pot mini Drip: bodum eileen french press Roaster: 1918 Probat 15 kilo
Posted Tue Apr 3, 2007, 12:15pm Subject: Re: S.F. Ritual, no more Stumptown Hairbender
slidingmike Said:
Why not buy Hairbender online? Every time I went to Ritual to buy Hairbender, I received beans 7-8 days off roast. When I buy online, I get them mailed to me much fresher, just 2 days off roast. It's a few bucks extra, but I get nearly another week of freshness. And Ritual may end up producing fantastic espresso down the road, selling it fresher than they could with beans from Stumptown.
If you must buy in person here in SF, there's always Blue Bottle's Hayes Valley, which is a little easier to pull consistent shots from than Hairbender.
Hey Mike, thanks for the information on here. I am the espresso trainer for Ritual, and you are right about the beans from stumptown being a little exhausted by the time we would sell it retail. Our beans are never more than 4 days out of the roaster now, and it fares WAYYYYYY better flavor wise obviously. We appreciate all the feedback we get, so keep it coming. As I stated before the HB is tough to live up to as a new roasting company, but we are certainly inspired by it.
thanks for the feedback!
G
Gabriel Boscana Ritual Coffee Roasters San Francisco, CA
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