fireflyfairy Senior Member Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 12 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Aug 24, 2007, 2:03am Subject: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
I'm a college student looking for a new place to have my coffee break, so far I've been having Peet's but their double shot of espresso isn't as good as some I've had before, it's good in a latte though. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jenny
Posted Fri Aug 24, 2007, 10:19am Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
fireflyfairy Said:
I'm a college student looking for a new place to have my coffee break, so far I've been having Peet's but their double shot of espresso isn't as good as some I've had before, it's good in a latte though. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jenny
As an Old Blue and coffee lover, I made a point of trying just about every independent coffee shop around campus during a two-day visit in January. Given that Berkeley is in many ways the fountainhead of the modern artisan coffee movement, it was truly disappointing to see how dreadful the espresso was.
Oddly enough, the only good espresso I found was at a shop I frequented 40 years ago: Cafe Mediterranean ("Cafe Med'). Under new ownership and training, they were pouring shots from Andy Newborn's Barefoot Coffee Roasters in Santa Clara. Although this coffee is roasted uncomfortably close to The Farm, I think you will enjoy it very much.
Barefoot Senior Member Joined: 6 Mar 2003 Posts: 420 Location: Santa Clara, CA Expertise: Professional
Posted Sat Aug 25, 2007, 9:41am Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
Marshall:
That is the best quote I have ever heard to describe roasting light!!!! "Roasted close to the Farm." we are totally stealing that line since you used it to describe our coffee. That is a huge compliment! Thanks.
we are glad that Cafe Med is doing a good job with the coffee.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,099 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Sat Aug 25, 2007, 1:42pm Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
One option is Village Grounds http://www.villagegrounds.com/ is at 1797-A Shattuck, just north of University (on the east -- campus -- side of the street). They serve Flying Goat Coffee.
TopoTail Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 20 Location: Berkeley Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Giotto Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: Nope Drip: Melita (for camping trips) Roaster: Haven't gone there
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 4:12pm Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
I met the new owner of La Med at the Western Regional Barista Championships a couple of years ago, and he seemed pretty serious about improving the coffee, which needed a lot of improving. Found myself on Telegraph Ave this afternoon and decided to check out Marshall's tip.
I ordered a decaf macchiato (the decaf part is a long story) and the barista asked me if I wanted an espresso macchiato or a latte macchiato. Not quite sure what this meant I went for the latter, assuming the espresso macchiato might be a shot "stained" with only a tiny amount of steamed milk, which is the more traditional preparation, and the latte macchiato was a coffee with a bit more milk, like what they serve at Ritual.
The guy ground the Barefoot beans to order, and I ended up with a huge cup--maybe 12 or 14 ounces--which was WAY more than I wanted.
As for quality, I'll give it a C+/B-, which, I guess, is pretty high praise, all things considered. (Let's not get into the decaf macchiato I was served at the Berkeley Trieste the other day, which was simply undrinkable.)
I'm still not quite sure what to make of being able to order an espresso macchiato, a latte macchiato, or a latte, but then I don't get out to many cafes any more.
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 4:24pm Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
TopoTail Said:
I met the new owner of La Med at the Western Regional Barista Championships a couple of years ago, and he seemed pretty serious about improving the coffee, which needed a lot of improving. Found myself on Telegraph Ave this afternoon and decided to check out Marshall's tip.
I ordered a decaf macchiato (the decaf part is a long story) and the barista asked me if I wanted an espresso macchiato or a latte macchiato. Not quite sure what this meant I went for the latter, assuming the espresso macchiato might be a shot "stained" with only a tiny amount of steamed milk, which is the more traditional preparation, and the latte macchiato was a coffee with a bit more milk, like what they serve at Ritual.
The guy ground the Barefoot beans to order, and I ended up with a huge cup--maybe 12 or 14 ounces--which was WAY more than I wanted.
As for quality, I'll give it a C+/B-, which, I guess, is pretty high praise, all things considered. (Let's not get into the decaf macchiato I was served at the Berkeley Trieste the other day, which was simply undrinkable.)
I'm still not quite sure what to make of being able to order an espresso macchiato, a latte macchiato, or a latte, but then I don't get out to many cafes any more.
I almost never order milk drinks and would never order a decaf, so I can't speak to that part of the menu. But, "decaf espresso?" Hmmm. I bet there's a magazine article in that!
TopoTail Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 20 Location: Berkeley Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Giotto Grinder: Mini Mazzer Vac Pot: Nope Drip: Melita (for camping trips) Roaster: Haven't gone there
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 7:24pm Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
I know, I know, Marshall. Decaf espresso, milk drinks. The problem is that a straight decaf espresso just doesn't make it, at least not very often. But when you disguise the faults with some steamed milk you can . . . almost . . . fool . . . yourself.
ManthriSrinath Senior Member Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 58 Location: santa cruz, ca Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Various
Posted Sun Aug 26, 2007, 8:43pm Subject: Re: Where's good coffee in Berkeley, California?
The bartender was technically correct to ask whether the order was for a latte macchiato or an espresso macchiato. The former is milk marked with espresso and the latter, espresso marked with milk. We have contracted the former to the ubiquitous latte. Of course, that awful caramel macchiato nonsense derives from this. Presumably some marketing genius at Starbucks - one of many - realized that it had cache. Note that Starbucks has not trademarked this drink. They can't. The latte machiatto is as old as espresso cuisine itself. An archaic and irrelevant approach though, I think. It just confuses people. Glad to hear things are improving at the Med. Does anyone know what became of their six-group machine? I presume they're using something more contemporary now...
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